Study in UK

One-year master’s degrees, four of the world’s top ten universities, and a two-year Graduate Route to work after you finish — the fastest route from admission to career.

The UK compresses a world-class education into less time: a master’s takes one year, a bachelor’s three — so you pay less, and start your career sooner.

Quality is regulated nationally, so a degree from any of the 160-plus universities carries weight worldwide. Teaching is specialised from day one, with no general-education requirements. After graduating, the Graduate Route visa gives you two years (three for PhDs) to work in any job, at any employer, with no sponsorship. Since 2024 most taught-master’s students cannot bring dependants — Gradsy flags the exceptions.

Universities
198
Master’s degree
1 yr
Graduate route
2 yrs
Visa
Student

Why the uk

  • Faster degrees: One-year master’s, three-year bachelor’s (1 yr)
  • World rankings: Four of the global top ten universities (Top 10)
  • Graduate route: Work after study with no sponsor needed (2 yrs)
  • Regulated quality: Every university nationally quality-assured (160+)

Intakes

  • September — starts Sep – Oct — apply Oct – Jun of the prior year — The main intake — every program opens here, and most scholarships are decided.
  • January — starts Jan – Feb — apply Jun – Oct of the prior year — Common for taught master’s and business programs — fewer scholarship rounds.
  • May — starts May — apply Nov – Mar same academic year — Offered by a small set of universities, mostly for master’s — check early.

What it costs: TUITION £18–40K · LIVING £12–16K · + IHS £776 / YR

  • Bachelor’s tuition: £18 – 38k / yr — Three years total — clinical and lab-based degrees sit at the top of the range.
  • Master’s tuition: £18 – 40k / yr — Usually one year — so the total is often half of a two-year degree elsewhere.
  • Living costs: £12 – 16k / yr — London drives the top — the visa maintenance figure is £13,761 in London, £10,539 elsewhere.
  • Health surcharge (IHS): £776 / yr — Paid with your visa application — covers NHS care for your whole stay.

Scholarships and funding

  • University scholarships: £2K – FULL TUITION — Most universities run international awards — many applied for with your admission.
  • Chevening & Commonwealth: FULLY FUNDED — UK government master’s awards — competitive, deadlines in the autumn before.
  • GREAT Scholarships: £10,000 — British Council awards at partner universities for students from selected countries.

Tests you may need

  • English proficiency: Most programs — IELTS for UKVI, TOEFL, PTE or Oxford ELLT — minimums set per program and intake.
  • Graduate entry: Rare — GMAT for a few top MBAs only — GRE is almost never required.
  • Undergraduate entry: Your school results — A-levels, IB or your national board — mapped to UK equivalents by each university.

UK programs rarely ask for GRE or SAT — each program page lists exactly what its intake asks for.

Student visa · four steps

  1. Receive your CAS: The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies — issued by your university once you accept and pay any deposit.
  2. Show maintenance funds: First-year tuition plus £13,761 (London) or £10,539 (elsewhere), held for 28 days.
  3. Pay the IHS and fee: The £524 visa fee plus the health surcharge — both paid online with your application.
  4. Biometrics & decision: Book at a visa centre — decisions usually come in three weeks. Keep each document in your vault so it is ready when you apply.

Work while you study and after

  • Part-time work: Up to 20 hours a week in term time, full-time in vacations.
  • Placement year: Many degrees include a paid year in industry, counted toward your award.
  • Graduate Route: Work at any job, any employer after graduation — no sponsorship needed.
  • Skilled Worker visa: Switch from the Graduate Route when an employer sponsors you.

Typical graduate salaries

  • Software engineering: £35k – 60k
  • Data & AI: £38k – 65k
  • Engineering: £30k – 50k
  • Business & finance: £30k – 55k

Student cities

  • London: Europe’s largest student city — finance, tech and media headquarters
  • Manchester: The biggest student population outside London, a booming tech scene
  • Edinburgh: A festival city with world-class research and a fintech corridor
  • Birmingham: Central, affordable and home to five universities
  • Glasgow: Scotland’s largest city — engineering, life sciences and low rents
  • Bristol: Aerospace and creative industries in the south-west’s liveliest city

Questions students ask

Can I work while I study in the UK?

Yes — up to 20 hours a week during term time and full-time during vacations on a Student visa. Many degrees also include a paid placement year in industry.

What is the Graduate Route?

A two-year visa (three for PhD graduates) you apply for after finishing your degree. You can work at any job with any employer, with no sponsorship, and later switch to a Skilled Worker visa if an employer sponsors you.

How much money do I need to show?

Your first-year tuition plus living costs of £13,761 in London or £10,539 elsewhere, held in your account for 28 consecutive days before you apply. Education loans and sponsor letters count too.

Is a one-year master’s recognised internationally?

Yes — UK master’s degrees are fully accredited and recognised worldwide, including by employers and PhD programs in the US, Canada and Australia. Each program page on Gradsy shows the awarding body and duration.

Search 198 United Kingdom universities · Find your best-fit programs