For every student planning to study abroad, the most important factor to look into is the host country. It will not only add value to your degree but also define your future career path. If you are looking to apply for higher studies in the United Kingdom (UK). Let us start by evaluating the advantages of pursuing courses in the UK.
1. Internationally recognized universities & qualifications
UK is a popular destination for higher studies for students from around the world and is home to three of the top 10 universities in the world. A degree that you gain from a UK university will be recognized internationally.
Top 5 universities in the UK are:
1. University of Oxford
2. University of Cambridge
3. Imperial College, London
4. University College London (UCL)
5. University of Edinburgh
2. Quality Education
UK has retained its position as a popular destination among international students due to its quality education. The standard of teaching and research at UK universities and colleges is routinely assessed and graded by official organizations to ensure that set benchmarks are met. Although UK institutes undertake the responsibility of ensuring the standard and quality of education themselves, but also independent audits are carried out by QAA. Professional bodies may also guide the curriculum and perform reviews on individual departments in an institute.
3. Opportunities offered by UK education system
A wide range of choices is one of the benefits of studying in UK. You can choose from among 1,50,000 courses. If you are opting for a Master’s course in UK, you may find the one-year duration for all Master’s programs to be a big advantage. Alternatively, you may opt for a Master’s degree along with PhD, which will your one year and alongside saves a lot of money.
The UK education system promotes close interaction between students and lecturers and provides you with the freedom to combine different subjects into a single course of study. Also, many institutes have counselors and advisors who help you get used to any aspect of your course.
4. Work while you study
Many students in UK also gain work experience along with their studies. A part-time job, internship or placement during vacation and volunteering are some ways to develop valuable skills that you can add to your CV. Also, your college or university may assist in providing placement.
5. Work permit after study
After completing your education, you can stay in UK if you hold a job offer with an annual salary of at least 20,800 pounds. There is no limit on the number of international students staying back after completing their education. In order to stay in UK after completion of education, you need to switch from a 2 tier visa to a 4 tier general visa. You will be required to apply for a work visa from the UK border agency, and you can opt from the following, depending upon your employment status post-study:
Tier 2 (General) Visa
Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa
6. Scholarship and financial support
Indian students who are worried about expensive tuition fee need not lose sleep either, for there are many scholarships that you can apply to, especially at the postgraduate and research level, to support your study and cost of living.
7. Health benefits
Indian students in UK are eligible to receive free medical treatment by National Health Service if enrolled in a full-time course. Your spouse, partner, and children will also be exempted from payment if they reside with you during the completion of your course. Your college or university may also have a special health care policy.
8. Cross-cultural experience
According to the stats, about 4,36,585 international students were studying in UK last year, among which Indian students were the second largest group. Studying in UK is an opportunity to experience a multicultural environment, meet new people and fellow international students from across the world and discover new places. You are benefitted as you develop a variety of new skills that are necessary to be a part of today’s global workforce.
