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In this post, we show you frequently asked questions our students and applicants often ask when making their undergraduate or postgraduate applications.
This usually varies. Some universities will list deadlines while others may continue to take applications throughout the year. It is advised to apply at least 6 months before the start of a course.
To apply for a student visa, you’ll need to satisfy three criteria. This is part of the points-based system which was implemented from 1 January 2020: 1. have been offered a place at an accredited body/university. This is also known as a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), 2. have sufficient funds to cover your course and support yourself and 3. can speak, read, write and understand English (e.g. IELTS for UKVI)
Sometimes, universities may admit students if you don’t have the qualifications but the relevant skills or experience. Often it will be more to than just making the grades, but your suitability for the course as well. Students may also be able to apply through clearing (open from 5 July – 19 October) to apply for an unallocated place. For international students to apply through clearing, they will need to have been rejected by their choices and not made an offer before 30 June. Those who do not meet academic requirements may be able to do a foundation year, pre-sessional course (to improve English levels) or a pre-masters course (to develop their English, research and academic skills).
Home students pay up to £9250 for a course per year whereas for international students, tuition fees may vary. Usually, courses start from around £10,000 and can go up to £40,000 (for medical degrees).
As an international student, you will normally be able to work up to 20 hours per week on a Tier 4 visa and full-time during holiday breaks.
If you are an undergraduate student or postgraduate student unfortunately you will not be able to study part-time in the UK.
You’ll be expected to show that you have sufficient money to cover your living costs for up to 9 months. UK Visa and Immigrations requires you to have £1,023 per month outside of London and £1,334 to study in London
Are you considering studying a short course? Short-term professional courses can be worth looking into if you’re looking for an inexpensive way to improve your skills, industry knowledge, professional development as well as give you a competitive edge to job promotions and when exploring career options. It can also help act as a pathway when applying for university, where you will be able to demonstrate a correlation between your academic background and a course you wish to pursue in higher education. These courses allow you to study at your own pace and are highly practical, making them an inexpensive way to increase short-term training or learning if you are short on time. You’ll also be able to meet other people, which opens up many chances for networking. Often, you’ll be able to access learning materials anytime and anywhere, for example through a handheld device or computer. There are a wide variety of subjects available and some courses aren’t limited to improving professional skill sets only: sometimes, it can be a great way to explore your interests and get into a hobby.
Short-term courses are generally available online, on campus or at summer schools. There are also options for those Continuing Professional Development (CPD) or solely wanting to improve their English through English language programmes.