The United Kingdom is one of the most well-known study abroad destinations, attracting millions of international students from over 86 countries worldwide. The UK is often listed as one of the three most coveted countries for international candidates, along with Canada and the United States, and is renowned for its unrivaled reputation in the field of education, curriculum, and research methods. It's no wonder that many Indian students choose to study in UK from India for the quality education, global recognition, and career opportunities it provides.
Top Reasons to Study in the UK
Let's dive into the blog to know the reasons why Indian students should study in the UK.
Economic Outlook
The United Kingdom is a well-developed mixed economy. It is the fifth-largest economy globally in terms of market exchange rates and the sixth largest by purchasing power parity (PPP). The overall GDP of the nation in 2020 was $2.63 trillion, and the current GDP of the nation is $3.12 trillion.
The economic sector plays an essential role in generating the GDP of the nation. The service and tourism sector generate more GDP in comparison to agriculture. In 2019, the service sector and the manufacturing industry contributed 71.26% and 17.41% to the nation's total GDP. According to the World Bank collection of development indicators, the total labour force in the UK in 2020 was 34 million.
Relations with India
The United Kingdom and India share a profitable trade relationship. India is the UK's second-largest foreign investor, while the United Kingdom is India's 18th largest trading partner. Recently, India and the United Kingdom announced a new Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP) to double bilateral trade by 2030 and pave the way for a potential UK-India FTA. In addition, the two governments signed a Migration and Mobility Partnership to make it easier for students and professionals to travel legally. This strengthens the appeal of study for Indian students.
Career Prospects
Some of the most popular and high-paying career prospects in the UK are doctor, computer science, data science and technology careers. Other popular degrees are engineering and technology, law, social science and media & communication.
Education Prospects
Every year, the United Kingdom attracts thousands of international students for higher studies and holds second place in terms of higher education. The abundance of excellent scholarship and fellowship opportunities for students is likely to be one of the major factors that make the UK one of the top countries for candidates who want to study abroad. Scholarships can help cover tuition fees and living costs.
There are over 150 top universities in UK. The Russell Group holds 24 research-intensive UK universities with a distributed commitment and focus towards research and providing an exceptional teaching and learning experience. These are some of the popular universities for Indian students.
The Russell Group was initially founded in 1994, and in 2020, four of the top 10 universities in the QS World University Rankings – the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London and UCL – are Russell Group members.
Following the latest Research Excellence Framework, Russell Group universities composed 68% of the UK's 'world-leading research and 68% of the research of the country with an 'exceptional impact.' This academic excellence and research opportunities attract many Indian students.
The cost of tuition fees for international undergraduate courses starts at around £10,000 (INR 10.3 Lacs) per annum and go up to £38,000 (INR 40 Lacs) per annum or more for medicine degrees. While the tuition fees may seem high, there are many scholarships available to help fund your study in UK. Education loans and student finance options are also available.
Academic Calendar: The academic year at a UK university typically runs from September to June, with intakes in September and January.
Academic Requirements: A Copy of Passport/ID Card | High School Transcripts | Good IELTS Scores | No SAT/ACT/Advanced Placement Exams for undergraduate courses | Extracurricular Activities Certificates | LORs | Essay/Personal Statement | Additional tests required like UCAT/BMAT/LNAT in some universities.
India is amongst the third-highest nations that made up the student body of the UK in 2020. According to new data released by IIE, out of 551,495 international enrolments, 27,915 Indian students were enrolled at UK universities.
Almost all courses to study are taught in English, and German and French are considered the most in-demand foreign language in the nation. English proficiency tests like IELTS are required for admission requirements.
The proposed student visa requirements in Brexit will result in a collapse in EU student admissions that create a substantial international student and income gap in the UK Universities. To replenish it, they will favour other international students (non-EU citizens). Since India is the country where they get the second-highest influx of scholars, they are more likely to recruit Indian students in. The reason is that Indian students will offset the plunge in income that universities will encounter due to the loss of EU students. This presents an opportunity for Indian students looking to study in UK.
Fun Facts
The traditional food in the United Kingdom is roast beef and Yorkshire beef, but the British have declared Chicken Tikka to be their national dish. The Chicken Tikka is a traditional Indian dish.
Also, tea is by far the most popular drink in the United Kingdom. Every day, they are estimated to consume 165 million cups of tea.
Local Cuisine
Remember the names of these local British delicacies before you travel to the UK: Shepherd's Pie, Beef Wellington, Fish and Chips, Chicken Tikka Masala, Steak, and Kidney Pie, and there's a lot more ahead.
Famous Travel Destinations
The UK offers almost endless possibilities for travelers, in which some popular ones include Stonehenge, Tower of London, The Roman Baths and Georgian City of Bath, The British Museum, York Minster and Historic Yorkshire, and a lot more.
Final Words
The United Kingdom has always been a welcoming country for international students. According to statistics, there were 485,645 international student enrolments in the United Kingdom in 2020. India is one of the second-largest nations represented in the UK’s student body in 2019. The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) has released new data showing that 13,435 Indian students were enrolled at London universities in 2020. Entry requirements for Indian students in the UK may vary depending on the type of course you wish to pursue.
International students can now apply for a visa to study in the UK if they have been offered a course, are fluent in English and are financially capable of funding their living and tuition fees.
According to the new immigration program, international students who have completed a degree in the UK from summer 2021will be able to apply for a new graduate immigration route. They will be able to work or look for work in the UK at any skill level for up to two or three years if they are PhD degree holders.
Thus, the United Kingdom has earned a much-deserving place amongst the top three overseas destinations for international aspirants, and it is unquestionably a worthwhile endeavor. So, if you want to be all set with your UK study plans, get in touch with the UniVisory team!