Requirements to Study in UK for International Students: What is the UK Admission Process?

Qualification/Grades Requirements to Study in UK

This is the most important requirement when it comes to studying in the UK. You must make sure that your past academic qualifications meet your dream UK university requirements.

Further, the qualification requirements may vary depending on the level of degree and university. However, since most UK universities are very competitive, you are expected to provide a higher grade of 3.75 out of 4 and an overall percentage of 70% or above. 

Here are the basic qualifications and eligibility UK admission requirements for various levels of courses.

Level Of Study	Qualification
Bachelors in UK	Humanities: Minimum 65% in 12th grade Science and Commerce: Minimum 70-80% or above in 12th grade
Masters in UK	Bachelor’s degree with minimum 60% and above
PhD in UK	Bachelors and Master’s degree with 60% and above

All about Intakes and Deadlines for UK! 

Now you know the percentage requirements for UK courses/programs. Next, let’s explore…

Entrance Tests Requirements to Study in UK

UK university entrance exams are conducted to select the best candidates that fit the course. If you are an international student and your qualification is not from the UK, you might have to give an entrance test depending on the course you have chosen. 

In this test, you will be evaluated on core and major concepts in the study field you’re willing to attend or closely related subjects. The basis of conducting such tests is simple: to evaluate if an international student is fit for the UK education system and to select the best candidate.

Below we have discussed the various types of UK university entrance examinations that you may give based on your course.

GMAT: You will be required to give GMAT only if you are applying for an MBA or some business-related course in the UK.

GRE: Students wanting to pursue a master’s degree must give the GRE exam. Most universities in UK do not require GRE, while some do. On the other hand, some courses require GRE and some don’t. Hence, please check with your university for more details.

LNAT: The National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT) assesses a student’s overall skills of reasoning, interpretation, analysis, and coming to conclusions. This exam is used by universities to select students for their undergraduate law courses and does not require prior knowledge of the law.

BMAT: The Biomedical Admissions Test is needed to apply for medicine, biomedical science, and dentistry-related undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

UKCAT: UK Clinical Aptitude Test is another exam required for admission to medical or dental degree programs.

Apart from these entrance exams, there are certain university-specific examinations. For example, the University of Cambridge’s Cambridge Law Test. Therefore, make sure to check the requirements for the university program from their official website.

Universities Waiving Off GRE/GMAT in UK

Next, let’s explore the English language proficiency requirements to study in UK.

English Language Proficiency Criteria to Study in UK

If you come from a nation whose first language is not English, you will have to give a language proficiency test and prove an excellent English proficiency to be able to study in the UK.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is the most popular language proficiency test accepted in the UK but other standardized tests like TOEFL, PTE or UCLES are also accepted by some universities.

When taking the IELTS test, you must specifically take the IELTS UKVI test. In terms of format, content, scoring, and difficulty, IELTS and IELTS UKVI are exactly the same. The sole distinction is that a UKVI IELTS for job, study, and migration is approved by the UK home office.

The language proficiency criteria may vary depending on the university and course that you are applying to. However, take a look at the basic language proficiency criteria (IELTS scores) for the majority of the colleges in UK for different levels of education.

Language Proficiency Criteria	Level Of Study
IELTS 6.0 - 6.5	Bachelor’s Degree
IELTS 7.0	Master’s Degree
IELTS 6.5 - 7.0	PhD

Can One Study in UK Without IELTS?

Next, let’s explore the document requirements for UK. 

Document Requirements to Study in UK

When applying for a university in the UK, there is a lot of paperwork that is involved in the entire application process. There are some mandatory documents that all international students are required to have. Please note that these documents may vary depending on the university and course you have chosen. 

Here’s a look at some of the most common documents required for all levels of degrees in the UK university admission process. 

Application form

ID proof

A valid passport

Passport size photographs

Certificate of English language proficiency

Other entrance exams scores

Birth certificate

Academic transcripts

Reference letters if required

Statement of Purpose

Portfolio (if applicable)

CV/ Resume

Proof of funds and other bank statements 

In addition to the documents mentioned above, take a look at some degree specific/course-specific documents required while studying in the UK for Indian students.

Level of Study	Required Documents
Bachelor’s Degree	Attested copies of 10th and 12th Marksheets.
Master’s Degree	Academic transcripts for 10th, 12th and bachelor’s degree.
PhD	A degree equivalent to masters in the UK or a 4-year bachelor’s (Hons) degree + Research proposal

Make sure you provide all the required documents correctly, and in case of any query, please feel free to check with your university.

Top UK Public Universities

Next, let’s check the application process to study in a UK university! 

Application Process to Study in UK

Following is the UK admission process:

Select the university and course to pursue your higher education. 

Apply to the university using the online platform called USAC. It is advised to apply to atleast 3-4 universities. 

For this, you need to fill the application form and submit the required documents. 

On selection you will receive a Confirmation for Acceptance of Studies (CAS) from the respected university. You can further use this certificate to apply for UK student Visa. 

Lastly, the universities in UK can call you for further interviews. 

Ultimate Guide to UK Student Visa 2022

Now you know the UK admission process, the document requirements, UK university requirements for international students, etc. 

Studying in UK is definitely a lucrative option for international students. In order to carry out the application process smoothly, you must check all the entry requirements well in advance to avoid any last-minute mishap as that can cause a lot of trouble. 

In case you need end-to-end expert assistance, reach out to our counsellors by subscribing to Yocket premium. They will surely help you make your UK study abroad dream a success!

Frequently Asked Questions about Requirements to Study in UK for Indian Students

Ques. What is the minimum CGPA required for MS in UK?

Ans. The requirements may vary depending from university to university, but most universities require a minimum aggregate of 70% or CGPA of 3.5+ out of a scale of 4 OR 9 out of a scale of 10 OR a grade A consistently for 3-4 years depending on the degree.

Ques. What is the age limit to study in UK?

Ans. There is no upper age limit for applying to UK universities. However, the lower age limit is 18 years. A candidate can only apply to UK universities if he/she is 18 years or older.

Ques. Can we study in UK without IELTS?

Ans. Yes, you can! You will have to provide the following documents - proof of over 70% in English in High School/Class XI and Class XII or a transcript of a short-term English course. Proof that English is the medium of instruction in your school. You can also take an Online Interview conducted by the university.

Ques. How much does it cost to study in UK for international students? 

Ans. The average cost of studying UK for international students is between £11,864 to £35,592. However, it may vary depending on the selected university and course. 

Ques. What are the scholarships to study in UK for international students? 

Ans. The scholarships for international students in UK are as follows:

Chevening Scholarships

Commonwealth Scholarships

Gates Cambridge Scholarships

Rhodes House Scholarships

MBA Skoll Scholarships

Edinburgh Global Research Scholarships

UK Scholarships from British Council

Denys Holland Scholarships

Kingston University London Scholarships, etc.