Studying & Living in United Kingdom

Why Study in United Kingdom?

Education is a significant part of every student’s life and to fulfil the need for the same, students often want to go abroad and study in the top global universities. Here we have explained a comprehensive array of reasons ‘Why study in the U.K.’ can be an excellent choice for them.

With its exceptional academic reputation, historic universities, and opulent lifestyle, the U.K. is the top choice for the students throughout the world. As per Q.S. Ranking of Top 50 universities in the world, the U.K. is home to 9 of them. It includes the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, U.C.L., Imperial College London, The University of Edinburgh, etc.

Moreover, with more than 2,50,000 international students enrolling every year, Britain is the second most preferred country for higher education worldwide. Below we have mentioned remarkable knowledgeable facts that students planning to study abroad in the UK should know:

The United Kingdom offers world-class universities and research facilities

Universities in the UK have more seasoned teachers than others in the world.

United Kingdom Student Visa

An international student needs a U.K. visa to study there. For this, you have to know about the process of obtaining a U.K. student visa. There are two categories under Tier 4 Visa for international students. One is Tier 4 (General) Student Visa, in which applicants must be 16 years old or above, and second is the Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa, which is for the children aged between 4 to 15 years, to study in the independent fee-paying schools only.

In order to obtain a General Visa, students need to enroll in the graduation or masters degree programs that are officially listed on the ‘UKBA Sponsor List’. This visa allows international students to work for 20 hours in a week plus full-time job during holidays.

In addition to the new changes brought in 2019, international students can also apply for a two-year post-study work visa.

You can also apply for the visa when pursuing a short course from the U.K. Documents like financial and academic records are essential while applying for the visa.

Cost of visa in UK

If you are planning to study in the U.K., you’ll need a visa for the same. You can apply for a visa three months earlier before your course begins. But you will need to be enrolled in a college in the U.K. Eligibility and requirements for the U.K. visa include the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (C.A.S.).

For the tier 4 General Visa, the fee is £348, which is approximately 33,349 rupees of Indian currency. You can pay the cost online by using a Visa card or Mastercard, or can pay it by cash at the standard chartered bank, or by the demand draft provided on the application by the U.K. bank.

Cost of Living in United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is an expensive destination for higher education. Taking into account the quality of life and standards, the cost of living in the U.K. is considerably expensive for Indian students

However, the cost of living in the U.K. can vary depending on different cities and colleges. It includes the study material, transport, apartments or hostels, clothes and meals. Students have to prove that they can afford at least £1,265 per month in London & outer London for living and maintenance for a minimum of 9 months.

While studying in the U.K., the first expense is renting accommodation and following are the approximate prices:

Self-catering flats & residences

For Undergraduate (40 weeks)- £4,620 / For Postgraduate (52 weeks)- £5,145

Rent for an apartment

For one-bedroom apartment (Monthly)- £748.00 / For three-bedroom apartment (Monthly)- £1200.00

Public Transport

For Undergraduate (40 weeks)- £520 / For Postgraduate (52 weeks)- £665

Other expenses included in the cost of living in the U.K. are as follows.

Public Transport - For Undergraduate (40 weeks)- £520
For Postgraduate (52 weeks)- £665
Groceries and meals - For Undergraduate (40 weeks)- £1465
For Postgraduate (52 weeks)- £1980
Electricity and Gas- £147.26 (Monthly)
Internet and mobile- £20.15 (Monthly)
Entertainment - £9.00 (Monthly)

Apart from this, books and stationery are also part of the expenses. Clearly, for international students, study in the U.K. can be expensive. That is why, most of the students prefer to do part-time jobs along with their studies to meet the expenses.