Being known as the country of manners, United Kingdom is one of the popular study destinations for international students. Due to its academic renown, many top universities in the United Kingdom receive thousands of applications per year from prospective applicants.
In this post, we will be first covering 5 popular questions asked by international students before going to the university overview. If you have any questions to add to this list, be sure to put your comments down below for my future reference!
Are International Students Satisfied By Studying in United Kingdom?
According to a study done by a UUKi (representative of UK Universities), over 91% of international students were satisfied by studying in Great Britain. This high satisfaction rate was maintained due to several factors as you will see in the list down below.
- Great Social Infrastructure (Places to Socialize on Campus)
- Top Quality Education (High Academic Standards)
- Support Services (Financial Aid / Work-Study)
Holding its own against major competitors, the country of Great Britain offers many qualities that attract countless prospective applicants from across the globe. Not only do they meet the need of each student, but many students are also satisfied with their study in United Kingdom.
Most Popular Degrees in United Kingdom for International Students?
According to SI-UK (an online support website for UK prospective applications), the most popular degrees in United Kingdom for international students centered around business, law, arts, politics, and STEM-related fields.
- Business Studies / Accounting and Finance / Economics
- Undergraduate Law / Politics
- Art & Design
- Mechanical & Electrical Engineering
- Computer Science / Biological Sciences
Popular examples for each field were listed above, and these programs were a popular choice for many international students studying in UK institutions. Overall, this popularity might be due to the high employment rate for each respective program.
Primary Language of Education for Institutions in United Kingdom?
Even though many people love the British accent, it is still a form of the English language. The primary language of education for UK institutions is English, which means that many international students wouldn’t have any problems studying in the top universities of United Kingdom.
How Many Students Are Studying in United Kingdom?
According to Study In UK, the number of international students studying in UK has risen to approximately 2.4 million. Due to its high quality of education, top institutions in the United Kingdom receive an increasing number of international students as time goes by.
Which University Is the Most Prestigious Institution in the UK?
Ranked as #1 College in the World, Oxford University is the most prestigious institution in the United Kingdom. In addition to its prestigious title, this institution offers great financial aid to talented international students.
- Ranked #1 in United Kingdom
- Ranked #1 in the World
- Offers Full-Ride Scholarship Program (Gates Cambridge)
As an international student, you might be worried about your educational cost, and you should be for a good reason. However, if you did great academically and did your best even outside of school, you have a good chance of earning a scholarship to cover your college education.
Best Universities in United Kingdom for International Students
Several of the top-ranking institutions offered full-ride scholarships for international applicants, so I’ve decided to include that information with the general overview. Take advantage of this information by noting the application deadline for admission and its corresponding scholarship!
1. University of Oxford
- Tuition & Fees for International Applicants
- Scholarships & Financial Aid for International Students
- Admissions for Internationals
As expected, the University of Oxford is the first one on our list due to its prestigious reputation. Made up of 39 colleges and 6 residence halls, Oxford has one of the largest campuses in England, and it currently operates the world’s oldest university museum and the university press.
- Home of the Rhodes Scholarship (Full-Ride International Program)
In addition to its high academic standards, Oxford also offers several scholarships and financial aid to prospective applicants from abroad. Similar to the one listed above, this institution is home to many scholarship programs for international students.
2. University of Cambridge
- Tuition & Fees for Undergraduate Programs
- Tuition & Fees for Graduate Degrees
- Scholarships & Financial Aid for International Students
- Admissions for Internationals
The University of Cambridge was founded due to a dispute among the Oxford faculty members, so it is safe to say that Cambridge and Oxford have several things in common. Due to their common similarities, they are often called as Oxbridge by many online sources.
Very similar to Oxford, Cambridge also offers a full-ride scholarship program to talented international students. As you may already know, full-ride means that it covers all of your educational fees, which are your tuition & fees and even your airplane tickets to-and-from home!
3. University College London (UCL)
- Tuition & Fees for International Undergraduates
- Tuition & Fees for International Graduates
- Scholarships & Financial Aid for International Students
- UCL Undergraduate Admissions
- UCL Graduate Admissions
Being a public research university located in London, UCL is famous for its alumni, among whom invented the telephone and co-founded the existence of our DNA. Up to the year 2020, University College London has created over 30 Nobel Prize Winners among its research staff due to its splendid academic programs.
4. University of Edinburgh
- Tuition & Fees for International Applicants
- Scholarships & Financial Aid for International Students
- International Admissions
Unlike our first three colleges, the University of Edinburgh is not located in England but in Scotland. Being one of the oldest institutions in Scotland’s history, Edinburgh University is one of the most popular colleges in United Kingdom due to its high number of applications.
5. University of Manchester
- Tuition & Fees for International Applicants
- Scholarships & Financial Aid for International Students
- International Admissions
Being our fifth institution among the list for top colleges in UK, University of Manchester is a public research university located in England. Ranking in the top 40, Manchester University is widely known for its rigorous academic programs and its great teaching staff.
6. London School of Economics and Political Science
- Tuition & Fees for International Applicants
- Scholarships & Financial Aid for International Students
- International Admissions
Known for short as LSE, London School of Economics is also a public research university that is situated in the heart of England. When it comes to the study and research of social sciences, LSE is the only institution in England that teaches this subject to the fullest.
7. Imperial College London
- Tuition & Fees for International Undergraduates
- Tuition & Fees for International Graduates
- Scholarships & Financial Aid for Undergraduates
- Scholarships & Financial Aid for Graduates
- International Admissions
Having a very focused mindset, Imperial College London exclusively teaches programs related to science, technology, medicine, and business. Providing a friendly atmosphere even to international applicants, ICL is a great choice for applicants who want to focus on research and academic excellence.
8. University of Glasgow
- Tuition & Fees for International Applicants
- Scholarships & Financial Aid for International Students
- International Admissions
Similar to many universities of old, University of Glasgow first accepted students from wealthy backgrounds, but as the years went by, this institution began to serve students regardless of their background by preparing them academically for their future career.
9. University of Warwick
- Tuition & Fees for International Applicants
- Scholarships & Financial Aid for International Students
- International Admissions
Even though University of Warwick is among the last ones in our list, some of their academic programs are ranked as #1 in the United Kingdom. For example, programs such as Economics, Politics & International Studies, and Mathematics are one of the best in the world!
10. University of Leeds
- Tuition & Fees for International Applicants
- Scholarships & Financial Aid for International Students
- International Admissions
Last but not least, University of Leeds is our final institution among our list for the 10 best universities in United Kingdom, and we have finally reached the end! This university is known for having one of the largest research libraries in the United Kingdom and also for its high-tech laboratories and equipment.
Don’t Limit Your Options!
As you can see, there are several universities in United Kingdom that offer top-quality education with great financial aid even to international students. BUT don’t limit your choices to only UK since there are many other institutions in different countries that offer similar academic environments.
- How to Apply to Universities in Singapore (6 Steps)
- 5 Best Medical Schools in the United States
- How to Apply to Universities in Ireland (6 Steps)
- 5 Best Medical Schools in Malaysia
- How to Apply to Universities in Switzerland (9 Steps)
Be sure to check out similar content for different countries if you want to know what they have to offer. As always, good luck with your scholarship search, and I hope that you will be diligent in your studies in and outside of school!
