General Requirements to study in UK:

Find an English language course e.g. IELTS

Find a suitable university and suitable course e.g. Post-graduate in
Accounting and information system.

For undergraduate courses you usually need to have achieved further

education qualifications (such as A-levels, International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers, or
equivalent qualifications from your country) in related subjects. Find out more at UCAS or ask
your chosen university or college.
For postgraduate courses you usually need to have achieved a relevant undergraduate
qualification.
If you are unsure whether your qualifications meet the entry requirements, talk to the course
provider or visit the UK NARIC website. See our Qualifications explained article for more
details.

For post graduate study-http://www.postgraduatestudentships.co.uk/

Costs
Before you begin your studies, think carefully about the costs and how you will
finance your studies.
UK undergraduate and postgraduate courses are generally shorter than in other
countries. This helps to keep tuition fees and living expenses down. Most full-time
undergraduate courses take three years to complete. Full-time postgraduate courses
can take one year or more.
Tuition fees for UK higher education courses vary, depending on factors including:
whether you are from the European Union/European Economic Area; where in the
UK you are studying (there are different rules for England, Scotland, Northern Ireland
and Wales); and whether you are studying at undergraduate or postgraduate level.
For undergraduate students from the EU/EEA, these are the maximum tuition
fees (but many institutions charge less):

In England and Wales, up to 9,000 per year

In Northern Ireland, up to 3,575 per year

In Scotland, tuition is free.

If youre from another country outside the EU/EEA, tuition fees vary by course
provider.
For all postgraduate students, tuition fees vary by course provider.
You can find out about tuition fees for undergraduate courses here and tuition fees
for postgraduate courses here. Please also visit the UKCISA website for more
information.

Budgeting
When comparing tuition costs, look carefully at what is included and what is not
included in each fee. For example, some institutions may charge you extra for
books, study materials, examinations, etc. You should be able to find out what the
course fees cover on each course providers website, but if not, dont hesitate to ask
them.

When budgeting, think about additional costs for:

Travel to the UK

Accommodation

Food

Day-to-day living costs

Travel and sightseeing in the UK

Health and travel insurance.

Have a look at our Money section for advice on budgeting.

Scholarships
There are a number of good scholarship and financial support schemes for UK
higher education courses. Demand can be high, but it is well worth taking a look at
what is available.

Where can I find UK scholarships and bursaries?

On this website, you can search through thousands of scholarships at UK schools,
colleges and universities just click here and select your subject. This lists many,
but not all, UK scholarships it is an excellent place to start, but we recommend
looking at other sources too.
In addition, the British Council manages or administers aspects of a number of
scholarship and funding schemes. These include:
Scheme

Funding opportunity

Open to students or researchers

from

Euraxess UK

Research placements in the UK

All countries

UK-China HE Research
Partnership for PhD Studies

Doctoral studies

China and UK

Commonwealth Scholarship
and Fellowship Plan

Master's and doctoral courses (for

study in the UK and distance
learning), plus academic,
professional and medical fellowships

Commonwealth countries

Tullow Group Scholarships

Scheme

Postgraduate courses

Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory

Coast, Kenya, Mauritania,
Suriname, Uganda, Uruguay

Entente Cordiale

Postgraduate courses

France and UK

Hong Kong Scotland

Partners in Post Doctoral
Research scholarship scheme

Research visits

Hong Kong and Scotland

Charles Wallace India Trust

Scholarships

Doctoral studies, research, visiting

fellows and Scottish summer school

India

Charles Wallace Pakistan Trust

Scholarships

Doctoral studies, research, visiting

fellows and Scottish summer school

Pakistan

Goa Education Trust

Scholarships

Postgraduate courses

India Goa

BIRAX Regenerative Medicine

Initiative Fellowships

Research visits for scientists

Israel and UK

Young Cell Scheme

Postgraduate Master's studies in the

EU

Kosovo

Nigeria LNG Overseas

Postgraduate Scholarships
Scheme

Postgraduate courses

Nigeria

Higher Education Scholarships

for Palestine

Academic exchange for university

employees

Palestine

International Atomic Energy

Agency Scholarships

Fellowships for graduates

Selected countries see website

Hornby Educational Trust

Scholarships

Scholarships for English language

teachers to develop their English
language skills

Selected countries see website

BG Tanzania International
Postgraduate Scholarship
Scheme for Geoscience and
Engineering

Postgraduate courses

Tanzania

Scotlands Saltire Scholarships

Undergraduate, Master's and PhD

courses

Canada, China, India and USA

Other sources of funding

There are a number of scholarship schemes run by governments, charities and other organisations. Ask
your Ministry of Education, your local British Council office or your teachers if they know of any schemes
for students in your country. Here are a few global schemes you may want to have a look at:
Chevening UK government scholarships,
Erasmus Scholarships,
Royal Society grants.
Depending on your nationality, you may be eligible for a loan or financial support from the UK
government. Visit the UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs) website for more details.
In 2012, around 33% of pupils at UK independent schools received financial assistance. Visit
theScholarship Search tool at the Independent Schools Yearbook this publication has details of
independent schools for students up to age 18 (at primary and secondary level). Please note it
does not contain information on scholarships at higher education level.
Postgraduate studentships can be found via a number of websites, including Postgraduate
Studentships and Prospects.
Finally, have a look at the websites for the schools, colleges and universities you are interested
in. They may have a scheme that is not listed here.
o
o
o

Evaluating costs
Even with financial support, it is likely that you will have to pay some costs yourself.
You may have to pay for travel, accommodation or part of the course fee. Make sure
you find out what is and isnt covered by your scholarship or financial support
scheme.
Find out more about tuition and living costs in Costs and fees, plus advice from the
National Association of Student Money Advisers in How to map your budget.

Financial difficulties
The right time to look for financial support is before you start your course. It can be
very hard to find funding, particularly mid-way through the academic year.
If you experience financial difficulties during your course, please visit the UKCISA
website. They offer lots of detailed information and a student advice telephone
service.

Higher Education Courses and qualification

UK universities and colleges offer thousands of excellent courses, leading to
qualifications that are respected by employers and academics worldwide. When you
think of UK higher education qualifications, you might think of bachelors and
masters degrees, MBAs and PhDs. There are, however, many other types.
At undergraduate level the main qualifications offered are:

Bachelors or undergraduate degree: Academic study designed to help you gain a thorough
understanding of a subject. Full-time, this normally takes three years to complete (four in some cases).
There are different titles of degree, such as: Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of
Education (BEd) and Bachelor of Engineering (BEng).

Degrees are classified as either Ordinary or Honours this can vary between
universities and colleges. Generally an 'ordinary' or 'unclassified' degree may
be awarded if a student has completed a full degree course but hasn't obtained
the total required passes sufficient to merit a third-class honours degree. In
Scotland, an 'ordinary' degree is usually a three-year full-time course, whereas
an 'honours' degree is usually a four-year full-time course.

Foundation degree: The equivalent of the first two years of an honours degree, this may be studied
full- or part-time, and consists of academic study integrated with relevant work-based learning undertaken
with an employer. It may be studied as a standalone qualification or upon completion, you may progress
to the final year of an honours degree.

Diploma of Higher Education: Two year, full-time DipHE courses are normally equivalent to the first
two years of a degree and can often be used for entry to the third year of a related degree course. They
can be academic, but are mainly linked to a particular job or profession such as nursing and social work.

Certificate of Higher Education: Focuses on either a particular job or profession, or academic study.
Equivalent to the first year of a full honours degree, they are the most basic level of qualification that can
be gained in higher education and show that you are capable of studying successfully at university level.
You can use a CertHE to gain confidence to study successfully at university level, change careers or
progress your current career, or to achieve a foundation degree, DipHE or full honours degree through
additional study.

Higher National Diploma (HND): A two-year course which, if completed with high grades, can lead to
the third year of a degree.

To read more about Foundation programmes, HNDs, DipHE and CertHE

qualifications, see Shorter undergraduate courses.
At postgraduate level, the main qualifications offered are:

Master's degree. A masters qualification allows you to further your knowledge in a particular subject, or
to go in a completely different direction, using the skills youve gained from your undergraduate studies. A
masters degree is an academic qualification awarded to individuals who successfully demonstrate a
higher level of expertise in a particular field of study. You can study one in almost any subject, but there
are two main types of masters: taught and research (see below).

Most master's courses lead to an MA (Master of Arts) or MSc (Master of

Science) qualification, but there are also subject-specific qualifications
including MEng (Master of Engineering), MFA (Master of Fine Arts), LLM
(Master of Laws), MArch (Master of Architecture), and more. Courses leading
to an MPhil (Master of Philosophy) qualification are research-led and often
designed for students to progress to a PhD.

MBA courses. A Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree is an internationally recognised

qualification which gives you the skills you need for a successful management career. MBA courses cover
topics such as business policy and strategy, operational and strategic management, marketing, market
research, finance and accounting, IT, human resource management, leadership, entrepreneurship and
international trade.

PhDs/doctorates. A Doctor of Philosophy, or doctorate (PhD/DPhil) is the highest academic level a

student can achieve. These degrees are very demanding and often lead to careers in academia (as a

lecturer or researcher). Doctorate courses can be applied for by students who achieve at least a 2:1 result
at undergraduate level. Although you dont necessarily need a masters degree, it is usual practice to
undertake one before a PhD.

Postgraduate diplomas and qualifications. For those wishing to continue their studies beyond an
undergraduate degree, a variety of options are available. Postgrad certificates and diplomas allow
students to study something new or build on the skills and knowledge already gained during their first
degree.

Professional and vocational qualifications. A professional or vocational qualification is usually taken to

improve skills or gain attributes required by specific jobs. Most awards will involve practical training, giving
you the opportunity to experience a job first-hand.

Conversion courses. A conversion course is a vocational postgraduate qualification usually taken by

graduates wanting to change subject area after their first degree and better prepare themselves for the
job market.

Taught postgraduate programmes consist of a series of lectures or seminars, and

are assessed through exams or coursework. Research postgraduate programmes
require more in-depth independent study, usually over a period of two or three years.
You then report on your research by writing it in the form of a thesis or dissertation.
Subjects and modules

Most higher education courses have a modular structure. This means that you can
build a personalised course by choosing modules or units of study from different
subject areas. For example, if you are studying English literature, for your first year
you could choose one module on Science fiction, one module on Childrens
literature, and one module on Short stories.
If you are interested in more than one subject, you may be able to study a
combination as part of your course, e.g. English literature and psychology. You can
often decide for yourself how much time you would like to spend on each subject.
Joint means the two subjects are studied equally (50/50), major/minor means the
time spent is usually 75%/25%.
Work experience

Some courses include a year of working in industry for example, working for a
business, charity or public sector organisation. This will usually be for the third year
of a degree course or the second year of an HND and, depending on the employer,
may be full-time paid employment. The purpose of this is to introduce you to the
world of work, while gaining valuable experience in a profession you might consider
after completing your higher education course. Check your visa status allows you to
do this before applying.
Study modes

Most full-time undergraduate courses take three years to complete (typically four
years in Scotland). Full-time postgraduate courses can be from one year upwards.

Part-time courses are normally taken over a longer period, so that you can work
alongside your studies or learn at a more relaxed pace. There is no set length of time
for part-time courses it varies from one course to another. If you need a visa to
study in the UK, please check your immigration status allows you to do a part-time
course at UK Visas and Immigration.
As well as studying on campus in the UK, you could choose to study outside the UK
for example, by distance learning or by joining a UK overseas campus. Find out
more in our our Study for a UK qualification outside the UK article.
The academic year

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.

How to apply for a UK course

1. What do you want to study?

The first step in planning your UK education is to figure out what stage you are at,
and what you want to achieve from your course to gain skills and qualifications for
a particular career? To improve your English? To build your knowledge of a subject
youre interested in?
Here are the key stages of the UKs education system:

Students aged 16 and under attend primary and secondary education. At this level you can study a
wide range of subjects, such as maths, English literature, IT, languages, physics, biology, chemistry,
geography and history. Find out more here.

From the age of 16, students in the UK can go on to further education. You can choose
between academic courses (such as A-levels, the International Baccalaureate or Scottish Highers),
which enable you to enter university, or vocational courses, which give you the skills, training and
qualifications you need for a particular career. At this level you specialise in a few subjects. Find out more
here.

With further education qualifications, you can then go on to higher education undergraduate(e.g.
Bachelors degree, HND, Foundation degree, etc.), and then if you wish, on to postgraduate(e.g.
Masters degree, PhD, MBA). At this level you normally specialise in one or two subjects. You can also
take professional qualifications to help you in your career. Find out more.

At any age and study level, you can join an English language course. There are
thousands of courses across the UK, of varying lengths days, weeks, months, or
part-time to improve your English alongside your main studies. Find out more.
To help you decide, have a look at our Subject profiles section for an overview of the
different subjects you could study at any stage.
2. Search for courses, institutions and scholarships

Once youve decided what you want to study, you can look for the right course with
the Education UK search tool. This draws from a database of over 80,000 higher
education and further education courses, 1,000 boarding schools and 6,000 English
language courses, as well as over 4,000 scholarships to help fund your studies.

First, go to the Search menu at the top of this page. Click Courses and you can select your study level
and subject, or click Uni/college/school to search boarding schools or find any institution by name.

Click Go and youll be taken to the search results page.

Next, you can further personalise your search using the options on the left you can select particular
types of qualification, for example, choose whether you want to study full-time or part-time, or choose
where in the UK you want to study.

In the search results, either click on a course name to see full details of the course, or the name of the
institution to read more about it. On the institution pages, you can read about the scholarships and
accommodation it offers, its location, fees and entry requirements.

When you have found some courses, scholarships or institutions you are interested in, you can add
them to a shortlist to compare them. To save a shortlist and come back to it later, register here.

3. Contact your chosen school, college or university

Once youve decided which courses youre interested in, on the course information
page you can click:

Visit website to go to the course providers website for more information. Read more about the
institution, its courses and departments, its campus, town or city, and what its students have to say.

Download prospectus to download a full brochure of information on courses, costs and the application
process.

Send an email to contact the institution. You can select which level of study and subject youre
interested in, and send an enquiry to the institution directly for example, you could ask about entry
requirements, scholarships, accommodation or how to apply.

Even better, attending an exhibition and meeting education representatives face-toface could help to make your decision. Each year, Education UK organises
exhibitions in over 50 countries, where you can meet representatives from hundreds
of UK schools, colleges and universities. Ask your local British Council office about
events near you, and keep an eye on the News and events page for Education UK in
your country. Many events are listed here.
If you are able to travel to the UK before you decide, look out for open days at the
institutions youre interested in these are an opportunity to visit and get a feel for
the campus, meet staff and students, and ask any questions you still have. The
school or universitys website will list details of upcoming open days.
Keep in mind what's most important to you academic reputation? Sports, arts or
social facilities? The number of other international students? Language and study
support?

4. Apply for your chosen course

The application process varies greatly between different levels of education and
types of institution, so make sure you find out all the details for your chosen course.
If you have any questions, contact the institution directly and they will be happy to
help.
First, ensure you meet the entry requirements dont waste time applying for a
course that youre not eligible for! These requirements will relate to your
qualifications, your English language skills, and whether you will be able to secure a
visa. To find out if you need a visa and how to apply, see our guide to UK student
visas.
Next, give yourself enough time. Many English language courses and shorter further
education courses have start dates throughout the year, but most other courses start
in September or October, and the deadline for applications can be up to a year in
advance (or even more for some boarding schools). Find out what your deadline is,
and what's required if you need a reference, for example, you'll need to give your
referee enough time to write it.
Where to apply

For schools, English language centres and most further education and
postgraduate courses, you need to apply directly to the provider. These institutions
manage their own admissions, so there is no national application system. Most have
application forms on their website.
For undergraduate courses and some postgraduate courses, you can apply
through a central admissions system, allowing you to apply to multiple institutions
quickly and easily.

All undergraduate applications are handled by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
(UCAS). Check the application deadlines here. You can watch a short video guide here this shows how
to register and complete your application, and what happens next.

The UCAS website also has a guide for international students on tracking your
application, arranging your visa, student finance and more.

Some institutions also use a central admissions system for postgraduate courses, the UK
Postgraduate Application and Statistical Service (UKPASS). See which institutions are part of this scheme
on the UKPASS website.

UCAS operates an application system for graduates who want to take postgraduate teacher training
courses. Find out more and apply online at the UCAS Teacher Training website.

UCAS Conservatoires is a separate application system for practice-based music courses, some
dance and drama courses, at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Find out more and apply online
at UCAS Conservatoires.

Application tips

For advice to help you write your application particularly for higher education
courses, where you will need to write a personal statement check out Six tips from
a Head of International Admissions.
If you are invited to attend an interview as part of your application, make sure you
read Interviews: Essential advice from UK admissions officers.
5. Finally, stay positive!

The application process can be nerve-wracking, but if you complete everything

youre asked for and ask for help if you need it! then this is just the beginning of
your UK education.