How to Study in the UK from India?

Many Indian students are curious to know how to study in the UK from India. It is because taking a degree from this country creates a new milestone to a students academic and career life. The British degree is a dream of many Indian students.

Advantages of studying in the UK from India.

There are a lot of benefits to studying in the UK from India. The Indian students are very interested in British education because of its unlimited merits. A student will never lack jobs after a UK degree as the employers around the world prioritize the British education system a lot. Let’s know about the benefits it provides to the students-

Outstanding quality of Education
Varieties study options
Top-quality education
Student job opportunities
Industry-based Education
Post-study work permit
Outstanding weather conditions
Diverse tradition and culture

Wanna know about the admission process to study in the UK from India?

Every year, thousands of Indian students enroll in British universities. The admission process to the universities is simple if you follow the rules. Here we will learn about the admission process to study in the UK from India.

Find a University and a Course

Firstly, select some universities that are within your range, in your preferred location, and the one that you are interested in applying to. You can do it with proper research. Besides, it is also important to know whether the course you are interested in is available at the university and in the intake or not.

Check the entry requirement.

It is important to know if your eligibility matches the entry requirement before applying to a UK university. When a student lacks any eligibility, either they get rejected or get a conditional offer letter. Only after matching the entry requirements properly, a student will get an unconditional offer letter. However, Before applying, it is also important to learn about the tuition fees and location.

Apply to the desired universities

First, research on the UK universities. After a proper research, select some universities according to your choice and apply to them.

Wait for the offer letter

After applying, it’s time to wait for the result. Many students stay in a dilemma in this phase whether they will get the offer letter or not. Getting an offer letter means you are eligible to study in the UK from India.

Get your student visa

After getting the offer letter and a CAS, it’s time to apply for a student visa. If you provide all the documents properly and pass the credibility interview, you will get the Uk student visa soon.

Entry Requirements to study in the UK from India.

Students must match their eligibility to the entry requirements to study in the UK from India. It includes the academic and English language requirement. Let’s know about them:

Foundation Courses

Indian Standard XII with an overall average of 50% including a pass in 5 subjects. ( Math needed for STE Pathway)

Undergraduate Courses

Each program usually has different entry requirements to study in the UK from India.

With an overall average of 60% to include 50% or above in 5 subjects with All Indian Standard XII examination.

Or,

3 Year Diploma in engineering or technology subjects from a State Board of Technical Education with an overall 60%.
GCSE Math requirement.
Indian Standard XII 60%- Grade B
Indian Standard XII 50%- Grade C

Or,

CBSE or CISCE Standard X

Grade B-60%

Grade C-50%

Postgraduate Courses

Required a Bachelor’s degree equivalent to a UK first degree to study in the UK from India. ( 2.1-60%, and 2.2-55%)

However, the entry requirements may vary from university to university and to courses.

English Language requirements to study in the UK from India

To meet the university’s English language requirements from India, you will need one of the following to study in the UK without IELTS.

Higher Secondary Certificate (Standard XII)- Awarded by CBSE, ISC, and select State Boards

70/100 (70%) or 160/200 (80%)

A degree from the following universities:

The University of Mumbai; The University of Delhi;The University of Calcutta;The University of Bangalore;Savitribai Phule Pune University ( formally the University of Pune); The University of Chennai/Madras;Anna University;Osmania University; The University of Goa. ( Medium of Instruction-MOI).

UKVI IELTS to study in the UK from India:

UKVI IELTS. Most of the courses require a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 or equivalent with no band less than 5.5. ( some courses may require more) for undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

IFP 3 terms: IELTS UKVI overall 4.5 and no less than 4.0 in any band.

IFP 2 terms: IELTS UKVI overall 5.0 and no less than 4.5 in any band.

International Year 1: Overall 5.5 and no less than 5.5 in any band.

Pre-Master: Overall 5.5 and no less than 5.5 in any band.

Other English Language Requirements to study in the UK from India.

Cambridge Advanced English
PTE Academic
TOEFL IBT/ TOEFL IBT Home
Password
ELLT
Language Cert
QA Higher Education English Language Test and many more.

What about a Pre-sessional English Course?

Suppose, you have taken UKVI IELTS to study in the UK but unfortunately your score is lesser than the minimum English language entry requirements of the course. Now what to do? You can take a pre-sessional English course to get the qualification.

Course options to study in the UK from India

Generally, the UK offers 1-year Master’s degree and 3-year’s Bachelor degree. But these are not the only qualifications. There are multiple course options available in the UK for international students. You can consult with a professional counselor to learn more about the course options an Indian student can find in the United Kingdom. You will find the options like-

Undergraduate
Postgraduate
2 year Accelerated Degree
PhD/Research Degree
Integrated Masters.

However, if you need a Pre-university education, you can take-

Foundation or Pathway.
Pre-masters
Pre-sessional English courses

Visa application steps to study in the UK from India

A student usually applies for the British visa, after getting a CAS- Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. There are some steps to follow to apply for a visa in the United Kingdom. These are-

Choose the right visa for your trip.
Get started with your visa application.
Find out the amount you need to pay
Choose the visa application centers and make an appointment.
Upload all the supporting documents for free.
Visit the visa application center.
Track your application.
Collect your passport.

Necessary university application documents to study in the UK university from India.

To study in the UK from India, you must apply to a UK university. With your application, you need to submit some important documents. Such as:

Passport
All academic certificates and transcripts.
English proficiency documents.
CV
Reference letter
Personal statement
Portfolio ( For the course of Art and Design)

( If any documents are not in English, it must be translated by an official translator).

Eligibility Criteria for a visa to study in the UK from India.

An Indian student must have the required eligibility to get a student visa in the United Kingdom. To get the eligibility, you must-

Have an unconditional offer letter from the licensed sponsor.
Should be English language proficient.
Ample money to support yourself and your dependents in the UK.
Parental consent if you are under 18.

Don’t worry if you are 16 or 17. If you want to study at a British independent school, you may need a Child Student Visa instead.

Compulsory visa documents to study in the UK from India.

You need to submit some documents with the visa application. The earliest you can apply for a visa from outside of the UK is 6 months before you start your course. Usually, you will get a decision within 3 weeks on your visa application. When making a student visa application, the required documents you need to submit are-

An international passport.
Need sufficient funds to bear the living expenses for the duration of the course.
A CAS reference number and documents that are needed to apply for a CAS.
A valid ATAS certificate if required.
If you’ve received a sponsorship for your course fees and living cost in the last 12 months, provide written consent for your application from the financial sponsor.
CV and work reference ( if they have more than 3 years study gaps).
Tuberculosis test report if you are coming to the UK for more than 6 months.
Provide parental consent if you are under 18.
Provide proof of relationship if you are under 18.

You may need to submit some additional documents if you are-

Not a resident of the country you are applying from.
Under the age of 18.
Want to bring dependents with you.

UK Visa application center for Indian students.

VFS Global is your partner for all visa applications to study in the UK. There are many UK visa application centers available in India. Such as: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, Goa, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Mumbai North, Mumbai South, New Delhi, and Pune. Here you can submit your application. This should be the same visa application center as your appointment.

Visa processing time and priority services to study in the UK from India-

The UK Visa and Immigration ( UKVI) is experiencing a considerable demand for visas. For this reason, the application processing time takes longer than expected. That’s why there are Priority and Super Priority Visa services available. Let’s know about them-

Priority service visa

You can choose a Priority service visa after verifying your identity at a UK visa application center. But you will need to pay some extra fees for this service. After applying, you will get a decision within 5 working days of your appointment at the visa application center. Before applying, make sure the application center offers the priority or not.

Super Priority Service

By providing the biometric information for this visa, UKVI aims to make a decision on your application and will contact you to inform you that your passport is ready to be collected within 24 hours. But there will be an extra charge for this super priority visa.

Does the UK accept study gaps for Indian Students?

Students can study in a British university with a study gap. Gap years never become a major issue for international students for taking a British education. If a student has proper qualification and eligibility, the immigration authority will prioritize it more than the gap years. Usually, for a UK bachelor degree, a student can easily apply with 2-3 years of study gaps. For the UK Master’s degree, 5-7 years of gap years won’t create any problems. However, many UK universities enroll students with more study gaps if they have a solid justification.

Scholarships to study in the UK from India

For some students, studying abroad can be a huge burden due to the higher tuition fees and living costs. In this case, a scholarship can be a huge relief. For international students, the UK provides many grants, scholarships, and student loans. Among many scholarships, here I am mentioning some.

British Chevening Scholarships.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree Scholarship.
Felix Scholarships
Rhodes Scholarship
Commonwealth Scholarship
Inlaks Scholarship and many more.

Career opportunities to study in the UK from India.

The British Degree helps students to advance in their career. From the student life, they get a chance to practice the work life. As an international student, a student will get 20 hours of work permission while studying. Besides, on vacation, they can work full time. Moreover, the UK degree provides many work placement opportunities also. This will help them to gain practical work experience. After completing a degree, a student can stay in the UK through the Graduate route visa. However, if you want to know more about the career opportunity, you can consult with the expert counselors of AIMS Education.

Eligibility to get a Graduate Route Visa to study in the UK from India.

Isn’t it fantastic to stay in the UK after completing education? This is the most valuable time to achieve experience and qualification. Is that only? No. Even it provides a chance to earn lots of money. These all facilities a student can get through a Graduate Route Visa. To get the Graduate Route Visa, one must have some eligibility. Such as:

You must be in the UK.
Your current visa should be the general student visa.
For a minimum period of time, you must have a Bachelor, Masters, or other qualifying degree.

To apply for a graduate route visa, you must need one of the following courses.

A British undergraduate degree.
A British postgraduate degree.
A UK PhD or Doctoral degree.

You can also apply if you have completed one of the following-

a law conversion course approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority
the Legal Practice Course in England and Wales, the Solicitors Course in Northern Ireland, or a Diploma in Professional Legal Practice in Scotland
the Bar Practice Course in England and Wales, or the Bar Course in Northern Ireland
a foundation programme in medicine or dentistry
a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE

What you can and cannot do with a Graduate Route Visa?

There are some allowance and restrictions, a student will find with a graduate route visa while studying in the UK from India.

Things a student can do with a graduate route visa are:

Work in most jobs.
Look for work.
Be self employed.
Staying with the dependents.
Do voluntary work.
Travel abroad and return to the UK.

Things a student cannot do with a graduate route visa are-

Cannot apply for the state pension or public fund.
Work as a professional sports person.

Student accommodation facilities to study in the UK from India.

If you are worried about the accommodation facility while you want to study in the United Kingdom, then AIMS Education can offer you a great relief. AIMS Education is a student consultancy firm that helps students to study in the UK, USA, and Canada. It has a partnership with the private accommodation agency amberstudent. If you get any difficulties finding the university dormitory or halls of residence, then contact us to have one.

FAQ- Frequently Asked Questions

How many points are required for a successful visa application to study in the UK from India?

Ans: Required points for a successful visa application are-
● CAS-50
● English-10
● Financial documents-10

How much money is needed in your account to study in the UK from India.

Ans: 1. Course fees for the first year and up to 9 months of living expenses.
✅ Living expense for London-based university- {(1334*9)=12006}
✅ Living expense for outside of London- {(1023*9)=9207}
For example, if your course fee is £14000 and you have paid £4000. To study at a London-based university, the total amount you need to show is £22006.

Can I apply for the visa without the bank statement?

Ans: Yes, if you can submit an education loan letter from a recognized financial institution confirming the education loan, you can apply for the visa with that loan letter. According to the Immigration Rules, here is the evidence of financial sponsorship or student loans for students.
An applicant relying on a student loan under must show evidence of the student loan by providing a student loan letter from the lender which must:
(a) be dated no more than 6 months before the date of application; and
(b) confirm the loan is a student loan provided to the applicant by either the relevant government or a government sponsored student loan company or an academic or educational loans scheme; and
(c) confirm there are no conditions on release of the loan funds other than a successful application to study in the UK as a Student or Child Student; and
(d) confirm the amount of the loan; and
(e) confirm the loan is to the applicant; and
(f) confirm the funds will be:
(i) available to the applicant before they travel to the UK; or
(ii) paid directly to the student sponsor before the applicant travels to the UK, with any living cost portion of the loan being made available to the applicant by the time they arrive in the UK; or
(iii) available before the applicant begins their course if the loan is provided by the applicant’s national government; and
(g) confirm the lender meets the requirement at FIN 8.3(c)..

Who provided the student loans for international students.

Ans: A student loan is provided by:
● A government; or
● A government sponsor student loan company; or
● An academic or educational loan schemes which is provided by a financial institution regulated for the purpose of issuing student loans by either the Financial Conduct Authority ( FCA) or the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), or in the case of an overseas loan, the official regulatory body for purpose of issuing student loans in the country of institution is in and where the money is held.

Can an Indian student study in the UK without IELTS?

Ans: Yes, it is possible to study in the United Kingdom without IELTS. There are many IELTS alternative English language proficiency tests available to get English language competency. Besides, if your last education was in English, or you have 70% marks in English at the Higher Secondary Level, then some universities will accept you without IELTS or equivalent tests.

Is a medical test required to get a UK student visa from India?

Ans: Yes, a medical test is required to get a British student visa. If you are a resident of India and coming to the country for more than 6 months, you must be tested for tuberculosis. The test must be done by a Home office-approved clinic. Any test from a non-approved clinic won’t be accepted.

Why do students prefer to study in the UK from India?

Ans: The Indians prefer to study in the United Kingdom because of the benefits it provides to them. Such as-
● It is home to prestigious and world-class universities.
● A student can get great financial assistance and support.
● It is a hub of quality education.
● A student can work while studying.
● Shorter degree programmes.
● Employability options are immense.
● Post study work permission.
● Health benefits
● Cross-cultural experience.

What are the popular courses in the United Kingdom for Indian students?

Ans: The popular courses the students choose in British universities are Business, Economics, Management, Law, Sociology, Psychology, English Literature, Engineering, Medicine, and many more.

Is the UK costly for the Indians?

Ans: As with the tuition fees, international students require to pay the living cost, sometimes a British degree can be a little costly for the Indians. But the benefits it provides to international students are much better than this cost. A student can work part-time and get many scholarship opportunities in the UK.

Is an Indian student required to pay an IHS fee in the United Kingdom?

Ans: Yes, international students must be required to pay an IHS fee when they want to study in the UK.

Can an Indian student work in the UK?

Ans: Yes, an international student can work part-time and full-time in the UK. During the semester, a student can work 20 hours per week and full-time when there is a holiday. Moreover, after completing a British degree, a student will get a 2-3 years post-study work permit.