The United Kingdom consists of four countries, united under one government. The countries are England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each has a distinct culture and feel of its own. UK contains over 80 per cent of the total population.

College Fit

At the higher education level, students have a wide range of options when they choose a college or university. Although there are agencies that attempt to rank colleges and universities, the concept of "fit" is also important. The GPA* of admitted students are important, but majors offered, location, number of students enrolled, and campus culture are all factors influencing a prospective student’s decision. Some colleges and universities are publicly funded, while others are privately supported.

*GPA means grade point average. It is the average of all grades received.

Popular student destinations

The top universities in UK are University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, London School of Economics, Imperial College London, University of Durham etc. (in no particular order). Most of the best colleges in the country are situated in London, followed by Cambridge, Oxford and Manchester.

Popular courses

Sociology and Social Studies, Law, Business Management, Computer Science, Communications/Media are the popular courses Indian students pursue in UK.

Safety in UK

As a student, you will be as safe in the UK as you are at home. When you get to your college there will be loads of other students who will give you all the information you need about the place. You will find that the country is multicultural and you will soon have friends from all over the world.

Weather

UK has a variable climate changing from day to day. It is difficult to predict the weather. In general, the summers are warm and winters see snowfall. Summers are cooler than those of India.

England - Compared to other places in UK, England is sunnier throughout the year. On some occasions there can be strong winds. Also the rains are unpredictable and it could rain at any time during the year. London, Manchester, Birmingham are some of the popular cities. The average temperature in summers is around 25°C to 15°C; in winters it is around 7°C to 0°C.

Scotland - The climate of Scotland is temperate and can be very unpredictable. Rainfall is not uniform across Scotland, with the western parts getting a lot more rains than the eastern parts. Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen are the major cities. The average temperature in summers is around 19°C to 10°C; in winters it is around 6°C to -1°C.

Wales - In Wales, most of the rain tends to fall between October and January. Days in winters are shorter and the region experiences snow. Summers are warmer than other parts of UK. Cardiff, Newport, Swansea are some of the popular cities here. The average temperature in summers is around 23°C to 12°C; in winters it is around 8°C to 1°C.

Northern Ireland – This region has relatively mild winters and cool summers. Northern Ireland is cloudier than England and gets less sunshine comparatively. Belfast, Lisburn, Newry are some of the popular cities here. The average temperature in summers is around 19°C to 10°C; in winters it is around 8°C to 0°C.

Lifestyle tips

All international students to UK will need a letter from the college in order to open a bank account. The college will give you this letter during the induction and registration events. It is essential that all UK international students register with a local doctor. Again, the college will help you arrange this during the induction and registration events. You will have full access to a wide range of clubs and societies at the university. The college also arranges social events throughout your study period. Typically, this would include city tours, ice-skating, ten-pin bowling and visits to other cities in the UK.

Indians living in UK

Indians are UK’s largest ethnic minority group. There were nearly 1.6 million Indian immigrants living in United Kingdom in 2008. The majority of all Indian immigrants resided in three cities: London, Manchester, and Birmingham. The rest of the Indian immigrants live in major metropolitan areas like Cardiff, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Belfast.

Accommodation

Firstly, you need to decide whether you want to live in university managed accommodation, or with a private landlord. Choosing university managed accommodation can also give you a catered or self-catered option. Catered accommodation offers the benefits of your meals being cooked for you and a degree of certainty with meal costs.

If you have an idea about what you prefer, the accommodation office at your university will be able to tell you what accommodation they have available - so that’s the place to start. If you are thinking of renting from a private landlord or if your chosen university can’t offer you anything in its own residential facility, the accommodation office should be able to provide you with a list of private properties and landlords in the area.

Wherever you choose to live, you should make sure that you know your contractual rights and responsibilities. In most cases you will be asked to enter into a tenancy agreement, which you should read thoroughly before you sign.

The kind of accommodation options available would be

Short-term accommodation

Hostels and hotels. Temporary housing which may be offered through your institution while you get settled. Talk to your institution's international support staff or check their website for details.

Rental

You can rent or 'lease' a property by yourself or with friends. This can be done through a real estate agent or privately.

On Campus

Living can be a great option to minimize travel. Most universities have comfortable and furnished apartment-style living on campus or close by.

Homestay

This option allows you to live with a family in their home.

Orientation

Orientation week is mandatory for international students, so ensure that you arrive before it starts. This is the time where you will be introduced to the university and its services, as well as enrol in your classes. It is essential that you read your guidebook, which is provided by the college. The guide explains each part of the admission process.

Activities

Along with sports, colleges offer extra-curricular activities that provide students a wide range of experiences. Music, drama, science and literary societies in colleges offer opportunities for outdoor education and other leisure activities. Visits to theatres, concerts, and places relevant to the courses of study such as art galleries and museums, religious centres or historical sites, scientific companies and projects are all part of college life.

Requirements

These vary between study programs and levels. For each course, Indian students will need to meet a minimum English language requirement. Along with that a minimum academic record of 65% and above for humanities stream in class XII, and 70 - 80% and above for Science/Commerce stream in class XII will also be required. Foundations and Diploma programs are available for students who have secured below 60%. The student should have completed 18 years of age before joining a degree program.

It is important to note that these numbers are just for reference purpose, the actual numbers may differ from university to university

The following documents also need to be submitted:

  • Attested copies of mark sheets of class X, XII, and the Bachelor’s degree (if applicable)
  • At least, two academic reference letters from professors who have taught you most recently
  • If you have work experience then two letters of recommendation from the employer/manager who knows you well and can comment on your professional abilities
  • Statement of Purpose (SOP)
  • Resume
  • Photocopied score reports of GMAT / IELTS / TOEFL
  • Portfolio (in case of students applying for art and design courses & architecture programs)
  • Others (certificates / achievements at the state and national level and extracurricular activities)
  • Proof of funds

Timeline

Here is a timeline to follow to get admission steps completed in time.

18-12 months before enrolment

  • Start researching and select 8-12 universities that you will apply to. Visit university websites and note application requirements, deadlines etc.
  • Learn about options to fund your studies.
  • Make custom application strategies for different universities.

12-10 months prior to enrolment

  • This is the time when you shift from the preparation mode to creating the application. Think hard about what makes you unique as an applicant and sketch out your strengths and self-assessment.
  • Register yourself and start preparing for required standardised tests like GMAT, GRE, UKCAT, TOEFL or IELTS - depending on the course and university.

10 months before enrolment

  • Begin by downloading admissions brochures from the university websites.
  • Start working on the UCAS admission form and application.
  • Search for and begin applying for external scholarships (if applicable).
  • Take standardized tests like GMAT and TOEFL.
  • Contact your professors and direct managers for at least two reference letters.
  • Begin drafting your SOP and essays.
  • Alongside your admission applications, plan for your expenses like applying for an education loan.

Enrolments

  • Apply before the deadline!
  • You may have to appear for a video interview in front of the admissions committee.
  • You will get your rejection letter via e-mail by April-June (the months may vary). The acceptance letter helps you attain student visa.
  • Gather paperwork for your student visa.
  • Depending on the deadline, you will need to notify the universities of your decision, pay a non-refundable deposit, and apply for your student visa.

Application fee

All colleges require that you pay an application fee while applying. The fee amount will differ depending upon the college and course being applied to, so check with individual colleges about their application fee.

SOP

A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is your introduction to the college and admission officers. It is always written in first person and describes the reason for applying to a particular college. It needs to highlight why you are a perfect fit for the college and why the college should accept you. The style of writing could differ from formal to casual, but it is important to remember that it should reflect your personality as well.

Essay

Essays are also required to be submitted by a prospective student. Essays are an important part of the university admissions process. Students may be required to write one or two essays, along with a few optional essays too. Common topics include career aspirations, strengths and weaknesses, skills, experiences, and reasons for considering a particular school.

LOR

A letter of recommendation (LOR) is a reference letter written by a third party describing the qualities, characteristics, and capabilities of the prospective student to recommend him to the college in terms of that individual’s ability to perform a particular task or function. The third party could be a professor, direct manager etc.

UCAS

Applications to all undergraduate courses are filled through Universities and Colleges Admission System or UCAS - a central organisation in the UK that is responsible for receiving undergraduate applications and forwarding them to the respective institutions.

UCAS allows you to apply to five Universities through a common form. £13 is the fees for one course, or £23 for multiple courses and applications. The services offered by UCAS are designed for the admission to the September/October intake in the UK and you normally apply directly to a university for courses starting in January or February.

Note - Students seeking admission to a postgraduate taught programme will have to apply to individual universities using the application form of that particular university. Most universities offer the facility to apply online for a nominal fee. Once the application form is filled appropriate supporting documents would have to be sent to the university. Although universities do not have a deadline it is recommend that you apply early to enhance your chances of being made an offer.

Intake seasons

The main intake seasons are September/October and January/February in UK. The services offered by UCAS are designed for the admission to the September or October intake in the UK. You have to apply directly to a university for courses starting in January or February.

Language exams

International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Pearson Test of English (PTE) are all standardised language tests, which are required to be taken for the purpose of getting admission into colleges. These follow different formats, structure and result bands. These tests are different in various ways but many colleges ask for any one of the results. So it's up to the student to decide which exam to appear for.

Repetition of exams

IELTS can be taken unlimited number of times. TOEFL can be retaken as many times as one wishes to, but cannot be taken more than once in a 12-day period. Same with PTE, it can be taken as many times as desired. You must wait to receive your scores before you can book your next test.

Time to apply

Ideally, if you are aiming at the September intake, you should appear for these exams by November, so that you can apply before the first deadline. The universities you will be applying to will mention which exam results they will accept. But if they give a choice to go for either of these, then the choice depends on you. The time required to prepare for IELTS/TOEFL/PTE would depend on the existing English language proficiency. You may require 2 to 4 months of preparation before the exam date.

General exams

GMAT - The Graduate Management Aptitude Test is used to measure the abilities of the potential MBA aspirant to undertake higher education in the field of business or management. It measures mathematical, English, and reasoning skills of the student.

GRE - The Graduate Record Examination is another test required to be taken by students applying to graduate schools to pursue MA or MS. Increasingly many business schools are also accepting GRE scores for the purpose to granting admission for MBA.

The university you will be applying to will mention which exam results will be applicable for the course of your choice. But if they give a choice to go for either of these, then the choice depends on you.

Repetition

You can give GMAT unlimited number of times, subject to five times a year and a gap of 30 days between two tests. You can take these tests with a gap of 30 days from the first time.

Ideally, if you are aiming at the September intake you should appear for these exams by November, so that you can apply before the first deadline. The preparatory duration generally ranges from 4 to 6 months.

Average Scores

The average GMAT accepted score across universities is 540. Average GRE score is 155 for Verbal, 167 for Quantitative and 5.0 for Writing.

It is important to note that these numbers are just for reference purpose, the actual scores may differ from university to university.

School expenses

The cost of living depends heavily on what part of UK will you be living in along with how much you will socialise. Some of the basic elements for living as an international student in UK are:

  • Accommodation rent (on campus or off campus)
  • Groceries and food
  • Utilities like electricity, water, gas, internet
  • Phone bills
  • Text and reference books
  • Airfare for travelling back to India

Other elements which may differ from person to person would be:

  • Dining out
  • Travel and Vacation
  • Car rent and Car insurance
  • Cable TV connection
  • Cost of Living for International Students in UK

The tuition fee varies according to different universities, courses and the city. For international students, undergraduate fees would start with £7,450 for lecture-based courses, and can go up to £36,600 for an undergraduate medical degree. But the fee for a lot of international undergraduate programs are around £10,000 on an average. And if you are thinking of applying to a post-graduate course, majority of international fees for 2013-14 are between £10,000 and £12,000.

Living expenses

As part of the new visa requirements, if you are an international student, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) requires you to have a budget of at least £1,265 per month to study in London, in addition to the tuition fees. If the campus is outside of London, you will require a minimum budget of £1,015 per month as requested by the UKBA. On an average, you may need around £200 to £300 per week to live in or around London. It is just an estimate, and the final costs will vary depending on your lifestyle, place of residence and how much you socialise.

Here is a table that will help you understand the costs in local currency. Keep in mind, the amounts below have been converted from the current Pound to Rupee rate of £ 1=Rs 102. This amount is subject to change.

Particulars Delhi London
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant Rs. 200 Rs. 1,020
Combo Meal at McDonalds or Similar Rs. 200 Rs. 510
Coffee Rs. 70 Rs. 255
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 litre) Rs. 20 Rs. 102
Milk, 1 litre Rs.  40 Rs. 102
White Bread Rs. 20 Rs. 102
Water (1.5 litre) Rs. 20 Rs. 102
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) Rs. 20 Rs. 295
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) Rs. 15 Rs. 221
Petrol (1 litre) Rs. 70 Rs. 142
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local Re. 1 Rs. 13
Internet - 6 Mbps, Unlimited Data Rs. 1,200 Rs. 2,040
Cinema, 1 Seat Rs. 250 Rs. 1,020
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre Rs. 12,000 Rs. 153,042
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre Rs. 7,500 Rs. 91,825

Health insurance

Insurance Policy is mandatory for international students, as students have to stay abroad for a long period of time. Before getting an insurance make sure that it covers medical expenses, personal accident, dental treatment, study interruption, passport loss etc. Insurance is basically cashless so a student does not need to pay money at the time of hospitalisation.

Scholarships

Merit and need-based fee waivers are awarded to international students. Candidate with strong academics, good performance in standardised exams and extracurricular achievements would be eligible for scholarship awards and financial assistance. To benefit from these opportunities, one has to make sure to send all the required documents by particular deadlines. In addition to this, the presentation of the application is also important because one is judged by the image one projects.

Documents required

The documents usually needed for a scholarship application are as follows, although the requirements may differ:

  • Academic records and photocopies
  • A recent CV
  • A letter of intent, which acts as a cover page
  • Certificate of language proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS scores)
  • Letters of Reference (LOR)

Loans

Student eligibility criteria: The first thing is to be aware of is whether you are eligible to apply for the loan or not. The general eligibility criteria that are followed by all the banks are

  • You should be an Indian national
  • You must have a strong academic record
  • You must be seeking admission to a professional, technical or other course of studies

Most banks maintain that the selected course should be job oriented.

  • You must have secured admission to foreign university institutions
  • You must be above the age of 18 years or else your parents can avail the loan

Eligibility of course

You may not get a loan on every course. Here are the kinds of courses that qualify for the education loan.

For Graduation: Job oriented professional or technical courses offered by reputed universities

For Post-Graduation: MCA, MBA, MS or even diplomas

These courses could be from foreign universities or institutes approved by the state and central government.

Loan amount

If your total fee is Rs 10 lakh, the bank may offer to give a loan of 80% of the amount and you will have to put in the balance 20%. This is called the margin amount. The maximum loan amount offered by banks for studies abroad is generally around Rs 20. If your tuition fees amount is Rs 30 lakh, you’ll have to manage the rest of the funds by yourself. Some banks charge a processing fee, while others don’t. It may be a fixed amount or a percentage of the total loan amount. So if the bank charges you 1% as processing fee, that will be an additional cost you’ll have to cover.

Documentation required

You will have to provide the acceptance letter sent by the University reflecting that you have been selected for the course and the schedule of fees. You will also need to show the mark sheet of the last qualifying examination to show your academic record.

All banks have different requirement for documentation, so you need to confirm with the bank first.

Repayment

Repayment starts only after the course period. If the student got employed within one year after completion of the course, the repayment should start immediately after the expiry of one month from the date of employment.

If you do not secure a job within a year of completing the course, then repayment starts irrespective of whether or not you are employed. The loan is generally to be repaid in 5-7 years after commencement of repayment. If the student is not able to complete the course within the scheduled time, extension of time for completion of course may be permitted for a maximum period of two years. Generally, you will get up to a maximum number of 10 years to repay the loan.

Conditions

You should have the following documents before applying:

  • A completed student visa application form
  • A letter of acceptance on the course - Your approved education provider will give you an acceptance letter and a visa letter which are official and unconditional offers of a place on a course of study. The visa letter must be issued no more than six months before you apply. The applications where the visa letters are older than six months will be refused.
  • Having a visa letter does not guarantee the application will be successful. The applicant must meet all the requirements of the category and any other requirements of the immigration rules.
  • Proof of funds - The money you need to show covers your course fees for your first year of study and living costs for up to a maximum of nine months. The amount you will need depends on whether you are applying as a child or adult and also whether you will be studying in or out of London. You must show that you have held the money for at least 28 days. The end of that 28 day period must not be more than one month before the date of your application.

You must show the following amount of money to meet basic living costs (not including fees) for period of up to nine months: £800 per month if you are living in London; £600 per month if you are living outside London.

Process

There are several steps to apply for a visa. UK student visa applications are processed within three weeks of the completed application being lodged.

Step 1 - Check if you qualify

You must be able to show that you have:

  • A confirmed place at the school, university or college where you intend to study. It is called a ‘confirmation of acceptance for studies’ (COE).
  • Enough money (also known as ‘maintenance or funds’) to cover your course fees and living costs in the UK.

Step 2 - Get your documents ready

For every document you provide, you must include the original document and a photocopy.

  • A signed copy of your completed visa application form
  • A valid passport
  • 1 passport sized colour photograph which meets the photo guidelines
  • Evidence of your confirmed place at the University
  • Any previous passports to show your previous travel history
  • If you send a document that is not in English, it must be accompanied by a full translation that can be verified

Step 3 - Apply online

You will need to register and create an account on the official UK Visa website.

When you have completed your online application form, you will need to print and sign your completed form. You must use the online appointment calendar to book an appointment at the visa application centre. When you have completed your online application, you will receive an email message containing your application number.

Step 4 - Pay your application fee

There are 4 ways to pay your visa application fee.

Payment at Standard Chartered Bank - You can pay your fee at some branches of the Standard Chartered Bank. The bank will issue a demand draft in favour of the 'The British High Commission'.

Demand draft from a nationalised or foreign bank - You can pay your fee by getting a demand draft issued by a nationalised or a foreign bank. Bank charges for this service will vary. The demand draft must be in favour of the 'The British High Commission’.

Payment at the visa application centre - You can pay the visa application fee at the visa application centre when you submit your visa application.

Pay online - You can pay your visa application fee online using a Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card.

Step 5 – Visit the visa application centre on the appointed date

You must book and attend an appointment at our visa application centre to submit your application and facial photograph and fingerprints.

Work permit

From April 6, 2012, Tier 1 (Post-study work) was closed to new applicants. So technically you don't get Post Work Visa with Student Visa. But if you want to work there after your studies, then you need to apply for Tier 2 visa which is meant for Highly Skilled Workers. So along with your student visa, you don’t get a work permit. You need to apply for a work visa separately.

Your spouse may work in the UK if the grant of leave is for more than 12 months. If your visa was granted for a period of less than 12 months or you are participating in a course of study below degree level, your spouse will not be allowed to work in the UK.

Visa for spouse

Visa holder in UK gets a Dependent Visa for the same duration as the primary applicant. This is applicable for Master's degree application only. Under-graduates cannot take dependants with them to UK.

If you have a Student visa, your dependants apply as 'dependant of a Points Based System migrant'. Each dependant completes a separate application form and pays a separate fee.

Along with your own maintenance funds, you need to show an additional £600 for each dependant for each month that you are applying for up to a maximum 9 months' maintenance funds. You can use a scholarship to cover the maintenance funds for your dependants, if you already have got a scholarship. The scholarship letter must state that funds are also intended for your dependants.

Pre-departure list

  • Book airline tickets
  • Buy travel and health insurance
  • Arrange accommodation in UK
  • Arrange transportation to/from the airport to home in UK
  • Consider buying traveller’s cheques
  • Check baggage and customs limitations
  • Clear all paperwork with your home educational institution

Get your documents in order and make photocopies to store in your baggage and keep at home, including:

  • Passport
  • Airline tickets
  • Travel insurance certificate
  • Letter of Acceptance by the educational institution
  • Key addresses and phone numbers
  • A bank statement showing proof of funds
  • Prescriptions for any medication you are carrying
  • Traveller’s cheques—if applicable
  • Medical and immunization records
  • Academic history and university transcripts

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