Study and find schools in The United Kingdom

Studying in The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is one of the largest destinations for international students. Home Office statistics show 383,455 sponsored study visas granted in the year ending June 2026, with Chinese and Indian students the most common nationalities. English is the language of teaching, which makes the UK a natural choice both for full degrees and for English language courses.

The UK is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and education is run separately in each nation. England, Wales and Northern Ireland share one qualifications framework (RQF), while Scotland has its own (SCQF). Universities range from large research universities to specialist institutions for the arts, law or business, alongside further education colleges and many private English language schools.

The education system in the UK

Higher education qualifications are set out by level. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the main ones are:

• Level 4 and 5: certificates and diplomas of higher education, foundation degrees and the higher national diploma (HND)
• Level 6: bachelor's degrees with honours, such as the BA or BSc
• Level 7: master's degrees, such as the MA or MSc, integrated master's degrees and postgraduate diplomas
• Level 8: doctorates, such as the PhD or DPhil

Degree level corresponds to RQF level 6 or SCQF level 9 and above. Alongside the long-established universities there are independent ones, such as Regent's University London and Richmond American University London. The academic year usually starts in September or October, although a few courses start between January and July.

Admission and recognition

Applications for full-time undergraduate courses go through UCAS, the central admissions service. You can choose up to five courses. For 2027 entry, the equal consideration date is 15 October 2026 for Oxford, Cambridge and most courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, and 13 January 2027 for most other courses. Many universities keep accepting international applicants until later in the year.

Entry requirements are often written in terms of UK qualifications such as A Levels, but universities accept equivalent foreign qualifications; some international students first take a foundation year. UK ENIC, the official national centre for the recognition and comparison of international qualifications, can issue a statement comparing your qualification with the UK system.

For a Student visa you must prove your English. Degree-level courses require the equivalent of CEFR level B2, and courses below degree level require B1. Universities can assess your English themselves for degree-level study, or you can pass an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT).

Student visa and residence

Since 1 January 2021, students from the EU have had to check whether they need a visa, like other international students; GOV.UK states that no visa is needed for courses of up to six months at an accredited institution, including English courses. For longer study, the main route is the Student visa. According to GOV.UK (checked in October 2026), you need:

• an offer from a licensed student sponsor, confirmed by a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
• enough money for one year's course fees and living costs: £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month elsewhere, for up to nine months
• proof of English at the required level

The visa fee is £558 from outside the UK, plus the immigration health surcharge of £776 a year for students, which gives access to the National Health Service (NHS). You can apply up to six months before your course starts and usually get a decision within three weeks from outside the UK. After graduating, the Graduate visa lets you stay for two years if you apply by 31 December 2026, or 18 months from 1 January 2027 (three years after a PhD).

For English language courses, the Short-term study visa covers courses of more than six and up to 11 months and costs £228. For shorter courses, the visitor route applies.

Costs

Universities set their own tuition fees, and the amount for your course appears on your CAS. Fees for home students in England are capped; the Tuition Fee Loan for a full-time student is up to £9,790 in the 2026-27 academic year. International students are charged the international fee set by each university and should check it on the course page.

The visa funds requirement is a useful guide to living costs: the Home Office expects £1,529 a month in London and £1,171 a month in the rest of the UK.

Where to study in the UK

London has by far the most schools in our directory, from the University of Westminster, SOAS University of London and London South Bank University to The University of Law and ESCP Business School's London campus, as well as language schools and the Chef Academy of London. Other cities with several schools include:

• Brighton: the University of Sussex and English language schools such as Languages Plus
• Edinburgh: Scotland's capital, with schools such as Basil Paterson
• Oxford and Cambridge: university cities that also host Oxford Brookes University and Anglia Ruskin University
• Bournemouth, Leeds, Bristol, Manchester, Glasgow and Canterbury, each with universities and language schools

Smaller campus universities, such as Keele University, Lancaster University or the University of Exeter, are another option for students who prefer a quieter setting.

Practical life

Student visa holders studying at degree level may usually work up to 20 hours a week during term time and full time in vacations; below degree level, the limit is 10 hours a week in term time. Always check any limits your university or college sets.

Paying the health surcharge gives students access to the NHS from the date their visa starts, although some services, such as prescriptions and dental treatment, are still charged. The UK climate is mild and changeable, with rain spread through the year, so warm and waterproof clothes are useful in every season.

Frequently asked questions

Do EU students need a visa to study in the UK?

Since 2021, EU students follow the same rules as other international students. Courses of up to six months at an accredited institution need no visa; longer degree courses need a Student visa.

How much money do I need for a UK Student visa?

You must show your course fees for one year plus £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month elsewhere, for up to nine months. The visa fee is £558 and the health surcharge £776 a year.

When should I apply to a UK university?

For 2027 entry, apply through UCAS by 13 January 2027 for most undergraduate courses, or by 15 October 2026 for Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine courses.

Can I work while studying in the UK?

On a Student visa at degree level you can usually work up to 20 hours a week in term time and full time in vacations.

Can I stay in the UK after graduating?

Yes, through the Graduate visa: two years if you apply by 31 December 2026, 18 months from 1 January 2027, and three years after a PhD.