Every year, thousands of foreign students travel to the United Kingdom for higher education. This has led to the UK having the fourth-highest number of international students in the world. When considering studying in the UK, one of the most important things to consider is how to apply for your student visa. Here’s everything you need to know about that process!
The UK’s education ranking
The UK has been ranked #2 in an index measuring university performance. The Global University Ranking Index, produced by educational consultancy Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), evaluates universities around the world using 10 performance indicators, including academic and employer reputation, research citations per faculty member, and proportion of international students. Aside from being home to some of the universities with top-performing programs (in fact, 5 of its 6 best universities are located within London alone), applicants also have access to one of Europe’s most comprehensive education systems. This is thanks to British schools having adopted a non-selective approach towards enrollment; not only do they offer publicly funded secondary education, but higher education as well.
Costs of studying in the UK
To study at a UK university as a non-EU student, you will need to show that you have enough money available to cover your living costs. The exact amount varies depending on which part of the Canada Study Visa you plan to study in and what level of education you’re aiming for. First time degree students planning on studying full-time at an English university should budget between £10,000 and £13,000 per year. Those who plan on taking gap years or studying part-time could realistically get away with £5,000 or less. Don’t forget visa application fees (typically around £300 per person), plus flight costs if you live outside Europe—although it is possible to find cheap flights from European airports with WOW air!
Applying for a student visa to the UK
You’ve applied to university, you have your acceptance letter, and now all you need is a student visa. What could be easier? Not much. Getting your student visa approved isn’t difficult—it just takes organization and preparation. To help you get started with your application, here are all of our top tips and insider information on applying for a UK student visa. Let’s go!
Choosing universities and applying
Choosing where you want to study can be challenging enough, and applying is something else entirely. Most universities have different criteria for applications from international students. In addition to providing your academic history, they may ask you things like why you want to attend their school and how your experiences outside of academia will enrich your education. In fact, having something else going on isn’t just encouraged; it’s expected that international students will bring interesting perspectives into a classroom discussion.
What you will need while applying
You’ll need your educational qualifications, proof of your English language skills and financial resources. You will also need letters of recommendation from potential employers or academic institutions in your home country, as well as any current jobs you have on your resume. Additionally, if you’re applying for an undergraduate degree at a British university, you’ll likely be required to take one of their standardized admissions tests. These include A-levels, GCSEs and International Baccalaureate exams.
After you get your student visa
Once you’ve applied for and received your student visa, you still have more planning ahead. If you want an idea of how much it will cost to study abroad, check out these resources on tuition costs (public and private) by country. You’ll also need some sort of financial support while you’re abroad—be it from a scholarship, bank loan or family loan—and having a strategy in place can help make that process go smoothly. A good tip is to work with your bank while you are still at home so they can get ready when they see your transfer. Once that money shows up overseas, it will make life easier on both ends if there isn’t any confusion about where that money should be going once it arrives overseas.
What you want to know about study visa
The good news is that students from most countries can apply for a student visa to study in Canada, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. The bad news is that there’s no such thing as an easy visa process. In some cases, you may not even be able to study your subject of choice if it doesn’t meet certain criteria set by Canada Visas and Immigration (UKVI). This article will guide you through everything from eligibility requirements and how much it costs, to what you’ll need on application. If you have any questions along the way, we’re here to help with our experience and insider knowledge of studying abroad in Britain.