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• Why Study in UK?
• Our Partner Universities/Colleges
• Checklist of Documents Required for Visa
• Living Cost in UK

Why Study in UK?

UK universities provide internationally - recognised qualifications of the highest standard. They also offer more opportunities than ever before: there are currently over 50,000 postgraduate taught courses and research opportunities to choose from.
The UK higher education system combines the best elements of tradition and modernity. Some UK universities are among the oldest in the world; others are among the newest. Many provide degrees with a strong vocational foundation and enjoy good links with businesses and professional organisations.

Academic excellence

The quality and standard of UK higher education are guaranteed through the work of various official bodies. The quality of a university's teaching and its general facilities are assessed by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). Research standards are examined by the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), which publishes its findings every five years. The results of all these assessments are freely available on the internet. Information on quality assurance and assessments is also available from the Higher Education Funding Councils.

Value for money

The quality of UK degrees is one reason why so many people come to the UK to study. Another is value for money. Unlike the equivalent programmes in the United States or Australia, most UK Masters programmes can be completed in one year.

An international tradition

The UK has always welcomed students from all over the world. In 2003/2004, there were 96,845 students from the European Union (EU) and 203,210 students from outside of it in the UK at undergraduate and postgraduate level. UK universities are used to looking after the welfare of non-UK students and have well-developed support services and social networks on campus. At postgraduate level, students from outside the UK form over 30% of the entire student body.

The language of business

A major advantage of studying in the UK is the opportunity to perfect your knowledge of the English language – one of the most important skills in the international business world. If you are from outside the EU, especially if you are studying a commercial subject, you may well appreciate the opportunity to observe at first hand the operation of the European market. The UK is a member of the EU, and living and studying here can provide a useful insight into how this major trading bloc functions.

Our Partner Universities/Colleges

Checklist of Documents Required for Visa

Each applicant must submit supporting documents as evidence with their visa application. The supporting documents can vary from applicant to applicant depending on individual circumstances. The documents required for an application under Tier 4 (General Student) are as follows:

• 2 x recent, identical passport-sized photographs of yourself
• Current passport
• Visa fees
• Any previous passports you have used to travel to and from the UK during this period of study (If applicable)
• Biometric Residence Permit (If applicable)
• Police Registration Certificate (If applicable)
• Documents that evidence an official name change e.g. marriage certificate (If applicable)
• CAS number (issued by the International Office)
• Original certificates of qualification and/or transcript of results. (If applicable - These will be listed on your CAS statement or alternatively a Welfare Officer will advise whether you should provide these)
• Letter from the official financial sponsor (If applicable) - only if you are being sponsored by Her Majesty's Government, your home government, the British Council, or any international organization, company or university.
• Bank Statements - covering a period of 28 days prior to submitting your application. The account must be in your name and must clearly demonstrate the maintenance costs available to you on the date of application. Statements must be no more than one month old and must be in the correct format as specified in the Tier 4 Policy Guidance.

Please note that if any of your documents are not in English or Welsh then you must have them officially translated by a professional translator. The translations must be in a specific format. For guidance in this matter please contact a Welfare Office by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

On 22nd February 2010, the UK Border Agency's Sponsor Management System was launched. As a Tier 4 Sponsor, rather than issuing students with a visa support letter, we are now required to enter the details of the Tier 4 (General) Student visa applicant into a database which is linked to the UK Border Agency. On submitting students' details, a unique number called a Certificate of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is automatically generated. This CAS number must be included in the Tier 4 General Student application form for it to be considered a valid application. Evidence that a applicant is in possession of a CAS number is extremely important as it will enable them to claim points in the attributes section of the application.

Living Cost in UK

The following table shows estimated basic weekly living costs for a student (in £).
Numbers are only approximate; there can be very big differences according to where you live and your lifestyle.

Note that course costs and other one-off costs are not included in these tables.
Remember the exchange rate between your currency and the pound may change while you are staying in the UK.

Cheap (£6,000 per year)
These costs may be relevant if you live close to your school outside London or south-east England, or if you live in student accommodation at a university. It may be difficult to live comfortably in London on this budget

Average (£9,000 per year)
These costs may be relevant if you are a language student in London, living in cheap accommodation in a reasonably central location (within zone 2), and using a 'youth' weekly travel pass (for zones 1 and 2). It may also represent the costs of a student with a more expensive lifestyle at a school outside London or south-east England

Expensive (£12,000 per year)
These costs may be relevant if you live in basic accommodation in a more expensive area in central London or south east England

Notes:

(1) Accommodation: Rent; more if meals provided as part of rent. Includes gas/electricity
(2) Food: Normal living; less if meals provided as part of rent
(3) Travel: Local travel on bus/underground
(4) Entertainment: Cinema/eating out/sport
(5) other: Books/telephone calls/clothing/insurance/personal hygiene
General living expenses may be about 25% greater in London than elsewhere

Note that costs may also be high in parts of south east England and areas close to London
As an approximate guide, for a couple living together add 50% to the cost of a person living on their own

For example, if the single person's annual cost is £8,000, the cost of living as a couple may be £12,000
As an approximate guide, for each child living with you add 25% of the cost of a person living on their own

For example, if the single person's cost is £8,000, the cost of a couple with two children might be £16,000 (£8,000 for the single person + 50% of £8,000 for the partner + 2 times 25% of £8,000 for the children)