Master’s degrees are for students who have already finished a bachelor’s program or another undergraduate course.

These credentials demonstrate to colleges that you have the skills and educational aptitude to succeed at the graduate level. However, one of the essential admission requirements for postgraduate studies can be your prior degree scores.

A Bachelor’s (or any other undergraduate) Degree

Candidates must hold a bachelor’s in a related discipline. Additionally, international candidates must have a comparable international qualification from a recognised institution of higher education.

Undergraduate grades in the United Kingdom are generally labelled as follows:

In rare circumstances, you may be eligible to apply for a master’s without having earned a bachelor’s degree. However, this is typically only a possibility if you have significant relevant work experience. Some MBA programmes, for example, accept candidates without a bachelor’s degree, provided they have a lot of work experience.

Pre-Masters Courses

Some institutions offer Pre-Masters programmes, which allow students to hone their abilities to satisfy the academic criteria for postgraduate studies.

International students may be enrolled in Pre-Masters courses to help enhance their research abilities and academic English language competence.

These courses might also be provided to UK students who need a boost in their grades before starting postgraduate studies. For example, the Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course is a kind of Pre-Masters program. The SKE is available to students who want to become teachers but are unsure about the subject they wish to teach.

If you’re pursuing a master’s outside of your home country or taking a course that isn’t taught in your native language, you may be required to show language competency as part of your application.

A postgraduate language test is generally used to do this. These tests determine your competence to speak, read, and write in a given language at a high enough level to pursue postgraduate studies.

It is important to remember that knowing a language is not always enough. To get admitted to a master’s program in a foreign language, you must grasp and convey sophisticated concepts in that language. Some current language skills, such as job experience or past study periods, may be recognised as proof. Varying nations have slightly different language requirements (and exams).

English Language Requirements

If you are pursuing a master’s degree in English as a secondary language, you may be required to take an English exam as part of the application process. (This is most likely in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and regions of Canada.)

Tests demonstrate that you have a sufficient level of written and spoken English and that you would not struggle to grasp an English-taught master’s program.

There are a variety of English exams from which to choose. The following are the most common:

• IELTS 
• TOEFL 
• Cambridge Assessment 
• PTE Academic 

According to the QS World University Rankings 2020, the United Kingdom has four of the top ten institutions globally, with 17 in the top 100. London, England’s capital, is home to four of the world’s top 50 colleges/universities.

International students require about 12,000 GBP as a living expense for a year in the UK, assuming they are not studying in London.

Here are the top 10 cheapest UK institutions for international students to assist those on a budget who are seeking inexpensive options:

More than 4.5 lakh international students study in the UK at graduation level. According to data from the HESA website for the academic year 2017-2018, 458,490 international students were studying in the UK, with 17,990 of them registered at University College London alone. The top 10 universities or colleges with the most foreign students are listed below.

Several of the UK’s highly ranked and internationally recognised universities admit international students without the need to take the IELTS exam. Here is a list of all UK institutions that do not require the IELTS:

1. University of Essex
2. University of Central Lancashire
3. University of Greenwich
4. Swansea University
5. University of Northampton
6. University of Plymouth
7. Portsmouth University
8. Northumbria University
9. Robert Gordon University
10. University of Bolton
11. London South Bank University
12. University of Geneva
13. Riga Technical University
14. Audencia Nantes School of Management
15. University of Bristol
16. Birmingham City University
17. University of Basel
18. University of Warwick
19. Sheffield Hallam University
20. Aston University
21. Bangor University
22. Brunel University

• If English was your primary language of instruction in school, you could offer proof of your English proficiency. Many institutions would approve your application if you attended an English-medium school. You can study in the United Kingdom without taking the IELTS exam if you apply to those universities.

• • Many colleges in the UK utilise your English subject marks from class X or XII to assess your language abilities. However, you must score at least 70% on your final exams to be accepted by major institutions in the UK.
  • Suppose your university conducts interviews to evaluate your language abilities. At most universities, online interviews are a standard part of the admissions policy. You may study at several of these UK institutions without taking the IELTS exam since they will assess your English language abilities through these online sessions. In such a situation, IELTS scores are not required.
  • If you need to take another English language test in the United Kingdom, IELTS is by far the most prominent and commonly regarded English assessment test. However, there is a slew of others who have been approved. You can study in the UK without taking the IELTS if you score well in one of the other standard language examinations. In the prerequisites section of their webpage, universities will list the tests that they accept. Before taking any test, go to the website of the university you aim to attend.
• If your preferred university allows you to attend pre-sessional English classes, you should go for it. All of the above alternatives need excellent English communication abilities; otherwise, you risk being turned down. However, there is no need to be discouraged since you may study in the UK without taking the IELTS even if your English skills aren’t up to par. Pre-sessional training is available. To assist overseas students in adjusting to the new educational system, most institutions in the UK offer pre-sessional courses that do not need IELTS. You will obtain the necessary language abilities as well as classroom skills in these courses. You will also be able to make a seamless transfer to a foreign educational system. Check your university’s website to see whether foundational or pre-sessional courses are available. For additional information, you can contact foreign education consultants. This is the ideal option if you are unsure about your English language abilities.

Undergraduate tuition fees for overseas students range from £10,000 to £30,000 each year for full-time degrees. The upper range refers to medical degrees earned at the finest schools. International undergraduate fees, on the other hand, average about £12,000 per year.

For full-time postgraduate programs, overseas students’ tuition expenses typically vary from £10,000 to £13,000 per year. The average annual cost for laboratory and research-based programs is £14,000. The average cost of a medical degree is £22,200, although it may cost up to £58,000.

When it comes to living expenses, they will vary considerably based on your lifestyle, purchasing behaviour, and budget. These fees are calculated on a monthly basis. You may estimate your expenditures based on how long you’ll stay in the UK.

Recommended Amount

To study/live in London, UK Visa and Immigration demands that you have a budget of £1,334 a month or £12,006 for a maximum of 9 months. This sum is separate from the tuition costs. This is the bare minimum you must exhibit to obtain a visa to study in London. The amount will be lesser in other parts of the UK. If you want to study at a university outside of London, you will need a minimum of £1,023 a month, with a maximum of £9207, as required by UK Visa and Immigration. The average weekly rent for a room is £150. On top of your rent, the UKVI estimates a requirement of around £104 per week for living expenses.

Studying in the United Kingdom is a fantastic way to access some of the world’s top university education. However, such high quality seldom comes cheap, and many international students require financial assistance to pay all or part of their tuition and living expenses in the United Kingdom.

When it comes to applying for good, substantial UK scholarships, the competition is fierce, and some of the finest providers examine various factors, including your past academic experience.

You may apply for a scholarship in the UK without difficulty, provided you can establish that you are a high achiever with exceptional academic performance.

Before diving into the list of scholarships, here are a few universities in the United Kingdom that we think you should consider:

• The University of Edinburgh: 19,000 to 42,000 GBP per year
• University of Leeds: 9,250 to 21,000 GBP per year
• College of Science and Engineering: around 14,050 to 15,000 GBP per year
• Cass Business School: 40,000 to 45,000 GBP per year
• Kent Business School: 16,800 to 46,000 GBP per year

At these colleges, you might be able to discover both cheaper and more expensive degrees. That is why financing and scholarship opportunities are so crucial.

Here are some of the most well-known scholarships available to overseas students who wish to study in the United Kingdom each year:

The UK government gives out these scholarships to students who have achieved academically and demonstrated excellent leadership potential.

British embassies around the world choose the beneficiaries of these scholarships. As a result, prospective decision-makers will be able to grow intellectually, establish professional connections, learn about British society, and much more.

The scholarship programme provides financial help for students to pursue a 1-year master’s degree at any of the UK’s top universities, with over 1,500 Chevening Scholarships available each academic year.

Euraxess UK is a British Council-run website that helps scholars advance their careers and take advantage of mobility opportunities. Euraxess UK assists international researchers who wish to relocate to the United Kingdom and domestic researchers who want to relocate to another country.

Scholars at all levels benefit from the Euraxess UK programme:

• first stage researcher 
• early-career researcher 
• experienced researcher 

Researchers can utilise the web portal to locate employment and other relevant information on staying and working in the UK, along with the Euraxess UK scholarships and grants.

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) in the UK has an amount of funding and scholarships available, including:

• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
• Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships
• Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships

Every year, scholarships are awarded to students from Commonwealth nations with low and moderate incomes who otherwise could not afford to study in the UK. Individuals are selected based on their academic accomplishments in the past as well as their potential to contribute to the creation of a higher quality of life for people in their home countries.

Some of the world’s most prominent scientists are members of the Royal Society. It is also the oldest known scientific academy that is still operating today. The Royal Society has three primary objectives:

• to encourage scientific brilliance
• to encourage worldwide collaboration
• to demonstrate the relevance of science to everyone

Top British colleges frequently give significant financial aid to overseas students based on their academic accomplishments or financial need. Some of the finest institutions in the UK offer the following scholarships and scholarship-finding tools:

• University of Cambridge
• University of Oxford
• Imperial College London
• King’s College London
• London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
• University College London (UCL)

You may use any college’s official website to search for scholarships or financial assistance programmes. Fees and financing, funding, and scholarship information are frequently found under the headings “Fees and funding,” “Funding,” and “Scholarships.” If you cannot discover any of these, contact a representative from the university, who should be able to answer any of your queries.

The job market in the United Kingdom is competitive by international standards. Agriculture, production, and services are the three major areas where overseas students might find work in the United Kingdom. Metals, chemicals, aircraft, shipbuilding, textiles and apparel, motor cars, food manufacturing, and electrical and communications equipment are among the primary services.

The following are some of the most popular graduate occupations in the United Kingdom:

• Consulting
• Oil and Energy
• Law
• Retail
• Armed Forces
• Investment Banking
• Accounting and Professional Services
• Armed Forces

The United Kingdom is a safe location to work with a low crime rate. After graduation, there are lots of job opportunities for international students. They must, however, apply for a Tier 2 visa, which allows them to stay for up to five years.

Keep in mind that you should look for a position where the business has a licence to sponsor an employee’s application to work in the UK.

Foreigners’ working hours in the United Kingdom are set in stone.

• On the visa stamp or the Biometric Residence Permit, work hours are specified (BRP).
• The most recent application for immigration determines the time restriction.
• If the manager is not from the United Kingdom, the maximum number of hours an employee can work each week is 10 to 20.

You can check out the top companies that hire international students in the table below:  

Depending on whether you have been given a place on a program, your course provider may be prepared to assist you in applying for a UK student visa; inquire to see if this is the case. You can register for the visa up to 3 months ahead of your course’s start date. Check your country’s typical visa processing timeframes and give yourself plenty of time.

In the UK, student visas are issued via a points-based method. You will need to supply the following items to fulfil all of the UK student visa requirements:

• Details of your passport
• A recent photograph
• An unconditional offer of a spot on a program given by a licenced Tier 4 Sponsor, as demonstrated by your course company’s ‘Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies’ (CAS) document (worth 30 points)
• Completing one of the approved English language tests as proof of acceptable English language abilities (SELT). If you are from an English-speaking nation, such as the USA, or have earned a qualification comparable to a UK degree in an English-speaking country, you will not be required to give this information.
• Documentation of financial assistance for the duration of your stay in the UK (worth 10 points)
• You may additionally require an ATAS certificate if you are a non-EU, EEA or Swiss student studying a sensitive topic.

Bank account details or a statement from your financial sponsor can be used as proof of financial assistance, demonstrating that you can afford your tuition, housing, and living expenses. For example, if you’re studying in the UK outside of London, you will need to show that you have £1,015 (US$1,300) a month for living expenses, and £1,265 (US$1,600) if you’re studying in London.

You may also be required to provide documentation demonstrating your academic credentials and participate in an interview or biometric exam, which involves a digital image of your fingerprints. You may also need to undergo specific medical vaccines or a TB test, depending on your place of origin.

If you are 16 – 17 years old and appealing for a Tier 4 (General) study visa, your parents or guardians must provide you with formal permission to reside and travel free. You have until three months before the commencement of your course to register.

A General Tier 4 student visa charges you £348 (US$440) along with an additional £348 for any dependents. You will also have to pay a £150 (US$190) healthcare fee to use the National Health Service (NHS) during your term (this will increase to £300 (US$380) in late 2018).

The 6-month Short Term Study Visa charges £97 (US$120), and the 11-month visa costs £186 (US$240).

According to a study conducted by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, by 2022, almost one in every seven occupations will require a postgraduate degree. If you decide to pursue a master’s degree now, you will boost your employment chances in the long run and acquire a competitive advantage over your peers. In addition, a master’s degree has been demonstrated in several studies to increase your income potential in the short and long run.

Good luck!

Written by Madhurjya Chowdhury

Guided by Pavitra Srinivasan and the Galvanize In-house Experts

• Scholarships in UK
• MBA in UK
• Best Paying Degrees in UK
• Cheap Universities in UK