The United Kingdom of Great Britain (UK) has been one of the prominent education destiny selections among international students from all over the world. The United Kingdom is composed of four distinguished countries, i.e. England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. Every country has its own government, thus having a separate education system. But overall, the framework of the stages of the education systems of these countries are somewhat similar. The government of these countries made it compulsory for the students, from ages 5 to 16, to take full-time education. The education system basically comprises of several levels or stages of education, which are:

• Early Years – Education for students of age 5 to 7
• Primary Education – Education for students of age 7 to 11
• Secondary Education – Education at Secondary School for students of age 11 to 14
• Further Education (FE) – Education after secondary education of chosen subject till age 16
• Higher Education (HE) – If any student aspires to continue and explore more in-depth in their respective field of education after their FE, then they can take admission in any university or in any educational institution of the nation and pursue it.

Some of the popular educational programs opted by majority of the international students in the UK are:

1. Business Administration
2. Economics
3. Accounts & Finance
4. Computer Science
5. Politics

Any aspiring students can take admission in any of the UK’s universities in the following intakes:

• Spring Intake

This admission intake happens in the month of January and ends till the month of February.

• Autumn Intake

This is the biggest admission intake of an academic year in the UK education system. It happens in the month of September and lasts till October, Majority of the prominent universities and educational institutions of the UK take the enrollment of students in this intake.

• Summer Intake

This intake of admission occurs only in selected universities for some specific programs only, and that too not on a regular basis. This is a supplementary intake period.

The admission process to study in the UK is as follows:

1. Research: The students should research about the availability of the courses and the universities that offer programs of their interest. They should also plan their finances well in advance.
2. University Shortlisting: Once the list of available universities is there, a student needs to shortlist a few courses that he can apply to as per his profile and preferences.
3. Appear for Eligibility Exams: The scores of eligibility exams and English proficiency exams shall be required when the students start their application.
4. File Application: The student can then start gathering all relevant documents and start applying.
5. Student Visa Application Process: Once the admission offer letter is received, a student can start filing the visa application. It shall require documents such as identity and financial proofs. A visa interview is held and post that, it is decided whether the visa is approved or rejected.

The dream of studying abroad can be expensive for the majority of the students, whether it’s the UK or any other country of the world. However, the United Kingdom’s prestigious and reputed universities do provide quality education worth every single dollar spent on it. With some beforehand knowledge about the expenses that can occur while studying abroad in the UK, can make the studying and living experience a bit more hassle-free and enjoyable. The expenses that can occur are stated below:

Tuition Fees

• Average UG Fees – 10,000 to 20,000 GBP per annum
• Average PG Fees – 10,000 to 22,000 GBP per annum
• Doctoral Degree – 15,000 to 25,000 GBP per annum

Other Expenses

• Accommodation – 200 to 400 GBP per month
• Food & Dining – 150 to 300 GBP per month
• Transportation – 50 to 90 GBP per month (depending on the means of transportation and the distance travelled)
• Stationary – 15 to 30 GBP
• Clothing – 20 to 40 GBP
• Health Insurance – 150 to 300 GBP per annum
• Additional Expenses – 80 to 100 GBP

To aid the expenses of studying abroad in the UK, the universities and even the government offers scholarships, awards, and grants for international students. Some of the popular ones are:

• Newton Fund PhD India Scholarship
• Royal Society Grants
• Chevening Scholarship
• Gates Cambridge Scholarship
• Commonwealth Masters Scholarship
• Scotland Saltire Scholarship

Studying in the UK will require a student visa for international students. There are different types of student visas depending on the type of education an individual is travelling to the UK. They are stated below:

1. Student Visa – For the students, of or above 16 years of age, travelling for higher studies in any university of the UK
2. Short-term Study Visa – Visa for those students who are travelling for taking a short course of 2 to 6 months, not more than 6 months
3. Child Student Visa – For the students of age between 4 and 16.
4. English Course Study Visa – Students who are travelling to study English in any institution of the UK required this visa.

The UK Student Visa Application Process:

In order to apply and take the student visa for the UK, students need to follow these steps:

1. Visit the website and look out for the proper visa category matching with the mode of education.
2. Read the instructions of the visa and about the required documents thoroughly.
3. Gather the required documents, and go through them once again
4. Fill the online visa application calmly and attach the required documents if asked.
5. Before submitting the application form, go through it again and cross-check it for any mistakes.
6. After the successful application form submission, an interview date is allotted to the student.
7. Attend the interview with the utmost calmness, without any nervousness.