How to Study in the UK from Pakistan?
The United Kingdom is the most popular study destination for Pakistani students. With top-class education, it also provides practical work experience that helps a student in the long run. There are multiple reasons every year thousands of Pakistani students start their journey to study in the UK from Pakistan. Let’s know some of the most remarkable benefits behind students’ strong interest to study in the United Kingdom.
Benefits of Studying in the UK from Pakistan.
Pakistani students want to study in the United Kingdom because it broadens their horizons and helps them to gain global exposure. British education helps them to take a degree that is universally recognised and turn them into a quality learner.
- Internationally accredited and recognised high-quality degree
- Top quality education
- Opportunity to work part-time on a student visa
- 2-3 years of post-study work permission after a degree
- Access to the world-class health service
- Postgraduate students can bring dependents to study in the UK from Pakistan
- Visa extension or switch opportunity
- Global connection and top-level experience
- Favorable weather conditions.
- Halal food, amenities, mosques for prayer, and freedom to practice religion.
Admission Process to Study in the UK from Pakistan.
When you apply to study in the UK as an international student, you need to follow some specific admission procedures. Let’s know about the processes step by step-
- Research on the universities and the courses. You might check location, ranking and facilities offered by the Universities.
- Shortlist some universities and the courses by checking the entry requirements, fee, scholarship, CAS deposit, installment plan.
- Finalize a few options and apply directly or take help from agent to apply
- Get a conditional or unconditional offer letter.
- Pay minimum (CAS- Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) deposit
- Provide proof of funds and TB test certificate for the CAS. You may need to pass a pre-cas interview before getting the CAS
- Once CAS is issued apply for the visa
- Get the visa and plan your travel.
Entry Requirements to study in the UK from Pakistan?
Applying to a country from another must be required to meet the eligibility to the entry requirement. Two types of requirements like the academic and the English Language requirement here are needed to fulfill to get a British Degree. All courses do not have the same requirements. It can vary from course to course. Let’s know about the general entry requirements to study in the UK from Pakistan.
Foundation Course
HSC/HSCC (Higher Secondary School Certificate with 50% overall to include 50% in 5 subjects (to include 50% in Math for STE)
FSc (Federal Secondary Certificate)
FA (Federal Certificate in Arts)
I Com (Intermediate in Commerce also known as ‘Inter’)
Undergraduate Course
With the following requirements, a student can study in the UK from Pakistan. But each programme will have slightly different requirements. So it is better to check the course requirements properly before choosing one. However, let’s share the general undergraduate entry requirements.
Qualification
Successful completion of HSSC (Higher Secondary School Certificate) with 75% overall where a course has subject-specific requirements 75% will be required in each of these subjects.
Applicants must be aged 17 or over at the point of enrolment.
OR
Successful completion of Year 1 of an undergraduate degree with 50% or above.
Postgraduate Course
For the postgraduate degree, the UK universities require applicants for the taught programmes who hold a degree equivalent to a UK first degree in the relevant subject area. However, many UK universities consider Pakistani students who have a good grades in the following are-
Qualification
4 year Bachelor degree (if awarded prior to 2015 degree must include a final year dissertation or project)
OR
Master’s degree and a 2 year Bachelor’s Degree
2:1 – 65%
2:2 – 55%
50% or above can be accepted for applicants who complete LLB, MA English or MA Education from University of Punjab
English Language Requirements to Study in the UK from Pakistan.
Normally for the graduate and postgraduate courses, UKVI IELTS 6.0 with no band less than 5.5 is required. Despite that, some courses may ask for a Higher score. If you do not meet the English language requirement, the university authority may provide you with a conditional offer letter. However, for other degree programmes,
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 Pakistan-
- Cambridge Advanced English.
- PTE Academic
- TOEFL IBT
- QA Higher Education English Language Test
- Trinity College ISE.
Besides, if your IELTS score is not sufficient to take an academic program in the United Kingdom, you can choose a pre-sessional English course to get the qualification. But UKVI IELTS is mandatory to take the pre-sessional English course.
Course Options to study in the UK from Pakistan.
An international student will find various course options while studying in the UK. So students can choose a course according to their choice and requirements. Such as-
- Undergraduate
- Postgraduate
- 2 year accelerated degree.
- PhD/Research Degree
- Integrated Masters
However, if a student needs a pre-university education, he can take courses like-
- Foundation or Pathway.
- Pre-masters
- Pre-sessional English course.
University application documents to study in the UK from Pakistan.
Study abroad starts with making applications to the universities. This is the primary step towards your goal.
- Passport.
- All academic certificates and transcripts.
- Documents on English language proficiency.
- CV
- Reference letter
- Personal statement.
- Portfolio (for the art and design courses)
(Documents that are not in English, must be translated by an official translator).
Visa application steps to study in the UK from Pakistan.
After completing almost all the steps towards taking a British education, the final step is the visa application. While making an application, there are some steps you must follow. Such as-
- Select the right visa type.
- Start making visa applications.
- Find out the amount you need to pay for the visa application.
- Make an appointment by choosing your nearest visa application center.
- Upload all the necessary documents.
- Visit the visa application center.
- Track your application.
- Collect your passport.
Eligibility to get a student visa to study in the UK from Pakistan.
To get a British student visa, an international student must have the following eligibility.
- Must have an unconditional offer letter from the licensed student sponsor.
- Should have English language proficiency.
- Required amount of money to support yourself and your dependents while staying in the UK.
However, if you are 16 or 17, and want to apply to a British University, then you need a Child Student Visa.
Required visa documents to study in the UK from Pakistan.
To get a student visa, a candidate must submit some mandatory documents to get a student visa in the UK from Pakistan. You will generally need these documents to get a student visa. As an example-
- A current passport or other valid travel documents.
- Evidence of a sufficient amount of bank statements to cover the tuition fees and living costs.
- CAS ( Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) reference number and documents to obtain CAS.
- Tuberculosis test report if you are coming to the UK for more than 6 months.
- CV and work reference ( If they have more than 3 years study gaps)
- 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.
- ATAS clearance certificate ( if required)
- Provide parental consent if you are under 18.
- Provide proof of relationship if you are under 18.
Additional documents students may need if they are-
- Not a citizen of the country you are applying from.
- Under 18 years of age
- You want to bring their dependents
Besides, if any of the supporting documents are not in English, they may need to be translated. When translated documents must be dated including the translator’s name and signature with the confirmation that all are accurate documents from the original paper.
UK visa application centers to study in the UK from Pakistan.
VFS Global is your partner for all the UK visa applications in the UK from Pakistan. In Pakistan, you will find the UK visa application center in these places-
- Islamabad
- Karachi
- Lahore
- Mirpur
Priority and Super Priority visa to study in the UK from Pakistan.
Every year, multiple UK education aspiring students apply for the visa in the UK. That’s why the UKVI is experiencing a huge rush to meet the considerable demand for the visa. For this reason, the visa process may take longer. In this situation, if you need to process your visa application first, you can choose the Priority visa service. For an emergency visa, you can choose the Priority or Super Priority visa. For Pakistani students, there are Priority visa services available in the UK. Let’s know about these two-
Priority Visa
You can choose Priority Visa Service from UKVI, if you need your visa in hurry. But to get this visa, you need to provide some extra fees. After submitting the biometric information, the UKVI will contact you to inform you that your passport is ready within 5 working days. But before applying make sure your chosen center is offering this visa service.
Super Priority Visa
With the super priority visa, a student will be informed that the passport is ready by the end of the next working day. There will be an extra charge for this kind of visa.
Acceptable gap years to study in the UK from Pakistan
When you are from Pakistan and want to study in the United Kingdom, the gap years won’t cause any problems for you. No one can stop you from studying here in spite of the gap if you have a solid study record and justification. For the undergraduate degree, the United Kingdom accepts the study gap of 2-3 years quite easily. You will find some universities that will accept more study gaps. For the Postgraduate degree, a 5-7 years study gap is all right.
Career options and growth for students to study in the UK from Pakistan.
There are many career options available for students who want to study in the UK from Pakistan. By doing many part-time and full-time jobs, a student can gain huge career experiences. Besides, after taking a British degree, when you go back to your home country and apply for jobs, the employers will give you more priority than the other candidates. After completing graduation, a student can apply for the graduate route visa that will allow them to stay in the UK for 2-3 years more.
Eligibility to get a Graduate Route Visa in the UK from Pakistan.
To have a graduate route visa in the UK, there are some specific eligibility requirements needed to meet. To apply for the graduate route visa, a student should have the eligibility like the below-
- You must be in the United Kingdom
- 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 British 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
Do and Don’t with a Graduate Route Visa in the UK from Pakistan.
Getting a Graduate Route Visa is fantastic. But a candidate cannot do everything with a graduate route visa. Let’s know what a student can do and cannot with a graduate route visa.
Do
- Work in most jobs.
- Look for work.
- Be self employed.
- Staying with the dependents.
- Do voluntary work.
- Travel abroad and return to the United Kingdom
Don’ts
- Cannot apply for the state pension or public fund.
- Work as a professional sports person.
Can I apply for the visa without the bank statement to study in the UK from Pakistan?
Yes, you can apply for the visa with that loan letter if you can submit an education loan letter from a recognized financial institution confirming the education loan. 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 Great Britain 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) before traveling to the UK; the fund should be available to the applicant, or
(ii) before the applicant travels to the United Kingdom, paid it directly to the student sponsor with any living cost portion of the loan being made available to the applicant by the time they arrive in the UK; or
(iii) if the loan is provided by the applicant’s national government, it should be available before the applicant begins their course; and
(g) confirm the lender meets the requirement at FIN 8.3(c).
Scholarship opportunities to study in the UK from Pakistan.
Various renowned British universities offer effective scholarship programs for students. A scholarship is very effective for an international student. The United Kingdom is quite flexible in terms of student loans, grants, and scholarships. Let’s learn about scholarships the UK provides to Pakistani students-
- GREAT Scholarships
- Commonwealth Scholarship
- Chevening Scholarship
- Rhodes Scholarship
- Fulbright Partnership Awards.
- Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Accommodation facilities in the UK for Pakistani students.
When students want to study in this country, they may get worried about the accommodation facilities if they don’t find university-arranged accommodation. Although many UK universities provide halls of residence. Besides, there are many private rental accommodations also available in the United Kingdom. But if for some reason, you can’t get the accommodation facility, you can contact AIMS Education. AIMS Education is an education consultancy firm that helps students to study i the UK, USA, and Canada. In the United Kingdom, they have a partnership with amberstudent– a private rental accommodation agency. A student can stay here at an affordable price.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, a Pakistani student can do part-time or full-time jobs in the UK. A student can work 20 hours per week during the term time and can work full-time during the semester break. Besides, after the completion of a degree, a student will get a 2 years post-study work permit. At this time, a student can work full-time.
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.
Yes, the United Kingdom is the best study destination for students to get a degree. There is an exceptional acceptance rate for student visas in Pakistan. The visa requirement for students is lenient. Even the study expenses are lower than in other English-speaking countries.
To study in the UK from Pakistan, a student needs a general student visa. And to get a visa, he needs to complete all the requirements.
Credibility interview usually takes to find out if the student is genuine or not by the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). It is compulsory to study in the UK from Pakistan.
You should follow some tips to pass the credibility interview to study in the UK from Pakistan. Let’s know about the tips-
● Make a good impression.
● Communicate clearly.
● Speak fluently in English.
● Provide good information about your school and program.
● Prove you have intention to return to your home country after completing a degree.
● Be genuine.
● Stay positive
● Keep your answers clear and precise.
Yes, On Campus accommodation is available in the United Kingdom. Usually, when a university or college offers a hostel or dormitory to a student, it is called on-campus or Campus housing. For the first year students, there are confirmed accommodations available. Besides, there are many private accommodation facilities available in the United Kingdom.
The required documents for admission application to study in the UK from Pakistan are-
● Official academic certificates and transcript of all the previous qualifications.
● English language proficiency certificates.
● Portfolio of works ( for art, design, architecture or film)
● Two academic reference letters.
● Statement of Purpose.
● Up-to-date CV
● Law
● Business studies
● Education
● Engineering
● Computer Science
● Biological Science
● Information Technology
● Architecture
● Human Resource
● Medicine
● Digital Marketing
A Pakistani student must require 70 points to obtain a student visa in the United Kingdom. These points are divided into 3 categories. Such as:
● CAS-50.
● English-10
● Financial documents-10.
If your application is successful, you will get either:
● A biometric residence permit- if you gave your biometric information at a visa application center.
● A digital immigration status which you can view and prove online-if you used the ‘UK Immigration: ID check app.
Your arrival in the United Kingdom depends on the duration of the course. If your course duration is 6 months or fewer, you can arrive in the UK up to one week before. Moreover, if your course duration is more than 6 months, you can arrive in the UK up to one months before.
