Study in UK

The UK is known for its conventional teaching methodologies, top universities and extensive research. Along with this, the degrees earned from the UK remain acceptable worldwide. There were 98,890 Indian students studying in the UK in 2024 (Source- TOI). Some of the universities in the UK, such as Imperial College London, University College London, etc., have had academic and research ties with Indian universities for a long period of time. Universities in the UK also have an excellent career outcome rate.

As per the ‘What do graduates do after Graduate Visa in UK?’ report from Prospects and AGCAS, following career outcomes, 15-months after graduation, were noted in the UK for first-degree graduates: 57.3% were working full-time in the UK, 11.4% were working part-time in the UK, 10.6% were working and studying, 9.2% went on to study further, 5.7% were involved in other activities, and 5.9% were unemployed or were due to start work. Thus, international students can opt for the UK to study abroad. 

What are the Top Reasons to Study in the UK?

Studying abroad is a life-changing decision for every student. Students need compelling reasons to finalise a study destination and academic institution out of a number of choices. Below are a few reasons why you can think of choosing the UK to study abroad-

1. Post-study Work Visa- The Graduate Visa in UK lets international students to stay and look for work in the country till 18 months after the completion of their regular full-time college degrees. 
2. PG Degree Duraion- Most master's degrees in UK last for an year, unlike in Canada and USA - where most master's courses last for over 2 years. This benefits students in following two ways-
   • The number for which they have to pay a fee becomes less.
   • They can start their careers in the job market earlier than most other graduates in the same field or batch. 

3. Academics- According to the QS World University Rankings 2026, 4 universities in the UK are ranked under the top 10 universities in the world. These include the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, Imperial College London, and University College London. The University of Oxford continues to remain in 1st position as per the THE World University Rankings 2026 as well (from its 1st position in the preceding year). 

4. Research Quality- The latest Research Excellence Framework 2021 assessed the research work of 157 UK universities. The overall quality of research submissions was noted as world-leading (41%), internationally excellent (43%), internationally recognised (14%), and nationally recognised (2%). UK universities have produced excellent research, and students who are willing to pursue research can definitely think of the UK as an option.

5. Student-friendly Destination- London constantly ranked in the number 1 position in the QS Best Student Cities list for 3 consecutive years (2023, 2024, and 2025). This year, the city takes the third place. 

6. Scholarships- Students have access to excellent scholarships in the UK Universities. Some of these include International Scholarships Award, Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship, Chevening Scholarships, GREAT Scholarships, Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships, just to name a few.

7. Leisure and Travel- The UK is an interesting place when it comes to exploring historical places, music concerts, cuisines and various other cultural festivals. Universities in the UK have a long history associated with them and studying in those universities gives you an opportunity to be a part of that heritage.

Study in UK- Key Highlights

Here are some of the key highlights of studying in the UK-

Head	Details
Number of Universities in the UK	160+
Cost of Studying in the UK (per year)	UG: £11,400 - £38,000  PG: £17,000 - £22,000
Cost of Living in the UK (per year)	£14,000 to £22,000 per year
Part-time Work	20 hours/week
Post-study Work Visa (PSW UK or Graduate Route Visa)	2 years (3 years in case of Doctoral qualification)
Top 5 Universities in the UK (QS Rankings 2025)	Imperial College London, University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University College London and the University of Edinburgh

Education System in UK

The education system in the UK comprises five stages that include:

• Early Years: Students up to 5 years of age can avail of early years education and childcare in various state nursery schools, nursery classes and reception classes within primary schools.
• Primary Education: It covers children from the age of 5 to 11 years. This is further divided into two Key Stages. Key Stage 1 comprises children from 5 years to 7 years of age, and Key Stage 2 comprises children from 7 years to 11 years of age.
• Secondary Education: It covers students from the age of 11 to 16 years. This is further divided into two Key Stages. Key Stage 3 comprises students from 11 years to 14 years of age, and Key Stage 4 comprises students from 14 years to 16 years of age. At the end of this education, students usually take external examinations such as GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and Standard Grades in Scotland.
• Further Education: It consists of students from 16 to 18 years of age. It is post-compulsory education and covers non-advanced courses. These might include skill development, higher vocational education such as City and Guilds or a Foundation Degree. This does not include university education.
• Higher Education: Higher education is provided in colleges and universities and includes undergraduate and postgraduate degrees (including Doctoral programmes).

The education system of the UK is somewhat similar to that of India. Thus, international students who choose the UK to study abroad will not have a major adjustment issue. 

How to Plan Your Higher Studies in the UK?

The general outline for planning your studies in the UK is the same as in any other country - decide on a course and university → get your application documents ready → apply in time → apply for a UK student visa. 

But on ground level work, you would need to know the specifics of all these aspects. Hence, are the specific details that you need to check for making a decision:

1. Choose the course: There is a wide range of courses to choose from in the UK. Students can opt to study a foundational pathway course, undergraduate course, postgraduate course or higher research course. The foundational pathway course helps your to learn English better way before you start your actual higher degree in the UK. This helps you to immerse in the culture and educational field well.
2. Choose the university: based on the course level, specialisation, your budget, city and ranking of the college, choose your most desired option and check its application requirements and deadlines. For example, for most courses, the fall intake in the UK is the suitable timeline to apply. In this intake, you can get most of science, engineering and other high-demand courses. If you want to apply for more than one university, apply via the UCAS portal. You can apply to as many as 5 UK universities with this portal all at once. Check out how to fill out the UCAS application form.  
3. Check the eligibility of your chosen course and apply within the application timeline.
4. Await the decision on your application. Note that if you applied directly to the university and not via UCAS, the university will itself connect with you to convey the status of your application. If you applied via UCAS, you can easily track the status on your personalised student portal.
5. If you receive an unconditional offer, accept it - so that the university can offer you the CAS letter for UK student visa application. If however you receive a conditional offer, you will have to fulfil a few conditions - such as taking an interview online or in-person, taking an English course, improving your grade or something else.

Which are the Top Universities in the UK 2026-27?

The top 10 universities in the UK in 2026 as per the QS World University Rankings 2026 are given below. 

Top 10 Universities in the UK 2026
Universities	QS World University Rankings 2026
Imperial College London	#2
University of Oxford	#4
University of Cambridge	#6
UCL	#9
King's College London	#31
University of Edinburgh	#34
University of Manchester	#35
University of Bristol	#51
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)	#56
University of Warwick	#74

Which are the Top Courses to Study in UK?

Universities in the UK offer a wide range of courses that cover every available academic discipline. However, certain courses are very popular amongst students. The table given below provides a list of popular courses in the UK-

Academic Discipline	Top Courses in the UK
Business and Administrative studies	Economics Finance and Accountancy Business and Management Studies
Engineering, Technology, and Mathematics	Computer Science Mathematics Civil Engineering Electrical and Electronic Engineering Mechanical Engineering Chemical Engineering
Humanities	History Languages Philosophy
Natural Science	Biology Physics Chemistry
Social Science	Sociology Law Politics Education
Creative Arts	Art and Design Media Performing Arts

What is the Cost of Studying in UK 2026-27

As per the British Council, the average cost to study in the UK in 2026-27 would be -

• UG Level- Undergraduate tuition fees can be in the range of £11,400 to £38,000 per year. The UG courses in the UK, particularly in Northern Ireland, England and Wales  last for 3-4 years.
• PG Level- Postgraduate tuition fees can be in the range of £9,000 to £30,000 per year per year. The one year's master's programs in teh UK translates to lesser expenditure on living and studying costs. 
• Certain courses, such as medicine, might cost more than £50,000 per year.

What is the Cost to Live in the UK for International Students?

Cost of living in the UK in 2026 depends on the location and type of accommodation, lifestyle, food habits, etc. The table given below provides an approximate range of monthly living expenses in UK:

Head	In London	UK (Rest)
Student Halls	£848	£664
Private Accommodation Rooms	£750	£554
Household Expenses (broadband, electricity, etc.)	£140	£80
Groceries	£155	£116
Socialising	£150	£80
Public Conveyance	£103	£54
Cell Phone Expenses	£18	£18

(Source: University of Oxford)

Hence, the average monthly cost of living in the UK roughly comes down to around £1,171. However, this cost exceeds to £1,529 per month as the cost to live in London.

UK Permanent Residence Permit

Once a student has completed his/ her academics, students need to apply for the UK Post-Study Work Visa (PSW UK or Graduate Route Visa). It allows a student to stay back in the UK and work for 2 years (3 years in case of Doctoral qualification). Once the Graduate Visa expires, students need to apply for a skilled work visa or general work visa (Tier 2 visa) or any other relevant visa, if they wish to stay back in the UK. Students can apply for PR in UK if they have stayed in the UK for 5 years and fulfilled other conditions such as indefinite leave to remain in the UK, indefinite leave to enter the UK, English-language proficiency, life in the UK test, etc.

Whtat are the Admission Requirements to Study in UK Universities?

Admission requirements to study in UK Universities differ based on course and course level. However, the following points will provide you an overview of requirements to study in the UK:

• Formal Schooling
• Graduate/ Postgraduate Degree (if application)
• Academic Transcripts
• Test Score of SAT/ GMAT/ GRE (as per the course)
• English proficiency test scores of IELTS/ TOEFL/ PTE/ Other (as per the course)
• Personal Statement (UCAS Personal Statement in case of undergraduate applicants)
• Essays
• Resume
• Letters of Recommendation
• Portfolio (in case of creative courses)
• ID Proofs
• Financial Proofs
• Medical Proofs

Which are the Top Student Cities in UK 2026? 

According to the ‘What Do Graduates Do post-taking the Graduate Route in the UK?’ report from Prospects and AGCAS, 23.1% of the 2019-20 graduates were working in London. Hence, London is definitely the top choice for international students. Moreover, London has ranked at the 3rd position on the QS Best Student Cities 2026. The table given below provides top cities in UK for international students:

What are the Scholarships to Study in UK?

Scholarships are a great way to reduce your cost of studying abroad. In addition, they are a recognition of your academic and/ or extracurricular talent as well. Students can apply for a number of scholarships in the UK. Some of the scholarships are offered by the Universities, while others are offered by organisations. Some of the top scholarships to study in the UK include:

• Global Study Awards
• Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship
• Chevening Scholarships
• GREAT Scholarship
• Scotland's Saltire Scholarships
• Rhodes Scholarships
• Erasmus Mundus
• K.C. Mahindra Scholarships for Postgraduate Courses

Is there any Education Loan to Study in the UK?

Studying abroad, that too in the UK is definitely expensive. Besides the tuition fee, there are other costs such as visa fee, travel expenses, accommodation, food expenses, University expenses, stationery costs, etc. Students can apply for scholarships in order to reduce their cost of pursuing their academics in the UK. However, scholarships are very competitive and under such circumstances, students can apply for an education loan to study in the UK. Various financial institutions, such as the State Bank of India, Syndicate Bank, Bank of Baroda, etc., have various schemes for study abroad loans. If the students receive an offer letter from a reputed University, the loan process is usually quick for countries like the UK to study abroad.

What are Part time Work Options for International Students in UK?

Students who are studying in the UK can also opt for part-time work in order to reduce their cost of pursuing their academics in the UK. However, part-time work in the UK for international students comes with certain riders that include a maximum of 20 hours per week for those studying at degree level or more, when the classes are in session. Language centre students can pursue 10 hours per week of work when their classes are in session. However, students can pursue full-time work during their vacations. In addition, students can also look for yearlong industry placements that usually fall between the penultimate and final year of their degree.

What is Post study Work Permit in UK? (Updated)

Earlier international students could stay and look for work in the UK for a total of 2 years after the completion of their full-time college degree. However, in its quest of attracting only the top talent and increase the economic growth, the UK government has recently reduced the total term time for the UK Post Study Work Visa (PSW) or Graduate Visa recipients. As a result, students from outside the UK entering the country for studying will be able to stay only for a period of 18 months after their degree completion. This change will come into effect starting 01 January 2026. Here's what else you need to know-

1. The Graduate Visa period you get if you apply before 31 December 2025 is 2 years.
2. If you apply on or after 01 January 2026, you get 18 periods of time on PSW UK.  

It must be noted that the duration is still 3 years for doctoral students. In order to apply for post post-study work permit in the UK, students need to pay an application fee of £880 and an annual healthcare surcharge of £1,035. After the expiry of the UK post-study work visa, students can apply for a skilled work visa or a general work visa (Tier 2 visa) or any other relevant visa.

What are Job Prospects in UK? (ROI)

ROI (Return on Investment) is an extremely important factor for students while finalising a course, University, or country for studying abroad. ROI refers to the salary or pay package that a student obtains after completing the course. It shows whether the investment he/ she has made in that particular course has fetched him any significant returns or not. The table given below provides Universities, their fee for a particular course, and the salary details of the students:

University	Course Fee (Annual)	Salary
Imperial College London (MBA)	₹66.47 L	£69,000 (Average)
University of Oxford (BA in Computer Science)	₹47.81 L	£52,000 (Average)
University of Cambridge (MBA)	₹79.98 L	£92,501 (Average)