International students pursuing masters in UK hit a jackpot in their professional life. Some of the main reasons being—UK houses 17 top universities in the world, offers English-taught courses, presents numerous exciting learning experiences to students, and more.
In addition to this, many cities in UK have been named the best student cities, among which London holds the top spot in the world. This implies that UK cities offer the best student life to international students in terms of affordability and desirability. Amongst all the programs, masters in UK is the most sought-after program which is offered at some of the top universities in UK.
In this article, let’s delve into every aspect of pursuing post-graduation in UK, including top universities in UK, cost of studying, eligibility, and some of the best courses for MS in UK. Let’s begin!
Overview of Masters in UK
Before moving on to know about why choose UK for masters, let us give you a brief overview of how MS in UK actually looks like:
Duration | 1-2 Years |
Types of Programs Offered | Degree, Certificate, PG Diploma |
Average Tuition Fee | 20,000 EUR to 40,000 EUR |
Top Disciplines |
|
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Why Choose UK for Masters?
Why study masters in UK, is the first question that comes to mind when thinking of pursuing post-graduation in UK. About 89 universities in UK are part of the QS World University Ranking 2023. The universities in UK provide quality education with value for money. The students with a masters degree are recognized worldwide for amazing job opportunities.
Other than being recognised and revered by employers, masters degree UK offers impressive advantages to international students. Let’s discuss some of the major perks of studying masters in UK here:
- Academic excellence and global recognition: UK has 164 universities and other high institutions, out of which 17 are listed among the top universities in the world. The added benefit to this is that all the UK universities are globally recognised. This means that UK masters programs allow you to work worldwide with the same valuable degree.
- Top universities: There are around 90 top universities in UK for masters that have bagged positions on the QS ranking board. Four of the UK’s universities are among the top 10 universities in the world. This is why UK for masters is an appropriate and valuable choice.
- Course flexibility: UK universities for masters offer different courses that allow a student to explore, combine, and upskill their knowledge by altering the courses as per wishes.
- Course duration: Masters in UK takes just one year to complete in comparison with other popular student destinations, like UK and Canada. This means that students have to pay less tuition fees while studying at universities in UK for masters.
- Post-study work opportunities: Masters graduates in UK are allowed to stay back for 2 years after completing their studies. Whereas PhD students can stay back for 3 years in UK after the course. Thus, graduates from the best universities in UK for masters get enough time to look for a job and apply for a work permit.
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The next dilemma that follows once you decide to study master in UK is choosing the right university. So, let’s look at some of the top MS universities in UK and how much studying there will cost you.
10 Best Universities in UK for MS
Pursuing masters in UK for international students is an opportunity to learn from the best subjects and move towards a rewarding career.
To do so, enrolling in one of the top UK universities for masters is the best solution. Some of which are:
University |
QS World Ranking 2023 |
Average Tuition Fees/ year |
4 |
£24,450 - £29,160 |
|
2 |
£22,657 - £39,406 |
|
6 |
£22,668 - £40,386 |
|
8 |
£11,570 - £25,000 |
|
15 |
£22,000 - £34,000 |
|
28 |
£19,000 - £46,000 |
|
37 |
£23,000 - £40,407 |
|
56 |
£18,000 - £23,088 |
|
64 |
£18,790 - £43,950 |
|
61 |
£21,000 - £28,000 |
So, these are the top universities for masters in UK for Indian students and other international students. Studying masters in these institutions will ensure that you get the best quality education.
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Moving on, let us take a look at the best masters courses UK:
Best Masters Courses in UK
More than 30,000 international students opt for PG courses in UK. Postgraduate courses in UK offer students a pool of job opportunities after completing their studies.
To get placed in the top companies of the world, pursue from these 10 best masters courses in UK:
Top Courses |
Popular UK Masters Programs |
MBA Executive MBA Global Executive MBA |
|
MSc International Management MSc Strategy Marketing MSc Management |
|
Accounting and Finance |
MSc Accounting, Organisations and Institutions MPhil Accounting and Finance MSc Accounting and Finance |
MEng Civil Engineering MEng Mechanical Engineering MSc Cyber Security MEng Software Engineering |
|
MSc Construction Project Management MSc Advanced Engineering Management |
|
Fashion |
MA Fashion Marketing MSc Strategic Fashion Management |
MSc Marketing MA Marketing |
|
MSc Data Science MSc Health Data Science |
|
MB BChir MBChB MBBS Medicine |
|
MPhil Architecture and Urban Studies Master of Architecture MA Landscape Architecture |
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Now that you are aware of the top universities and masters courses UK, let us talk about the basic eligibility for MS in UK for Indian students:
MS in UK Eligibility & Admission Requirements
Masters in UK for international students requirements vary depending on the course and the university you are choosing. Besides, there are specific exam requirements for masters in UK like IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, or GMAT. Let’s understand these bare minimum requirements to study in UK in detail:
- Undergraduate Degree: Students must have completed a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 60% in the field related to the one they have applied for. The accepted CGPA at top universities in UK is 6.5 or 7.
- IELTS/TOEFL: The other important eligibility for MS in UK for Indian students and students from other non-English speaking countries is their language proficiency test score. Most UK universities accept 6.5 to 7 IELTS scores and about 90-110 TOEFL scores.
- GMAT/GRE: MS in UK requirements for some universities may include your GMAT or GRE test scores. This is especially required or recommended to study in any STEM course. Most UK universities accept a GMAT score of 650 and a GRE score of 160.
- Work Experience: While applying for Masters, having work experience is essential for many expert-level courses, such as an MBA in UK. However, some masters courses don’t require mandatory work experience. You can check the university’s official website to gather this information.
- Passport & Visa: A valid passport and student visa are a must for all international students to study any course at any university in UK. Do keep in mind to apply for your UK student visa at least 3 months before the expected travel date.
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Documents Required for Masters in UK Universities
To apply for masters in UK you will be required to submit a set of documents to the universities. Some of the important documents on the list are:
- Transcripts of all educational qualification
- CV or Resume
- LOR or Letter of Recommendation
- SOP or Statement of Purpose
- Scorecards of IELTS/TOEFL
- Scorecards of GMAT/GRE
- Work experience certificate
- Proof of Funds
Suggested: How to Draft an SOP for UK?
Now that we have discussed all requirements for masters courses in UK, let us understand the admission process.
How to Apply for Masters in UK?
UK offers TWO intakes every year. This means you can take your admission during the September-October intake or during the January-February intake. Further, the students can apply for masters in UK directly through the university’s website.
To apply to any university in the UK, follow the steps below:
- Shortlist the universities you wish to apply to. Make a note of their eligibility criteria, requirements, last day of submission, etc.
- Make an account on the university website you wish to apply to.
- Choose the master’s program you want to study.
- Make sure you fulfil the eligibility criteria as per the pre requite. For example, your minimum IELTS score must be as per the minimum required score to apply.
- Apply via the university portal by filling out the online application form.
- Submit all the required documents, portfolio, and proofs.
- Pay the application fee and submit the form.
- Await the university’s response. On acceptance, apply for a student visa.
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Another factor to consider when choosing a study abroad destination apart from eligibility and requirements is the cost of education. Therefore, let’s take a look at the masters in UK cost.
Masters in UK Cost
The cost of masters in UK for international students includes different kinds of costs such as cost of tuition, pre-admit costs, and post-admit costs. Let us discuss the total masters in UK cost below:
- Tuition Fees: International students studying masters in the UK spend £11,151 to £32,308 on the MS tuition fees, depending on their choice of course and university.
- Pre-admit Costs: The pre-admit cost includes the test charges (GMAT, GRE, IELTS, etc), the student visa fee, the health surcharge, and the travel expense. This will approximately cost you about £1500- £2000.
- Post-admit Costs: The post admits expenditure of MS in the UK is the cost of living in the UK. This is subject to the location and university you choose. However, masters students require £1000- £1500/month in the UK.
Suggested: Breakdown of Masters in UK Cost
The overall cost of your tuition fees and living expenses can be reduced by applying for various scholarships. Learn about some of the best international scholarships to study masters in UK below.
Scholarships for Masters in UK
Studying in UK can be an expensive affair. But, your perseverance, excellence, and dedication can ease your expenditure. By proving your abilities to UK universities, you can have your education sponsored by winning various scholarships abroad.
Some of the scholarships for masters in UK you can apply for are:
Scholarship |
Particulars |
The Chevening Scholarships |
Academically excellent students receive scholarships to study masters in UK by the Government. Amount/ Benefit: Covers 1 year of your education, and about 1500 are passed every year. |
Euraxess UK |
Help researchers across the world to study in UK. Amount/ Benefit: Funds research projects |
The Commonwealth Scholarships and fellowships |
Students hailing from a middle-class background of commonwealth nations can take advantage of these scholarships. Amount/ Benefit: This Masters scholarship UK covers your education expenses. |
Dr Manmohan Singh Scholarships |
Started by St.John’s College, this is a scholarship for Masters in UK for Indian students. It is awarded to science students. Amount/ Benefit: Covers Academic fees and Living expenses. Also offers monthly stipend. |
The Global Study Awards |
British Council, study portals and ISIC offer scholarship for UK Masters to two international students every year. Amount/ Benefit: The student receives £10,000 to study in the UK. |
Erasmus Mundus |
This is a global scholarship provided to international students to study across the world. Amount/ Benefit: The amount of the scholarship varies depending upon your caliber, course, etc. |
University-specific scholarships |
A number of universities offer scholarships to international students. Reach out to the universities or check their official portals to gather information regarding the same. Amount/ Benefit: Varies between universities and programs. Most cover partial or full tuition fees. |
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The above-listed scholarships are some of the masters scholarships UK you can apply to from India. These scholarships will help you manage your finances and push you towards a brighter future. Speaking of a bright future, let’s also look at the job opportunities after masters in UK
Job Opportunities in UK after MS
To give you a fair picture of job opportunities in UK after MS, let’s discuss some of the top companies and professions that are currently in-demand in the UK.
Finding jobs anywhere is a challenging task. Similarly, international students in the UK need to stay on their toes and upskill their talents to land a rewarding job opportunities. However, to simplify your job search after masters in the UK, you are allowed to stay in the UK for 2 years after your masters to find a job.
The eight in-demand jobs after MS in UK are:
Job Roles |
Average Salary/ year |
Top Employers |
Health Care Professionals |
£127,000 |
Hospitals, Healthcare centers, etc. |
Computer Science |
£57,500 |
Deliveroo, Microsoft, Google, Wise, Apple, etc. |
Accounts and Finance Professionals |
£73,100 |
PwC, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, Smith, Williamson, etc. |
Marketing Experts |
£79,600 |
Google, Nest, Microsoft, Voxpro Communications, American Express, Accenture, Unilever, etc. |
Educators & Academicians |
£75,300 |
Educational and research institutions |
Gaming, Art & Graphic Designers |
£55,000 |
Google, Meta, AND Digital, Framestore, Gensler, IBM, AKQA, Cognizant Technology Solutions, etc. |
Civil Engineers |
£59,900 |
Construction & Contracting Companies |
Business Managers |
£59,900 |
Accenture, Bloomberg, Barclays, IBM, J.P. Morgan, Amazon, Citi, RBC, etc. |
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The above blog gave you a short tour of masters in the UK for international students. The reality is that graduating with a masters from any top university in UK can be very challenging yet rewarding at the same time. The market is booming for highly skilled professionals. Therefore, studying in UK can just become your entry ticket to one of the top companies in the world.
However, if at any step you feel confused or wish to seek expert end-to-end guidance, connect with our counsellors by choosing Yocket premium. They will surely help you at every step from selection of university to visa application formalities.
Frequently Asked Questions about MS in UK
Ques. Which are some of the high in-demand jobs in UK?
Ans: Some of the high in-demand jobs in the UK are in tech, healthcare, real estate, and finance. So, if you want to become an engineer, doctor, construction manager, or financial analyst, you have a bright future in the UK.
Ques. Which are the top universities in UK for MS?
Ans: Some of the top universities to study MS in UK are:
- Oxford University
- University of Cambridge
- Imperial College London
- University College London
- The University of Edinburgh
Ques. How can I work for Amazon in UK after masters?
Ans: After studying masters in engineering, finance, marketing, or any field of e-commerce, you are eligible to apply to Amazon. To work at Amazon in UK, you can apply directly on their portal or by networking with other employees at the company.
Ques. What is the average cost of studying masters in UK?
Ans. The average cost of studying masters in UK is between £13,000 to £15,000. However, if you wish to pursue your MS at one of the Golden triangle universities, the minimum tuition fee is £17,250. Further, an MBA is even more expensive.
Ques. Can one fail a masters in UK degree?
Ans. Even though the masters in UK degrees are relatively tougher than in other countries, still there it is less likely to fail in a program.