The UK and its universities have an undisputed reputation for academic excellence and quality with thousands of courses available for students. This is an ideal destination for many decades for over a million international students from all over the world. There are a variety of reasons why you should consider studying in the UK. Some of these reasons might be exclusively academic for you, but in addition to the high-quality education, you will gain a lot of value from this one-of-a-kind experience, if you choose to study in the UK. Moreover, in comparison to the level of education offered to you, British universities are more affordable. There’s much more you need to know if you are thinking to study in the UK. Let’s take a look.

High Standards of Teaching: British higher education and qualifications have an impressive international reputation, with students in the United Kingdom encouraged to develop their potential while enjoying a full social life. UK universities are inspected regularly to ensure that they uphold the high standards of teaching, learning and research set by the Government. The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) is the key body charged with maintaining these standards.

Access of World Leading Research: The UK is a global powerhouse of science and research. With so many universities at the cutting edge of global discoveries and emerging technology, our students graduate with insights and experience that are in high demand around the world. Building on an extraordinary heritage of new discoveries, UK universities continue to be globally-recognized for their commitment to research. The UK is ranked second in the world for science and research, with 54 per cent of our output considered world-leading. That’s more than the US, Canada, Germany, Japan and Brazil.

Gain Professional Skills while Learning: During your studies, there will be an opportunity for you to develop the critical thinking skills, creativity and confidence that employers look for. There may also be the chance for you to get involved in internships, work-placements, volunteering and dissertation placements. The QS global survey of graduate employers consistently shows that UK degrees are highly valued worldwide, with UK universities topping the QS employer reputation ranking.

Support and Guidance: Travelling to the UK to study should be exciting, but it can be daunting too. Getting settled in a new country with different customs, languages, food and currency is a challenge. Thankfully, we’re used to making students from all over the world feel at home. Last year we supported 493,000 students from 200 countries before setting off and all the way through their studies. From our friendly teaching staff to our excellent pastoral care, we’ll make sure you have all the support and assistance you need.

Research Courses of Your Choice: It’s easy to research the right course for you by visiting the UCAS website. Everyone who goes to UCAS.com has access to the Course Search database containing details of around 38,000 courses from archaeology to zoology. Students who register are guided, step-by-step, through the process and use the online application system, Apply. Discovery Education is also guide you to select right course at the right university.

English Language and Cultural Diversity: Studying in the UK will help you develop excellent language skills. The English language is of crucial importance in today’s global business arena. The cultural diversity of life in British higher education is unrivalled. From cosmopolitan cities like London, Cardiff, Belfast and Glasgow, to historic counties like Warwickshire and Yorkshire, the UK is a place of contrasts and culture, where ancient buildings sit alongside contemporary architecture.

Flexible Courses and Reasonable Tuition Fees: Undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the UK tend to be shorter than in other countries which can help to keep the cost of tuition fees and living expenses down. Most undergraduate courses take three years to complete, although in Scotland it would be typically four years and postgraduate courses can be from one year upwards.

Documents Checklist for UK

Entry Requirements for Offer letter:
•    Academic Documents
•    Statement of Purpose ( SOP)
•    Passport/MRP Copy
•    IELTS Score Sheet
•    Credibility Interview from the University

Documents for Visa:
•    CAS ( Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) letter from University
•    Funds at Bank at least for 28 days (Bank statement & Balance certificate in GBP)
•    Education Loan with Disbursement or bank deposit fund should cover one year of living expenses, tuition cost and travel cost
•    Citizenship certificate
•    Birth Certificate
•    Relationship certificate with parents/guardian
•    TB test medical certificate from Doctor (Not the X-Ray) from the IOM
•    Marriage Certificate if married
•    Affidavit of Support from Sponsors
•    Statement of Purpose
•    Interview will be taken if require from the university and high commission as well

Living cost:
•    Inside London: £1,334 x9= £ 12,006
•    Outside London: £1023x9= £9,207

Student Visa:
•    Current rules 70 Points: 50 for CAS, 10 for Finance and 10 for English Requirement (2021)
•    Existing rules 40 Points: 30 for CAS and 10 for Finance

Visa Application Process:
•    Submit visa application on Access UK from online
•    Upload documents required documents and
•    Book appointment as well as arrange biometric at visa application center
•    Health Insurance: £470/per year (Eg.:3yrs course =£470x3= £1410 can pay via nominated banks of Nepal—www.immigration-health-surcharge.service.gov.uk/checker/type)

Visa Application Fee:
•    Pay visa fees in cash at VFS UK in Kathmandu (£348 Approximately, NPR. 57,230.00, please check UKVI website for current visa fee).

NB: We advise you to check authentic UKVI website frequently for updated information about the UK student visa and visa fees.

SOP Guidelines:

As the name says, “Statement of Purpose (SOP) is a statement or essay about your main purpose of applying to a university or a college abroad.” When applying to study at a university or a college abroad, one of the most important pieces of a strong application is your Statement of Purpose. A Statement of Purpose is a short essay that highlights your educational background, achievements, and goals. 

Most importantly, a good well-crafted SOP brings your chance to impress the admission committee by presenting your profile through an essay. The committee wants to see whether you take an interest in letting them know how much you want to study at their university or college. Below are the important guidelines for drafting a SOP for overseas universities in the USA, UK, Australia, NZ and Canada: 

1.   Start your SOP with a brief introduction stating your full name, date of birth, nationality and where you are currently living. You must also include the name of the course and institution where you intend to study and identify who will sponsor or finance your studies in Australia or other chosen destination. 

2.  Provide brief details of your education history – from Year 10 and 12 equivalent qualifications to your highest qualification.

3.  If applicable, describe your employment history including the name of the company, job title and the duration of each job you have held. 

4.  State how your selected course is linked to your previous study and/or work experience. If there is no link, explain why you are seeking a change of discipline and therefore a career change. 

5.  Describe the specific research you conducted which led you to decide on your selected course (Compare your University with other Universities). You must state the reasons on why you have chosen the selected course of study and why you have chosen to study at your University. You must include the full title and duration of the course and the specific location or campus at where this course is being offered. You should also be able to identify the career opportunities or professional recognition aligned with the course that you are intending to study.

6.  If there are similar courses of the same international standing available in your home country, provide reasons on why you choose to study in Australia or USA or UK instead.

7.   Provide reasons why you chose Australia or your chosen study destination rather than other countries like USA, Canada, New Zealand and European.

8.   If you have dependents (spouse and children), please provide their names and age. Also indicate if they plan to accompany you or join you later or remain in your home country whilst you study in abroad

9.   Explain how this course will benefit you in your future career prospects back in your home country or in other international settings where employment opportunities may be available for you. (It would be better if you mention name of companies or organizations, positions, and salary ranges).

10.  Provide clear and compelling reasons for returning to your home country once you successfully complete your selected course in your study destination. In this section, you must be able to show your genuine intention to temporarily stay in that country as a student and how you implement knowledge, skills and experience that you gained from the respective country and university after studies in your future career path.

11.   Concluding paragraph must be the summary of your essay or SOP. 

Sample Interview Questions

Below are the sample common questions for all countries and education providers. Every country, university and college has their own specific interview criteria. Interview questions may vary according to the profile of students. Please consult with us for specific country, university and college interview guidelines. 

1.    What is your passport no.?
2.    What is your date of birth?
3.    When did you complete your SLC or SEE or 10+2 or Bachelors or Masters?
4.    What did you study in your SEE or 10+2 or Bachelors or Masters?
5.    What is the definition of Physics or Chemistry or Accountancy?
6.    Why do you want to go to abroad?
7.    Why don’t you want to continue your education in Nepal or home country?
8.    Which university or college are you going to apply? 
9.    Why do you want to study in the particular college/university? 
10.    Does the university/college provide any internship facility? 
11.    How did you know about the college/university? 
12.    Why not other universities or colleges available in your chosen city or state? 
13.    Which course are you going to study and why this particular course?
14.    What is the course start date and course end date? 
15.    What is the tuition fee of the course, length of the course, credit hours and intakes?
16.    Have you visited the website of your college/university?
17.    What information can you find in the website?
18.    What will be your course outcome?
19.    What will you learn during your study period?
20.    How can you convert whatever you have learnt in terms of your future career?
21.    How can you justify your time and money which you are going to invest for your higher education in abroad?
22.    What will you do after you return back to your home country? 
23.    Which companies/organizations can you join? 
24.    How can you contribute to your own country?
25.    Do you have your relatives or close family members in aborad?

         About your finance:

26. Who will be your sponsors?
27. What do they do? How much do they earn? 
28. If you have an educational loan then how will your parents pay EMI or repay education loan amount?

     Important note: 

•    Please research as much possible as you can and do not forget that your interview is the gateway of your admission as well as positive visa outcome 
•    Visit the college or university website carefully and get to know each and every details minutely
•  Visit the immigration website of respective country and know the visa application process, rules and regulations, and laws for international students

Important Resources for Research: 

www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration
www.britishcouncil.org
www.studying-in-uk.org
www.england.nhs.uk
www.studylondon.ac.uk