UK universities are some of the most sought-after in the world and prospective foreign students certainly can't go wrong in choosing to study in UK, whether interested in attaining a first bachelor's degree or an advanced degree. Therefore it is not a surprise that course places are competitive and international students should be well informed to increase their chances of success. The following advice will prove helpful for students from abroad who are interested in studying in the United Kingdom.
As with most universities, prospective international students should apply as early as possible. UK academic offering is vast and thus extensive research is recommended to find the right combination of course and university environment. Another factor in making application decisions are the available scholarships at each university. There are myriad scholarships for international students, such as the Chevening, Santander and Fulbright scholarships. Eligibility for these scholarships is sometimes partly based on the student's country of origin. Study in UK is more costly for international students than for home or EU students, and therefore scholarships abound to ease the financial burden on international students.
UK universities enjoy favourable reputation worldwide. Bachelor's degrees are normally three years long. A characteristic UK degree is the combined Bachelor's and Master's degrees which results in a Master's award and can be completed in four years. For students looking for an advanced degree, one-year long, full-time Master's degrees are ideal. There are English language knowledge requirements for study in UK and students whose native language is not English are generally required to sit TOEFL exams. Some universities offer one-year long foundation courses for students who are beginners of English.
Regarding student visa applications, stringent funding requirements must be met and sufficient funds must have been held in a bank account for a period of 3 months before a visa application is submitted. The visa funding requirement for study in UK varies in accordance with the location of the university and it is higher for London area schools. Student visas in the UK usually allow the student to work up to 20 hours per week during term time. The number of allowed work hours can be increased outside of term time if the university confirms that a student is not undertaking any academic responsibility.
Student accommodation selection is imperative for a student wishing to study in UK. Where a student lives during term time can have a positive or negative impact on their studies. The best option is to use the accommodation offered by the university if it is available, as this accommodation is specifically tailored to student's needs. Moreover, it can be particularly difficult for an international student to arrange private (off-campus) UK accommodation from abroad.
The UK is a beautiful country and many universities have travel societies which provide an affordable alternative to travel around the UK. Travel is undeniably a major and positive aspect enjoyed by international students that study in UK. Furthermore, The UK is advantageously located and the abundance of low-cost airlines make affordable travel around Europe greatly accessible to international students.
Thus, with carefully prepared university place and visa applications, as well as smart time and funds management, international students wishing to study in UK will have a memorable time.