A guide to new visa changes in the UK – and why they’re good news for students

The UK has plenty of respected and renowned universities. Most of these schools are welcoming to foreign students, but some are particularly good at providing a world-class education for students coming from abroad.  

In this article for international students in the UK, we cover: 

• An overview of the British education system

• The best universities in the UK for international students

• Some of the best unis in the UK for specific fields (e.g. law, medicine, business, psychology).

The UK education system: A quick overview 

PTE Academic can help you get there

If you want to migrate to Australia or New Zealand you may be required to sit an English test as part of your visa application. Or you may need to sit a test as part of a  skills assessment or for professional registration.

The question is “which test should I take?”

There are a range of language tests you can choose from. However, the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) is the market leader in computer-based English language testing. PTE Academic is delivered entirely on a computer and then scored by a computer, using Pearson’s automated scoring technology.

The PTE Academic English test is accepted by Australia’s Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and Immigration New Zealand (INZ) for all visa applications. This includes Permanent Residency, Employer- Sponsored/Work Visas, and Student Visas.

Further, PTE Academic is accepted by most Australian skills assessment authorities and professional registration bodies including:

• Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)

• Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMAC)

• Certified Practicing Accountants Australia (CPA Australia)

• Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand

• Australian Computer Society (ACS)

• Engineers Australia

How does PTE Academic’s technology help me?

You will sit PTE Academic on a computer in one of Pearson’s secure test centers. Pearson then uses its automated scoring technology to ensure that your English skills are assessed with complete fairness. Your responses are scored objectively and consistently, no matter where in the world the test is taken, so it doesn’t matter where a test taker comes from or what they look like.

The use of the automated scoring technology also allows PTE Academic to deliver test results typically within2 days, in comparison to other English languages tests which take 2-3 weeks.

Where can I take the test?

Booking PTE Academic is a simple online process. Simply choose one of our 240+ test centers in 400+ test centers in 117 countries, then select a convenient test time and date. We test 365 days of the year around the world.

Plus you can also schedule your test up to 24 hours in advance where seats are available.

Interested in studying abroad?

When studying abroad in a course taught in English, you will often need to prove how your English language skills. With PTE Academic you can apply to thousands of universities and colleges around the world including:

• All universities in Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand, including all New Zealand Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics.

• All TAFE and Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics in Australia and New Zealand.

• Prestigious institutions such as Stanford University, Harvard University, and Imperial College London accept PTE Academic scores.

• In the USA, Canada, UK, Singapore, and Europe, PTE Academic is continuing to grow.

You can view a complete list of institutions that accept PTE Academic on the website.

Learn more

• PTE Academic

• Australian DHA

• Immigration New Zealand

You should always check with government bodies and institutions for the latest score requirements and tests accepted.

The United Kingdom is a cornucopia of leading education facilities and employment opportunities – but such world-class education comes at a cost. With university courses quite easily exceeding £20,000 (US$24,830), studying in the UK is known to be costly (and that’s not even taking into account rent and other costs of living!).

It’s understandable then that many students in the UK require some financial help to see them to the end of their education. Working while studying can be an option – but what about UK education loans for international students? 

Can international students get loans in the UK? 

The answer to this question is quite simple, and it lies in your citizenship. It is also set to change once the UK leaves the EU.  

EU citizens/Student loans UK

If you’re a student from a European Union country – such as Italy, Germany, France, Spain or Sweden – your education costs will be capped as though you were a UK student. This means that you won’t pay more than £9,250 a year for your university degree. 

You will also be eligible for a government student loan. This will cover your tuition fees, as well as your living costs if you’re studying an undergraduate course. This UK education loan for international students is not paid directly to you; instead, it will be paid to your university, and you will be required to pay it off in increments once you graduate. 

A wide number of degree types will allow you to access student financial assistance. These include (according to gov.uk): 

• A first degree, for example BA, BSc or BEd

• A Foundation Degree

• A Certificate of Higher Education

• A Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)

• A Higher National Certificate (HNC)

• A Higher National Diploma (HND)

• An Initial Teacher Training course

• An integrated master’s degree

• A pre-registration postgraduate healthcare course.

Interestingly, if you are an EU student and plan to study in Scotland, you might not pay any tuition fees. The costs are covered by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for first degrees and PGDE courses. 

International student loans UK 

We wish that there was good news on this front – but unfortunately, UK education loans for international students (excluding students from the EU) are not available. Additionally, the cost of your tuition fees can potentially be far more than home students, with laboratory-based degrees set to cost up to £30,000. 

If you plan to study in the UK as an international student, it’s also worth remembering that you’ll need to prove that you have £1,015 in your international student bank for each month of study up to nine months in order to be eligible for your visa. This number increases to £1,265 if you’re studying within London. This means that you’ll need to have saved between £9,135 and £11,385 in your bank account (depending on your university’s location) before you can obtain your student visa. 

So, what can international students do to support themselves while studying in the UK? 

Working while studying in the UK 

While it can be difficult to balance work and study – especially if you’re studying in a country that is not your home – it is one of the best ways to ensure a steady income if you cannot apply for an international student loan. Your visa may restrict you to a set number of hours, but that doesn’t mean you can’t work to get a little extra cash into your bank account. 

An international student visa (Student route visa, formerly known as Tier 4), will allow you to work up to 20 hours per week during the term. A number of casual jobs will grant short shifts that do not exceed this limit, including: 

• Retail worker

• Receptionist

• Waiter/barista/bartender

• Shelf packer

• Mystery shopper.

When UK vacation periods come into effect, however, you are able to work full-time hours. This means you could potentially undertake higher-paying jobs such as: 

• Private tutor

• Sales representative

• Event assistant

• Call center operator

• Amusement park staff member.

Students should check out Indeed, Reed, or Monster to apply for part-time work.

Apply for an international student loan 

Depending on your country of origin, you can still apply for a loan to study abroad. The USA and Australia have such loans in place, but these may be restricted to particular countries, courses and universities. This is likely the closest equivalent to an international student loan in the UK. 

Consider an exchange program 

Although these may not be as extensive as full-time study in the UK, it can be a chance to test out the experience for up to a year. You will have to check that your university in your home country has an exchange program set up with a university in the UK, but it could be an excellent experience if you can partake in it. 

Apply for a scholarship 

This is likely your best chance for getting a foot in the door if you’re an international student looking for a loan to study in the UK. There are many scholarships open to international students, with varying levels of criteria to meet. They also tend to differ depending on the country in which you live. Some examples of these include: 

• Commonwealth Scholarship

• Saltire Scholarships

• Chevening Scholarships

If you have your heart set on studying in the UK, it’s best to explore every avenue available to you to ensure you end up studying in the country and university you love.

Learn more about PTE Academic if you need to undertake an English language proficiency test before you depart.