Study in United Kingdom
758,855 international students and 26 universities in the global top 200. One-year masters, a two-year Graduate Route work visa, and 87.7% graduate employment.
Top universities
| University | QS 2026 | Tuition / year |
|---|---|---|
| Imperial College London | 2 | £31,000–£35,700 |
| Oxford | 4 | £27,000–£40,000 |
| Cambridge | 6 | £22,000–£33,000 |
| UCL | 9 | £21,000–£25,000 |
| King’s College London | 31 | £18,000–£29,000 |
| Edinburgh | 34 | £22,000–£34,000 |
| Manchester | 35 | £20,000–£28,000 |
| LSE | 56 | £18,000–£22,000 |
Programmes and what they cost
Non-EU rates. Public and private institutions are priced very differently — check which one you are looking at.
| Route | Tuition | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Masters (MS)55–70% in your bachelor’s. Around one in seven UK jobs will require a postgraduate degree. | £12,000–£45,000/yr | 12 months |
| MBA2–5 years of experience, GMAT or GRE, IELTS 6.5–7.0. | £37,500–£119,950 | 12–21 months |
| BachelorsClass 12 at 75–90% depending on the university. | £10,000–£38,000/yr | 3 years |
| BTech (BEng)Class 12 with Maths; Oxford and Cambridge want 90%. | £12,000–£35,000/yr | 3 years |
Costs, visa and rules
Visa and permits
After you arriveCollect your BRP or activate your eVisa.
How to apply, step by step
- 1Secure the offer and pay your deposit
Universities issue the CAS only after the deposit clears and documents are checked — no CAS, no visa application.
- 2Meet the English bar
IELTS 6.5 is standard; 7.0–7.5 for Oxford, Cambridge and the top MBAs. Waivers exist where your degree was taught in English.
- 3Season the bank balance
The full amount has to sit in the account for 28 consecutive days before you apply.
- 4Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge
Charged per year of your visa, on top of the £490 application fee.
- 5Check dependant eligibility
Since January 2024 only postgraduate research students (9+ months) and government-sponsored students may bring dependants.
Working and staying on
Graduate Route — 2 years, or 3 after a PhD
Switch to the Skilled Worker route, then ILR after 5 years. The minimum graduate salary sits around £26,000.
What to know before you apply
A CAS from your university is required before the visa application — universities issue it only after deposit and document checks.
Since January 2024 most taught postgraduate and undergraduate students cannot bring dependants; postgraduate research (9+ months) and government-sponsored students still can.
Bank balance requirement equals one year of tuition plus £9,000–£12,000 of living costs, held for 28 consecutive days.
Minimum graduate salary sits around £26,000; legal, IT, finance and data science give the strongest return.
Scholarships
Intakes
September is the main intake; January and May entries exist at many universities.
Check my eligibilityOther destinations
Applying for the next intake?
Deadlines close months before term starts. Get your timeline mapped this week.