The UK offers an excellent academic experience for students who are looking to learn in some of the world-leading Universities that are known for high-quality academics and research. As per the Ministry of External Affairs data, of Indian students studying abroad, there were 55,465 Indian students studying in the UK in 2022. The statistics reveal that the UK is becoming a popular destination for international students. Some of the Universities in the UK, such as Imperial College London, University College London, etc., have had academic and research ties with Indian universities for a long period of time. Universities in the UK have recorded an excellent career outcome rate.

As per the ‘What Do Graduates Do?’ report from Prospects and AGCAS, following career outcomes, 15-months after graduation, were noted in the UK for first-degree graduates: 57.3% were working full-time in the UK, 11.4% were working part-time in the UK, 10.6% were working and studying, 9.2% went on to study further, 5.7% were involved in other activities, and 5.9% were unemployed or were due to start work. Thus, international students can opt for the UK to study abroad. 

Top Reasons to Study in the UK

Studying abroad is a life-changing decision for every student. Students need compelling reasons to finalise a study destination and academic institution out of a number of choices. Below are a few reasons why you can think of choosing the UK to study abroad:

• Academic Quality: According to the QS World University Rankings 2026, 4 Universities in the UK come under the top 10 ranks. These include the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, Imperial College London, and University College London. The University of Oxford continues to remain in 1st position as per the THE World University Rankings 2025. The rankings of these universities are a testament to their high quality of academics and research.

• Research Quality: The latest Research Excellence Framework 2021 assessed the research work of 157 UK universities. The overall quality of research submissions was noted as world-leading (41%), internationally excellent (43%), internationally recognised (14%), and nationally recognised (2%). UK universities have produced excellent research, and students who are willing to pursue research can definitely think of the UK as an option.

• Student-friendly Destination: London, a city in the UK, has been constantly ranking in the number 1 position in the QS Best Student Cities list for 3 consecutive years (2023, 2024, and 2025). In the academic year 2020-21, nearly 605,000 international students, both EU and non-EU, were studying in UK higher education institutions. Nearly 16% (approximately 55,000) of all new enrollments come from India. The increasing number of international students in the UK shows its increasing popularity as a study abroad destination.

• Scholarships: Students have access to excellent scholarships in the UK Universities. Some of these include International Scholarships Award, Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship, Chevening Scholarships, GREAT Scholarships, Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships, just to name a few.

• Leisure and Travel: The UK is an interesting place when it comes to exploring historical places, music concerts, cuisines, and various other cultural festivals. Universities in the UK have a long history associated with them, and studying in those Universities gives you an opportunity to be a part of that heritage.

Study in UK: Key Highlights

Here are some of the key highlights of studying in the UK:

Education System in UK

The education system in the UK comprises five stages that include:

• Early Years: Students up to 5 years of age can avail of early years education and childcare in various state nursery schools, nursery classes and reception classes within primary schools.
• Primary Education: It covers children from the age of 5 to 11 years. This is further divided into two Key Stages. Key Stage 1 comprises children from 5 years to 7 years of age, and Key Stage 2 comprises children from 7 years to 11 years of age.
• Secondary Education: It covers students from the age of 11 to 16 years. This is further divided into two Key Stages. Key Stage 3 comprises students from 11 years to 14 years of age, and Key Stage 4 comprises students from 14 years to 16 years of age. At the end of this education, students usually take external examinations such as GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and Standard Grades in Scotland.
• Further Education: It consists of students from 16 to 18 years of age. It is post-compulsory education and covers non-advanced courses. These might include skill development, higher vocational education such as City and Guilds or a Foundation Degree. This does not include university education.
• Higher Education: Higher education is provided in colleges and universities and includes undergraduate and postgraduate degrees (including Doctoral programmes).

The education system of the UK is somewhat similar to that of India. Thus, international students who choose the UK to study abroad will not have a major adjustment issue. 

Top Universities in the UK 2025-26

The top 10 universities in the UK in 2025, based on the QS world university rankings 2026 are given below. 

Top Courses in UK

Universities in the UK offer a wide range of courses that cover every available academic discipline. However, certain courses are very popular amongst students. The table given below provides a list of popular academic disciplines and various courses that are offered under those disciplines:

Level Wise Cost of Studying in UK

The following data is meant to provide you with an estimate of the cost of studying in UK on the basis of academic level. For accurate fee details, students are advised to check the official webpage of that particular course.

• Undergraduate Level: Undergraduate tuition fees can be in the range of £11,400 to £38,000 per year. This translates to an average of nearly £22,200 per year.
• Postgraduate Level: Postgraduate tuition fees can be in the range of £9,000 to £30,000 per year per year. This translates to an average of nearly £17,109 per year.
• Certain courses, such as medicine, might cost more than £50,000 per year.

Expenses on Living Costs in UK

Cost of living in the UK depends on various factors such as your location, type of accommodation, lifestyle, dietary habits, etc. The table given below provides an approximate monthly cost of living in UK:

(Source: University of Oxford)

As a broad range, we can conclude that monthly cost of living in UK for international students can range from £900 to £1,300. If you wish to live in London, be ready to shell out anywhere between £1,300 to £1,400 per month as the cost to live in London.

UK Permanent Residence Permit

Once a student has completed his/ her academics, students need to apply for the UK Post-Study Work Visa (PSW UK or Graduate Route Visa). It allows a student to stay back in the UK and work for 2 years (3 years in case of Doctoral qualification). Once the Graduate Visa expires, students need to apply for a skilled work visa or general work visa (Tier 2 visa) or any other relevant visa, if they wish to stay back in the UK. Students can apply for PR in UK if they have stayed in the UK for 5 years and fulfilled other conditions such as indefinite leave to remain in the UK, indefinite leave to enter the UK, English-language proficiency, life in the UK test, etc.

Admission Requirements to Study in UK Universities

Admission requirements to study in UK Universities vary depending on the course and academic level of the students. However, the following points will provide you an overview of requirements to study in the UK:

• Formal Schooling
• Graduate/ Postgraduate Degree (if application)
• Academic Transcripts
• Test Score of SAT/ GMAT/ GRE (as per the course)
• English proficiency test scores of IELTS/ TOEFL/ PTE/ Other (as per the course)
• Personal Statement (UCAS Personal Statement in case of undergraduate applicants)
• Essays
• Resume
• Letters of Recommendation
• Portfolio (in case of creative courses)
• ID Proofs
• Financial Proofs
• Medical Proofs

Top Student Cities in UK 2025 

According to the ‘What Do Graduates Do post-taking the Graduate Route in the UK?’ report from Prospects and AGCAS, 23.1% of the 2019-20 graduates were working in London. Hence, London is definitely the top choice for international students. Moreover, London has ranked at the 1st position on the QS Best Student Cities 2025. The table given below provides top cities in UK for international students:

Scholarships to Study in UK

Scholarships are a great way to reduce your cost of studying abroad. In addition, they are a recognition of your academic and/ or extracurricular talent as well. Students can apply for a number of scholarships in the UK. Some of the scholarships are offered by the Universities, while others are offered by organisations. Some of the top scholarships to study in the UK include:

• Global Study Awards
• Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship
• Chevening Scholarships
• GREAT Scholarship
• Scotland’s Saltire Scholarships
• Rhodes Scholarships
• Erasmus Mundus
• K.C. Mahindra Scholarships for Postgraduate Courses

Education Loan for Studying in UK

Studying abroad, that too in the UK is definitely expensive. Besides the tuition fee, there are other costs such as visa fee, travel expenses, accommodation, food expenses, University expenses, stationery costs, etc. Students can apply for scholarships in order to reduce their cost of pursuing their academics in the UK. However, scholarships are very competitive and under such circumstances, students can apply for an education loan to study in the UK. Various financial institutions, such as the State Bank of India, Syndicate Bank, Bank of Baroda, etc., have various schemes for study abroad loans. If the students receive an offer letter from a reputed University, the loan process is usually quick for countries like the UK to study abroad.

Part time Work Options for International Students in UK

Students who are studying in the UK can also opt for part-time work in order to reduce their cost of pursuing their academics in the UK. However, part-time work in the UK for international students comes with certain riders that include a maximum of 20 hours per week for those studying at degree level or more, when the classes are in session. Language centre students can pursue 10 hours per week of work when their classes are in session. However, students can pursue full-time work during their vacations. In addition, students can also look for yearlong industry placements that usually fall between the penultimate and final year of their degree.

Post study Work Permit in UK

International students, after completing their undergraduate or postgraduate degree course, can apply for the UK Graduate Route Visa or PSW UK. PSW UK or UK Graduate Visa allows a student to stay back and work for 2 years after completion of his/ her degree. The duration is 3 years in the case of Doctoral students. In order to apply for post post-study work permit in the UK, students need to pay an application fee of £822 and an annual healthcare surcharge of £1,035. After the expiry of the UK post-study work visa, students can apply for a skilled work visa or a general work visa (Tier 2 visa) or any other relevant visa.

Job Prospects in UK (ROI)

ROI (Return on Investment) is an extremely important factor for students while finalising a course, University, or country for studying abroad. ROI refers to the salary or pay package that a student obtains after completing the course. It shows whether the investment he/ she has made in that particular course has fetched him any significant returns or not. The table given below provides Universities, their fee for a particular course, and the salary details of the students: