UK Admission Process For Indian Students

The United Kingdom is among the most popular study locations in the world. Hosting home to some of the world's best universities and nestled in beautiful historic towns and vibrant cities.

Studying in the UK is the dream of many students across the world. If you have decided to come to this gorgeous country, this article is for you.

You must be wondering where to start the UK admission process as this might seem a daunting process. Surprisingly, applying to study in the UK is a straightforward process, and we will guide you through it step by step.

We will help you choose from thousands of courses and hundreds of universities in the UK with the help of this article. 

UK Admission Process for Indian Students

The United Kingdom is one of the most famous study abroad locations for Indians. The popularity of the UK among Indian students can be easily proved by the fact that the UK's largest ethnic minority group is also Indians.

The excellent education system, outstanding universities, ample career opportunities, and technologically advanced teaching methods are a few reasons why the UK is an attractive study destination for Indian students.

Suppose you are one of those thousand students applying to these prestigious universities. In that case, we will help you with the complete UK admission process for Indian students.

These are the steps you need to follow to secure admission to a UK university.

Step 1: Check the eligibility criteria and ensure you meet all the requirements.

Step 2: Find the course and shortlist the Universities

Step 3: Get your documents ready

Step 4: Write your statement

Step 5: Apply to the university

Step 6: Pay for immigration health surcharge

Step 7: Apply for your visa

Step 8: Visa Interview

Finally, move to the UK and start your journey

Why Study in the UK From India?

The UK is home to around 40 universities from the world's top 200 higher study institutions. It has set a benchmark for other countries in the education sector. Apart from this, the work opportunities in the UK are also endless. Here are some of the different reasons students prefer to study in the UK over India.

1. Unique Culture: Studying abroad comes with having a chance to experience a different culture. The UK is best in what it serves. The culture, tradition, and people here make the city extremely welcoming for newcomers. The students here get the chance to learn about fascinating cultures and connect with people from all over the country.
2. High-Quality Education: The UK offers the best quality education, one of why students prefer the UK over India. The QAA (Quality Assurance Agency) is an independent body in the UK that evaluates learning standards at all institutes. Apart from this, research standards are also closely monitored by the funding bodies for UK higher education. These factors help students receive the best possible research, learning, and teaching resources irrespective of their academic disciplines.
3. Shorter Duration: Compared to India, the course duration in the UK is shorter. Here you can complete graduation in 3 years and post-graduation in just 1-year.
   
4. Health benefits: As a student in the UK, you will have access to free medical treatment from NHS (National Health Service). You only have a pay a nominal amount of IHS (International Health Surcharge)

How to Get Admission in UK Universities for Indian Students

Getting admission to UK universities is not that difficult and can be completed online, provided you know the complete procedure. For undergraduates, the best approach is to apply via UCAS. At the same time, you need to apply directly to the respective university's website for postgraduates.

Let us understand the steps involved in this whole process:

How to apply for Bachelors in UK universities through UCAS

1. On the UCAS website, fill out your application.
2. Apply to up to five programmes in the UK, at the same or different universities.
3. Complete personal information, including educational qualifications, employment history, and financial details.
4. Write a personal statement
5. Submit Your Application

The application fee for UCAS is £22 for a single option or £26.50 for more than one choice.

Acceptance Letter

Universities in the United Kingdom begin the application process a year before the start of the course, and students receive acceptance letters months before travelling out to the United Kingdom.

However, the average processing time of application in universities in the UK is longer. Sometimes, the universities take up to 2 months to release the offer letter for courses such as PhD.

However, in the United Kingdom, several colleges release the offer letter within 14 days!

How to Apply for Masters in UK universities

For a Master's or PhD, students can apply directly to their preferred university. Some universities in the United Kingdom do not have any deadlines, and you can send your application throughout the year. Still, some of the courses have specific deadlines. It is best to do your research and contact your chosen university to find overall details about the application process.

Find your Intakes to study in UK

Unlike in Indian universities, universities in the UK offer two main intakes - Summer and Autumn.

Autumn Intake: September to October

Spring Intake: January to February

Some universities also offer summer intake (June to Aug), but that is available for specific courses only.

Admission Test Required to Study in the UK

There are different tests that you need to qualify basis of your course to secure admission to a UK university.

Here are the standardised tests that you need to appear in before you apply to a UK University:

1. Language Proficiency Test: The university needs to make sure that you can speak and comprehend English effectively.

There are numerous standardised language exams to assess your proficiency in English. It includes:

1. TOEFL – Test Of English as a Foreign Language
2. IELTS – International English Language Testing System
3. PTE – Pearson Test English
4. UCLES – University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate

Furthermore, students who are native English speakers need not appear for the language proficiency tests.

2. Academic Tests: Academic tests depend on the program of study. It includes GMAT, GRE, etc.

• GMAT: GMAT is accepted across all countries and is compulsory for business and management courses. It helps universities assess their command of algebra, arithmetic, and grammar.
• GRE: GRE is a standardized test for students taking admission to graduate programs in the UK. This test evaluates arithmetic, writing, and language ability.

3. For Law students

• Cambridge Law Test: It is a paper-based test that evaluates your critical thinking knowledge as a law aspirant
• The National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT): This test evaluates your overall skills, including reasoning, information interpretation, analyzing capabilities, etc. The best part is that this test does not require any prior knowledge of the law as a subject.

4. If you are a Mathematics student

• Mathematics Admissions Test (MAT): MAT is conducted by Oxford and Cambridge's most reputed British universities. This test is crucial for students aiming to apply for undergraduate degree courses in Mathematics or Computer Science.

5. For medical aspirants

• Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT): This test is for students applying for courses related to Medicine, Biomedical Science, and Dentistry.
• The Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT): This test is created by the Australian Council for Education Research (ACER) and the Consortium of Graduate Medical Schools. This course is mandatory for students applying for a medical graduate course in the UK.
• Health Professions Admission Test (HPAT): This test evaluates logical, problem-solving, and non-verbal reasoning abilities. This test is required for students to get admission in healthcare-related fields.
• UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT): For some universities in the UK, you need to appear in UKCAR if you want to get admission to medical or dental degree programs.

Evidence of English Proficiency

You can prove the evidence of your proficiency in English in multiple ways. This includes:

• UKVI Verified IELTS (Academic)
• Non-approved UKVI IELTS (Academic)
• Letter from your College/University demonstrating that you have studied in English medium.
• UK Degrees
• Pre-Sessional English Certificate
• Pearson Test of English Academic/ PTE Home
• Language Certificate

Arrangement for Finance

Universities in the UK offer various finance arrangement options for talented students from low-income backgrounds.

The first option is a student loan, where universities create their student loan schemes for students belonging to low financial backgrounds.

The other options are grants and scholarships.

Grants are also a financial option for international students studying in the UK. Here private companies and non-governmental organizations help students complete their higher education.

Scholarships are a great option, but the only issue is that they have strict eligibility criteria and are highly competitive.

Student Visa Application in United Kingdom

So, once you have secured admission to the university in the UK, you will need to apply for a study visa as an international student. You can check about the same by clicking on Gov.Uk.

These are the 2-types of visas in the UK for students:

• Short-Term Study Visa: This visa is for international students planning to study courses of shorter duration. The duration of a short-term study visa is of 6 or 11 months.
• Tier 4 (General) Student Visa – This visa is for students who enrol in an academic degree (Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD).

Still unclear about anything? Well, not to worry. Contact AECC Global and get your queries answered today!

AECC is one of the world's leading educational consultancies with versatile expert professionals who are ready to help you with any queries you may have. Contact us so we can be of assistance to you in your journey of fulfilling your dream.

FAQs About UK Admission Process