UK’s education system has been well-renowned all over the world. The universities are centuries old that are now a part of the heritage. The innovative learning methods have been producing successful and versatile graduates in various fields. They have ensured that all the valuable assets are provided to the students so that the learning is not limited to the theoretical aspect. Apart from that, the UK also has a long history of welcoming international students to study in its universities and colleges and providing one of the best international student masters programs.
Table of Contents
1. Why UK?
2. Course Highlights
3. Masters Admissions
3.1 Deadline September 2022 Intake
3.2 Eligibility
3.3 Documents Required
3.4 Visa Process
3.5 MBA Gre Score
3.6 MBA Gmat Score
3.7 English proficiency proof
4. Top Universities and Popular courses
5. Master’s Scholarships
5.1) Government Scholarships
5.2) University Specific Scholarships
6. Overall Cost
6.1 Pre-Arrival costs
6.2 Tuition Fees
6.3 Cost of Living
6.4 ROI
7. Job Opportunities after Master’s UK
7.1 Salaries
8. UK vs Other Countries
A masters degree from a Uk university is an excellent opportunity for your professional and personal development. Generally, a Master’s degree is a one-year course in a subject area you want to specialize in and it truly takes a lot of time and effort to apply for such a course. Therefore, here is a complete guide to understand what all is needed to apply for a Masters course in the UK.
1. Let’s First Talk about Why study Masters(Ms) in UK?
World-class education which provides value for money
UK’s reputation in the educational sector dates back to the 11th century and the universities have been successful in raising the bar during the period of time. There are around 160 universities out of which 84 are ranked in the QS World University Rankings 2021. Many of the Master’s degrees in the UK takes just one year to complete which saves money on tuition and accommodation.
Affordable Cost of Living (with plenty of discounts for students)
The UK boasts an affordable cost of living for both domestic and international students. Some of the cities in the UK such as London, Bath, Southampton and Winchester might seem to be pretty costly on the student budget but still, there are some other cities that are affordable and pocket friendly. If one is looking to save a little money than they can make the most of it by availing student discounts on things such as travel, food, and shopping. Also, healthcare is absolutely free for students in the UK.
Part-time study permit during the master’s programme
International students are allowed to work 20 hours a week during the term period and full-time during the university breaks. Part-time work not only provides the necessary exposure but also adds up to the bank balance. Furthermore, it provides networking opportunities which is a must in the long run.
Opportunity to explore all the UK and also Europe
Being close to mainland Europe there is always a scope of exploring other cities. You will definitely get spoiled if you try to explore more of what UK has to offer. From festivals to fabulous food scenes, from scenic landscapes to mountains and coastlines; UK is full of rich culture and diversity that will charm and surprise you in every way.
Let’s get you enrolled
Here is a Youtube video explaining everything you need to know about Masters in UK
2. Master’s in UK: Course Highlights
| Duration | 1-3 years |
| No. of Universities in top 10 | 8 |
| Annual tuition fees | 15,000 GBP - 35,000 GBP |
| Popular Fileds of study | Management, Health, Nursing, Education, Social Sciences |
| Average Salary | 35,000 GBP |
| Highest paying Sectors | Finance, Executive Management, Airlines, Legal etc. |
3. Master’s Admissions
1.1) Deadline September 2022 Intake
In the United Kingdom, there are primarily two intakes: September/October and January/February. A few universities in the United Kingdom provide April/May intake for a few courses.
- Is January/February Intake available in UK?
It’s never too late to apply for admissions in UK. Don’t wait much longer and try contacting the counsellors and experts at MiM-Essay for additional information and help.
- Is September/October Intake available in UK?
The last date to apply for September/October (2022) intake is generally before July 4, 2022.
1.2) Eligibility for MS in UK
- 2:1 or 2:2 bachelor's degree in a field related to the program for which you are applying for.
- 2:1 is equivalent to 75%
- 2:1 is equivalent to 60%
❖ GRE or GMAT score (varies with the chosen program)
❖ Work Experience (required for only management programs)
❖ English Proficiency Proof
1.3) Documents Required
- Scanned copy of transcripts from all the institutes previously attended
- English translation of non-English transcripts
- Statement of Purpose for UK
- Personal Statement
- Two to three professional or academic recommendation letters
- Updated Resume
1.4) Visa Process
Tier 4 (General) student visa is required for pursuing a master’s program in the UK. You can apply for your visa 6 months before starting the course. You’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks. How long you can stay depends on the length of your course and what study you’ve already completed in the UK.
Documents required are:
★ Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
★ Sponsorship from the university
★ Proof of financial stability
★ Copy of passport
1.5) MBA GRE Score
The majority of the universities in UK do not require a GRE score. But, below is a list of universities that require an average of 160 in GRE:
- University of Oxford
- University of Cambridge
- Imperial College London
- University College London
- London School of Economics and Politics
- University of Edinburg
- King’s College London
- University of Manchester
1.6) MBA GMAT Score
Gmat score is a mandate for universities offering an MBA course and an average of above 600 is required to be eligible for applying to the course.
1.7) English Proficiency Proof
| Test Name | Average Score Required |
| IELTS | 6.0 - 7.0 |
| TOEFL | 90 - 100 |
| PTE | 60 |
| Duolingo (accepted by few universities) | 125-130 |
4. Top 10 Universities and Popular Programs
QS World Ranking (2021) | University | Popular Programs | Average Annual Fees (in GBP) |
| 5 | University Of Oxford | MS - Public Policy; Law & Finance; MBA; EMBA; Taxation | 24,500 |
| 7 | University of Cambridge | MS - Corporate Law; Finance; MBA; Economics | 29,300 |
| 8 | Imperial College London | MS - Strategic Marketing; Global Innovation Design; Business Analytics; MBA | 33,200 |
| 10 | UCL (University College London) | MS - Banking and Digital Finance; Management; Neuroscience | 18,000 |
| 20 | University College Edinburg | MS - International Marketing; Accounting and Finance; Human Resources | 27,000 |
| 27 | University Of Manchester | MS - Data and Knowledge; Pollution Environmental Control; Project Management | 24,100 |
| 31 | King’s London College (KCL) | MS - Computer Science; International Marketing; Finance Analysis | 21,230 |
| 49 | London School Of Economics and Political Science(LSE) | MS - International Relations; Sociology; Economics; Financial Mathematics; Management | 22,200 |
| 58 | University Of Bristol | MS - Social Sciences; Medicine and Health; Computer Science and IT; Physiology | 23,500 |
| 62 | The University Of Warwick | MS - Business; Law; Social Sciences; Natural Sciences | 25,000 |
5) Scholarships for Master’s Program In UK
Studying for a masters degree in UK can be pretty expensive so you can apply for various scholarships made available by the government of UK and also by some specific Universities.
5.1) Government Scholarships for Masters Program In UK
- Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships
Students from developing Commonwealth countries who wants to pursue a masters degree in UK are eligible to apply. The scholarship is funded by UK Department for International Development (DFID). The scholarship provides tuition and examination fees, personal maintenance allowance, thesis grant (if applicable), arrival allowance etc.
- Chevening Scholarships
Chevening Scholarships is the UK government’s global scholarship programme which is awarded to outstanding scholars from Chevening-eligible countries all over the world. Most Chevening Scholarships cover tuition fees, living allowance, airfare and additional grants to cover essential expenditure.
5.2) University Scholarships for Masters Program In UK
- Gates Cambridge Scholarships
Gates Cambridge Scholarships are awarded to outstanding students for a full-time postgraduate degree in any subject at the university of Cambridge. It covers the full cost of tuition at Cambridge.
- See Also: University of Cambridge University Funds
- Clarendon Scholarships at University of Oxford (UK)
The Clarendon Scholarships are provided to eligible graduate applicants (including international students) at the University of Oxford. These are awarded on the basis of academic excellence and covers the tuition fees in full and also a generous grant for living expenses.
- See Also: a to z Scholarships University of Oxford
- Edinburg Global Research Scholarships
University of Edinburg offers 30 scholarships for Phd Research Programmes in a field of study to the outstanding overseas students. The scholarship amount equals to the difference between the tuition fees for a UK graduate student and that chargeable to an overseas student.
- See Also: University of Edinburgh Scholarships
- Bristol University Think Big Scholarships
The scholarship is provided by Bristol University to the best and brightest international students. The tuition fee awards range from £5,000 to £20,000.
- University Of West London International Ambassador Scholarships
The scholarships provide financial assistance to outstanding students for a full-time postgraduate degree. The scholars then act as university ambassadors. Up to 50 scholarships are available worth £5,000.
Students can also check the University portal for detailed information regarding the scholarships. You can access the university portal you are applying to select the postgraduate courses and check the Scholarships and their eligibility.
6) Overall Cost of Masters In UK
The cost of a masters in UK has three aspects which include pre-arrival costs, tuition fees and cost of living. These categories are discussed below:
6.1) Pre-Arrival Costs
These expenses are incurred before arrival at the study destination and involve the following costs:
6.2) Tuition Fees for International Students
The average tuition fees for a masters program in UK sums to around 15,000 - 35,000 GBP annually. Additionally, check the list below to find the tuition fees of some of the universities in UK:
6.3) Cost of Living in UK
The average cost of living in UK starts from a minimum of 500 GBP per month which can go upto 1000 GBP per month varying from person to person. Also, some of the cities in UK are expensive as compared to others. The average cost of living can be broken down into the following categories:
5.4) Return On Investment
We have discussed the expenditure part of the program, now let’s talk about the return on investment from a masters course in UK. The following bar graph shows the comparison between the annual salary and fees of some popular programmes.
7) Job Opportunities after Master’s UK
There is a pool of job opportunities available for students after their master’s from UK. The only condition is to follow an accurate approach that will open up ample choices and will provide a head start to your career.
Check out the following channels of finding a job in UK:
Make use of the graduate route - International Students with a tier 4 visa are allowed a stay back period of 2 years after their masters course to find a job.
Make Connections - As a student one might to able to make connections and build relationships through effective communication. A professional network always provides an edge over finding a job.
Apply directly with companies - Students with an excellent record can apply directly for a job without a formal channel or agency.
Jobs Roles and Average Monthly Salaries
| Position/Role | Average Salary (in GBP) |
| Software Engineer | 27,000 |
| Data Analyst | 33,000 |
| Pharmacy Manager | 37,000 |
| Data Scientist | 41,000 |
| Data Engineer | 33,000 |
| Software Developer | 30,000 |
| Technical Director | 1,02,000 |
| Veterinary Surgeon | 39,000 |
| Project Manager(IT) | 71,000 |
| Psychotherapist | 25,000 |
Top courses and Average Annual Salary
8) UK Vs Other Countries
Although the cost of masters in UK is high as compared to some other countries bu the average salary after masters will pay you more than what you have spent. Millions of students come to UK every year to pursue a masters degree and just because of the high-quality education provided across the country. The cost of a UK Masters is worth the time and effort.
FAQ
Q. Is it good to do MS in UK?
A. There is a one-year masters program in UK as compared to other countries so you have the opportunity to complete your studies earlier and start working towards your dream jobs. Also, according to the QS world rankings, most of the top universities are in UK including the London School of Economics and the University of Oxford providing quality education to the students.
Q. What is the average cost of MS in UK?
A. The average cost of a masters degree in UK is around 20000-30000 GBP. The cost of an MBA is slightly higher, ranging from 50000-80000 GBP.
Q. What are the chances of getting a job in UK after masters?
A. UK has a rich job market that has an average rate of hiring 90% of the students after their master’s degree.
Q. Can I pursue masters in UK without IELTS?
A. It is mandatory for international students to provide proof of language in the means of IELTS score or any other internationally recognised language efficiency test. TOEFL and PTE scores are also widely accepted across UK universities.
