Study in the UK: your complete guide for international students.

Most UK universities ask for IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall for undergraduate and taught postgraduate courses, usually with no individual band below 5.5–6.0. Competitive courses in law, medicine and journalism often ask for 7.0 or higher. TOEFL iBT 80–93 and Duolingo English Test 100–120 are widely accepted alternatives. Always confirm the exact score on the course page, because requirements are set per programme, not per university.

International undergraduate tuition is typically £10,000–£22,000 per year and taught postgraduate tuition £12,000–£28,000 per year, with medicine and MBA programmes costing more. Living expenses run about £9,000–£13,000 per year depending on the city, with London at the top of that range. Budget for the visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge on top of tuition and living costs.

There is no free tuition for international students in the UK, but full and partial funding exists. Chevening Scholarships cover a full master's for selected candidates, and most universities run their own merit and need-based awards that reduce tuition by 10–50%. Applying early matters, because many scholarship deadlines fall before the main course deadline.

UCAS is the UK's centralised application service. Almost all undergraduate applications go through it, and you can apply to up to five courses with a single application and one personal statement. Postgraduate applications usually go directly to each university's own portal instead.

A bachelor's degree normally takes three years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and four years in Scotland. A taught master's usually takes just one year. That is one of the main reasons the UK often works out cheaper overall than countries with four-year bachelor's and two-year master's degrees.

Students on a Student visa at degree level can normally work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full time during official holidays. Work is not permitted on short-term study visas, and some visa conditions restrict self-employment, so check the conditions printed on your own visa.

A CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) is the reference number your university issues once you have accepted an unconditional offer and met any deposit requirements. You cannot submit your Student visa application without it, so the CAS is the step that usually determines your visa timeline.

The Graduate Route lets eligible graduates stay and work for two years after finishing a bachelor's or master's degree, and three years after a PhD. It does not require a job offer or sponsorship, which makes it a common bridge into a longer-term Skilled Worker visa.

Start roughly 12–18 months before your intended start date. UCAS applications open in September of the preceding year, and courses at Oxford, Cambridge, medicine, dentistry and veterinary science have a mid-October deadline. Postgraduate courses often use rolling admissions, so applying early gives you a better shot at both places and funding.