One of the most popular study destinations, the UK enjoys a proud tradition of education with universities rooting back to the 12th and 13th centuries. Known for its language, history, culture and innovation, the UK has an average student retention rate of 82%. With a comprehensive support systems in place for international students, studying in UK is definitely a life-changing experience.
Student visa requirements for the UK
Here’s an overview of the types of study visas and their application requirements:
| Type of student visa | Who it’s for | When to apply | Arrival in the UK |
| Tier 4 (General) student visa | Students aged 16 or over who have been offered a place in a course at a UK educational institution | Three months before the start of your course | Up to one week before if your course lasts six months or fewer. Up to one month before if your course lasts more than six months |
| Tier 4 (Child) student visa | Students aged between four and 17 who have been offered a place in a course at a UK educational institution with a valid Tier 4 sponsor, such as an independent fee-paying school | Three months before the start of your course | Up to one week before if your course lasts six months or fewer. Up to one month before if your course lasts more than six months |
| Short-term study visa | Students who have offered a place in a short-term course in the UK, such as an English language course or training course | Three months before your date of travel to the UK | Depends on your nominated travel dates |
| Tier 4 (General) student visa | Students who have been offered a place in a course at a UK educational institution with a valid Tier 4 sponsor | Three months before the start of your course | Up to one month before if your course lasts more than six months |
*For detailed information, please visit the Gov.UK website
Cost to study in the UK
| S.no. | Study Program | Average fee (in Euros*) |
| 1 | Undergraduate bachelor degree | GBP 10,000 to GBP 20,000 per year |
| 2 | Postgraduate master’s degree | GBP 10,000 to GBP 20,000 per year |
| 3 | Doctoral degree | GBP 15,000 to GBP 24,000 per year |
*Please note that: all figures are indicative and PhD cost might differ as fully funded options are also available in the UK
Scholarships to study in the UK
Here are some popular government scholarship programs you can apply to study in the UK as an Indian student:
| S. No. | Name of the scholarship | Description |
| 1 | Chevening Scholarship | This initiative supports talented professionals who have shown prior leadership skills and exceptional performance in their respective fields. With Chevening, you can apply for a scholarship or fellowship, the selection of which is done by the high commission and British embassies These scholarships are fully funded, and includes airfare, living expenses and tuition fees. This is available for 12 months (provided your course is for 12 months). However, it can be extended after 1 year under the special case that will be approved by FCO(Source:https://www.chevening.org/current-cheveners/policies/terms-and-conditions-scholarships/) |
| 2 | Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship | The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK offers fellowships and scholarships to students from Commonwealth countries. Indian students applying for a master’s degree or a PhD in the UK can take advantage of this scholarship to fund their education. Under the scheme, there are scholarships available specifically for low and middle-income countries too. This scholarship covers airfare, tuition fees and some of the maintenance expenses. Source:https://www.britishcouncil.in/study-uk/scholarships/commonwealth-scholarships |
| 3 | GREAT Scholarships | This scholarship is jointly funded by the UK Government’s GREAT Britain Campaign and the British Council under the Study UK campaign. This program includes 99 postgraduate scholarships from 36 UK universities in a variety of subjects. However, for Indian students, 12 of the UK higher education institutions are offering 13 postgraduate scholarships. The amount of each scholarship is a minimum of £10,000, the equivalent of one year’s tuition of a postgraduate (taught) degree. The application deadline varies as per different institutions, so you need to check the university’s website for the same. Source: https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/scholarships/great-scholarships-2020/india |
| 4 | Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships (CWIT) | These scholarships are given to Indian students who are in early or mid-stage of their career and experienced in arts, heritage conservation or the humanities. It includes fully-funded awards; visiting fellowships in agreed subjects at specific institutions; grants for doctoral study; grants for research and professional visits; and grants to attend the Scottish Universities Summer School. The amount and duration vary as per the above-mentioned categories: CWIT Long-term grants: The duration of this is usually 2-3 months up to 1 year covering accommodation, living cost and fees or any contribution to international fares Visiting fellowships: This includes 10 fellowships which enables writers, academics and translators to spend 2-3 months at specific host universities to carry out specific work activities. The deadlines depend upon an educational institution which will be hosting your visitCWIT short-term grants: This includes 10-15 grants that amount up to £1,400 to cover UK costs of short research or professional visits by academic research scholars and professionals working in the arts, heritage conservation and the humanities. This is usually granted for a period of 3 weeks and if you are planning to stay longer then you need to supplement it from different sources such as a grant from Indian council for historical research. This is payable upon your arrival in the UK and doesn’t cover international faresGrants during the final year of doctoral study: With an intentional to fill the funding gaps, this will be provided in your last year of doctoral study in arts, heritage conservation and the humanities. The amount is usually between £500-£600(Source: *https://www.britishcouncil.in/study-uk/scholarships/charles-wallace-trust/short-research *https://www.britishcouncil.in/study-uk/scholarships/charles-wallace-trust/final-doctoral-studies *https://www.britishcouncil.in/study-uk/scholarships/charles-wallace-trust/long-term) |
| 5 | Scotland Saltire Scholarships | The initiative awards 50 students for one-year full-time graduation program in the field of science, healthcare, technology and creative industries and renewable and clean energyThese are offered by the Scottish government in association with Scottish universities. The value of each award is £8,000, which will cover tuition fees for any one year of full-time study in the postgraduate master’s programme at any of Scotland’s higher education institutions (Source: https://www.scotland.org/study/saltire-scholarships) |
*This is an indicative list, speak with our counsellor for details and best available options suited to your profile.