Study in UK from Philippines

The UK education system has four levels of education, which include higher education. Almost every international student comes to study in UK for higher education. Only universities and colleges in the UK offer higher education qualifications. As an international student, you can pursue an undergraduate, postgraduate, or doctoral qualification at a UK college or university.

It takes three years of study to earn a bachelor's degree in the UK. Some colleges in the UK offer bachelor's programs that require three years of study and a further year of work placement. Further, universities in Britain locations such as England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland offer 4-year-long bachelor's degree courses.

On the other hand, a master's degree in the UK typically takes one year of study, but some universities allow you to complete it in two years, including a year of work placement. If you want to pursue a master's degree immediately after high school, the good news is that UK universities also offer integrated master's programs. It takes four or five years for you to complete an integrated master's program in the UK, which includes a bachelor's degree and a master's degree.

Then there is a doctoral degree in the UK. It takes three or four years for you to earn a PhD or a similar doctoral degree here. It requires a master's degree in a relevant field or an honours degree and a research proposal to get into a doctoral program at any of the best UK universities.

The UK also follows an academic credit system where one credit equals ten notional hours. Completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the UK usually requires 120 or 180 credits, respectively.

The UK has three intake periods where you can begin your studies at a university: autumn, winter, and summer. The availability of the intakes to study in UK is likely to vary by school and course. You should pick the intake that best fits your personal situation and academic goals.

The principal intake for nearly every university in the country starts in September or October. Coinciding with the beginning of the UK academic year, the autumn intake is the best-known intake among international students. Starting your studies during that time will give you access to an array of programs, with support and orientation services to help you adjust to your social and academic environment.

The winter intake starts in January and offers a smaller number of programs as compared to the one in the autumn season. It is for international students who miss out on the primary intake in the UK and/or require more time for preparation for the next academic year. Not every university program is available in the winter.

The summer intake in the UK may be relatively less common, but some schools offer programs that start in either May or June. The summer intake is perhaps ideal for candidates who wish to start studying beyond the usual academic year in the UK and have more flexible schedules.

The UK is among the most popular study abroad  destinations, thanks partly to the standard of education in the country. The quality of courses available at colleges in the UK plays a part in elevating the standard of education here. There are many options for you to pick from, which makes it a little tricky. The factor that makes your choice even more challenging is your lack of clarity regarding what to study. This can happen if you plan to pursue an undergraduate degree in the UK or a career path that differs from your previous education.

In any case, it pays to know why the vast majority of international students choose to study in Britain. For example, if you decide to enrol in a data science course, it will improve your chances of landing a top job in the country. There are more top programs in the UK with the potential to improve your career prospects. Here is a list of the top options to help you pick the right course in the UK:

• Computer science
• Construction management
• Business administration
• Finance and Accounting
• International Business
• Law
• Engineering
• Fashion Designing
• Interior Designing

For further assistance in making the right choice, contact a counsellor at AECC. Our team of counsellors always makes themselves available to you so that you can make the right decisions and better navigate your study in UK journey.

As said earlier, there are many top-tier universities in Great Britain. This explains why a large number of foreign nationals pursue higher studies in the UK. Why wouldn’t this be the case, especially considering the higher number of universities in the UK that feature in the lists of publications such as QS and Times Higher Education? Universities from Wales, Scotland, and London feature at the top of the lists. Some high-ranking universities in the UK have screening processes in place for applications, but be bold enough to apply to at least one of them.

While the aforementioned includes some of the best universities in England and elsewhere, feel free to consider other options as well. The university that best fits your portfolio and interests may rank lower than the aforementioned schools, but this does not make it any lesser.

Finding it challenging to decide which school is the best fit for you to study in UK?  Reach out to an AECC counsellor today and avail yourself of our FREE counselling on how to choose the best school for higher education in the UK.

Do you intend to seek a higher education qualification in the United Kingdom? If so, you must understand the admission criteria for the specific level of education you want to apply for. Read on for some basic information about university admission criteria for the three main levels of study in the UK.

Bachelor’s Level:

• A grade of at least 65% in Year 12
• English language proficiency

Master’s Level:

• A qualification that equals a UK bachelor’s degree, with an overall score of 60% or more
• English proficiency
• Work experience (only for select programs)

Doctoral Level (PhD):

• A relevant undergraduate degree and a master’s degree, both with 60% or above
• English proficiency

There is plenty of documentation involved in the process of applying to a UK university. There are certain must-have documents, regardless of where you want to apply in the UK. Then there are documents that vary depending on the school and program you want to apply to. The common documents for UK university admission include the following:

• Year 11 and Year 12 mark sheets in the attested form
• Academic transcripts (For Years 10 and 12 and for a bachelor’s degree if applicable)
• Statement of Purpose
• A valid English proficiency certificate
• An honours degree and research proposal or a master’s degree

It is important to note that you also need documents like a passport and evidence of funds to qualify for a visa that allows you to study in the UK. Be sure to submit all the documentation correctly.

If you need any assistance in applying to a British university, contact an AECC counsellor. Our counsellors have a lot of experience in helping international students clear the immigration and admission hurdles and realise their study abroad aspirations.

Your living expenses in the UK will depend on your exact residential location, lifestyle, accommodation, and so forth. Some places in the UK are more expensive than others. For instance, London is among the costliest places to live for foreign nationals. This is evident from the financial requirement for a student visa in the UK. The Home Office requires you to possess more money for living expenses in London as compared to other UK locations.

There is a financial requirement for you to meet to qualify for the visa. It pays to look at how much money the immigration department of the UK requires you to carry to meet the financial criterion for the visa. As of July 2023, the department requires the visa applicant to have £1,334 a month for nine months for a program in London and £1,023 a month for a course elsewhere.

The place where you live and the specific type of housing you choose determine your rental amount. Many schools in UK offer on-campus housing for foreign nationals who pursue degrees. You should choose the type of housing in the UK that is right for you, comfortable, and convenient.

Need any help determining your living expenses in the UK? Reach out to a counsellor at AECC to get expert assistance and avail yourself of our FREE services!

Do you want to stay back in the UK after you graduate from school here? If so, there are many different visa pathways for you, including the Graduate Route. How long you can remain in the UK with a Graduate Route visa depends on the qualification you earn from a school here. If you hold a bachelor's or master's degree from a UK school, you can stay back for two years in the country. For a PhD graduate, however, the maximum permissible stay-back duration under the visa program is three years.

The period includes the amount of time you will spend finding a job in the UK as well. The visa allows you to work in the UK in any capacity. You may take on an internship, freelance work, or full-time job in the UK with a Graduate Route visa. There are requirements to qualify for the visa, but it does not have a salary criterion. Any number of international graduates can apply for a Graduate Route visa as well. After working in the UK for two or three years with it, you can look for a different type of visa to elongate your stay in the UK, such as a Skilled Worker visa, to name one.

After staying and working for three years in UK with the permit, you can qualify for PR. A full-time work opportunity with an employer in UK will turn you into a Federal Skilled Worker and pave the way for permanent residency. Having PR status allows you to access all types of jobs in UK.

Contact an AECC expert for any specific query about post-study work opportunities in UK.