The United Kingdom (U.K.) is one of the most populous places for international students and it might just be the perfect fit for you. Balancing the multifarious needs of Indian students, the UK offers students a chance to study at universities which are constantly ranked among the best globally, without having to compromise on livability and weather conditions. Study abroad opportunities in the four countries of the UK: England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales also give students great professional exposure.
While the application procedures for other countries might be more intricate and hard to navigate, universities in the UK access students based on three main criteria: academic grades, standardized tests in the English Language (IELTS / TOEFL), and Statement of Purpose. Apart from these, you might have to take major-specific tests such as the LNAT(National Admissions Test for Law), the BMAT(Biomedical Admissions Test) or the UKCAT(UK Clinical Aptitude Test).
An important step while applying to college in the UK is planning how you will manage your finances. Tuition fees in the UK range from £15,000 to £35,000 per annum, however, the tuition for medical courses may be significantly higher. Apart from the cost of education, there are additional living costs of £1000 to £1500 per month, varying slightly based on location. Check the websites of the colleges you wish to apply to for the exact amount of the tuition fee.
While the quality of education and the employment opportunities in the UK can attract international students, many students choose to apply for scholarships. There are over 660 scholarship programs offered by 150 universities for international students applying to undergraduate programs. However, these are mostly major-specific. For example, there are only 28 scholarships from 24 universities that students majoring in computer or mathematical sciences (Source: uk.britishcouncil.org). Besides, the scholarships are competitive and the amount is sporadically substantive.
ALAGS offers Study Abroad Mentorship, for selected students, who deserve to study abroad. During the mentorship, our partners and ALAGS may be able to help you with:
Finding the right University
Choosing the right course for you
Profile Building Activities
Application and SOP Feedback*
Acceptance of Offer Letter
Visa Processing*
Accommodation Search
There are ample of scholarship opportunities available. You may be eligible for a full-fee waiver for mentorship. Give yourself a try, book a free meet and greet session. Not just you get answers to study abroad queries, but you get an opportunity to tell us about yourself. If you deserve it, we might mentor you on a scholarship.
If you get selected to be mentored, we will focus on a variety of universities that suits you the best. These are the most popular options, you might deserve to get into.
University of Birmingham
Ranked 91st in the world and 14th in the UK, University of Birmingham has earned a reputation for having multifarious diversity in their programs while also maintaining the quality of education. Although most of their programs have a global appeal and are fairly well ranked, the majors they are best ranked in are surgery, physics, endocrinology, clinical medicine, arts and humanities, and cardiovascular systems. It is safe to say that Birmingham is a better choice than Durham for students wanting to major in medical courses. Their computer science, law and engineering majors are more comparable but still more renowned than those at Durham. The summers at Birmingham are quite hot, with temperatures going beyond 32°C due to the humidity subtropical climate.
Durham University
Ranked 92nd in the world and 15th in the UK, Durham is a ppopular choice of Indian applicants in the arts, humanities or space science majors. Durham University is often described as a progressive and multi-disciplinary university. Durham is ranked 57th globally for arts and humanities majors and 56th in space science majors. Their economics, business, geoscience and social sciences programs are also commendable, but the same cannot be said about their medical, engineering and psychology/psychiatry majors. The acceptance rate at Durham is higher than that of University of Birmingham and the fees for undergraduate programs are slight lower. The city has a temperate maritime climate, meaning that it never experiences extreme climate.
Royal Holloway University London
Ranked 48th in the UK, Royal Holloway Univeristy London is best known for their geoscience programs. Physics, Psychology, psychiatry, social sciences and public health are the other majors that attract students to this university. Egham, Surrey, London experiences moderate temperatures in the summers, which go down to about 2°C during the winter, with precipitation throughout the year.
There are many more universities that we can mentor you for. Try booking a session to know more. Get help to shortlist the universities, choose the best country and the course, and make yourself the best candidate to reach there.
Generally, for your information, the Top 15 universities in the UK are:
University of Cambridge
University of Oxford
Imperial College London
University College London
University of Edinburgh
University of Manchester
King's College London
London School of Economics and Political Science
University of Bristol
University of Warwick
University of Southampton
University of Glasgow
University of Leeds
University of Birmingham
Durham University
Source: QS World University Rankings 2023
Written by: Aaditya Khopade, Intern at ALAGS
Edited by: Study Abroad Team, ALAGS International Learning Environment
Disclaimer: This article is written individually by an intern, it may or may not be edited by a senior. The views expressed in this article may or may not be in line with the views of ALAGS, and / or its owners. Furthermore, the images used in this article are sourced from the web. The rights remain with the respective owners. Students are advised to check the university website for up-to-date details. ALAGS, its staff or its owners will not be liable for any misinformation.