Cost of Studying MS in UK vs MS in India: Which is Affordable MS in UK or India?

Top Colleges for MS in UK vs MS in India

Take a look at the list of top colleges for MS in UK along with latest QS rankings:

University	QS World Ranking 2022
University of Oxford	2
University of Cambridge	3
Imperial College London	7
University College London	8
University of Edinburgh	16
University of Manchester	27
King’s College London	35
London School of Economics and Political Science	49
University of Warwick	61
University of Glasgow	73

Here is a table with top universities in India for MS and their respective rankings in QS reports:

University	QS World Ranking 2022
Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay	177
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi	185
Indian Institute of Science	186
Indian Institute of Technology, Madras	255
Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur	277
Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur	280
Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati	395
Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee	400
University of Delhi	501-510
Jawaharlal Nehru University	561-570

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Eligibility Criteria for MS in UK vs MS in India

The eligibility criteria for MS in UK vs MS in India is an interesting point of discussion given the difference in the education system of both these countries. First of all, admission to universities in India only takes place once in a year and admissions are open until April for most IITs. Compared to this, UK universities accept applications for the Fall semester starting in September/ October and Spring intake in January/ February.

Here are the general admission requirements to be fulfilled for admission to MS in UK and India:

1. Bachelor’s Degree
2. Entrance Test Scores
3. Proof of English Language Proficiency
4. Work Experience
5. Student Visa

Let us discuss how universities in India vs UK expect you to fulfill these requirements for admission to MS programs:

1. Bachelor’s Degree

All students whether applying for MS in India, UK or any other country must have a completed bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. In India, you are expected to have a BS, BTech or BE degree with minimum 50-60% for admission consideration. However, it must be noted that cut-off scores for top universities are much higher than this and achieving these scores do not guarantee admission. Top IITs in India require minimum 80% in bachelor’s degrees. UK universities ask international students for the equivalent of a 2:1 or 2:2 bachelor’s degree i.e. usually 60-75%.

2. Entrance Test Scores

Admission to MS in India largely depends on entrance test scores of GATE, CSIR, NET, etc. for MS in Science related degrees and CAT, MAT, XAT, GMAT or GRE for Management related degrees. Universities in UK ask for GRE or GMAT scores for admission to MS programs. A GRE score of 160 in the quantitative section and 4.0 in writing is recommended.

3. Proof of English Language Proficiency

International students will have to provide proof of English language proficiency for studying in UK by submitting acceptable test scores such as IELTS, TOEFL, etc. You are expected to have a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 for applying to universities in UK. Some competitive programs may require a higher IELTS band score of 7.0. This is not a requirement for applying to universities in India.

4. Work Experience

Work experience is beneficial in a number of ways. Firstly, it gives you an edge over the other candidates. Though prior work experience is not a mandatory requirement for applying to MS in UK or India, if you are applying for management degrees 2-3 years of work experience will be a valuable addition. Some universities in India also consider applicants without taking entrance tests if they have at least 3 years of managerial work experience.

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5. Student Visa

If you are planning to study MS in UK, you will have to apply for a Tier 4 student visa. To apply for a UK student visa, you will have to wait until you receive the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). There is no such requirement for studying in India.

Fee Structure for MS in UK vs MS in India

One of the main factors that a student considers before selecting a university is the costs. It is not only the university fee that matters as students have to pay for their monthly living expenses as well as some pre-arrival expenses that are a part of the admission process.

Let us discuss the tuition fee for top universities offering MS in UK vs MS in India as well as the living expenses and pre-arrival expenses:

Tuition Fees

The discussion below will help you shape an opinion about whether it is costlier to study MS in UK or India.

• The tuition fee for MS in UK at top universities costs around £15,000-35,000 per year i.e. around 14,50,000-35,00,000 INR.
• The entire MS program in UK can be completed within 1 year so the total program cost will be 14,50,000-35,00,000 INR.
• For studying MS in India, your tuition fee will be around 100,000-300,000 INR per year.
• The duration of MS in India is 1.5-4 years and therefore the complete program will cost around 400,000-12,00,000 INR.
• In terms of USD, MS in UK will cost you around $19,500-45,500 per year while in India it will be $1300-4000 per year.
• The tuition fee for government universities in India is quite affordable and will surely not cut a hole in your pocket.

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Living Expenses

Talking about the living expenses of students in UK vs India, definitely UK is quite costly for Indian students. Moving to an entirely different country like UK or even to a different city in India will surely add to your costs as you will have to look after various expenses like accommodation, food, transportation and personal expenses.

• For studying in UK, you will have to maintain a minimum balance of £1015 in your bank account for your monthly expenses.
• London being costlier requires a minimum of £1265 per month.
• The actual expenses will be somewhere around £1500-1800 per month depending on your lifestyle, preferences and location.
• This is around 145,000-180,000 INR per month for Indian students.
• Even if you are moving to a different city within India, your monthly expenses will be around 15,000-25,000 INR per month.

Pre-Arrival Expenses

Pre-arrival expenses are typical expenses that are not covered by any scholarships. Before enrolling to universities in India, MS students have to pay for the entrance exam registration and application fee for applying to UK universities. Similarly, you will have to meet various pre-arrival expenses for studying in UK including UCAS fee, student visa application fee, health insurance, entrance exam registration fee and university application fee.

Take a look at the table below for UK pre-arrival expenses that need to be paid once before admission and health insurance which must be paid every year:

Expense	Amount
UCAS fee	£20-26
Visa application fee	£348
IELTS registration fee	£146
TOEFL registration fee	£145
GRE registration fee	£165
GMAT registration fee	£275
Immigration Health Surcharge	£470 per year

Scholarships for Studying MS in UK vs India

Compared to India, you will definitely find more scholarships and financial aid options for studying in UK. The cost of studying abroad for Indian students is quite an investment which is why universities as well as the UK government provide several scholarships for international students.

Here are a few examples of scholarships for MS in UK and India:

Scholarships for MS in India	Scholarships for MS in UK
Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships for College and University Students 2022 Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarship NEC Merit Scholarship Samsung Star Scholar Program 2022	Inlaks Scholarship Chevening Scholarship Rhodes Scholarship Felix Scholarship Saltire Scholarship

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Job Prospects After MS in UK vs India

Before the end of this discussion, let us discuss the job prospects after MS in UK vs India as it is important for determining the ROI.

• You can expect to earn an average salary of £71,000 per year i.e. 70,00,000 INR after completing MS in UK depending on the job title and years of experience.
• The popular sectors for MS graduates in UK are financial services, software development, data analysis, legal and executive jobs, etc.
• The average salaries in India after MS ranges between 350,000-750,000 INR per year.
• Graduates in India are appointed for jobs such as lecturer, assistant professor, research fellow, research associate, research assistant, research scientist, etc.
• In India you will take 1.5-4 years to complete the MS program before you start earning but in UK you will start getting returns on your investment within a year or two as soon as you complete the program.

If you are looking for a degree from outside India and wish to enjoy the perks and lifestyle of studying abroad, the UK is not very costly compared to India for studying MS. When it comes to university fees, yes, universities in UK are costlier than India but there are ample funding opportunities for international students that make it affordable. The living expenses in UK are also higher than in India but when you compare the monthly living expenses for a year and that for 3-4 years it becomes more or less similar. With the future scope, opportunities, ROI and quality of education, the UK is worth considering for studying MS compared to India in terms of affordability.