Costs
Tuition
£12,000–30,000/year for most master's programmes. MBA and medicine significantly higher (£25,000–50,000+). Russell Group universities at the higher end.
Living Costs
London: £1,334/month (Home Office requirement). Outside London: £1,023/month. Realistic budget including rent, food, transport: £1,200–1,800/month in London, £900–1,300 elsewhere.
Total Annual Cost
€28,000–55,000/year depending on city and programme.
Part-Time Work
20 hours/week during term time, unlimited during official breaks. Average student earnings: £400–600/month. Common jobs: hospitality, retail, campus roles, tutoring.
Post-Study & Immigration
Post-Study Work Visa
Graduate Route: 2 years (3 for PhD). No minimum salary, no sponsor needed. Can switch to Skilled Worker visa if you find a sponsored role. Under political review — apply while it's still available.
Path to Permanent Residency
No direct path from student visa. Switch to Skilled Worker visa (requires employer sponsorship, £38,700 minimum salary for most roles). 5 years on Skilled Worker → ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain).
Language Requirements
IELTS 6.0–7.0 (varies by university and programme). Some accept Duolingo (but not most Russell Group). PTE Academic accepted at many universities. MOI letters accepted by some.
Visa Processing
Standard processing: 3 weeks. Priority: 5 working days (£500 extra). Super priority: next working day (£1,000 extra). Apply via online portal after receiving CAS from university.
Top Universities
| University | QS 2025 | Tuition (Int'l) | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Oxford | #3 | £29,000–44,000 | PPE, Medicine, Law, Computer Science |
| Imperial College London | #2 | £34,000–44,000 | Engineering, Computing, Business, Medicine |
| University of Cambridge | #5 | £25,000–67,000 | Natural Sciences, Engineering, Mathematics |
| UCL | #9 | £26,000–40,000 | Architecture, Education, Neuroscience, Law |
| University of Edinburgh | #27 | £25,000–35,000 | AI, Data Science, Medicine, Veterinary |
Scholarships
Chevening Scholarship
Award: Full tuition + £1,316–1,558/month + flights + visa
Eligibility: 160+ countries · Deadline: November
UK government's flagship. 1-year master's at any UK university.
Eligibility: 160+ countries · Deadline: November
UK government's flagship. 1-year master's at any UK university.
Commonwealth Scholarship
Award: Full tuition + living + flights
Eligibility: Commonwealth countries · Deadline: Dec–Jan
For master's and PhD. Apply through national nominating body.
Eligibility: Commonwealth countries · Deadline: Dec–Jan
For master's and PhD. Apply through national nominating body.
Gates Cambridge
Award: Full tuition + ~£19,000/year living
Eligibility: All non-UK · Deadline: Oct–Dec
For postgrad at Cambridge. ~100 awards/year. Extremely competitive.
Eligibility: All non-UK · Deadline: Oct–Dec
For postgrad at Cambridge. ~100 awards/year. Extremely competitive.
Clarendon Fund (Oxford)
Award: Full tuition + £18,622/year living
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: January
~140 awards/year. Automatic consideration when applying to Oxford.
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: January
~140 awards/year. Automatic consideration when applying to Oxford.
GREAT Scholarships
Award: £10,000 minimum toward tuition
Eligibility: Specific countries · Deadline: Varies
British Council scholarships at 100+ universities. Country-specific eligibility.
Eligibility: Specific countries · Deadline: Varies
British Council scholarships at 100+ universities. Country-specific eligibility.
2026 Policy Updates
What changed: The Graduate Route is under political review — there's pressure to restrict or shorten it, but no changes implemented yet. Master's students can no longer bring dependants unless on a government-sponsored scholarship. NHS surcharge: £1,035/year. Biometric Residence Permit being replaced by eVisas.
Best For
Students wanting a 1-year fast-track master's. Finance, law, and business careers where UK credentials carry specific weight. Commonwealth scholarship recipients. Nursing students targeting NHS pathway. PhD students (3 years + 3-year Graduate Route = 6 years).
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