UCAS forecasts a 46% increase in international students by 2026.  A new report by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service(UCAS), and the College Board forecast that the number of international undergraduate applicants in the UK will increase to 208,500 by 2026. The report was prepared after the completion of the survey by 1,300 students planning to study abroad.

Drawing on UCAS data and an early 2022 survey of prospective students conducted by the College Board highlights the continued appeal of the UK as a study destination. The quality and reputation of higher education, the perception as a safe place to live and study, and the opportunity to learn a new language and culture were the key factors to choose the UK for studying abroad.

What does the survey say about the UK?

The survey focuses on international students’ mindsets and what they want from their higher education experience. It showed that international students apply for a focused group of subjects, and are highly independent with their research. Around half of them are following in their parents’ footsteps. It is forecasted that there will be a sustained growth in interest to study in UK to continue into the next decade. 

• With borders opening up again, the survey responses emphasize that experiencing life in a different country, that is safe, and with a strong academic reputation, are the main motivations.
• Students from across the globe still hold the UK’s universities in the highest regard, with renewed interest in living and learning.
• During the pandemic, 88% of the international students considered the UK as a positive or very positive place to study, with 77% of students applying because of the strong academic reputation of the United Kingdom.
• In 2021, around half of international students accepted through UCAS to study at the universities in UK. They came mainly from 7 countries, with 2 in every 9 coming from China.

Other Highlights of Survey:

10% of international students start dreaming of studying abroad before entering their 12th year.  Despite the difficulties of the pandemic, international students have followed the opportunities available to them.

• Nigerian students choose their study abroad countries that help them in gaining skills to build their careers (chosen by 80% of Nigerian respondents), 
• The Indian students give priority to the countries having ‘better quality (75% of respondents from Indians)
• Opportunities after graduation are more important for those wanting to study in USA (57%), Singapore (54%), and UK (54%).
• Experiencing life abroad is more important to those considering Italy (75%) and Netherlands (72%).
• Students want to hear from students, like open days (40%) and interaction with current students (39%) are increasingly for research.
• Students are 5 times more likely to say obtaining a job in their study country, rather than their home nation, is their top priority.

UK: Most Preferred Study Abroad Destination 

UNESCO reports that a total of 5.6 million students study in a different nation to their home country. The UK continues to be the second leading host destination for international students, after the US. Both the countries collectively host around 30% of international students.

In the past decade, UCAS( the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) has helped 1.3 million students around the world secure their place at universities in the UK. It has recently launched Myriad, a dedicated platform for international postgraduate students coming to the UK.

World-renowned Universities and Infrastructure, quality education and research facilities, and future opportunities. These are some reasons every student would consider when thinking about studying abroad. Study in UK for Indian students offers them a chance to quality education and a better future. Here we are talking about top universities in the UK that are ranked highest. This list will give you an idea about top universities in UK, according to UK university rankings 2021.

1.University of Oxford

The oldest English University in the world is world-famous for the alumni it possesses. Moreover, it has the highest faculty-to-student ratio among all the top universities in UK. It offers tremendous academic possibilities with facilities like Oxford libraries, laboratories, and museums.

2.University of Cambridge

Ranked at number sixth in the world, the University of Cambridge is no less than their rivals Oxford are. It is made up of 31 colleges. Founded in 1209, it is the second oldest English-speaking university. It boasts of the facilities as good as the Oxford Universities, such an example is its 114 libraries across the colleges.

3.Imperial College London

Imperial College of London holds an impressive ratio of international students. It is renowned for engineering, medicine, science, and business, all around the world. Not much behind Oxford and Cambridge, it holds the eighth position in world university rankings. Moreover, it was ranked first in the Guardian University Guide for Career Prospectus.

4.University College London

A crowd favorite among international students, UCL has a large number of international students coming from outside of the UK. International students make up to 40% of its large student base. The student population of 38900 makes it one of the largest universities in the world.

5.University of Edinburgh

Situated in Scotland, the University of Edinburgh boasts of historically important alumni like Charles Darwin and Alexander Graham Bell. Established in 1582, it is one of the world’s most ancient running universities. It is ranked at UK’s fourth research power for its excellent research quality. Moreover, it is ranked at number 6 for employability in the UK.

6.University of Manchester

Another University well known for its excellence in research, Manchester boasts of a whopping number of 40490 students. Additionally, 11000 of them are outside of the European Union, making it one of the universities in the UK with a higher International student ratio in the students’ community.

7.King’s College London

King’s College is established in London, and it is famous for its medical education. It has the oldest operating nursing school in the world established in 1960. I.e. the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery. It is ranked 21st as the world’s most prestigious university, and 7th for graduate employability in the UK.

8.London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

It is a university with a higher international student percentage. It is placed 38th in the world for 2019. It is ranked in the global top ten for two important factors: employer reputation and percentage of international students. In 2019, there were 365 Indian students enrolled in the London School of Economics and Political Science.

9.University of Bristol

The University of Bristol is one of the top 10 Universities in the UK. It is associated with 13 Nobel Prize winners to date. As far as research goes, the University of Bristol is a member of the Russell Group, which is a self-selected association for Research Universities. In the UK, it is ranked among the top 5 for research excellence.

10. University of Warwick

Another member of the ever-prestigious Russell group, the University of Warwick also boasts of higher REF (Research Excellence Framework) rankings. According to THE (Times Higher Education) 2018 edition for teaching rankings, it is a fourth-best university after Oxford, Cambridge, and Sorbonne.

Other best universities in UK are:

• University of Glasgow
• Durham University
• University of Birmingham
• University of Southampton
• University of Leeds
• The University of Sheffield
•  University of St Andrews
• University of Nottingham
•  Queen Mary University of London
•  Lancaster University
• University of York
•  Newcastle University
• Cardiff University
• The University of Exeter
• University of Bath

Best MBA colleges in UK

Business schools in UK offer MBA programs that fit every student of any academic level and career expectation. It provides an international mix of students, teachers, and work opportunities that are matchless in many parts of the world. The UK is home to some of the world’s best MBA universities in terms of quality of teaching and brand recognition. Here is the list of universities in UK for MBA:

If you are planning to pursue your MBA from one of the Universities in UK, check this out: How To Apply for MBA in UK

Affordable universities in UK

UK is less known for its affordability. As there is a mindset that high-quality education comes at a price. So here we have made a list of universities in UK which are inexpensive than others:

• Staffordshire University
• Teesside University
• Harper Adams University College
• Leeds Trinity University
• The University of Cumbria
• London Metropolitan University
• University of Sunderland
• The University of Bolton
• University of Suffolk
• Buckinghamshire New University.

You will find more details of these universities here: Cheapest Universities in UK for International students

Public universities in the UK for international students    

A public university in UK does not mean government ownership but a university receives direct government funding. Only a small number of universities do not receive direct government funding, which means the UK has more public universities. Here is the list of the best public universities in UK:

• University of Oxford
• University of Cambridge
• University College London
• The University of Edinburgh
• The University of Manchester    Manchester
• The London School of Economics and Political Science
• The University of Glasgow    
• Imperial College London
• The University of Warwick
• The University of Southampton
• University of Leeds

Requirements to study at the universities in UK

To get admission to the universities in UK, you will need to present some documents during the application. These documents serve as proof of the details you filled in the application form. Different universities and programs have different requirements. However, some common document requirements are as follows:

• Completed application form
• Academic Mark Sheet
• Transcripts and certificates
• Two recommendation letters.  
• Statement of Purpose
• Work Experience
• Test Score Reports (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, GMAT, GRE, etc)
• A well-crafted resume 
• A valid passport
• Passport-sized photograph 

You can find universities for the following subjects here: