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UK vs US which is right for international students? GyanDhan brings you a complete guide on best universities in UK vs US, requirements, cost, scholarships, job opportunities and more.
According to the US government’s report, 1,65,000 visas were issued to Indian students in 2022, whereas the same to the UK was 1,40,000.
While it is positive to study in the US or the UK and explore academic and professional goals, it is crucial to check whether the post-study situations are favorable or not amidst the changing global economy. Studying in these countries is a costly affair, but sadly, many students often miss this necessary crosscheck and end up in chaos once they are graduated.
As more students are likely to choose the US and the UK in the upcoming years, this blog attempts to answer intriguing questions for aspirants right from the beginning of the study to obtaining citizenship.
The US houses some top universities in the world in all fields of study, such as STEM, Humanities, Social Sciences, etc. According to the QS World University Rankings 2024, 27 US universities feature in the top 100.
Here are the top ten US universities with their global rankings:
Top Universities in the US | QS World University Rankings 2024 |
---|---|
01 |
|
04 |
|
05 |
|
10 |
|
University of Chicago |
11 |
12 |
|
13 |
|
15 |
|
16 |
|
17 |
Similar to the US, the UK is home to world’s reputed universities. It has 17 top universities under the top 100, according to the latest QS World University Rankings:
Top Universities in the UK | QS World University Rankings 2024 |
---|---|
University of Cambridge |
02 |
03 |
|
06 |
|
09 |
|
22 |
|
32 |
|
King's College London |
40 |
45 |
|
University of Bristol |
55 |
The University of Warwick |
67 |
International students must meet the following requirements to study in the US:
Note: An applicant for MS in the US must have a minimum of 16 years of formal education. If your study comprises only 15 years (10+2+3) before going to the US, you must pursue any pathway programs or short diplomas to complete the year requirement.
The application process for US universities is lengthy and spans throughout the year. Here are the steps for the US university application process:
Convert your grades to the US scale. Use the Grade Convertor.
Common App: Your undergraduate application can be sent directly to the US university or through Common App, a non-profit membership organization for centralized UG applications. It covers 1,000 US academic institutions across 50 states and 20 countries and is known for US admission applications.
The application process must be aligned with a timeline according to your course and institution, considering factors like relevant intakes, the time required for completing the application process, etc.
Yearly intakes in the US are regular, but deadlines for US universities vary (sometimes, the same university may have different course deadlines). It is crucial that you refer to your university’s website for deadlines applicable to you.
Here are the US admission intakes and application period:
US admission intake | Details | Application period |
---|---|---|
Fall |
Most popular intake with more course openings |
September - December |
Spring |
Second-most popular intake with a good number of course openings |
January - May |
Summer |
Less popular intake known for short-term courses |
May - September |
Find out the relevant intakes for your application and plan your application at least before 6 months - 1 year. Remember, you have actions in line to be done, such as applying for a US visa, attending the visa interview, etc. There might be delays for various reasons, so apply early as possible.
See here to learn more about securing admission to US universities.
Did you know?
Early Decision and Early Action: US universities have options called Early Decision and Early Action that allow applicants to apply early. It is mandatory to enroll in the college if selected in Early Decision, where there is no obligation in Early Action.
In general, the following documents or requirements are mandatory for UK admissions:
UCAS: Applications for undergraduate admissions in the UK can be through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service), a famous private company for coordinating application processes for UK universities.
The standard academic year in the UK is from September or October to June or July, with postgraduate courses running from September to September. Many courses are flexible and offer more options for a start date.
UK universities have three annual intakes as you can see below:
UK admission intake | Details | Application period |
---|---|---|
September intake |
Popular intake with openings for most courses. More scholarships are available in this session. |
December - July |
January intake |
Second-prominent intake with course availability lower than the September intake. |
September - November |
May intake |
Popular courses usually do not have openings. If your course has an opening in May, you are more likely to get an admission. |
October - November |
It is better to consider an interval of one year to complete the whole process and start studying at your UK university since you have to apply for a UK student visa after receiving your CAS. Plan your steps considering possible time lagging in between the steps.
See the blog for details regarding the UK admission process.
Did you know?
Clearing: In UK universities, after the main application cycle, a process named Clearing takes place (usually in August) to admit students to remaining vacant seats. Those who couldn’t get an offer letter get seats as per availability.
Application fee for the US: The average application fee for international students to undergraduate and graduate programs in the US is 45 USD.
Application fee for the UK: The undergraduate application fee for UK universities is 76 USD, whereas it is 32 - 64 USD for postgraduate courses.
The cost of studying in the US and UK depends on various factors like course, university, location, etc. Generally, the study costs for various degrees are as follows:
Program of Study | Average annual fees in the US | Average annual fees in the UK |
---|---|---|
Undergraduate |
61,910 USD |
27,565 USD |
Graduate |
44,550 USD |
21,245 USD |
Doctoral |
48,674 USD |
31,880SD |
One can expect 1,635 - 2,345 USD as the living cost in the US, which varies significantly across the states. As per the US government data, the price for living categories differ by around 27% across the states.
Similarly, the price differs for London and other parts in the UK. One can expect an average monthly living cost between 1,094 - 1,351 USD, and the UK government instructs international students to have at least 1,660 USD per month to live in London and 1,273 USD outside London.
The table below compares major living costs in the US and the UK:
Category | Monthly cost in the US | Monthly cost in the UK |
---|---|---|
Room rent |
800 - 1,030 USD |
520 - 727 USD |
Travel |
50 - 60 USD |
57 - 67 USD |
Food |
400 - 700 USD |
270 USD |
Electricity |
100 - 120 USD |
50 - 70 USD |
Internet charges |
35 - 60 USD |
25 SD |
Phone bills |
50 USD |
22 USD |
Water, Sewage, Trash |
50 - 75 USD |
50 - 70 USD |
Personal expenses (clothing, laundry, cinema, gym, etc.) |
150 - 250 USD |
100 USD |
Total |
1,635 - 2,345 USD |
1,094 - 1,351 USD |
There are two types of accommodation available for international students in the US and UK: On-campus and off-campus. The stay on campus is allocated by the university, depending on the availability of space, and the off-campus stay is managed by the students themselves.
On-campus housing:
Off-campus housing:
In the US, there are numerous university/college/course/nationality-specific scholarships to students based on academic merit and financial needs.
US Scholarship | Amount | Application Deadline |
---|---|---|
20,000 - 50,000 USD |
15 November 2023 |
|
80,000 USD |
15 April 2023 |
|
64,000 USD |
17 July 2023 |
|
1,20,000 USD |
01 October 2023 |
|
50,000 - 70,000 USD |
15 December 2023 |
|
5,000 USD |
15 June 2023 |
International students can apply for scholarships in the UK specific to the course, university, country, financial status, etc.
UK Scholarship | Amount | Application Deadline |
---|---|---|
1,300 USD |
February 2023 |
|
21,937 USD |
January 2024 |
|
22,342 USD |
November 2023 |
|
30,500 USD |
December 2023 |
|
77,000 USD |
January 2024 |
|
12,410 USD |
May 2023 |
|
37,153 USD |
January 2024 |
|
1,880 USD |
October 2023 |
To get a US student visa, you need to follow the steps below:
A US student visa is valid for up to 5 years, after which you must return to your home country within 60 days unless you get an employment visa.
You can work up to 1 year after the completion of your studies if you are eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which can be extended to one more year.
You can apply for a US visa 120 days before the course start date. It will take approximately 21 working days to process your application once it is received, plus 2-3 days will be required to return your passport.
Follow the steps given below to obtain a student visa for the UK:
Student Route is the new points-based visa system for international students to study in the UK. International students must obtain a valid Student Route visa to study in the UK, which allows them to stay up to 5 years.
After the completion of studies, students can apply for the Graduate Route visa to stay in the UK for 2 years (3 years for Ph.D. graduates) to explore professional opportunities.
Note: You need to show the money to study and live in the UK while applying. The course fee will be what is documented in the CAS, and living costs will be 1,334 GBP (INR 1,41,065) per month (for up to 9 months) for courses in London and 1,023 GBP (INR 1,08,187) per month (for up to 9 months) for courses outside London.
As a reminder, a timely application can avoid chances for last-minute disappointment. You can apply for a UK visa 6 months early, and it takes nearly 3 weeks to make a decision on your visa.
National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA) report states that international students in the US got enrolled in 3,35,423 jobs in the US, contributing 33.8 billion USD to the economy in 2021 - 2022.
Similarly, one in every three international students gets employment in the UK. According to the UK Office for National Statistics data, the number of vacancies from April to June 2023 was 1,034,000 across various levels. Job opportunities rose significantly after 2019, and more vacancies are expected for international students.
The table below shows career prospects and median yearly salary for professions in popular study areas, according to data gathered from multiple sources:
Career Opportunities | Average Annual Salary in US | Average Annual Salary in UK |
---|---|---|
IT (Data Scientist, AI Researcher, Cybersecurity Analyst, Systems Architect, Research Scientist, IT Consultant) |
62,006 USD |
51,372 USD |
Management (Management Consultant, Manager roles - Marketing, Business, Operations, etc.) |
1,02,450 USD |
70,220 USD |
Biotechnology (Research Scientist, Biomedical Engineer, Genetic Counselor, etc.) |
48,140 USD |
40,744 USD |
Engineering (Engineer roles - Software, Mechanical, Biomedical, Systems, Renewable Energy, etc.) |
1,00,640 USD |
53,010 USD |
Healthcare (Physician, Nurse, Pharmacist, Health Counselor, etc.) |
75,040 USD |
40,880 USD |
Finance (Financial Analyst, Risk Manager, Fintech Professional, Accountant, etc.) |
90,317 USD |
57,257 USD |
Like many students, if your concern is working and getting a PR in the US, obtaining a Green Card will pave your way to becoming a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) in the US.
For a PR in the UK, you must have 5 years of work experience with a minimum salary of 31,887 USD per year or 13 USD per hour.
While studying in the US or the UK is advantageous for your academic, professional, and settling goals, it is crucial you meet the eligibility requirements applicable to your targets. For MS in the US, check out the admit predictor and see the list of colleges that match your eligibility. For other courses in the US and admission in the UK, reach out to the discussion forum or book a counseling session to learn in depth about the processes.
Having compared the US and UK in terms of academic and professional concerns, here are the key differences summarized for you:
Choosing the US or the UK to study abroad can be tougher, but possible if you weigh the pros and cons. List down and consider discussing your concerns with us on the discussion forum to make an informed choice, as your decision will have sway in your career journey ahead.
Read also:
Deciding the better option between the US or the UK to study abroad depends on your concerns. While the UK has a comparatively lesser cost of study and living, the US houses more top-ranking universities and high-paying jobs. It is better to weigh the pros and cons to make an informed choice.
According to Numbeo data on the quality of life in countries, the US and the UK have better living standards. The US ranks 16th, and the UK ranks 22nd on the list.
According to Statista, the average annual earning of full-time employees in the UK in 2022 is 42,409 USD (INR 34,88,600), and the average annual earning of full-time employees in the US is 91,931 USD (INR 75,81,457).
The rules and regulations for working professionals differ with organizations and the type of work in the US and the UK. In general, since the UK offers more vacation time (5.6 weeks a year) compared to the US (11 days), many find the UK as offering a better work-life balance than the US due to this reason. However, while 40 hours is the average working time in the US per week, it is 48 hours per week in the UK.
Also, the tax rate in the UK is higher than in the US, but the UK offers many social welfare programs, which is costlier in the US.
You can choose to do your Master’s in the US or the UK, depending on your personal preferences. Many students find the short-term courses in the UK as beneficial over the US for a Master’s.
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