“Dream. Apply. Fly.”
About UK
The United Kingdom, separated from the European continent by the North Sea and
English Channel, consists of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland. The UK’s form of government is a constitutional monarchy with a
parliamentary system and its capital city is London. The United Kingdom has fourteen
British Overseas Territories. These are remnants of the British Empire which, at its
height in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, encompassed almost a quarter of
the world’s land surface and was the largest empire in history. British influence can
be observed in the language, culture and legal systems of many of its former
colonies.
Poplulation
Approx. 69.23 million (2024)
Capital
London
Area
242,910 square kilometers (93,788 square miles)
Language
English, Welsh, Scottish form of Gaelic
Currency
Pound Sterling (£)
Life Expectancy
78 years
Religion
Anglican, Roman Catholic, other Protestant, Muslim
GDP per Capital
U.S. $38,591
Literacy Percent
99%
HDI
26
Other Important Cities
Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool, Bradford & Bristol
The United Kingdom’s economy is made up (in descending order of size) of the
economies of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Based on market
exchange rates, the UK is today the 6th largest economy in the world and the 3rd
largest in Europe after Germany and France.
The UK service se
ctor, makes up about 73% of GDP. The service sector is dominated
by financial services, especially in banking and insurance. London is the world’s
largest financial centre with the London Stock Exchange, the London International
Financial Futures and Options Exchange, and the Lloyd’s of London insurance market
all based in the City of London. London is a major centre for international business
and commerce and is the leader of the three “command centres” for the global
economy (along with New York City and Tokyo). It has the largest concentration of
foreign bank branches in the world, such as HSBC (the world’s largest bank),
Barclay’s Bank and Citigroup. Many multinational companies that are not primarily
UK-based have chosen to site their European or rest-of-world headquarters in
London: an example is the US financial services firm Citigroup. The Scottish capital,
Edinburgh, has one of the large financial centres of Europe and is the headquarters of
the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, one of the world’s largest banks.
Tourism is very important to the British economy. With over 27 million tourists
arriving in 2008, the United Kingdom is ranked as the 6th major tourist destination in
the world. London, by a considerable margin, is the most visited city in the world
with 15.6 million visitors in 2008, ahead of 2nd placed Bangkok (10.4 million visitors)
and 3rd placed Paris (9.7 million).
In the Manufacturing Sector, the British motor industry is a significant part of this
sector. Civil and defence aircraft production is led by BAE Systems the largest
defence contractor in the world and the continental European firm EADS, the owner
of Airbus. The aerospace industry of the UK is the 2nd or 3rd largest aerospace
industry in the world, depending upon the method of measurement Rolls-Royce holds
a major share of the global aerospace engines market. The Chemical and
Pharmaceutical industry is strong in the UK, with the world’s second and sixth largest
pharmaceutical firms (GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca, respectively) being based in
the UK.
Economy
Britain is an island country and the surrounding sea gives England a varied climate. It
can never be known what the weather will be like from one day to the other. It can
be sunny one day and rainy the next. In general summers are warm and the winters
are cool. July and August are normally the warmest month in England. Around the
coasts, February is normally the coldest month, but inland there is little to choose
between January and February as the coldest month.Maximum Temperature: 32ºC
Minimum Temperature: – 4ºC
Climate
Worldwide Recognition
The degrees and qualifications from UK higher education institutions are known
around the world as high quality and world class. The standard of excellence is
set by some of the older universities with recognizable names, like Oxford and
Cambridge, but the tradition carries through to many of the universities and
colleges throughout the UK. When looking for work in the future, this can be a
great selling point in your favour!
Academic Excellence
The quality and standard of UK higher education are guaranteed through the
work of various official bodies. The quality of a university’s teaching and its
general facilities are assessed by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). Research
standards are examined by the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), which
publishes its findings every five years. Information on quality assurance and
assessments is also available from the Higher Education Funding Councils
(HEFCE).
Lower Education Costs
The cost of education for an international student in the UK can be lower
compared to the USA and other countries. Tuition for the majority of UK higher
education institutions is in the region of £7,000 to £12,000 a year –
considerably less!
You can also save a lot of money & opportunity cost because your degree will
generally take less time to complete in the UK than in other countries. Although
four-year programs are increasing in popularity, most degree programs in the
UK require a three-year course and a masters program is typically between one
and two years. When you consider the shorter timeframe, the cost will be much
lower if you only have to plan for three years instead of four or even five as in
many other countries.
The Language of Business
A major advantage of studying in the UK is the opportunity to perfect your
knowledge of the English language – one of the most important skills in the
international business world. If you are an overseas student, especially if you
are studying a commercial subject, you may well appreciate the opportunity to
observe at first hand the operation of the European market. The UK is a
member of the EU, and living and studying here can provide a useful insight
into how this major trading bloc functions.
Gateway to Europe
With the addition of the Channel Tunnel and low cost airlines such as EasyJet
and Ryan Air, Europe is easier to access from the UK than ever. You can reach
most areas of Europe from the UK within a few hours by train or direct flight.
For example, if you are studying in London or Manchester and you want a
weekend away in Italy, you can fly Ryan Air direct to Rome, Milan, Pisa, Geneva,
Venice or several other cities in Italy. The direct flight would take around two
hours and cost anywhere from 30 to 100 pounds, depending on when you travel
and when you book.
Multicultural Nation
The UK is known for having a multicultural society with all religions and faiths
represented in some way. With a racial, ethnic and religious jumble, the UK is
very open to new traditions and cultures – something that is a great thing for
students from other countries! You can also be sure that a place of worship will
be easily accessible for most major religions.
Why Study in UK
The UK has grown to become one of the top destinations to study around the world.
With traditions of excellence dating back hundreds of years, high class institutions at
every corner and much more flexibility than many other countries, the United
Kingdom has much to offer international students that other English-speaking
countries cannot offer.
But what makes the United Kingdom stand out? Why should you make UK as a
destination to further your international education?
How to Apply
Intakes
The main intakes offered by Universities are in September/October and January/
February. Some colleges may also have intakes in March and July.
Employment
• A full-time International student can work part-time as per the given guidelines:
• A full-time degree student can work up to 20 hours during term-time and full-time during vacations;
• A full-time student studying below degree level can only work up to 10 hours during term-time and full-time during vacations;
• A full-time student can also work on a work placement as part of the course;
• A student can earn from £7 – £9 per hour i.e. £560 – £720 per month.
After the successful completion of the studies a student can apply for a 2 year Work Permit under the Tier-1 (Post-Study Work) category without a sponsor for the 2 years duration. Further information can be obtained from the UK border Agency website (http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/)