The Application Guide to British Universities as an International Student

Students

Do you want to study in the UK? Here is a comprehensive guide on how to achieve that goal.

I - University Admission

To study at a British university as an international student, for an undergraduate degree, you must apply through the UCAS (University and College Admission Services) platform. Before starting an application, you are required to pay an application fee. For the 2024 intake, it is £27.50 for up to five university choices. Please note that this application process only applies to undergraduate programmes. If you wish to apply for a Master's programme, you need to apply directly through the university's website.

Exception: If you apply to Oxbridge universities (Oxford and Cambridge), you can only choose one of the two. You cannot apply to both at the same time.

There are 4 steps to making a great application on UCAS:

Register on the UCAS platform and create your profile (this includes providing personal and academic information, as well as details of any work experience). For the section on work experience, if you are applying at the undergraduate level and have just completed your secondary education, include any work placements or voluntary work you have undertaken.

N.B: For French students, the “stage de 3ème” is also considered as work experience.

Write a personal statement: This statement showcases your interest in the course subject you are applying for. Please note that only one personal statement will be sent to the universities you choose. Hence, make it broad. When you write your personal statement, provide examples of what sparked your interest in the course you want to apply for. (Work? Events? Personal experience?)
Include reference letters: we recommend that you ask your English teacher and another teacher of the subject you want to study to write a joint letter of recommendation (for instance, if you want to do physics, ask your physics teacher).
Language tests: most universities require proof of your English language proficiency. Examples include: TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS.

Exemption: if you studied at an international school or have an international baccalaureate, you are exempt from taking the test. Instead, universities will require you to meet their “English grade requirements”. Check their website for more information.

II - The offer

Following your application, you will receive a message on the UCAS website providing one of the two potential responses from your chosen universities. Either you are rejected, or you are accepted. If you are accepted, you will receive a letter outlining the nature of your offer which can be conditional or unconditional.

A/ Conditional offer

Your offer will only be confirmed if you meet universities’ specific grade requirements. Typically, they ask you for your final grades from your Baccalaureate/A-levels. Hence, you will have to wait until you have your final results. Once you provide proof that you have met the requirements, your conditional offer becomes unconditional.

B/ Unconditional offer

The unconditional offer is extended when the university offers you a place for your chosen subject without any conditions. This can occur if you already meet the specific grade requirements. Please note that once you accept your offer, you cannot change your decision. Your other university choices will be withdrawn.

III - Financing your studies

There are several costs to consider throughout your studies. The first are tuitions. Depending on your residency status, your financing options may vary. Please note that this rule applies to every nation in the UK.

A/ If you benefited from the EU Settlement Scheme

If you have the pre-settled status or the settled status, you can apply for a Student Finance Loan which can cover tuition fees and/or maintenance costs. To apply for the loan, you will need to visit the “Student Finance” website. Each nation in the UK has its own website:

With either pre-settled and settled status, the amount you receive for the “Maintenance Living loan” depends on your situation. For 2023-2024:

If you live with your parents, you can receive up to £8.400
If you live away from your parents and outside of London: up to £9.978
If you live away from your parents in London: up to £13.022
If you study abroad during your studies in the UK: up to £11.427

Both loans must be repaid when you start working. There is a minimum salary requirement for you to repay your loans which depends on your student loan plan.

B/ If you do not benefit from the EU Settlement Scheme

Since Brexit, EU students have to pay international fees for their courses, which are not covered by Student Finance. However, there are various scholarships granted by universities based on criteria such as academic performance, being a displaced student, and disability. These scholarship opportunities will cover your living costs whilst you study.

Another funding opportunity for European students subject to international fees is the "EU Transition Scholarship". This scholarship will reduce your tuition fees throughout your studies. It applies to both undergraduates and postgraduates.

Eligibility for the EU Transition Scholarship 2024:

Holding an offer for an undergraduate or postgraduate course starting in September 2024
Paying international fees and not Home fees
Being a permanent resident of an EU country.

You should check the UK universities website to see if they offer EU transition scholarships for the 2024-2025 academic year.

If you arrive under the Student route visa (Tier 4 General student visa), then you are not eligible for the maintenance loan. You may apply for maintenance scholarships from your home university or university departments and/ or apply for maintenance grants from your home country. You may also consider opting for part-time work. There are various job opportunities, with the most popular ones in the UK being in the service or retail industries. The hours offered are usually flexible with your university schedule, and some universities may adjust your timetable accordingly.

It is advisable to look for a job before the start of term or (ideally) during the summer, to ensure that vacancies have not been filled. If you are an international student, you must comply with the conditions of your visa. In general, this means a maximum of 20 hours' work a week during the course period and full-time work during official holiday periods. You can work in most types of job, with the exception of self-employed activities and commercial activities, those of professional sportsmen/sportswomen or professional sports trainers, artists, doctors and dentists.

IV - Applying for a Visa

Since Brexit, European students without a pre-settled or settled status need to apply for a visa. To get one, you must apply online. Your course duration affects the type of visa that you can apply for.

You don’t need a visa - For a short course lasting no more than 6 months
Short-term study visa - For English languages courses lasting between 6 and 11 months
Student visa - For a course lasting longer than 11 months or course other than English language classes longer than 6 months

Information required for the application includes a valid passport and a CAS number.

A/ The CAS number process

Also called “Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies”, CAS is a reference number that you need before applying for a visa. It is a 14-digit reference provided by your university when you accept an unconditional or conditional offer. After receiving your CAS number, you need to apply for your visa within six months. If you are applying from your home country, the earliest you can apply is six months before the start of your course. On top of these two elements, you may have to prove your English language abilities as explained previously.

B/ Financial requirements

From 2 January 2025, students applying for a UK visa under the Student route will face higher financial requirements to demonstrate their ability to cover living costs:

In London: £1,483 per month (for up to 9 months)
Outside London: £1,136 per month (for up to 9 months)

Additionally, the maximum amount that can be deducted for accommodation costs will also rise to £1,483. These changes reflect an increase in the cost of living, and students will need to provide this evidence when applying for a visa from January 2025 onwards.

C/ Immigration Health Surcharge

If you are a full-time student applying for a visa, you will have to pay the immigration health surcharge (IHS). This fee is mandatory to access the National Health Service (NHS). Even if you decide to take out a private insurance, the immigration health surcharge must still be paid. The amount of the surcharge is £470 per year for a student visa. If you are pursuing a three-year degree, the total amount will be £1,410. The payment is made at the end of your online visa application.

Residents of an EU country who have the European Health Insurance Card (also called “la carte européenne d’assurance maladie, CEAM[1]”) can ask for a partial or full refund of the immigration health surcharge [2]. To be eligible, you must be a full-time student at a UK higher education institution with a visa commencing on or after 1 January 2021 and you must not be working or intending to work in the UK.

This article was co-written by members of the association IFAL: Emilia Tambwe, Noor Farid & Emmanuelle Fordjour. Please note that this article does not provide legal advice but instead aims to provide application and study tips to international students in the United Kingdom.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-health-surcharge-for-eu-student…

[2] https://www.gov.uk/apply-student-immigration-health-surcharge-refund