The UK houses over 100 universities and university colleges. They are institutes classified as rural polytechnics, or some are even iconic institutes located in the most well-known cities. Once you have decided to pursue higher education and study in the UK, the goal remains to figure out how to go about this long journey. Shortlisting the right university from a variety of universities can be nerve-racking. We are here to make this process easy for you!
The official website for information on UK university courses is Unistats.direct.gov.uk. Here, one can compare courses considering diverse factors like the fees/cost of the course, course level offered and the overall satisfaction quotient felt by the students. To further understand the performance of a university in one’s subject area, there is also a League Tables published by thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk. Most importantly, it is essential to understand that the selected university by the student is listed on https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-licensed-sponsors-students, else the student will not be eligible to apply for a student visa, which is a requirement to be able to go and study in the UK.
Let us look at the application process program wise:
UK Universities are well-reputed for offering undergraduate degree programs with different majors/courses. These degrees are recognised by global employers; are exciting, interesting and offer a strong academic grounding to the student. Undergraduate in the UK can also be referred to as a bachelor’s degree program.
There are six types of undergraduate degrees offered in the UK. Also, in most UK universities, the degrees conferred are either ‘Ordinary’ or ‘Honors.’ Ordinary degrees are granted if all classes are completed but the final grade was not up to the mark/a set expectation as per the university standard. As such, this distinction makes no difference in the sense of employment but it does make a difference for pursuing a higher education/master’s program.
The undergraduate in the UK is structured to help students gain a thorough understanding of the subject. An undergraduate in the UK is completed in three years, although in rare cases, it may take up to four years. The different types of degrees include Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) and Bachelor of Engineering (BEng). Some of the popular courses are Anthropology and Archaeology, Social Sciences, English, Computer Science, Business, Law, Medical fields, Engineering, and Sciences.
Foundation Degrees: The UK offers these degrees that equal two years in an Honors degree program. The classes are directly related to one’s employment, almost like pursuing an internship-based program. Likewise, the UK has Higher National Diploma (HND), a two-year certificate with a third-year option.
Diplomas and Certificates of Higher Education: These are equivalent to the first two years of an undergraduate degree.
Some undergraduate in UK degrees have a specialised undergraduate master’s degree. It is typically useful for a student aiming to directly pursue graduate studies after the undergraduate program. These programs last for four years and is a big money saver because the student studies the master’s curriculum by paying just a bachelor’s degree course fee.
For undergraduate degrees offered at public universities, the applicant needs to apply through the UK’s central admissions system – the University and Colleges Admission Service (ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate). It is a very informative website that gives all the required information about applying as an international student. The best part is – with just a one-time application fee, the applicant can submit applications to five universities. Personal details, educational history and a personal statement of 4000 characters are also needed.
The usual deadline is January 15th, but some universities do have earlier deadlines for in-demand, competitive courses. Also, private universities have their own set of the separate application process and some other universities accept direct applications as well.
MBA is a globally recognised, well-renowned, well-sought-after course after completing undergraduate studies. It offers long-term career growth, stability, global exposure and the candidates are usually in demand. As the demand is high, the candidate must prove his/her rigour and be competitive. To be able to stand out, one should aim to pursue MBA in the UK from a globally well-established school.
UK universities offer the best business degrees. Some of the best schools in this regard are:
London Business School (LBS): Ambitious students select this business school to pursue their goals. LBS MBA is flexible, and their alumni go on to pursue highly successful careers.
Warwick Business School (WBS): WBS is one of the best business schools to pursue an MBA in the UK. Students usually have a high employability rate and can select from a variety of career choices.
University of Cambridge: Judge Business School: This iconic university offers the best MBA in the UK. This MBA is a one-year study program, with the opportunity to participate in team-based business projects.
Imperial College Business School: Even this school is one of the best universities to pursue a globally-reputed MBA program. It offers a good understanding of global businesses through its leading faculty members.
Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS): It is one of the top-ranked MBA schools in the UK. The degree enables one to have a good job and a steady career trajectory.
For the MBA programs, each business school has its own set of requirements. However, some of the most common aspects are a bachelor’s degree with more than 50-60% score, English language proficiency scores (IELTS/ TOEFL- Ibt), GMAT/GRE scores, and work experience. Along with this, the university asks for a CV, essays/ personal statements, Letters of Recommendation and academic transcripts.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is also referred to as a ‘doctorate’. This is the highest level of education that one can pursue. A PhD in the UK requires a candidate to submit a dissertation that talks about independent, original research done. After PhD, one can aim to pursue an academic career or even take up industry-based positions. PhD in the UK usually is of three years and then the students have a one-year time to submit their dissertation works. An advantage of doing PhD in the UK is the fact that the degrees are globally recognised, and students have opportunities to join any leading global organisation to embark on their careers.
Therefore, to pursue a PhD in the UK, a student needs to have an undergraduate degree and some programs may also require a graduate degree. Before being accepted to the program, the applicant needs to submit a relevant research proposal, academic transcripts, and English language proficiency test scores (IELTS/ TOEFL-ibt).
These are graduate-level programs offered in the UK that typically last for one year, although there are a few Masters in the UK, especially that are research-based that can stretch up to two years. The academic year begins in September and ends in June.
After the USA, the UK is the next preferred destination to pursue a master’s because the country and the education system is diverse, universities and programs are globally recognised, and there are a good number of scholarships and funding opportunities available like Commonwealth Scholarships, Rhode’s scholarship and Chevening Scholarships.
Further, some of the most popular destinations to pursue Masters in the UK are London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, Oxford, Cambridge, Sheffield, and Bristol. The higher education system offers different kinds of qualifications such as Academic Master’s or Professional Master’s. Professional Masters means vocational-based courses.
Academic Master’s Degrees: Such degrees are of two types- Taught Master’s and Research Master’s. The final degree offered can be Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MSc), Master of Research (MRes), Master of Philosophy (MPhil), Master of Letters (MLitt)
Professional Master’s Degrees: These degrees prepare one for a specific job. Examples are Master of Social Work (MSW), Engineering Masters (MEng), Psychology Masters and Master of Fine Arts (MFA). Even MBA or MiM degrees, which are business-based courses are classified as Professional Masters.
Some of the top universities in the UK for MS are Imperial College London, Oxford University, University of Cambridge, University of Edinburgh, University of Warwick, University of Nottingham, Manchester University, King’s College London and the University of Bristol.
The MS program application consists of directly applying to the department/program. Common requirements for application include a duly filled application form, cover letter, personal statement/Statement of Purpose, Letter of Recommendation, academic transcripts, English language tests and/or research proposal if applying to a Research based program.
To help one navigate this tough journey of finding the right course, the right program and the right fit to study in the UK, numerous UK Education consultants guide applicants in their journey. An experienced UK education consultant like Manya-The Princeton Review will guide one through the entire application and the visa filling process.
Ques.1 What are the requirements to gain an admit to a UK university for a master’s in data science?
A bachelor’s degree in computer science or related discipline along with English proficiency test scores.
Ques.2 How much does MS in the UK cost?
Tuition fees are around 20,000 to 30,000 GBP. It is approx. 20-30 lakhs INR
Ques.3 Can I get a job/employment after MS?
Yes, one can work, and the average salary is 35,000 GBP per annum (33.62 lakhs INR)
Ques.4 Is GRE required for MS in the UK?
No, it is not mandatory to have GRE scores, but some competitive programs do require GRE to be submitted.
If you are planning to study abroad and searching to match your profile with the best suited university, Experts at Manya – The Princeton Review have gathered important information of top Universities from abroad. Surely, this information will help you narrow down your quest for universities. You can access accurate & authentic information related to rankings, application fees, average tuition fees, cost of living, scholarships, latest updates, and much more from more than 1000+ universities. You may also search for universities by name, country, or courses in common specializations, such as Physics, Finance, Business, Language and Culture, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Computer and IT, Media and Communication Marketing.
Manya – The Princeton Review offers end-to-end study abroad services encompassing admissions consulting services, test preparation, English language training, career assessment, and international internship opportunities to study abroad aspirants.
For more information, call our Study Abroad Helpline 1800 102 4646.
Book your Free Counselling Session now!
