Study in the United Kingdom

Many international students choose to study in United Kingdom (UK). This popularity makes it one of the leading study destinations in the world, largely because it the UK enjoys a very high reputation for education quality and choice.

The UK has some of the most prestigious universities in the world, including Oxford University and Cambridge University. In fact, when people think about top quality education, they often consider the UK to be the leader.

With this outstanding reputation, one of the main advantages of studying in the UK is that your degree will be recognized for its high quality, which in turn can lead to significant job opportunities.

Key Facts about Study in the United Kingdom

• Close to half a million international students study in the UK, making it the second highest destination country for students from other countries.
• Almost 20% of the students at universities in the UK are international students, giving the UK one of the highest proportions on overseas students in the world.
• With its small size and excellent transport system, the UK is an excellent place to study because it is surrounded by many fascinating regions and countries to visit.

About the UK

The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

London is the capital of England and it is one of the biggest and wealthiest cities in the world. There are a large number of education choices in London. However, the costs of living in London are high and need to be considered when choosing where to study.

Outside of London, the major English cities include Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol and Newcastle. Each of these cities has high-quality study options and will be significantly cheaper than studying in the London.

Scotland is located north of England and features the impressive cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Wales is located to the west of England has its own distinct language and culture. Cardiff is the capital of Wales and is a popular study and travel destination for many international students.

Northern Ireland features the port city of Belfast, which is the home to the impressive Queens University.

Annual cost of studying in the United Kingdom

Like most countries, the cost of living depends on where and what you choose to study. Large cities such as London and Manchester have high living expenses, while the costs associated with smaller rural areas are cheaper.

The following costs for the UK in British pounds are approximate:

• Accommodation costs British pounds
• Living expenses
• Undergraduate courses
• Postgraduate courses

Working rights for International Students in the United Kingdom

International students who are enrolled full-time can work for 20 hours per week during term, then up to 40 hours per week during holidays.

Accommodation in the United Kingdom

In many cases, international students can choose to live on campus. It is important to check accommodation choices at your university before choosing your study destination.

In many cases, students choose to live nearby campus in their own shared apartment or house. This is often a cheaper option; however, more considerations will need to be made about the location and people to live with.

If you are moving to London, make sure you read Sinead’s top 5 tips for finding student accommodation.

Transport in the UK

The UK has one of the best transport systems in the world. There are comprehensive road, bus and rail networks, making it very easy to travel from place to place. As well as that, internal flights within the UK are often very cheap, and air travel to other cities in Europe is good value.