Know About United Kingdom
The UK or the United Kingdom of Great Britain or just Britain is an island located in north-western Europe. It basically comprises of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Its capital city is London which is the global capital of finance and culture. The UK’s currency is called the Pound. Britain is a land of rich history and at one time was the most powerful nation in the world. It has colonized many parts of the world including India and therefore, it has left its mark in almost every part of the world. The climate of the country is usually temperate with mostly cooler temperatures and it rains almost all year around. In some parts of the country, heavy snowfall occurs during the winters. It is the second-most favored country by international students after the USA.
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Quick facts:
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Official Name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Commonly referred to as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain capital London
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Major cities: London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Southampton, Liverpool
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Currency: Pound sterling (GBP)
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Official Languages: English
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National Anthem: God Save the Queen
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Time Zones: UTC (Greenwich Mean Time, WET). Summer (DST): UTC+1 (British Summer Time, WEST)
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Climate: Most of the UK enjoys a temperate climate with generally cool temperatures and plenty of rains throughout the year. Cities in north Scotland experience continental subarctic climate while the mountain region experiences tundra climate.
Education System
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The undergraduate education system in the UK offers a variety of programs which are as below:
Higher National Certificate -
(HNC) or Diploma (HND): 1 to 2 years
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Certificates or Diplomas of Higher Education (Cert HE/Dip HE): 1 to 2 years
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Foundation degrees (Fd A/Fd Sc): 6 months to 2 years
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Degrees (such as BA, B.Sc, B.E): 3 years in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland; 4 years in Scotland
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Sandwich degrees: 4 years with a year in industry
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Integrated courses (where the master is awarded as the first degree such as M.E.): 4 years
Similarly, there are different Postgraduates courses that the country offers. They are as below:
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Postgraduate certificates and diploma (PG Cert/PG Dip): 9 to 12 months.
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Taught Masters (such as MA, M.Sc., LLM, MBA, MRes): 1 year.
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Research Masters (such as MPhil, Ph.D., DPhil): 2-3 years
Universities
The UK has some of the oldest and prestigious universities that have been dominating the education of the world for years. They have a legacy of producing some of the finest minds in the world. The top 10 universities of the UK are:
1. University of Oxford
2. University of Cambridge
3. Imperial College London
4. University College London (UCL)
5. University of Edinburgh
6. The University of Manchester
7. King’s College London (KCL)
8. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
9. University of Bristol
10. The University of Warwick
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Apart from the above list, the following universities are popular among the Indian students opting for studying in the UK:
1. Sheffield Hallam University
2. Staffordshire University
3. University of Bedfordshire
4. Cardiff University
5. University of Greenwich
6. University of Salford
7. Liverpool John Moores University
8. Northumbria University
9. University of East London
10. Middlesex University
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Admission Requirement or Eligibility
We have curated the academic eligibility for Indian students.
1. For 12th passed student (in any stream):
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Can directly apply for a Bachelors degree
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Minimum 60% marks
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English language at a minimum CEFR level B2
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Require IELTS (Academic) overall 6 bands/PTE score of 50/ESOL Entry Level 3: Pass/TOEFL score of 60
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Pathway program foundation/International Year 1:
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Minimum 40% to 59% in Class 12
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English Language at a minimum CEFR level B1 before issuing
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UKVI IELTS (Academic) overall score of 5.5 or 5.0 bands
2. Bachelors degree holder
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Can apply directly for Master QCF _NQF L7 and above
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Minimum 55% in bachelors degree
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English language at a minimum CEFR level B2
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Require IELTS (Academic) overall 6.5 or 6.0bands/PTE score of 58/ESOL Entry Level 1: Pass/TOEFL score of 79
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For courses at Pre-Master QCF_NQF L7 and above
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Minimum 40% to 55% in Bachelors
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English Language at a minimum CEFR level B1
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UKVI IELTS (Academic) overall score of 5.5 bands
Cost
While planning to go study overseas, finances play an important. Study loans and scholarships, of course, helps, however, knowing the approximate cost of living while studying in a British University can help you make decisions:
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Annual tuition fees in Britain can be anywhere between GBP 13,000 -27,000 depending on your course and university. Exact fees can be verified on the university’s website you choose and the program you shortlist.
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The cost of living per annum for a student living inside London could be between GBP 14,000-16,000 with an additional GBP 7,605 for each dependent. However, for immigration, you are supposed to have financial proof of show GBP 15,180 to support yourself if studying in London. While outside London, it would be GBP 10,000-11,500 with an additional GBP 6,120 for each dependent. And for immigration, you need to show financial proof of GBP 12,180 for yourself.
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The additional cost of Immigration Health Surcharge is GBP 400 per year.
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Other costs involve your IELTS Test fees, Visa fees, Air tickets which can be between GBP 900 to 1,000.
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Post Study Work
As soon as you finish your program, you can apply to work in the UK. More than 7,000 international students convert their Tier 4 Student Visa to Tier 2 Work Visa every year. However, according to the current rules, a student has to wait until they receive their degree to apply for Tier 2 Visa. Moreover, the UK offers Tier 1 Visa that allows international students to set up their business and is called the Graduate Entrepreneur Visa. Another Visa that they provide is Tier 5 Visa, which is for the Tier 4 Student Visa holders who are planning to undergo professional training or work experience.
Work Permit for Students
While studying in the UK, it is very easy for students to find an internship. Students of Tier-4 Visa can work up to 20 hours per week and full time during Christmas. Students can earn up to GBP 300 to 500 in a month while working part-time. Doing an internship not only helps with earning extra money, but it also helps you understand the local culture, socialize and make contacts as well as it looks good on your resume.
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Part-time jobs are usually advertised in newspapers or most universities have career cells, they can help you find the right job.
Scholarship
The UK Universities, as well as Government, provide a wide of range of scholarships to help international students cover their tuition fees. The competition to grab government-funded scholarships is particularly fierce and therefore it is wise to start preparing the documentation for it 6-8 months well in advance of the deadline. You can consult your university website as well as college to help you understand which all scholarships you would be eligible for to apply. The scholarships are, of course, awarded on your academic merit and extra-curricular performances.
Student Visa
Documents needed for applying for the UK Tier 4 Student Visa are:
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Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies reference number from the University/College
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Documents used for obtaining CAS
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Financial proof covering your living costs in the UK
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Screening for Tuberculosis, if required
In case you need any other documents for the Visa processing, your university will inform you of it.
Family/Dependent Visa
To apply for a Dependent Visa on Tier 4 Student Visa, you must be one of the following:
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a full-time student on a postgraduate level course (RFQ level 7 or above) that lasts 9 months or longer
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a new government-sponsored student on a course that lasts longer than 6 months
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a Doctorate Extension Scheme student
You will need to provide proof of relation and proof of their residence while applying. They will be able to stay with you during the complete duration of your Visa. Also, your spouse can work full time except as a professional sportsperson or as a doctor in training.
Lifestyle
Most students receive a culture shock when they move to the UK for their studies. Even though you might find some similarities, the below tips will help you adapt quickly to your new surroundings:
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British are quite reserved by nature and may not be open to talking to strangers. Moreover, they always expect politeness and respect, thus maintain a habit of saying “Please” and “Thank you” while having a conversation with the locals.
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To be late is considered to be very rude in Britain. It would be polite to inform the person you are meeting and inform them, in case you are running late.
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When invited for a dinner, do carry a bottle of wine or flowers for your hosts. In case you have any religious or dietary restrictions, let your host know beforehand.
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When in a bank, shop, or at a bus stop, you are expected to stay in the queue and not jump it.
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There is a tipping culture in the UK which you would have to follow. Usually, 10-15% tip is normal, however, ensure that it is not already on your bill.
Process Flow
The process to apply for the UK Student Visa is as below:
1. Shortlist and choose Universities and Courses of your choice: This helps with setting a clear goal and ensuring a clear path ahead in the processing.
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2. Apply to the universities: Apply as per the requirement on the website or through the application package sent by the university. Then, you need to wait for the offer letter to arrive which generally takes 3-10 working days. Meanwhile, deposit funds equivalent to the annual cost of living in your bank account for 28 days. You need to show your bank statement of 30 days and balance certificate while applying for Visa.
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3. Acceptance of the offer letter: If there is any condition provided in the offer letter, you will need to fulfill it before accepting it. Once you pay your full tuition fees, you will be issued a Confirmation of Acceptance For Studies (CAS) within 10 days. After this, apply for the Student Visa and you will need to complete tuberculosis (TB) screening from UK Border Agency approved Clinics. Also, keep all the financial documents ready for the interview. At Soham Learning we provide Visa Interview Training to help you get ready for the interview.
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4. Submission of documents: You will need to submit documents at VFS as per the UK Visa checklist and request to attend the interview at the British High Commission, Mumbai. Please note that UK Consulate requires all documents in original.
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5. Visa Approval: When you receive a call for the interview, you will need to carry the Visa receipt. You just need to wait for Visa results which approximately takes 20-30 days. Your documents and passport will be delivered to your home address with the status of your Visa. And you are ready to fly to the UK.
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This whole process approximately takes 90 days to complete.
Free Services
University Short Listing
Assistance in shortlisting colleges and universities appropriate to your career goals and aspirations.
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Admission Process
Guidance throughout the process from collecting relevant documents in the correct format to submitting applications to tracking the updates.
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SOP Assistance
Assistance in writing a well-crafted SOP that meets the requirement of the university and helps you get your visa processed without delays.
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Interview Preparation
Special sessions and workshops with our experts to prepare you for the interviews before the date.
Education Loan
Provide guidance and counsel for the best way to get financial aid through education loans and other options, if available.
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Air Tickets
Assistance in booking your flights once you have your visa approved.
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Travel Insurance
Guidance to get the best deal on travel insurance suitable for the country you plan to study.
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Airport Pick-up
Provide assistance with arranging for a pick-up for you at the airport once you land in the country you plan to visit.
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Accommodation
We can help get you accommodation in a new country.