Studying in England - what are the benefits?
Studying in England means universities with world-class tuition offer, excellent research facilities and acknowledgement of global leadership in higher education. Gaining a degree from an English university will therefore open many doors and significantly improve your CV and hence your desirability in the job marketplace.
In the process of studying in England, you will improve your English language level. This in turn will facilitate securing work with a multinational company, at home or abroad, since English is the lingua franca of business, politics, finance, international communication, media and the internet. In short, studying in England is a passport to success!
Studying in England – which are the best universities?
The following is a list of the most highly-rated universities in England, taking into account student satisfaction levels as well as research output:
- University of Oxford
- University of Cambridge
- Imperial College London
- University College London (UCL)
- London School of Economics and Political Science
- King's College London
- University of Manchester
- University of Warwick
- University of Bristol
- University of Durham
(Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020)
Which are the offered faculties?
Remember, that this series of rankings is NOT subject specific. For example, while the LSE is an outstanding institution, it does not offer every kind of course, so if you want to study the history of art, engineering or law, you will have to look beyond the Times’ list and determine which university to apply to – and this is where Elab can help you.
Our consultants have been sending students to study in England for many years, and we can guide you to find the ideal television production course, or determine where to take a degree in games design, perhaps a joint degree in IT and economics – whatever you might be looking for. Finding a course is not simply a matter of typing one or two words into a search engine. In the end, you need to consider a huge range of factors.
What should I do if I am looking for a joint degree in England?
Studying in England offers you many opportunities to tailor your course to suit your interests, needs and ambitions, and Elab knows its way around the labyrinth of options and can show you what is possible, and how to get ready to start your adventure studying in England.
Studying in England – which are the most popular courses?
These were the most highly subscribed courses in 2020:
- Business
- Natural Sciences
- Engineering and Technology
- Medicine
- Law
- Social Sciences
- Sports Science
- Media and Communication
Studying in England – will I need a student visa?
The UK has now left the EU and, unless you have secured a pre-settlement visa and started living in England before 31 December 2020, you will need to apply for a student visa. Anyone who is under 16, or who is intending to study in England for no longer than six months – and this includes at a language school – will be exempt. Everyone else who wishes to come to the UK after 1 January 2021, will need to get a Tier Four student visa.
I want to study in England – how do I apply for a student visa?
The process is simple, and can even be done on your smartphone. You will need:
- to provide a copy of your passport
- to prove you can support yourself financially
- an unconditional offer from a university
- to confirm that you can speak, write and understand English (for example, by uploading an IELTS certificate)
- to pay an application fee of £348 (at the time of writing)
- to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) a £470 charge, which will cover the cost of using the National Health Service and allow you to use doctors, dentists and hospitals. The IHS forms part of your student visa application – even if you already have private health insurance. This surcharge fee is an annual one, so if you are intending to study for three years, you will need to pay £470X3= £1410.
What are the academic entry requirements to study in England?
This depends on the course and the university to which you are applying. Obviously, the more competitive the university, the higher the grades it will demand. In addition, if you wish to study in England you will need to provide evidence of your proficiency in English – and this can be done by submitting an IELTS score (aim for 6-7, as a rough rule of thumb), or the TOEFL and Cambridge equivalent.
English universities accept the IB, as well as a large range of national secondary school certificates. If you would like more information on average grade demands or to verify that your qualification is accepted, contact Elab by dropping us en email or giving us a call.
Is studying in England expensive?
This depends on where you decide to live and study in England, since prices vary between the capital and other major cities and the north and the south. Naturally enough, London has higher rents and a generally more expensive cost of living than large and vibrant cities such as Bristol and Newcastle.
A recent survey took into account the cost of a beer, hamburger, chips, transport, gym membership, the number of budget supermarkets near campus and basic groceries, and concluded that the cheapest student cities to study in England were:
- Bath
- Coventry
- Manchester
- Norwich
- Sheffield
- Liverpool
- Leeds
- Newcastle
- Birmingham
- Wolverhampton
On average, studying in England will cost you between £780 and £1250 per month, depending on the type of accommodation you choose, your lifestyle and your leisure preferences.
Can I study at a rural university in England?
If you love the countryside and find urban life not to your taste, why not consider one of the following universities:
- York
- Warwick
- Keele
- Royal Holloway
- Reading
- Durham
…all of which combine natural beauty and stunning landscapes with historical settings and up to date facilities.
If the sea is your passion, consider studying at an English university located on the coast, for example:
- Bournemouth
- Essex
- Exeter
- Falmouth
- Sussex
- Southampton
…which offer miles of pristine golden beaches, where you can walk, swim, and even study!
Studying in England – who can I get financial aid?
The government has yet to set out final guidelines on tuition fees for EU students, who will lose their home student status – which means that they pay exactly the same fees at English students – if their course begins in September 2021.
It therefore seems likely that fees will rise, and we already know that EU students will no longer be eligible for tuition and maintenance grants. At the moment we believe that some universities will freeze their fees, others will expand the scholarships and grants they offer, and banks and financial institutions will provide a range of products for covering the cost of studying in England.
Here at Elab we are tracking all new developments in this field, and as soon as we have a concrete statement on tuition fees, we will post it online.
If you want to talk through financial options and possibilities for studying in England, then do give us a call and we will provide you with the most up to date information available.
Studying in England is a brilliant and life-changing experience, as well as being an investment in your future and your career.
