The ultimate guide to help you study in the UK

Your Ultimate Guide
to Study in the UK

INTRODUCTION
The UK has always been the first study abroad destination for students from India and
neighboring countries for many years. There are quite a few reasons for this – the top-quality
education, the lure of London - the city of power, the easy connectivity to Paris – the city of
dreams and the strong ethnic Asian community in the UK.
In this e-book we present a clear and concise picture of how to join a higher education course
in the UK. We have covered topics like – why you should choose the UK, the admissions
process, academic semester deadlines, tuition fees and living expenses, scholarships and
documents required for the visa interview.
In recent years, Singapore and Australia are slowly gaining popularity as the courses and the
cost of living is lesser; but the popularity and respect associated with a degree from the UK
will never wane.

CONTENT
Why should you consider the UK as a study destination? - 5
What would be the average cost of higher education in the UK? - 7
When does the academic semester start? Which is the best semester to apply? - 9
What are the main eligibility tests required to study in the UK? - 11
How to apply to Universities in the UK? What is the process? - 12
Document list -What you need to submit with your application? - 15
Financial support for studying in the UK? - 17
Securing a student visa - 19

CHAPTER 1
Why should you consider the
UK as a study destination?

Your Ultimate Guide to Study in the UK 6
There is not one – but there are many reasons to apply for a higher education course at a
UK University or college:
 Credibility of Institutions
The quality of education in the UK is internationally recognised by employers and universities
around the world, making it a popular option for many international students for higher education.
The quality of an educational institution’s teaching and its facilities are reviewed by the Quality
Assurance Agency (QAA), whereas the institutions research standards are examined by the
Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).
 Flexibility
The UK higher education system offers many choices within a program and the opportunity to
modify majors or select multiple specializations. At an advanced stage of an undergraduate
program, a student can alter the program to meet detailed career objectives. At the graduate level
students can create their own timetable and complete courses at ease within the stipulated time-frame.
 Work Opportunities
The F1 Visa limits students allowing them to work a total of 20 hours a week on and off-campus,
maintaining full-time status while attending universities. Students need to contact Campus Career
Services’ of their institutions for job vacancies. There are no restrictions on first year students to
work off-campus except the hour stipulation and working past 20 hours a week will affect their
credits leading to deportation and the ability to return.
 Diverse Cultures
The UK is one of the few racially, ethnically and culturally diverse countries; a prominent
contributing factor why international students are interested in studying in the UK The country is
decked with large cities, rustic towns and villages, contemporary and historical architecture is a
diverse and exciting place to explore.
Get free advice on study abroad  Call us @ 1-800-103-9634(toll free)

CHAPTER 2
What would be the average cost
of higher education in the UK?

Average tuition fee
 Undergraduate Studies
Foundation courses : £4,000 to £12,000
Arts courses : £7,000 to £9,000
Science courses : £7,500 to £22,000
Clinical courses : £10,000 to £25,000
 Postgraduate Studies
Arts and humanities courses : £7,000 to £12,000
Science courses : £7,500 to £25,000
Clinical courses : £10,000 to £33,000
MBA : £4,000 to more than £34,000
Living expenses
London : £7200 per year
Other areas : £5400 per year
It is advisable to opt for university accommodation unless you have a friend or guardian
residing in the same city as your institution. Day-to-day expenses include transportation, food,
entertainment and other related costs. During the student visa interview, students need to show
that they have sufficient funds in their bank account to fund the duration of their stay in the UK.
Disclaimer: All rates shown are for indicative purposes only. It is important to note that foreign exchange rates
fluctuate and rates will vary.

CHAPTER 3
When does the academic
semester start every year?
Which is the best semester to
apply?

Admission intakes
In the UK, the standard academic year starts in September or October and runs until June or
July. Some courses are more flexible, however, and offer a range of start dates.
Application deadlines:
For Undergraduate applicants: Your application should be at UCAS by one of these dates –
depending on what course you apply for.
• 15 October for the universities of Oxford, Cambridge or any professional course in
medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine/science.
• 15 January for the majority of courses.
• 24 March for some art and design courses.
For Postgraduate applicants: Check the institution where you plan to study for the final date of
sending application forms.

CHAPTER 4
What are the main eligibility
tests required to study in the
UK?

There are two types of eligibility tests
A) Language
B) Aptitude
Language:
Prospective students will have to prove their proficiency in English through standardized tests
such as IELTS/TOEFL.
Aptitude:
The aptitude tests vary depending upon the course of interest. Some popular ones include GRE
and GMAT.
Students who give the TOEFL test are expected to get a minimum score of 80 - 120, but a score of
100 -120 would increase their chance of admission and students who take the IELTS tests are
expected to score 6-9. Similarly, a good score for GRE would be 320 -340 and for GMAT would
be 700 - 800.
Minimum scores will vary based on which schools you are applying to. At some schools,
academic transcripts will also play an important role in whether or not a student from India is able
to study in the UK, at his or her preferred school.

CHAPTER 5
How to apply to Universities in
the UK? What is the process?

Applying for a course:
• For undergraduate courses, you can apply online through the Universities and Colleges
Admissions System (UCAS).
• For postgraduate courses, you can apply online through Hotcourses’ apply online service
(UNI-FORM).
• Some institutions use the UK Postgraduate Application and Statistical Service (UKPASS)
scheme. You can see which institutions are covered by the scheme and find out more at
the UKPASS website. You can apply using the UKPASS service at any time as there are no
deadlines. However, your preferred universities and colleges may have their own closing
dates, so you'll need to check with them before you apply.
• The Conservatoires UK Admissions Service (CUKAS) operates a separate application
system for undergraduate and postgraduate practice-based music courses, and some dance
and drama courses. You can find out more information and apply online by visiting
the CUKAS website.
• The Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR) operates a separate application system for
graduates who want to take postgraduate teacher training courses at most universities and
colleges of higher education in England, Scotland and Wales. You can find out more
information and apply online at the GTTR website.

CHAPTER 6
Document List - What you need
to submit with your
application?

You will have to submit the following documents along with your application form:
• Academic Certificates
• Competitive exam score sheets
• Statement of purpose
• Resume
• Letters of recommendation
• Passport size photographs
• Experience Documents
• Achievement Certificates[Awards]
• A copy of your passport
Once you have all the right documents, re-check it as many times as you want. Have attested
copies of all the documents in a folder and arrange it according to the check list. This will help
you organize your application better.

CHAPTER 7
Financial support for studying
in the UK

Scholarships are mostly available at the postgraduate level and some of these are offered by the
British Government and other UK organizations
On the Hotcourses India website, you can search through thousands of scholarships offered by
UK Universities.
British Financial Assistance for Indian Students
• Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan
• Charles Wallace India Trust Awards and Fellowships
• Hornby one year MAScholarship Programme
• Felix Scholarships
• Brendish Family Foundation Scholarships
Financial Assistance from India:
• The HSBC Chevening Scholarships
• Goa Education Trust (GET)
Depending on your nationality, you may be eligible for a loan or financial support from the
UK government. Visit the UKCISA website for more details.

CHAPTER 8
Securing a student visa!

International students in order to study in the UK have to acquire a student visa from the British
High Commission near them. A Tier 4 (General) student visa will cover a student’s plan to pursue
full-time education in the UK.
Complete the online
application form in the
Visa4UK visa application
system
Print out the confirmation
page and when you have
printed a copy of the
completed form, you must
sign the declaration by hand
Pay the fee online through the
Visa4UK website
Collect the list of documents
required (Visa4UK will send
you the list of documents
required through an email)
Fix an appointment through
Visa4UK and you have a visa
appointment reference (VAR)
number
Usually, these interviews happen at UK embassies in home countries.

Documents Required for a UK Student Visa
The UK visa interview lasts only for a few minutes. Since this is a very short session, all
students are expected to carry all necessary documents organized properly.
You can organise the documents as individual folders in the following order:
 Completed visa application form
 Letter of acceptance for studies, the confirmation
 Educational certificates and transcripts
 Evidence of an English language test (TOEFL, IELTS)
 Passport
 Proof of sufficient funds
 Sponsorship details if this is the case
 TB testing (where applicable)

As a student planning to go abroad and study a course of your choice the options are many –
within the UK itself you will find multiple institutions – ‘the Redbrick universities’ representing
the class, values and pedigree of high education standards. Younger institutions that are focused
on offering students a fantastic student experience with all modern conveniences the options will
be many.
So take your time and short-list an institution of your choice. If you think you want to study in a
relaxed atmosphere away from the madding crowd, look at some of the smaller universities,
which offer excellent quality teaching at affordable costs. There’s something for everyone in the
UK. So take a deep breath, decide what course you want to study and browse through our
institution listings to find an institution in the UK that matches your needs.

The ultimate guide to help you study in the UK

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The ultimate guide to help you study in the UK