Pursuing higher education in the UK is a lucrative prospect for many international students. UK universities bring plenty of opportunities with their global outreach and high educational standards. Known for its basic and applied research in the STEM fields, UK also offers degree courses for a shorter duration, making it cheaper and more feasible for international students.
To study in the UK, an international student must choose a course and university well in advance. Factors such as ranking, popularity, expenses, etc., of the university/course plays an important role.
The average salary for UK graduates is nearly £ 23,000. Students can also work part-time during their studies for up to 20 hours a week. The minimum wage for students above 21 is £ 6.7 per hour.
China, Hong Kong, India, and Malaysia are some countries from which more than 50% of the UK’s international student population is derived. With the UK allowing a 2 year stay-back post study to international students from 2021, the percentage is only going to go up.
UK is the second most preferred destination among international students after the US. Almost 20 % of the student population in the UK comprises of International Students.
International students who want to study in the UK have more than 200 universities and colleges that offer more than a thousand unique courses for its students to choose from.
Top Universities in the UK
As per the QS World University Rankings 2020, 4 out of the top 10 universities in the world are from the United Kingdom and a total of 17 in the top 100. London, the capital city of England alone is home to 4 universities in the top 50 of the world.
| Name of the University | QS World Ranking | Location |
|---|---|---|
| University of Oxford | 4 | Oxford, England |
| University of Cambridge | 7 | Cambridge, England |
| University College London | 8 | London, England |
| Imperial College London | 9 | London, England |
| The University of Edinburgh | 20 | Scotland |
| The University of Manchester | 27 | Manchester, England |
| King’s College London | 33 | London, England |
| London School of Economics and Political Science | 44 | London, England |
| University of Bristol | 49 | Bristol, England |
| The University of Warwick | 62 | Coventry, England |
| University of Glasgow | 67 | Scotland |
| Durham University | 78 | Durham, England |
| University of Sheffield | 78 | England |
| University of Birmingham | 81 | England |
| University of Leeds | 93 | Yorkshire, England |
| University of Southampton | 97 | England |
| University of St Andrews | 100 | Scotland |
Top UK Universities with Cheapest Tuition Fees for International Students
Studying in the UK can be quite expensive, International students need around 12,000 GBP as living cost for a year, that too if they are not studying in London.
To help international students with a budget and who are looking for more affordable options, here are the top 10 cheapest UK universities for International Students, based on the Reddin survey conducted by The Complete University Guide.
| University | Annual Tuition Fees for International Students |
|---|---|
| Coventry University | 9000-12,600 GBP approx |
| Royal Agricultural University | 10,000 GBP approx |
| University of Suffolk | 10,800 GBP approx |
| University of Cumbria | 10,500 GBP approx |
| The University of the West of Scotland | 10,600 GBP approx |
| University of Sunderland | 10,500 GBP approx |
| Ravensbourne University London | 10,800-13,500 GBP approx |
| Buckinghamshire New University | 11,000 GBP approx |
| Plymouth Marjon University | |
| University of Wales Trinity Saint David |
These fees are still high, but International students can avail of various scholarships, bursaries, and financial aid available to study in the UK.
UK Universities with the most International Students
The United Kingdom is home to more than 4.5 lakh International Students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Based on the statistics available at the HESA website for the year 2017-2018, the total number of international students studying in the UK was 458,490, out of which 17,990 were enrolled in the University College London alone.
Here is the list of top ten universities/colleges with the most International students
| Institution | Total number of international students (2017-18) |
|---|---|
| University College London | 17,990 |
| The University of Manchester | 13,750 |
| The University of Edinburgh | 12,025 |
| Coventry University | 11,285 |
| King’s College London | 11,175 |
| Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine | 9,560 |
| University of the Arts, London | 9,175 |
| The University of Warwick | 8,990 |
| The University of Sheffield | 8,965 |
| The University of Glasgow | 8,815 |
Courses in the UK for International Students
The United Kingdom and its universities are renowned for top-class education, high-quality teaching and research, and academic training. UK universities offer academic excellence and quality with thousands of courses available for international students and help them become an expert in the field of study. Courses done in the UK are accredited all over the world.
International students can choose from a variety of different undergraduate and graduate courses, and can also combine their courses to make a degree program that suits their needs and interests.
Courses in the UK for International students in higher education qualifications include:
- Foundation degrees
- Diplomas
- Bachelor degrees
- Post-graduate degrees
- Doctorate degrees
Given below are some of the top courses offered at the various universities and colleges in the UK for the International students:
| Agricultural Sciences | Arts and Humanities | Biology and Biochemistry |
| Chemistry | Clinical Medicine | Computer Science |
| Economics and Business | Engineering | Environment/Ecology |
| Geosciences | Immunology | Materials Science |
| Mathematics | Microbiology | Molecular biology and Genetics |
| Neuroscience and Behaviour | Pharmacology and Toxicology | Physics |
| Plant and Animal Science | Psychiatry/Psychology | Social Sciences and Public Health |
| Space Science | Management | Law |
| Music |
Popular UK Courses among International Students
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Business and Management
Business and Management courses in the UK are the most popular among international students. As of 2017-18, around 1.2 lakhs international students were enrolled in the business and management courses offered by the universities and colleges in the UK.
Most of the B&M programs in the UK offer placements with globally recognized companies. Top Universities in the UK for Business and Management courses:
| Name of the University | Location |
|---|---|
| University of Oxford | Oxford, England |
| University of St. Andrews | St. Andrews, Scotland |
| University of Warwick | Coventry, England |
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Engineering and Technology
Engineering and technology courses are the second most sought in the UK by international students. UK Engineering and Technology schools are amongst the best in the world. Their study programs are highly research-based aiming to equip students to understand the basic core of the subject and also help them in developing advanced application knowledge. Top 3 universities in the UK for Engineering and Technology.
| Name of the University | Location |
|---|---|
| University of Bristol | Bristol, England |
| University of Cambridge | Cambridge, England |
| Imperial College London | London, England |
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Social Studies
Universities in the Uk offers a diverse range of subjects included within social studies, as it also includes economics and politics, alongside courses that lead to a professional qualification in social work. Around 42 international students are currently enrolled in various social studies courses offered in the UK.
| Name of the University | Location |
|---|---|
| University of Oxford | Oxford, England |
| University of Glasgow | Glasgow, Scotland |
| University of Leeds | Yorkshire, England |
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Law
Universities in the UK are among the oldest universities that offer law courses, due to this long and rich tradition, UK law degrees have become very popular and highly competitive for international students.
| Name of the University | Location |
|---|---|
| University of Oxford | Oxford, England |
| University of Cambridge | Cambridge, England |
| University of Dundee | Dundee, Scotland |
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Economics
The United Kingdom is one of the leading and oldest economic centers in the world, students from all over the world are interested to study Economics from the leading economy capital of the world. Studying Economics in the UK also provides International students to have practical experience through various internships and work classes. Top Universities in the UK for Economics.
| Name of the Institute | Location |
|---|---|
| University of Oxford | Oxford, England |
| University of Cambridge | Cambridge, England |
| University College London | London, England |
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Computer Science
Around 20 thousand International students are currently studying Computer Science courses in the UK. UK universities have been instrumental in the development of computing and continue to conduct research for the world’s top companies. Studying Computer Science in the UK gives International students the core skills required to develop their careers in the booming field of Computer Science. These three universities are most sought by International students for Computer Science courses in the UK.
| Name of the Institute | Location |
|---|---|
| University of Cambridge | Cambridge, England |
| University of St. Andrews | St. Andrews, Scotland |
| University of Oxford | Oxford, England |
How To Choose the Best UK University as an International Student?
Explore the UK universities rankings
- Learn in detail about the universities individually.
- Compare the rankings of the universities by each other by using Times Higher Education World University Rankings and subject rankings.
- Compare the universities by considering the rankings of the best courses to study at university
Research funding opportunities
- Learn about the eligibility criteria for various scholarships in the UK.
- Research about the application deadlines in advance.
- Find scholarships based on your intended course of study from the British Council’s Education UK website.
Choose a location
- Select a university by considering the location of living, living costs, culture, weather, etc.
- Nottingham is one of the most affordable cities in the UK with student-friendly cafes.
- In London, International students will experience the hustle-bustle of the huge metropolis but will have to pay high rents.
- Live in Brighton, Bournemouth or Cardiff or Southampton if you wish to live by the sea.
Contact and visit universities
- Bring the choices down to at least 10 universities and start contacting them.
- Gather more and more information about the application and admission process of the universities in the UK
- Contact the admissions department and try to get in touch with current students.
Learn about student life
- Universities in the UK cater to all types of extracurricular activities for international students.
- Societies and recreational activities can be last but not the least option to decide the best one out of the shortlisted universities to study in the UK.
Preparation for Tests and Application
- Prepare for standardized tests like GMAT, GRE, UKCAT, TOEFL or IELTS.
- Register before the test dates, and crack the exam.
- Prepare documents including reference letter, SOP and essays.
- Apply before the deadline.
After the student has decided on the course and the university they want to study in, he/she is advised to start applying to the universities in the UK at least a year before.
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