A vibrant nation of opportunity

The United Kingdom , or Great Britain as it is also known, comprises the countries of England , Scotland , Wales as well as the province of Northern Ireland . It is a constitutional monarchy, with London as its seat of government.

Whether you are traveling to UK as a student or tourist, you can be assured of a unique and memorable experience -- thanks to its rich culture and enduring traditions, its cosmopolitan environment, and its amazing geographic diversity.

From quaint small county villages to bustling ultra modern cities, scenic lakes to glorious golf courses, medieval architectural landmarks to sweeping national parks… Britain offers it all. A sightseer can take in the majesty of Buckingham Palace , the cathedrals of Durham , the tranquility of Cotswolds, the coastal vistas of Newport , and still be thirsty for more.

Even the climate offers variety: with temperatures ranging between -10 degrees and +35 degrees Celsius, accompanied by plentiful rainfall !

As a country, the UK warmly welcomes people from all nations, faiths and ethnic backgrounds. This readiness to assimilate is what gives it the multi-national and multi-cultural identity that it is known for. On one hand, international visitors and students will feel at home; on the other, they will find the endless global flavors of food, clothing and lifestyle both exciting and enriching.

UNIVERSITIES & COLLEGES

A world of courses, at all levels

The United Kingdom is one of the world’s most favored destinations for education and professional training. A degree or qualification from UK is respected across the globe, and is seen as a worthy asset for employment and career building.

Education in the UK offers world class levels of excellence. This is because all academic and vocational education institutions are subject to rigorous quality audits. These assessments cover everything from curricula and teaching to infrastructure and student support services – and are conducted by the government on a regular basis.

In addition, the education system itself is designed to encourage initiative, diligence and originality on part of the student, with an emphasis on independent learning effort.

A unique aspect of this system is the flexibility that it allows a student to ‘customize’ his study programme. For example, he has the option of combining vocational training, English language learning and work internships with his normal academic study. He can also take up a ‘sandwich course’ to pursue academics if he is already employed. Or he can join a ‘conversion course’ to study a subject that interests him – even if he does not have an appropriate academic background for that line of study.

Dozens of universities and hundreds of colleges of repute across the UK offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses, in virtually every discipline that an applicant can think of. Numerous institutions offer opportunities for doctoral and research programs as well.

IT, Management, Biotechnology, Fashion Technology, Hotel Management and Engineering are among the most popular avenues for study in the UK .

All universities have an end-September intake. However, several universities may also offer a second intake in January-February.

Annual fees for various programmes may vary between institutions, but generally start from around 6,000 British pounds a year for a Bachelor’s, 7,000 British pounds for a Master’s, and 12,000 British pounds for an MBA course. At the higher end, the tuition costs of business, engineering and science courses can go up to 12,000 pounds annually, while MBA programmes can cost up to 16,000 pounds a year.

When estimating living costs, it is safe to assume an expense of 800 British pounds a month if you are staying in London , and up to 600 British pounds a month for other areas.

However, a key advantage is that pursuing academics in UK can be cheaper than in other countries. This is because British bachelor’s courses are usually of 3 years and the master’s programmes of 1 year – compared to 4 years and 2 years respectively in other countries. Consequently, students spend that much less on living costs while qualifying for jobs faster.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

The minimum benchmarks

At least a high second class score in Class XII is essential for admission to undergraduate (Bachelor’s in Arts/Science) courses in the UK .

For graduate (Master’s in Arts/Science) courses, as well as MBA programmes, a high second class in an Indian graduate degree course is mandatory.

In addition, management school aspirants may also have to take the GMAT test at some universities.

Admission seekers must also have good IELTS and TOEFL scores. (The recommended minimum scores are 6.0 for IELTS and 550 for TOEFL.)

VISA
Things to know

An Entry Clearance Visa is mandatory if the applicant is seeking to do a course at an academic institution in the UK , and does not possess a passport issued by the British government or a country of the European Union.

To be issued by the nearest British High Commission, the visa is given only if the applicant has been accepted for a full-time study course at a recognized institution, whether government or privately funded.

At the same time, the candidate will be required to demonstrate his ability to finance his stay and fees, besides supporting his accompanying family/dependents if any, without requiring public funds.

Though the visa approval procedure may take 2-3 days, if all documents with the application are in order (like acceptance letter from the university/college, prepaid fee receipts or guarantees of sponsorship by resident family members or close acquaintances, details of applicant’s assets in India, etc), the process may take longer if the High Commission wishes to personally interview the applicant (e.g., in the case of a previous refusal of visa). It is therefore advisable to apply and secure the visa well in advance of the stipulated course commencement date in the UK .

Currently, there is a standard application fee for a multiple entry student visa to the UK . This is required to be submitted to the High Commission by demand draft along with the application form.

For more details on visa regulations, please visit www.ukvisas.gov.uk

WORK PERMITS

Your ticket to employment

A degree from a UK university is respected the world over. And of course, it easily ensures employability within the UK to begin with.

Should an international student, who is a qualified graduate, meet certain conditions like those under the Tier-4 system, he is allowed an official 2 year post-study work permit for the UK , and can hope to get a job with a starting salary of around 20,000 British pounds (Rs 15 lacs) a year or more.

Even while studying, the student can take up employment. International students can work part-time during academic sessions, up to a maximum of 20 hours a week, and full-time (37 hours a week) during vacations. They can earn from 3 to 7 British pounds an hour, depending upon the kind of job they are doing.

Some restrictions apply, however. Students must refrain from indulging in business or self-employment, or taking up a full-time job. They are also advised to curtail the number of working hours if their courses are intensive, and their studies demanding and time-consuming.

Only students who have duly completed their course are eligible for full-time employment in the UK . Under normal conditions, foreign students can work at full day jobs for a maximum of 4 months after finishing their studies, or until the expiry of their student visa -- whichever is earlier.

Those desirous of staying employed in the UK even after this period must approach the authorities to alter their visa status. Seeking immigration is an option as well.