Study in the UK
Migration Program Details & Application
Program Overview
Project Description and Fees
The UK boasts numerous world-renowned universities ranked among the top 100 globally. Undergraduate programs typically last three years, while taught master's programs are usually one year, offering a compact curriculum and high cost-effectiveness. In 2026, the UK will implement new changes regarding student visas and graduate work visas.
• Visa and Graduation Policies:
• eVisa: From July 2025, the UK has fully transitioned to eVisas and will no longer issue physical BRP cards. You will need to register a UKVI account and use a shared code to prove your legal identity.
• Accompanying visa policy: Starting in 2024, only students pursuing a doctoral degree (PhD) or a research master's degree will be eligible to apply for accompanying visas for their spouses and children.
• Graduate Route: For undergraduate and master's graduates who submit their applications on or after January 1, 2027, the duration of the Graduate Route visa will be shortened from 2 years to 18 months; the duration for doctoral graduates will remain at 3 years.
• Compliance and supervision: Guaranteed institutions have stricter requirements for student attendance (95% required).
• Visa processing: The processing time for regular student visas has now been shortened to 7 business days.
• Fee reference (2026/27 academic year):
The total cost of studying in the UK is generally divided into two main parts: tuition fees and living expenses. Roughly estimated, the total cost per year (tuition fees + living expenses) is usually between 300,000 and 700,000 RMB.
1. Tuition Fees:
• Undergraduate: Tuition fees for international undergraduate students vary depending on the major. Most humanities and social sciences majors cost between £20,000 and £35,000 per year; science and engineering majors and some popular business majors typically cost between £25,000 and £40,000 per year; while top universities such as Imperial College London, Oxford and Cambridge's flagship programs in medicine and computer science can cost as much as £53,000 to £62,000 per year.
• Master's: Tuition fees for taught master's programs (usually one year) are similar to those for undergraduate programs, but some MBA programs are more expensive (such as the £73,000 mentioned above). Overall, master's tuition fees are roughly between £25,000 and £40,000, with top universities or special programs potentially costing more.
2. Living expenses (visa deposit requirement):
Visa officers primarily rely on the following criteria to assess your funds. You can use this to estimate your minimum cost of living.
• London: The standard monthly living expenses are £1,529. Typically calculated over 9 months, £13,761 would be needed as a living expenses guarantee.
• Outside London: The standard monthly living expenses are £1,171. Based on a 9-month period, you would need to prepare £10,539.
• Total amount of visa guarantee deposit: Visa guarantee deposit = tuition fees (first year's tuition fees shown on CAS) + living expenses for 9 months.
⚠️ For example: If you are going to a university outside London to study a one-year master's program with a tuition fee of £20,000, then you will need to prepare at least £20,000 + £10,539 = £30,539 as a visa guarantee.
The UK boasts numerous world-renowned universities ranked among the top 100 globally. Undergraduate programs typically last three years, while taught master's programs are usually one year, offering a compact curriculum and high cost-effectiveness. In 2026, the UK will implement new changes regarding student visas and graduate work visas.
• Visa and Graduation Policies:
• eVisa: From July 2025, the UK has fully transitioned to eVisas and will no longer issue physical BRP cards. You will need to register a UKVI account and use a shared code to prove your legal identity.
• Accompanying visa policy: Starting in 2024, only students pursuing a doctoral degree (PhD) or a research master's degree will be eligible to apply for accompanying visas for their spouses and children.
• Graduate Route: For undergraduate and master's graduates who submit their applications on or after January 1, 2027, the duration of the Graduate Route visa will be shortened from 2 years to 18 months; the duration for doctoral graduates will remain at 3 years.
• Compliance and supervision: Guaranteed institutions have stricter requirements for student attendance (95% required).
• Visa processing: The processing time for regular student visas has now been shortened to 7 business days.
• Fee reference (2026/27 academic year):
The total cost of studying in the UK is generally divided into two main parts: tuition fees and living expenses. Roughly estimated, the total cost per year (tuition fees + living expenses) is usually between 300,000 and 700,000 RMB.
1. Tuition Fees:
• Undergraduate: Tuition fees for international undergraduate students vary depending on the major. Most humanities and social sciences majors cost between £20,000 and £35,000 per year; science and engineering majors and some popular business majors typically cost between £25,000 and £40,000 per year; while top universities such as Imperial College London, Oxford and Cambridge's flagship programs in medicine and computer science can cost as much as £53,000 to £62,000 per year.
• Master's: Tuition fees for taught master's programs (usually one year) are similar to those for undergraduate programs, but some MBA programs are more expensive (such as the £73,000 mentioned above). Overall, master's tuition fees are roughly between £25,000 and £40,000, with top universities or special programs potentially costing more.
2. Living expenses (visa deposit requirement):
Visa officers primarily rely on the following criteria to assess your funds. You can use this to estimate your minimum cost of living.
• London: The standard monthly living expenses are £1,529. Typically calculated over 9 months, £13,761 would be needed as a living expenses guarantee.
• Outside London: The standard monthly living expenses are £1,171. Based on a 9-month period, you would need to prepare £10,539.
• Total amount of visa guarantee deposit: Visa guarantee deposit = tuition fees (first year's tuition fees shown on CAS) + living expenses for 9 months.
⚠️ For example: If you are going to a university outside London to study a one-year master's program with a tuition fee of £20,000, then you will need to prepare at least £20,000 + £10,539 = £30,539 as a visa guarantee.
Eligibility & Requirements
Applicant requirements
Applying to study in the UK mainly requires meeting three requirements: academic performance, language proficiency, and proof of funds.
• Academic background:
• Undergraduate: The minimum admission requirements are usually A-level grades of AAB-AAA*, or IB grades of 37-40, or AP courses in the US high school system (3 subjects with a score of 5) plus SAT/ACT.
• Master's: Most UK universities will consider your undergraduate institution background (such as "211/985" or "non-211/985") and GPA. Generally, having a qualified degree is the foundation, and the required GPA ranges from 75% to 90%. The higher the ranking of the university and the major, the higher the requirements.
• Language proficiency:
• Undergraduate: Typically requires an IELTS overall score of 6.0, with no individual section score below 5.5. Top universities may have higher requirements.
• Master's: Most programs require an IELTS overall score of 6.5, with no individual section score below 6.0.
• Language waiver: In some cases, English-taught degrees may waive language proficiency requirements; please check the university's official website for details. Furthermore, most UK universities allow applicants to submit their IELTS scores without submitting them at the time of application, and to do so after receiving a conditional offer.
• Visa: All non-native English speakers must provide proof of English proficiency that meets the school and UKVI requirements when submitting their visa application.
• Funding preparation:
• Visa guarantee funds: As mentioned earlier, you need proof of funds to cover your first year's tuition fees and living expenses in the UK. This money must be held in a bank account for at least 28 consecutive days, and your visa application must be submitted within 31 days of receiving the proof of funds.
• Source of funds: Visa guarantee funds cannot be in the form of financial products, stocks, funds, etc., but must be bank deposits.
• Depositor: It is best to keep this money in the student's own name to avoid the hassle of providing proof of kinship.
Applying to study in the UK mainly requires meeting three requirements: academic performance, language proficiency, and proof of funds.
• Academic background:
• Undergraduate: The minimum admission requirements are usually A-level grades of AAB-AAA*, or IB grades of 37-40, or AP courses in the US high school system (3 subjects with a score of 5) plus SAT/ACT.
• Master's: Most UK universities will consider your undergraduate institution background (such as "211/985" or "non-211/985") and GPA. Generally, having a qualified degree is the foundation, and the required GPA ranges from 75% to 90%. The higher the ranking of the university and the major, the higher the requirements.
• Language proficiency:
• Undergraduate: Typically requires an IELTS overall score of 6.0, with no individual section score below 5.5. Top universities may have higher requirements.
• Master's: Most programs require an IELTS overall score of 6.5, with no individual section score below 6.0.
• Language waiver: In some cases, English-taught degrees may waive language proficiency requirements; please check the university's official website for details. Furthermore, most UK universities allow applicants to submit their IELTS scores without submitting them at the time of application, and to do so after receiving a conditional offer.
• Visa: All non-native English speakers must provide proof of English proficiency that meets the school and UKVI requirements when submitting their visa application.
• Funding preparation:
• Visa guarantee funds: As mentioned earlier, you need proof of funds to cover your first year's tuition fees and living expenses in the UK. This money must be held in a bank account for at least 28 consecutive days, and your visa application must be submitted within 31 days of receiving the proof of funds.
• Source of funds: Visa guarantee funds cannot be in the form of financial products, stocks, funds, etc., but must be bank deposits.
• Depositor: It is best to keep this money in the student's own name to avoid the hassle of providing proof of kinship.
Application Process & Advice
suggestion
• Undergraduate Application: Pay attention to the UCAS Personal Statement (PS) reform: The PS is no longer a long essay, but needs to answer three separate questions: the core is to focus on "why you chose this major", "your academic preparation" and "your extracurricular activities".
• Postgraduate Applications: New Changes in Background Assessment: UK Universities are Giving More Opportunities to Chinese Students. For example, the University of Manchester is accepting applications from applicants with interdisciplinary backgrounds for some programs for the first time; the University of Glasgow is accepting all universities listed in the Shanghai Ranking (SAR) and has included more institutions with strong arts programs; and some Russell Group member universities have removed restrictions on the list of institutions for students with associate degrees or those from independent colleges.
Post-graduation planning: Shorter visa duration: From January 2027, the visa duration for undergraduate and taught master's graduates will be shortened from 2 years to 18 months. Think carefully about whether you want to return to your home country after graduation or strive to stay in the UK for employment; this will greatly impact your choice of major and internship planning.
• Scholarship Opportunities: The UK Exceptional Scholarships will cover 35 universities in 2026, offering up to 180 places, and you can apply to up to 3 universities simultaneously. In addition, UK universities with 90% certification offer scholarships specifically for international students ranging from £3,000 to £12,000 per year.
• Beware of scams: Scams targeting international students are common, especially Chinese students, including phone calls and emails impersonating government agencies. Please do not easily provide personal information or send money.
UK Study Abroad Application Process
• Undergraduate Application Process (via UCAS): All UK undergraduate applications are processed through the UCAS system. Key milestones for 2027 entry can be found here:
• May 2026: UCAS undergraduate application system opens for registration.
• Early September 2026: Completed applications can be submitted.
October 15, 2026: Application deadline for Oxford and Cambridge Universities, as well as most medical and dental programs.
• January 14, 2027: Application deadline for “equal consideration” for most undergraduate courses.
• July 5, 2027: UCAS Clearing phase opens.
• Master's application process: There is usually no fixed deadline for master's applications. They are offered on a rolling admission basis, on a first-come, first-served basis.
1. Determine your university and major, and prepare your application materials: core materials include a personal statement (answering structured questions about academic and career fit), 2-3 academic recommendation letters, resume, undergraduate transcript, proof of enrollment or graduation certificate and degree certificate.
2. Submit your application: Submit your application through the university's official website application system.
3. Wait for admission results and obtain an unconditional offer: After receiving a conditional offer, submit the required materials (such as final grades, degree certificate, and language test scores).
4. Obtaining a CAS: After confirming enrollment, the university will issue a CAS, which is a necessary document for applying for a student visa.
5. Apply for a student visa and prepare for departure.
• Undergraduate Application: Pay attention to the UCAS Personal Statement (PS) reform: The PS is no longer a long essay, but needs to answer three separate questions: the core is to focus on "why you chose this major", "your academic preparation" and "your extracurricular activities".
• Postgraduate Applications: New Changes in Background Assessment: UK Universities are Giving More Opportunities to Chinese Students. For example, the University of Manchester is accepting applications from applicants with interdisciplinary backgrounds for some programs for the first time; the University of Glasgow is accepting all universities listed in the Shanghai Ranking (SAR) and has included more institutions with strong arts programs; and some Russell Group member universities have removed restrictions on the list of institutions for students with associate degrees or those from independent colleges.
Post-graduation planning: Shorter visa duration: From January 2027, the visa duration for undergraduate and taught master's graduates will be shortened from 2 years to 18 months. Think carefully about whether you want to return to your home country after graduation or strive to stay in the UK for employment; this will greatly impact your choice of major and internship planning.
• Scholarship Opportunities: The UK Exceptional Scholarships will cover 35 universities in 2026, offering up to 180 places, and you can apply to up to 3 universities simultaneously. In addition, UK universities with 90% certification offer scholarships specifically for international students ranging from £3,000 to £12,000 per year.
• Beware of scams: Scams targeting international students are common, especially Chinese students, including phone calls and emails impersonating government agencies. Please do not easily provide personal information or send money.
UK Study Abroad Application Process
• Undergraduate Application Process (via UCAS): All UK undergraduate applications are processed through the UCAS system. Key milestones for 2027 entry can be found here:
• May 2026: UCAS undergraduate application system opens for registration.
• Early September 2026: Completed applications can be submitted.
October 15, 2026: Application deadline for Oxford and Cambridge Universities, as well as most medical and dental programs.
• January 14, 2027: Application deadline for “equal consideration” for most undergraduate courses.
• July 5, 2027: UCAS Clearing phase opens.
• Master's application process: There is usually no fixed deadline for master's applications. They are offered on a rolling admission basis, on a first-come, first-served basis.
1. Determine your university and major, and prepare your application materials: core materials include a personal statement (answering structured questions about academic and career fit), 2-3 academic recommendation letters, resume, undergraduate transcript, proof of enrollment or graduation certificate and degree certificate.
2. Submit your application: Submit your application through the university's official website application system.
3. Wait for admission results and obtain an unconditional offer: After receiving a conditional offer, submit the required materials (such as final grades, degree certificate, and language test scores).
4. Obtaining a CAS: After confirming enrollment, the university will issue a CAS, which is a necessary document for applying for a student visa.
5. Apply for a student visa and prepare for departure.