UK vs US: Which is Better for International Students

Eligibility for US universities

International students must meet the following requirements to study in the US: 

• A duly filled application form
• Application fee paid receipt
• A valid passport
• An F-1 visa (full-time undergraduate and graduate applicants)
• DS - 160
• Form I-20
• Language requirements - IELTS (minimum 6+), TOEFL (minimum 78+), PTE (53+), Duolingo (120+), Cambridge C1 Advanced (180+) and C2 Proficiency (200+)
• Applicable entrance test results - GRE, GMAT, SAT, ACT, SAT, MCAT
• Statement of Purpose
• Letter of Recommendation: At least 2 - 3 letters of recommendation from your professors or employers (if you have work experience) are required.
• Resume or CV
• Generally, a GPA equivalent to 3.0 out of 4.0 in the US is required to get admission to top US universities, and 2.0 for other US universities, for undergraduate and graduate courses
• Having 2 years or more of work experience is an added advantage for many programs.

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. 

Application process for US universities

The application process for US universities is lengthy and spans throughout the year. Here are the steps for the US university application process:

• List your university/ college preferences: Your first step is finding out your course and potential US universities or colleges with more chances of getting admission. While listing, consider various factors like the institution’s academic standards, job prospects after study, total cost of study, etc.
• Evaluate your transcripts per the US formats: US universities require your academic and financial documents to be translated to US formats which you can do through WES (World Evaluation Services). Learn more about WES Evaluation. 

Convert your grades to the US scale. Use the Grade Convertor.

• Get your documents ready: Get your academic, financial, and entrance documents required for US admissions handy before applying, as some of these documents would take more time to reach you. 
• Apply for a university: US universities have an easy and convenient online application. You must apply to your desired university in the relevant intake on time.
• Apply for scholarships: Once you get an offer letter from the university, you can apply for scholarship options. However, not all scholarships have the same application period, and there is no need to apply separately for some scholarships. Explore the scholarship page for more details. 
• Gather money to fund your studies: Your visa application will be completed only if you can afford your studies in the US. Before applying for a student visa, you must gather enough funds to be shown as proof in the visa application process. At this stage, you can apply for an education loan to show proof of funds. 
• Receive Form I-20: If your application is accepted, the university will send you the Form I-20, which provides supporting information regarding your student status in the US. You need this document when you attend the US consular visa interview. 
• Apply for a student visa and fill out DS-160: You can apply online and fill out the non-immigrant visa application, known as the DS-160 form, to get a US visa. 
• Attend US consular interview: Schedule your US visa interview at the nearest US embassy or consulate once your visa application is accepted. You need to bring relevant documents like I-20, DS-160, passport, etc., to the visa interview. 

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.

Application timeline for US universities

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 application 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:

See here to learn more about securing admission to US universities.

Eligibility for UK universities

In general, the following documents or requirements are mandatory for UK admissions:

• A duly filled application form
• Application fee paid receipt
• Passport
• Tier 4 (General) visa
• CAS letter (Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies)
• For graduate courses, an undergraduate degree with a minimum GPA of 3.00 - 3.70 
• For undergraduate courses, +2 with a minimum GPA of 2.50 - 3.50 
• Language requirements - IELTS (6.0+), TOEFL (78+), PTE (53+), Duolingo (120+), Cambridge C1 Advanced (180+), and C2 Proficiency (200+)
• Entrance test - GRE,