The United Kingdom is a world leader in many areas of education including art and design, business and management, law, finance, engineering, science etc.
It’s a welcoming, diverse and popular destination for international students. Universities in UK provide world-class teaching and help students develop great skills for success in the global workforce.
The UK offers a world-renowned education system with qualifications that can make a real difference to student’s future. It attracts huge number of international students each year to a variety of programmes, ranging from English language courses to PhDs. The UK education system gives students the freedom to combine courses and subjects from different areas of studies.
Living & studying cost in UK
‘Studying in the UK can cost less than one thinks. The course fees include all the benefits that an education in UK has to offer – English language skills, work experience, developing career-relevant skills, living in a culturally diverse society and making new friends & contacts. A UK education is a unique experience that one can’t put a price on.
Tuition fees per year range from approx. £7,000 to £12,000 depending on the course & the estimated living cost per year is approx. £7,000 – £9,000 which can vary depending on the institution & the city.
Visa for studying in UK
The student visa (Tier 4) is meant for international students (except EEA & Switzerland) who are above 16 years of age and have an offer to join a full-time study course. While submitting an application, the applicant needs to show the confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) to prove that one has a valid invitation from the college or institute to study in the United Kingdom. In addition to this, one also has to fulfil the eligibility criteria set for English language, academic records and financial security etc.
The UK government welcomes international students. The main intake is autumn (September) each year, though many universities have smaller intakes in January. When applying for the visa, the student must make sure that they qualify for the same. The UK visa requirements are subject to change, but the applicant will generally need an unconditional offer letter from the chosen university as well as proof of funds to cover course fees and living expenses.
Recent Changes in Visa
The students are advised to consult an IDP counsellor for visa related information. There are few changes introduced by UK Visa & Immigration authorities this year which are mentioned below.
Part time work while studying
Students going to the UK universities are allowed to work 20 hours per week during the term time and 40 hours per week during the vacation. Students going to publicly funded colleges will no longer be allowed to work 10 hours a week after August 2015 however this does not apply to students already there and does not impact students from India as the majority of student from India go to the UK universities
BRP – Biometric Resident Permit
Under the new process, visas will no longer be issued in the passport. Student will instead be issued an initial 30 day entry permit in their passport which will enable them to enter the UK. In addition, student will receive a decision letter outlining the conditions of their immigration leave. The actual visa in the form of a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) will need to be collected on arrival in the UK.
Immigration Health Surcharge
Students applying for a new student visa for more than 6 months will need to pay £150 per year as healthcare charge, called the ‘immigration health surcharge’, as part of the visa application. This allows the student to use the National Healthcare Service (NHS). Students will still need to pay for normal services such as prescription, medications, dental treatment, eye tests etc. but the student will not need to pay more for healthcare.