Studying in the UK

The United Kingdom is one of the most popular destinations for international students. It has a large number of highly ranked universities, teaching in English and degrees that are often shorter than in other countries. It is also expensive, which makes careful budgeting part of the decision.

Universities and course length

UK universities are well known internationally, and a UK degree carries weight in many job markets. Courses tend to be focused and relatively short: many undergraduate degrees take three years, and taught Masters degrees frequently take one. Although annual fees are high, a shorter course means less time out of work and, in some cases, a lower total cost.

Scotland is the main exception on length: many undergraduate degrees there take four years, with more room to try other subjects in the first two. If you are comparing a Scottish course with one in England, compare the total cost, not the annual fee.

Costs

International tuition varies widely by subject and university and is generally higher than the fees paid by local students. Living costs come on top, and they are far higher in London than in most other cities. Budget for tuition and realistic living expenses together. A less expensive city can save a large amount without changing the quality of the degree.

Two costs are added to the visa application itself. On 5 October 2026 gov.uk listed the Student visa fee from outside the UK as £558, and the immigration health charge for students as £776 for each year of your visa. The health charge is paid up front with the application and depends on the length of your visa, which for most courses runs a little beyond the course itself. Check the gov.uk Student visa page and the health charge calculator for your own figures.

Funding

Funding is available, though competitive. Many universities run their own scholarships for international students, there are national and international schemes such as Chevening and the Commonwealth awards for eligible countries, and some departments offer subject-specific awards. Search the funding pages of each university on your list, and bear in mind that scholarship deadlines are often earlier than admission deadlines.

Scholarship	Level and where	Notes
Chevening Scholarships	One-year taught Masters at any UK university	UK government award. Our Chevening funder page explains selection
Gates Cambridge	Full-time postgraduate degrees at Cambridge	Applied for through the Cambridge course application, with deadlines that vary by course
Clarendon Fund	Masters or DPhil at Oxford	No separate application; you are considered through your Oxford course application
Rhodes Scholarship	Postgraduate study at Oxford	Selection by constituency, with dates that differ by region. See our Rhodes funder page
Commonwealth awards	Masters and PhD for eligible Commonwealth countries	Check the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission’s site for how applicants from your country apply
University scholarships	Any level	Often partial. Search each university’s international funding page

Visas and staying on

Students from outside the UK generally need a Student visa, which requires an offer from a licensed institution and evidence that you can cover your costs. Your university issues a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), the reference you use to apply, and the CAS also states the fees you still owe. You can apply up to 6 months before your course starts if you are outside the UK, and gov.uk said on 5 October 2026 that applicants outside the UK will usually get a decision within 3 weeks. A successful applicant receives an eVisa, an online record of immigration status.

Before you apply, check the CAS and your evidence against each other:

• Your name, date of birth and passport number on the CAS match your passport exactly
• The course title, start date and fees on the CAS are correct
• Your funds have been held for 28 days in a row, ending within 31 days of the date you apply
• You have written consent from any financial sponsor who has funded your course in the last 12 months
• You have a tuberculosis test certificate, if your country is on the list that requires one
• You have an ATAS certificate, if your course and nationality require one

There are also routes that let graduates stay and work for a period after finishing. On 5 October 2026 the Graduate visa page said bachelor’s and master’s graduates can stay for 2 years if they apply on or before 31 December 2026, and 18 months if they apply on or after 1 January 2027; PhD graduates can stay for 3 years. Anyone starting a one-year Masters in autumn 2026 will finish after that date, so the 18-month limit is the one to plan around. Immigration rules change, so check the official UK government guidance for current requirements instead of relying on older advice.

Studying and living there

Teaching leans towards independent study, with fewer contact hours than some systems and an expectation that you read and research on your own. Healthcare is usually available to students through an immigration health charge paid as part of the visa application, though you should confirm what applies to you. Accommodation ranges from university halls to private renting and is worth arranging early, especially in popular cities.

You may be able to work during your studies, but how much depends on your level of study and whether it is term time; the limit is stated on your visa decision. Our guide to working while you study has more on balancing the two.

The weather and the culture both take some adjusting to, so allow yourself time to settle. Short winter days and grey weather catch many new arrivals out, and the first term often feels harder than the rest.

When comparing options, look at the particular course and city as well as the country: the total cost, where graduates of that programme end up, and the current visa and post-study rules for your situation. If you have not yet decided on the UK, see how to choose which country to study in.