Imagine spending the weekend exploring the Tate Modern and walking around Hyde Park before sitting down with friends for fish and chips to watch Arsenal vs Chelsea. Or studying in an independent cafe on Beech Street in Manchester before a night out at Warehouse Project. Or visiting the Beatles Story in Liverpool, then wandering through the Botanical Gardens in Sefton Park.
The United Kingdom offers countless opportunities to study at world-renowned institutions in dynamic, culturally-rich cities.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about studying in the UK.
We’ll cover:
Should I go to university in the UK?
Differences between universities in the UK and US
How to research universities
Admissions requirements
How to apply
Deadlines
After applying
Student visas
Final thoughts
Should I go to university in the UK?
The UK boasts a large number of high quality and internationally recognized academic institutions. Many are in exciting, cosmopolitan cities and have large international student bodies. Additionally, tuition costs in the UK tend to be considerably lower than in the US. Think anywhere from $14,000 to $40,000/per year—and degrees can be earned in three years. Another advantage: international students can work part-time while studying (up to 20 hours per week and even off-campus) and full-time during school breaks. Moreover, the Graduate Route visa also offers graduates of UK universities the opportunity to apply to stay in the UK for a further two years to seek employment.
Furthermore, regardless of where you study,doing so outside of your home country can be an incredible way to explore a new part of the world, learn about a different culture, and become a more mature and self-confident individual.
Differences between Universities in the UK and US
Education in the UK can be pretty different than in the US. Here are a few of the key differences:
Types of Universities
The UK has three primary types of universities: Russell Group, ancient, and polytechnic and metropolitan.
The Russell Group represents 24 world-class, research-intensive universities. These are some of the most prestigious UK universities and, as a whole, they make up over two-thirds of the research produced by UK universities.
Ancient universities refer to the oldest universities in the UK, those founded before the year 1600, some of which also form part of the Russell Group. The oldest of these is the University of Oxford, which was founded in 1096!
Finally, there are polytechnic or metropolitan universities. These are universities founded in the late 1900s to boost skilled labor in science, technology, and engineering, which emphasize skills for career development.
Length of Degree
One of the most notable differences is that earning a Bachelor’s degree in most parts of the UK takes only three years, instead of four. However, many universities offer the option of a foundation year, professional work placement/sandwich year, or study abroad, which could extend the length of the degree to four years. The foundation year takes place prior to starting the program, while a placement year or study abroad often takes place after two years of study.
The main exception to this is Scotland. In Scotland, most degrees are four years in length, but culminate in a Master’s degree. Despite culminating in a Master’s degree, these degrees are still considered undergraduate degrees.
Academic Term
The academic term is not standardized in the UK so it can vary from university to university. Most schools use a semester system, although some use a trimester or quarter system. The school year starts in September or October and ends in May or June.
Choosing a Major
With a few exceptions, students studying in the UK must decide their major (or “course”, as they’re called in the UK) prior to applying. They then apply directly to that course. This means that, unlike at many American institutions, you’ll need to have a lot of clarity on what you want to study prior to applying.
Scotland, however, because of the four-year duration of its programs, allows for more flexibility. Students can study up to three subjects in their first year and narrow it down as they progress. You can read more about this approach on the University of Edinburgh’s website.
Classes Outside of Your Major
At most American colleges, you’ll be required to fulfill certain general education requirements, such as classes in the Humanities, Social Sciences, Sciences, etc. Furthermore, you’ll likely have space for classes that may have nothing to do with your major. Maybe you want to tap into your artistic side through an Art class or explore a lifelong fascination with space through an Astronomy class.
In contrast, British universities don’t provide as much flexibility. The emphasis is on depth rather than breadth. If you’re studying History, you’ll only take classes related to History. Your first year, you may not be able to choose any of the classes. In your second and third years, you may have some electives available to you, but they’ll likely all be directly related to your course (again, meaning your major).
Double Majoring
You might be wondering: can I double major or minor in the UK? British universities do offer Combined or Joint Honours Programmes, which allow you to complete a degree in two—or even three—different disciplines. But that doesn’t mean you can necessarily study English and Physics or Statistics and Musical Theater simultaneously. Combined Honours Programmes are only available in select disciplines that are related to each other.
Grading
In the UK, classes tend to be more lecture-based, with few assignments. At times, your final grade may actually be based exclusively on your final exam.
Accommodations
In the US, students often live in dorms for their first year or two of college (or even all four years). In the UK, most students live in what are known as student halls or halls of residence for their first year of college to ease the transition. Student halls are large buildings, often divided into apartments. While you may share a room with another student, single rooms are more common. Most student halls will have a dining hall, as well as communal space. Self-catered halls have a communal kitchen where students can cook their own meals, instead of a dining hall.
For their second and third years, most students move out of student halls and seek out private accommodations in the city. Universities often support students with resources to find housing.
Extracurricular Activities
Extracurricular activities play a less significant role in applications to UK universities, but an important role on UK campuses themselves. Many students are significantly involved outside of classes. British universities often have active clubs and societies where you can meet people who share your interests. These range from the Quidditch Club at Oxford University to SocieTEA, a tea society at the University of Bath. First year students often arrive on campus a week earlier than other students and participate in Freshers Week. During this induction week, students will have the opportunity to learn about the clubs and societies on campus and indicate their interest. Just be sure not to over-commit yourself!
Sports
British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) is the organization that runs sports on university campuses in England. Many Scottish universities also compete in BUCS as well as the Scottish League. At the start of each academic year, university teams hold a trial period, giving players the chance to find the correct standard team for their ability level. Players are able to progress up or down on a team as the academic year progresses based on performance and interest.
There are multiple levels of participation: club, recreational, intramural and university teams, and UK universities are very accommodating for all levels of play. Sports teams can be a great way to become socially integrated within the university. Every Wednesday, classes end early so that students can compete across the country. Athletic scholarships are available, but are less common than in the US and do not cover significant expenses.
How to Research Universities
If you’re not familiar with UK universities, it can be daunting to start researching. The UK has over 395 universities offering over 50,000 undergraduate programs—that’s a lot!
The best place to start your research is the University and Colleges Admission Service or UCAS, the platform you’ll use to apply to UK universities as well. On the UCAS platform, you can search by course or location. Trying to figure out what path of study is best for you? You can also find helpful subject, industry, and career guides, as well as guides to different regions and cities in the UK.
Rankings can be problematic (remember just because a school is highly ranked doesn’t mean it’s a good fit for you!), so don’t base your decision for where to study exclusively on rankings. However, they can also be useful. Rankings can introduce you to schools you’ve never heard of before, particularly important given that you may not actually know that many schools in the UK. They provide you with an idea of how recognized a university’s name is on an international scale and how rigorous its academics are. Check out The Complete University Guide, Times Higher Education, and the Guardian League Tables to see how schools stack up in terms of entry standards, student satisfaction, research quality, and graduate prospects.
Admissions Requirements
English Proficiency
One universal requirement for international students is English proficiency. If you’re a non-native English speaker, expect to take the IELTS or TOEFL to demonstrate English proficiency. However, if you’ve studied all four years at an English-speaking high school, you may not be required to demonstrate proficiency. Even if you’re a native speaker, it’s possible you’ll need to take an English proficiency test as well for your visa. It’s imperative to look into each university’s requirements just to be sure.
Qualifications
Entry requirements will almost always include your qualifications (essentially your high school academic background). The university system will base your admission on your academic background, exam results, personal statement,and school reference (recommender).
For students graduating with an American high school diploma, this means you’d be evaluated on your cumulative GPA (most universities will require a GPA of 3.0) and Advanced Placement results (usually 3-5). Some universities will also require a minimum SAT or ACT score. Check each course website—not just the university website—to see if you meet the required qualifications. If not, you may need to complete a year of university study in your home country or a foundation year.
In addition to evaluating your qualifications and English proficiency, universities may have supplemental requirements, such as admissions tests, interviews, auditions, and portfolios.
How to Apply
So you’re excited to apply to university in the UK! You’ve found a handful of courses that interest you and ensured you meet the entry requirements. But what are universities looking for in your application? And how do you actually apply?
In the UK, you’ll be evaluated on the basis of your qualifications (academic background), UCAS personal statement, reference letter, knowledge of the discipline, attitude towards learning, and writing skills. Unlike some US universities, UK universities do not weigh involvement in extracurricular activities and leadership roles heavily. With the exception of some of the most competitive programs, if you meet the entry requirements for a given course, you have a high likelihood of being given an offer.
Deadlines
Applications for UK universities are due in mid to late January for the majority of courses. Check the course website for the most up-to-date details.
However, there are some exceptions. Any course at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, or most courses in dentistry, medicine, and veterinary medicine have a deadline of October 15th.
While the October 15th deadline is usually inflexible, don’t worry too much if you’ve missed the January deadline. June 30th is the final deadline for late applications for international students. Furthermore, you can apply up until the end of September (exact deadline may vary), but you’ll be entered into Clearing, the process by which universities fill any open spots. International students are eligible for Clearing as long as they’ve applied through UCAS at an earlier stage.
Application Fees
The application fee is £22 for a single choice or £27 for multiple courses.
Applications
Applying via UCAS
The first step is to register with UCAS. You’ll see a number of different sections—personal details, education history, employment history.
In the education history section, you’ll add your qualifications. They’re listed by country and name. If you don’t see yours, don’t worry! You can always choose “Other.”
Note that the employment history section should only include part or full-time paid employment. If you don’t have any paid employment to add, that’s okay. As long as you list qualifications, you don’t need to include employment.
On the Common App, you can apply to up to 20 colleges. On UCAS, the limit is significantly lower: five. You’ll also notice that you’ll apply directly to the course, not just to the university itself. The courses you apply to will not be able to see the other courses you’re applying to, nor will you rank the courses in terms of your preference. If you have your heart set on one particular university, reach out to the admissions staff before applying to two courses as they may not consider you for both.
Personal Statement
An essential part of the UCAS application is the UCAS personal statement, where you describe your interest in the course, relevant academic and extracurricular experience, and the skills that make you a strong candidate. You can write up to 47 lines or 4000 characters for the personal statement—whichever comes first.
You will see that the personal statement is based on you as an academic and your knowledge and interest in your future course. Only roughly 20% at most should be given to outside-of-class activities that are not related to your major/course. It is important that you follow the guidelines given and understand that this is not like a US personal statement for college admission.
Keep in mind that you’ll be sending the same personal statement to all five schools. So don’t rave about University of the Arts London and the opportunities that come with living in London if you’re also applying to University of Manchester. See How to Write the UCAS Personal Statement (Guide + Examples) for great advice on how to approach the personal statement.
Reference
Another element of the application is your referee (your recommender). UCAS only requires one reference. Your referee should be a teacher, principal, counselor, or other educator who can speak to your academic ability and work ethic—ideally someone who’s taught you within the last two years. Check out the UCAS page on references for more information about what universities are looking for in a reference letter.
Predicted Grades
If you have not completed your qualifications, such as IB and AP exams, the UCAS application and universities will want the referee to enter a predicted grade. This can seem quite strange for a US high school to predict an AP score in October-December, but it is required by the UCAS application.
Admissions Tests
Admissions tests are fairly uncommon in the UK. However, it’s worth checking the entry requirements for the courses you’re applying to just in case they require one. Some courses will require you to register and take exams prior to submitting your application. Make sure that you’re registered for the exam by the deadline and that your exam results are sent to the university.
Interviews and Auditions
Some universities, such as University of Oxford and University of Cambridge, require an interview. If that’s the case, they’ll let you know after you’ve applied. Make sure to check out the UCAS website for interview tips! Courses in the arts may also require an audition, which will vary depending on the discipline and the university itself.
Portfolio
If you’re applying to a degree in the Arts, it’s likely you’ll be asked to submit a portfolio as well, usually after submitting your application via UCAS. Make sure to research the specifics of what the course asks for.
After Applying
UK universities will notify you if you’ve been accepted via UCAS Track. Once you’ve received your admissions decisions, you’ll be able to accept one offer (firm choice) and even select your second choice (insurance choice). Most offers will be conditional, meaning they may still need additional documentation (likely your diploma, final transcripts, or exam scores) before officially accepting you.
Deciding between a few universities? Most universities will offer Open Days, virtual or in-person events to learn more about the university and its academic and extracurricular offerings. Check out these Open Day tips for a list of things to consider before, during, and after your visit. If you can’t visit in person, make sure to attend a virtual open day or virtual tour. On the UCAS website, you’ll be able to see upcoming Open Days and other events from universities across the UK.
Unibuddy is also a phenomenal resource for chatting with current students at a number of UK institutions (and institutions around the world for that matter!).
Finally, don’t be afraid to reach out to the International Office to ask questions, schedule a time to meet with your regional representative, or ask to be put in touch with a current student.
Student Visas
As an international student, you’ll need a visa to study in the UK. You’ll be able to apply for a visa once you’ve been offered a place in a course by an official student sponsor (the school at which you’ll be studying). To apply for the visa, you’ll need to demonstrate that you have enough money to pay for the course and support yourself during your studies. The earliest you can apply for a visa is six months before your course, and the process is fairly quick. You’ll usually get a decision within three weeks.
And if you want to stay in the UK upon graduating, you can apply for a Graduate visa and work in the UK for up to two years! For more information on the student visa process, take a look at Study in the UK on a Student Visa.
Final Thoughts
Already dreaming about visiting the British Museum or Edinburgh Castle? Then what are you waiting for?
Dive in—start to research schools in the UK, develop your school list, and apply!
Special thanks to Rachel for writing this blog post.
Rachel Ozer-Bearson, Independent Educational Consultant with Mosaico Mentors in Mexico City
