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UK

About

UK is a pioneer in word class education and is home to some of world's best universities like Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College, London School of Economics to name a few.

Made up of four countries- England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom is a very popular study destination for Indian students.
The UK has more than 100 universities and around 165 higher education institutions including universities and colleges.
Climate: There are four distinct seasons – Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn. On the whole, it is fairly temperate, and temperatures rarely fall below –5°C and rises above 32°C. The climate is mild and the rainfall is not spectacular. The least hospitable months for visitors are November through February – its cold and the days are short. March and October are marginal – there's more daylight but it can still be very cold. April to September are undoubtedly the best months.
Currency: The official currency of UK is Pound Sterling (£).
Total Area covered: approximately 245,000 square kilometers (94,600 sq mi)

Why UK?

Modern Learning Environment:
With ancient and traditional universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, and University College London to modern universities, the UK offers something for every student in a variety of subject areas
UK institutions use a variety of teaching and assessment methods to encourage independence, as well as mastery of the subject
Students are expected to use the information they are given to stimulate their original thinking
Quality of Education:
The education system provides facilities such as international students' societies, planned social activities, academic support, and academic counselors. UK has one of the lowest 'drop out' rates
Its quality is unrivaled throughout the world.
Encourages relevant skills that are marketable and sought by today's top companies
Affordable:
Realization of earning potentials sooner with Part time work of 20 hrs per week
Numerous scholarships and bursaries offered by UK institutions.
Almost free health care by National Health Service.
Student discount facilities provided free through National Union of Students membership for all students.
Choice:
Vast choice of institutions, academics and subjects.
Flexible programs.
Diverse, stable social environment
Indian 3-year degree is acceptable directly for Masters programs
Multicultural:
Cosmopolitan place to live
Home to numerous ethnic groups and nationalities from around the world
Tolerant, stable society where students learn about diverse range of people
Duration:
Compared to other educational destinations shorter duration programs
Taught Master courses are only for 1 year. You do not need 16 years of education to pursue a Masters degree in most subjects
Most undergraduate (bachelors) degrees are for 3 years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Education System

UK offers a variety of programs/courses in different fields and subject areas. The programs offered can be classified into:

Undergraduate or Bachelor's courses
Sandwich courses
Higher National Diploma or HND
Postgraduate Courses
MBA
Undergraduate or Bachelor's courses:

These are offered in variety of subjects like Engineering, physical & biological sciences, business & accounting, and social sciences. Most of the courses are of 3 years duration and are taught programs with a short project.

Sandwich Courses:

These are undergraduate taught programs with a year of industrial placement after the 2nd year of the course. The main advantage is that the student gets real experience while in the learning mode. Most universities offer this type of education.

Higher National Diploma (HND):

This is a 2 years course awarded by the Vocational & Technical Educational Councils and is offered in vocational subjects like scientific and technical business subjects. Great emphasis is placed on work experience. It is often seen as the first step towards a degree course as the credits can be transferred.

Postgraduate Courses:

Universities & Colleges in UK offer a wide range of 1 year taught programs in engineering, physical & biological sciences, Business, accounting & management and social sciences. Most of these programs have a short thesis or project in the last semester of the course.

MBA:

A much sought after program, MBA in UK is mostly a 1 year taught program with a project or internship in the last semester. Most of the universities do not require a GMAT score and few even offer MBA for fresher – those without work experience.

Visa Process

The visa process for UK starts once the student received the Confirmation of Acceptance or Studies (CAS) from the UKBA approved Higher Education Institute.

Application Form:

The student needs to fill the online visa application form for TIER 4 Student Visa which can be found at http://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/ In addition the student needs to complete supplementary form like Appendix 8 depending on their visa type.

Documents required:

The students are required to submit all the original documents like passport, educational certificates, financial documents and affidavits and also 1 photocopy of each document.

Visa Appointment:

The students can book their visa appointment online at the time of completing the online application.

Visa File Submission:

The students are required to visit the designate VFS center on the scheduled date and time to submit their application & supporting documents.

Visa Fee Submission:

The students have the following options for paying the visa:

Payment online:

Students can pay their visa application fee online using a Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card at the time of filling the online application form.

Payment at Standard Chartered Bank:

Students can pay their fee at designate branches of the Standard Chartered Bank. The bank will issue a demand draft in favor of the 'The British High Commission', payable in:

New Delhi if you are submitting your application in Northern or Eastern India
Mumbai if you are submitting your application in Western India
Chennai if you are submitting your application in Southern India
Demand draft from a nationalized or foreign bank:

Also, students can pay their fee by getting a demand draft issued by a nationalized or a foreign bank. Bank charges for this service will vary.

The demand draft must be in favor of the 'The British High Commission', payable in:

New Delhi if you are submitting your application in Northern or Eastern India
Mumbai if you are submitting your application in Western India
Chennai if you are submitting your application in Southern India
Payment at the visa application centre:

Students can pay the visa application fee at the visa application centre when they submit their visa application. Standard Chartered Bank facilities are located in all visa application centers for this purpose. The Standard Chartered Bank will apply a service charge of Rs.260 (inclusive of taxes) for this facility.

Visa Interview:

The students after submission of their visa file have to undergo a short credibility interview wherein they are asked general questions, about their chosen, course, university, previous academic background, career goals and so on.

FAQs

Your most frequently asked questions
Q1. I am in class XI. Is it possible for me to apply for studying in the UK?

Ans: Yes, you will find a number of options to choose from if you go to UK now: you could complete school by doing the A level, the AS levels, Scottish Highers. Alternatively, you may wish to do a vocational course or a diploma. All these will enable you to take up an undergraduate program, should you intend to do so later. Moreover, depending on the course that you take, it may be possible to obtain a few credits and get one to two years waived from your undergraduate program. Contact our expert counselors for more information.

Q2. When is the right time to apply to a UK university?

Ans: The academic year in UK begins in end September/ early October and also in mid Jan/Feb. Most of the UK universities/ colleges do not have any deadlines. The best time to apply is 8 months in advance. Our counselors would make you apply to the University of your choice.

Q3. Can I get a scholarship to study in the UK?

Ans: Yes, you can. UK offers Indian students a number of scholarships under a variety of programs. Most of these are for postgraduate study, although limited awards are available for undergraduate and research programs. For details contact our office.

Q4. I am currently studying for an undergraduate course in the UK and have got admission into a master's course. Do I have to return to India to extend my student visa?

Ans: Not necessarily. You could get your visa extended in the UK without returning to India. You will have to go to the Home Office, with the evidence that you have been admitted into a full-time course. You will also be required to show evidence that you have sufficient funds to cover both the tuition fee and living expenses for the entire duration of your stay.

Q5. Can my overseas relatives sponsor my studies in the UK?

Ans: Yes. You should get a sponsorship letter from them indicating the relationship and the extent to which they are prepared to fund your studies. Besides this, they would also be required to show evidence of financial support (e.g. bank statements, salary certificate, a statement from the Chartered Accountant, their source of income etc.).

Q6. Can I stay with my relatives while studying in the UK?

Ans: Yes, you can. You could also live on campus. This would enable you to use the library, IT and extracurricular facilities to a great extent. You would also get to know other international students better. Most institutions would be happy to arrange on-campus accommodation for international students during their first year.

Q7. English has been my first language throughout school and college. Do I still have to take the English Language Test?

Ans: Most British institutions require you to prove your proficiency in English only if it has not been your first language. You may be required to either take the IELTS test which is administered regularly by the British Council at all its centers. Alternatively, the TOEFL is also recognized by British institutions. Contact our office for further details, our counselors would be happy to assist you if you have any further doubts in this regard.

Q8. Can I take up a part time job while studying in Britain? What is the amount I am likely to earn and can I sustain myself on it?

Ans: Yes, you can. International students are permitted to work up to 20 hours a week during term time and full time during holidays. The amount earned varies from £6.8 to £12 per hour. Though this is generally not sufficient to sustain students, it does come in handy as additional pocket money. However, when applying for a visa, students must show evidence of full financial support from other sources to cover their tuition and living costs.

Q09. We are interested in sending our children to study in a UK school. At what age do they start accepting international students?

Ans: Independent schools in the UK start accepting international students from the age of nine. You would however be required to arrange for a local guardian who would be prepared to take on the responsibility of your children as and when necessary. Many schools try and organize meetings between parents and those who are willing to act as local guardians.

Q10. How do I choose a university?

Ans: There are various parameters that you need to keep in mind when choosing a university:

Course content: does it suit your requirements?
Faculty
Teaching methodology: this is important particularly for the MBA, design related for practical courses
Facilities: library, computers, recreation, social welfare, accommodation etc.
International links
Location
Size
Cost

The strength of each department is assessed by its research rating, teaching quality assessment and student/teacher ratio. Contact our office for the most updated information on various universities in UK.

Q11. How can I finance my studies?

You can finance your studies through education loan. Most nationalized banks offer students loans at competitive rates for considerable time periods which may enable a larger section of students to go and study abroad. Moreover, you can also use your or your parent's funds. Kindly ask your Beyond Global Consulting counselor for further details.

Expenses

The students are required to bear two kinds of expenses: Tuition Fee & Living Cost.

The Tuition fee varies widely according to the program and university. Also, there is an annual increase in the tuition estimates. Therefore, when planning for your studies in UK, a sound financial planning is a must. The UKBA requires all students to show enough funds for their tuition & living for 1 year. However, those joining programs of over 1 year duration need to plan out for the remaining years as well.

Given below, is a rough estimate of expected tuition fees:

English Courses:

Depending on the duration of the courses the fee may range from £100 to £200 per week. Those some intensive course may be costlier up to £500. We advise the students to check the exact fee charged by the university/college they are applying to.

Undergraduate Courses:

Courses

Average Tuition Fee Per annum (£)

Average Living Cost Per annum (£)

Average Total Cost Per Annum (£)

Science

10,500

7,200-9,000

17,700 – 19,500

Arts

9,500

7,200-9,000

16,700 – 18,500

Business

10,000

7,200-9,000

17,200 – 19,000

Postgraduate Courses:

Courses

Average Tuition Fee Per annum (£)

Average Living Cost Per annum (£)

Average Total Cost Per Annum (£)

Science

12,000

7,200-9,000

19,200 – 21,000

Arts

10,500

7,200-9,000

17,700 – 19,500

Business

12,000

7,200-9,000

19,200 – 21,000

MBA

15,000

7,200-9,000

22,200 – 24,000

Living Costs:

Although the actual living costs depend on a number of factors like location, type of housing, and personal living standards. Generally speaking it is more expensive to live in London and the South-East of England, and cheaper in the North, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Living costs are higher for couples and families.

The UKBA has defined the living cost for the purpose of obtaining a student visa. This is as follows-

GBP 1000 per month in Central London
GBP 800 for outer London and the rest of the UK
Estimated Living costs for 2013-14:

Although the actual living costs depend on a number of factors like location, type of housing, and personal living standards. Generally speaking it is more expensive to live in London and the South-East of England, and cheaper in the North, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Living costs are higher for couples and families.

Accommodation: £90 to £160 per week
Food: £27.50 and £50 per week
Mobile Phone: £15 per month
Internet: £15 to £30 per month
Books: £300 a year
Utility Bills: £10 per week
Travel: £15 per week
Socializing & Entertainment: £40 per week
Insurance: £5,000 per year

Universities

We can assist you in admissions in following UK Universities:
Aberdeen
Abertay Dundee
Aberystwyth
Anglia Ruskin
Aston
Bangor
Bath
Bath Spa
Bedfordshire
Birkbeck,University of London
Birmingham
Birmingham City University
Bolton
The Arts Univesity college at Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bradford
Brighton
Bristol
Brunel
Buckingham
Buckinghamshire new Univ
Canterbury Christ Church
Cardiff
Central Lancashire
Chester
Chichester
City University
Coventry
Cumbria
De Montfort
Derby
Dundee
Durham
East Anglia
East London
Edge Hill
Edinburgh
Exeter
Essex
Edinburgh
Glamorgan
Glasgow
Glasgow Caledonian
Gloucestershire
Glyndwr University
Greenwich
Heriot-Watt
Hertfordshire
Huddersfield
Hull
Huron
Keele
Kent
Kingston
Lampeter
Lancaster
Leeds
Leeds Metropolitan
Leicester
Lincoln
Liverpool
Liverpool Hope
Liverpool John
Moores
London Metropolitan
University
London South Bank
Loughborough
Manchester
Manchester Metropolitan
Middlesex
Napier
Newcastle Upon Tyne
Newport
Northampton
Northumbria
Nottingham
Nottingham Trent University
Oxford Brookes
Paisley
Preston
Plymouth
Portsmouth
Queen Margaret Edinburgh
Queen Mary, London
Queen's Belfast
Reading
Regents College London
Richmond
Robert Gordon
Roehampton
Royal Holloway
Salford
School of Oriental and African Studies
Sheffield
Sheffield Hallam
Southampton
Southampton Solent
St Andrews
Staffordshire
Stirling
Strathclyde
Sunderland
Surrey
Sussex
Swansea
Teesside
Thames Valley
Ulster University
University College of Creative Art London
University of the Arts, London
University of the West of Scotland
UWIC, Cardiff
West of England
Westminster
Winchester
Wolverhampton
Worcester
York
York St John.