Can Indian students study in UK without IELTS?

Indian students can study in UK without even having IELTS as some UK universities accept students without it. Some of famous UK universities that accept international students without IELTS are mentioned below - University of Plymouth University of Warwick University of Portsmouth Northumbria University London South Bank University

Can I live permanently in the UK after studies?

You cannot live permanently in the UK directly after studies. However, it is very much possible in the future, provided your satisfy the UK visa eligibility requirements mentioned below: Must have lived & worked in the country for 5 or more years Must not have spent more than 180 days or 6 months outside the UK in any of the five years Must meet the minimum salary requirements in the UK which stands at GBP 38,700 (INR 44.56 L) per year or the "standard going rate" for your job in the country Must remain in-demand for your job in the country & satisfy the minimum salary requirements, even after receiving your PR

What is the student visa application fee in the UK?

UK study visa application fee is GBP 524 (INR 60.3 K) for all international students in or outside UK. Students also have to pay Immigration Health Surcharge depending on length of their stay in country. For 6 months or less in the UK, under-18 students have to pay GBP 388 (INR 44.6 K), while all other applicants have to pay an additional GBP 517.50 (INR 59.5 K) to the UK Government. The per year cost is GBP 776 (INR 89.3 K) for students, applicants under 18 at the time of application & those on a Youth Mobility Scheme visa. All other applicants pay GBP 1,035 (INR 1.2 L) per year.

Can I study for free in the UK?

Yes some UK based institutions are known to offer free courses specially designed for international students, graduates and alumni. The UK Government, Study UK (British Council) & the Open University are among some popualar institutions known for offering free courses that are mostly available to be pursued in online formats. These courses help students attain basic skills needed to land a job & can be pursued from other countries as well. For more information, students are advised to refer the pages of the institutes mentioned above.

Are there any Indian student associations or communities at UK universities?

Yes students have access to various Indian student communities and associations in UK. Out of them, popular is INSA which is present at 45 + universities and is run to protect well being and interests of Indian students in UK. National Indian Students and Alumni Union, ISA or Indian Student Association at University of Surrey are some other popular student societies for Indian students in UK.

What are the most in demand courses to study in the UK for Indian students?

UK is home to some best universities in world that offer world class education in various top streams of studies. Some most popular courses in UK are mentioned here - Computer Science Architecture Engineering Data Science and Big Data Analytics Cybersecurity Biolgical Sciences Business and Administration Studies Social Studies Law Arts and Design.

How do Indian students find accommodation in the UK?

Indian students in UK find accommodation through combination of mediums including- university services, online housing and rental property listings and via social media. Most Universities offer on campus housing or their Office of Residence provides dedicated resources to students to find housing near the university campus. Alternative off campus housing services such as Zoopla and SpareRoom also list student housing options, while Facebook and Twitter (now X), have a number of Indian student groups, that provide valuable insights and tips to find affordable housing in the UK.

What are the biggest challenges for Indian students in the UK?

Indian students, visting UK for first time, encounter various challenges over the course of their studies such as adverse weather conditions, homesickness, adapting to new culture and getting used to different academic style, etc. To overcome these, students are advised to pack heavy, warm clothes, suitable to withstand lowest of tempreatures, look for Indian Student Associations and Organizations on campus, or nearby and engage with campus support or International Student Support Office for any help.

Can Indian students work part time in the UK?

Indian students enrolled in UK can work max. 20 hours/week during session. There is no limit to number of hours a student can work during vacation or semester breaks. International students are advised to stay within work hours limit as going beyond that can lead to cancel of UK student visa and deportation from UK.

Is medical insurance mandatory for students in UK?

No Indian students do not need private medical insurance to study in UK assuming duration of their course is 6 months+ and they hold UK student visa. Students needing UK study visa for higher education in country are required to pay mandatory fee worth GBP 776 (INR 91.5 K) per year, in the form of Immigration Health Surcharge or IHS. This gives students, access to the UK's National Health Service (NHS), which takes care of all emergency medical needs. Students are advised to register with a General Practitoner or GP, upon arrival in the UK, which deals with most general health problems.

Can I transfer my current course credits to a university in the UK?

Yes Indian students can transfer credits of their current courses to one of UK universities where they decide to take admissions. Some best universities in UK known to accept credit transfer by Indian students are mentioned below - University of Sussex Queen Mary University of London University of Cambridge University of Bristol

Top Universities and Colleges in UK - Courses, Fees, Scholarships, Admission Requirements & Grades

Being home to around 136,000 Indian students, the United Kingdom is the 3rd most popular choice for study abroad destinations among the Indian student community, after the US & Canada, thanks to the presence of some of the world's top-ranked universities such as the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London & the University of Edinburgh among others. The country is also a hub of some top global MNC's such as Rolls Royce, Barclays, Vodafone, AstraZeneca, & Tesco. The UK offers students a much better environment to study & live, with the availability of diverse courses, part-time work opportunities, as well as several financial aid options to fund their studies. BBA, MIM, BE/ BTech, MSc & MBA/PGDM are some popular courses among the UK-based student community.

Table of Contents

Why Study in UK?
Top Courses in UK
Best Universit

Table of Contents

Why Study in UK?
Top Courses in UK
Best Universities in UK for International Students
Studying in the UK Eligibility
- 4.1 Entrance Exams for UK Universities
- 4.2 English Language Requirements for UK Universities
- 4.3 Admission Requirements for Indian Students in USA
Cost of Studying in UK for Indian Students
Cost of Living in UK
Scholarships in UK
Part-Time Work Options in UK
Post Study Work Permit in UK
Top Job Sectors in UK & Economy
Jobs in UK

Why Study in UK?

The United Kingdom is one of the favourable countries among international students. Some of the reasons why international students choose the UK as their study destination are the availability of diversified courses, high-quality education, rich cultural experience, part-time work opportunities, availability of scholarships, etc. Mentioned below are reasons why UK can be your dream destination-

Top Universities- UK is home to some of top ranking universities in the world such as Uni of Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, etc.
World-class Education- Uk degrees are recognized all over the world. In India, UK degrees are in high demand especially from the top universities and colleges. Also UK is known for providing high academic standards.
Work Opportunities- UK offers Graduate Route Visa which allow international students to work in UK for 2 years. Also, students can work for upto 20 hours per week during their term period.

Top Courses in UK

UK offers about 40+ programs to international students. A large number of best universities in UK offer courses like BTech, MSc, BSc, MA, MBA / PGDM, BA, BBA, BE/BTech, etc for Indian students. Among these courses, there are various top specializations offered in UK by top universities. Check the number of UK universities offering these courses from the table given below:

Top Courses	No. of Universities
BA	263
BBA	236
BE/BTech	230
BSc	211
MA	200
MSc	198
MBA / PGDM	185
BEd	171
B.J.M.C.	168
UG certificate	156

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Best Universities in UK for International Students

Some of the top-ranked universities in the UK are the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, UCL, etc. Of these, Oxford is a world-renowned UK university; however, Imperial College London, a college in UK, ranks higher globally. Check UK universities ranking from the table given below:

University	Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Ranking 2026	Shiksha Popularity Ranking 2026
Imperial College London	#2	#3
University of Oxford	#4	#1
University of Cambridge	#6	#2
University College London	#9	#4
King’s College London	#31	#7
The University of Edinburgh	#34	#5
The University of Manchester	#35	#11
University of Bristol	#51	#8
London School of Economics and Political Science	#56	#6
The University of Warwick	#74	#9

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Also Read

Top Ranked MBA Universities in UK	Top Ranked MS Universities in UK
Top Ranked LLB Universities in UK	Top Ranked BBA Universities in UK

Studying in the UK Eligibility

To study in UK universities, international students are required to submit the test scores of some of the standardized exams. Besides this, students are also required to submit proof of English language proficiency.

Entrance Exams for UK Universities

GMAT / GRE are some of the entrance exams that are accepted by universities in UK. The number of UK universities accepting these tests is given below:

Tests	No. of Universities
GMAT	21
GRE	11

English Language Requirements for UK Universities

One of the admission requirements to study in UK for Indian students is the submission of English language proficiency scores. The English language test scores that are accepted by the universities in the UK are IELTS/PTE/ Duolingo/TOEFL

Tests	No. of Universities
IELTS	401
PTE	236
Duolingo	94
TOEFL	197

Admission Requirements for Indian Students in USA

Academic transcripts
Test scores of standardized exams like GMAT / GRE
English language proficiency test scores like IELTS / TOEFL / PTE
Completed application form
Statement of Purpose
Letters of Recommendation
Resume
Portfolio
Passport-size photographs (if asked)
Copy of the passport
Relevant certificates of extra-curricular activities

Also Read: Documents required for Admission in UK

Cost of Studying in UK for Indian Students

The cost of studying in UK Universities varies for different universities. For international students in the UK, the tuition fee starts from GBP 10,000 (INR 11.5 L) and goes up to GBP 38,000 (INR 43.75 L) per year. The average cost of studying in the UK is around GBP 22,200 (INR 25.5 L).

Range of 1st-Year Tuition Fees	No. of Universities
Free	3
Max 10 Lakh	88
Max 20 Lakh	242
Max 30 Lakh	291
Max 40 Lakh	301
40 Lakh+	72

Also Read: Cost of Studying in UK

Cost of Living in UK

The average cost of living in UK for International students is around GBP 14,000 - GBP 22,000 per year (Around INR 16.5 L - INR 25.9 L). Note that the average cost of living in London will be higher as compared to other UK cities. As per Shiksha, the average monthly cost of accommodation in UK is around GBP 690-GBP 955 (INR 81.3 K-INR 1.12 L).

Given below is detailed breakdown of the cost of living in UK for Indian students:

Cost of Living Component	Average Monthly Cost (in GBP)	Average Monthly Cost (in INR)
Housing	GBP 690-GBP 955	INR 81.3 K-INR 1.12 L
Food	GBP 200-GBP 350	INR 23.5 K-INR 41.25 K
Utilities (Gas, Electricity, Water, TV, etc.)	In London: GBP 200 Rest of UK: GBP 120	In London: INR 23.5 K Rest of UK: INR 14.1 K
Groceries	In London: GBP 175 Rest of UK: GBP 136	In London: INR 20.6 K Rest of UK: INR 16 K
Mobile Bills	GBP 18	INR 2.1 K
Laundry	GBP 25	INR 2.9 K
Stationary and Textbooks	GBP 35-GBP 55	INR 4.1 K-INR 6.4 K
Travel Expenses	In London: GBP 110 Rest of UK: GBP 70	In London: INR 12.9 K Rest of UK: 8.2 K
Movie Ticket	GBP 9	INR 1 K
Dinner at a Restaurant	GBP 15-16	INR 1.7 K-INR 1.8 K

Source: The University of Oxford and the British Council

Conversion rate: 1 GBP= 117.86

Also Read: Cost of Living for International Students in UK

Scholarships in UK

Various universities in the UK offer scholarships for international students. Below is a list of the scholarships offered by UK universities.

Scholarship Name	Financial Award	Scholarship Eligibility
Rhodes Scholarship – Law	Covers the Oxford University Fees, University of Oxford application fees, UK student visa fees, and International Health Surcharge or IHS Annual Stipend worth GBP 19,800 (INR 23.34 L) Two Economy Class Flight Tickets to and from UK, at the beginning and end of each Oxford year	Must be a citizen of India, holding an Indian passport or equivalent proof of Citizenship Must have completed Class X or Class XII, from a recognised school in India OR Must be in the final year, or have already completed an undergraduate degree at a recognised university in India Must be aged 18-23 years old, by the start of Oct, 2025 OR must be under 27 years of age AND have completed a UG degree by Oct, 2024
Felix Scholarship - MBA	100% University of Oxford tuition fees Living Costs worth GBP 18,300 (INR 21.6 L) One return flight from India to the UK	Must be an Indian student, or a student from a low-income country Must be applying for or enrolled in full-time master's or DPhil programs Must demonstrate exceptional academic abilities and leadership skills in non-academic
Kent Future Students India Scholarships - PG Taught	GBP 5,000 (INR 5.9 L) as one tuition fee for one year	Must be domiciled in India Must be applying for a full-time postgraduate taught course in UK Must have paid the tuition fee deposit by the end of Aug Only available to students beginning their educational journey in Sep 2025 Must be self-funded, and pay the tuition fee directly to the University of Kent Applicants who have applied for either: Master's programme with pre-Masters OR Distance learning programmes OR the PCert or PDip programme
Gates Cambridge Scholarship	Maintenance Fee worth GBP 20,000 (INR 23.6 L) for one year Two Economy Flight tickets, to travel, to and from the UK, one at the start of the academic year and one at the end of the Cambridge year Complete Cover of Inbound Visa and Healthcare costs University Composition Fee Extended Maintenance Fee for a duration of upto 4 years, in the form of PhD Scholar Allowance	Must be a student from outside the UK and Ireland Must be applying for either a full-time or part-time PhD, a full time MLitt or a one-year full-time postgraduate course (except some coures such as MBA, MFin, MD, BA, EMBA, Master of Accounting and some other courses) Must demonstrate academic excellence
WBS Scholarship	Full tuition coverage and partial funding	Must demonstrate exceptional academic ability Must be applying for higher studies at the Warwick Business School of The University of Warwick An applicant would automatically be considered after applying for a course at WBS

Also Read: UK Scholarships for Indian Students

Part-Time Work Options in UK

International students who are studying at a degree level or more can work a maximum of 20 hours per week. Marketing, Accountancy, Health Services, Retail, Customer Service, etc. are some of the high-paying job sectors for students studying in the UK. Some of the top part-time jobs in the UK for international students are:

Teaching Assistant
Baby sitter
Tutor
Event Planner
Library Assistant

Also Check: Part-Time Work Options in UK for International Students

Post Study Work Permit in UK

After the completion of studies in the UK, students can apply for a UK Post-Study Work Visa. Through this work permit, international students will be able to stay back in the UK to search for a job for two years after the completion of their graduate studies. For graduate students holding a PhD or other doctoral degree, the Graduate Visa is valid for 3 years.

Top Job Sectors in UK & Economy

A few of the popular job sectors in the UK are Accountancy, Banking and Finance; Business, Consulting and Management, Energy and Utilities, Healthcare, Law, etc. According to Trading Economics in 2025, the GDP growth in the UK expanded to 0.7% in the first quarter (Jan 25-Mar 25) of the year, which also happens to be the strongest rate of growth in recent months.

Jobs in UK

According to data curated from UCAS, some of the highest-paying jobs in the UK include Legal Professionals, Marketing and Sales Directors, Medical Practitioners, Financial Managers and Directors, and IT and Telecommunication Directors, among others. The average salary for the graduates of some of the top-ranked universities in the UK is given below:

Jobs	Median Salary (in GBP) Per Year	Median Salary (in INR) per year
Chief Executives and Senior Officials	GBP 81,832	INR 94.4 L
Legal Professionals	GBP 41,958	INR 48.4 L
Marketing, Sales & Advertising Directors	GBP 84,156	INR 97.13 L
IT and Telecommunications Directors	GBP 85,523	INR 98.7 L
Investment Bankers	GBP 43,500	INR 50.2 L
Specialist Medical Practitioners	GBP 67,460	INR 77.86 L
Financial Managers and Directors	GBP 68,123	INR 78.62 L
Brokers	GBP 55,174	INR 63.68 L
Public Relations & Communication Directors	GBP 64,841	INR 74.84 L
Higher Education Teaching Professionals	GBP 45,301	INR 52.3 L
Train and Tram Drivers	GBP 60,727	INR 70 L