The best universities in the UK for international students

PTE Author

PTE Author July 6, 2021

Image of Cambridge University

Reading time: 4 minutes

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

Higher-Education-Students-in-the-UK

There technically isn’t one overarching United Kingdom education system. Rather, each nation (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) has its own system.

For simplicity, we’ll just cover the English higher education system, and this is what we’re referring to when we use “British education system” or “the education system of Great Britain” here.

The system of education in Great Britain

There are four types of schools in England that can provide higher education. These are:

Universities
University colleges
Higher Education (HE) colleges
Private colleges.

Students can usually enter undergraduate courses from age 18. These courses range from certificates of higher education and diplomas to bachelor’s degrees and foundation degrees. These awards are ranked in levels. For example, a diploma of higher education is level 5, whereas a degree in dentistry, medicine, or veterinary science is level 7.

Postgraduate study is available to any student who has completed a degree. These come in a variety of forms including graduate diplomas, postgraduate certificates, and master's degrees.

Many English schools also offer integrated masters degrees, which automatically bridge the gap between undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

Once you have both an undergraduate and postgraduate qualification, you may be able to study a PhD or professional doctorate (the highest level of university education in England).

Other countries in the UK have a similar higher education system to this, but you might notice some slight differences if you study in Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland.

The best universities in the UK for international students

Image - Oxford University

With so many prestigious colleges in the UK, it’s difficult to identify the “best”. But these five universities are consistently ranked among the top schools around the world:

University of Oxford
The English-speaking world’s oldest university is perhaps the UK’s most well-known and reputable institution. Over 20,000 students attend Oxford, with around 40% of them being international students.
University of Cambridge
This storied school caters to over 18,000 students with six academic schools. It has over 100 libraries, more than 80 sports offerings, and a plethora of extracurricular activities and societies.
University College London
UCL has a reputation worldwide for high-quality teaching and research. Its location in central London is convenient and ideal for international students who wish to embrace English culture between lessons. The University of London’s international programmes are among the best available in the UK, and this college is commonly regarded as one of the best universities in London.
University of Edinburgh
From industry pioneers to Nobel Prize winners, the University of Edinburgh attracts top talent from around the globe. About 30% of the cohort here is comprised of international students.
University of Manchester
This university offers over 1,000 degrees ranging from foundation courses to PhDs. It’s at the forefront of research in several industries including science, engineering, and medicine.

The best unis in the UK by academic field

Studying-Law-or-Medicine

Some universities in the UK have particularly strong offerings in specific fields. Here’s a brief overview of some schools that stand out in certain areas, based primarily on league tables from the Complete University Guide.

Keep in mind that these lists are far from exhaustive. Speaking with an international education agent may help you find the most appropriate institute for your studies.

Some of the best universities for law in the UK

Some of the best universities for medicine in the UK

Some of the best engineering universities in the UK

Some of the best universities for economics in the UK

Some of the best universities for psychology in the UK

Some of the best business universities in the UK

As the two top-ranked UK universities in general, it’s unsurprising to see Oxford and Cambridge represented in most of these lists. But, as you can see, there’s a wide range of prestigious universities in the UK to consider – no matter what field you’re looking to study.

Related Content

How to apply for permanent residence in the UK
By PTE Author
Reading time: 4 minutes

Do you want to settle in the UK? With great healthcare, world-class education, and lots of art, history, and culture, it’s an excellent place to call home.

In this guide, we’ll explore how to take up permanent residence in the UK. We’ll delve into who can apply, and the online resources you’ll need to start your application.

Why Live in the UK

The UK is very multicultural. In fact, about 14% of the population in the UK was born abroad, according to the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford.  About 35% of the immigrant population lives in London.

The UK has an excellent healthcare system, too. The National Health Service (NHS) is free for residents and has been ranked among the best in the world for its affordability, safety, and efficiency. UK countries also boast world-class research facilities, universities, and a strong education system in general.

How to apply for permanent residence in the UK

Permanent residence in the UK is also known as Indefinite Leave To Remain (ILR). With this, you can live and work in the UK permanently. You may also be able to apply for British citizenship after 12 months.

There are different ways to apply to live permanently in the UK, depending on your situation. For example, you might be able to apply for ILR if:

You’ve lived in the UK for 5 years or more

If you have lived in the UK for 5 or more years, you should be able to apply for permanent residence in the UK. There are exceptions, though. For example, you won’t be able to apply for ILR if you’ve lived in the UK on a Tier 2 ICT work visa – given to people who’ve transferred to a UK company branch from abroad to work on a specific project.

You’re a family member of a UK citizen or permanent resident

If you’re the spouse, parent, or dependent relative to a UK citizen or permanent resident, you might also be eligible for ILR. Depending on the type of visa you’ve been living in the UK on, you might be able to apply for permanent residence as soon as 2 years.

Check if you can get indefinite leave to remain and learn about the financial requirements needed to apply.

You have a work visa

You can apply for ILR if you’ve had a Tier 2 (General) work visa for five years. Your employer will need to sponsor you. You’ll also likely have to prove you earn at least £25,600 per year unless you work in healthcare or in a profession that’s in short supply in the UK.

Learn more about how to apply through ILR through your work visa.

Fees and processing times

According to UK Visas and Immigration, ILR takes about 6 months to process. The application for ILR costs £2,389. But keep in mind that many categories have financial requirements, which can make applying much for expensive.

English requirements

To apply for ILR, you might have to demonstrate your English skills are at least a B1 level. And, our PTE Academic UKVI secure English language test is recognized by the UK Home Office for all UK visas. The test is computer-based to reduce human bias, fast, and convenient – you get your results within 48 hours.

Discover how PTE Academic UKVI can help.

The EU Settlement Scheme

If you’re an EU citizen – and don’t have IRL – you can apply for the EU Settlement Scheme.

Applying for the scheme is free, and with it, you’re granted either “settled” or “pre-settled status.” With settled status, you can stay in the UK indefinitely. With pre-settled status, you can stay for another 5 years – but can always apply for settled status later.

With both, you’ll get the right to work and study in the UK, access NHS, access public benefits and pensions, leave the UK to travel – and apply for British citizenship after 12 months.

Read our article about applying for the EU Settlement Scheme.

Ready to apply for permanent residence?

At PTE Academic, we’re here to help make your dream come true.

Prepare for – and book – your approved English language test for permanent residence in the UK today.

July 19, 2021
Scholarships for international students in Australia
By PTE Author
Reading time: 4 minutes
Dreaming of studying in Australia? It’s never too early to start planning financially. Tuition fees for international undergraduate students typically range from AUD 35,000 to AUD 55,000 per year, depending on the university, course of study, and location. For example, STEM and medical programs are generally more expensive than humanities or social sciences. However, there are lots of scholarships available to help pay for your studies.
In this article, we’ll look at what funding is available for international students in Australia. By the end, you’ll have a list of resources to explore to find the scholarship that’s right for you.
Are you eligible for a scholarship?
Australia offers grants, bursaries, and scholarships to people from around the world – including undergraduate, postgraduate, PhD, and vocational students. They’re funded by the government, universities, and private entities.
The Australian Government has an excellent scholarship search tool on its website. With it, you can search for funding opportunities based on a whole range of factors – like what country you come from, what university you’re attending, and your area and level of study. You’ll see how much each scholarship is worth, who it’s made for, and of course, whether you might be eligible.
Australian scholarship opportunities
Now, let’s cover a few scholarship opportunities for international students in Australia.
Australia Awards Scholarships
Australia Awards scholarships are offered to global student leaders from developing countries. They’re awarded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and support students with full tuition, airfare, living costs, and more. In 2021, 818 Australia Awards were given to students from 20 countries worldwide.
Destination Australia Awards
The Australian government introduced the Destination Australia program to provide both local and international students with the opportunity to study in more regional and remote areas of Australia – towns such as Ballarat (Victoria), Gatton (Queensland), and Lismore (New South Wales). The scholarships are given out through Australian universities and provide students with up to $15,000 AUD each year.
University-specific scholarships
In addition to government-provided scholarships, universities also offer their own scholarships to qualifying international students. There’s the James Rice Postgraduate Award at The Australian National University (ANU); International Stand Out Scholarship at Bond University, and the Adelaide Refugee & Humanitarian Postgraduate Coursework Scholarship at University of Adelaide.
The point is, universities offer lots of scholarships for international students based on a long list of eligibility factors – like home country, area of study, and academic merit. 
To search for funding opportunities at your own institution, use the search tool on the Australian Government website.
A case study: Monash University scholarships
To get an idea of all the different scholarships that can be offered by Australian universities, we’ll take a closer look at one popular institution for international students: Monash University.
Monash University is recognized for its research and teaching, and offer more than 80 scholarships to international students, including:
Universities throughout Australia offer similar scholarships.
To apply for any scholarship or funding opportunity, you’ll need to contact the scholarship provider.
Other ways to fund your studies
As an international student, there are other options to pay for your studies in Australia.  
One of the biggest perks of studying in Australia is that international students can work up to 48 hours every two weeks while studying and unlimited hours during study breaks on an Australian student visa. The minimum wage is $24.10 per hour or $915.90 per week,  meaning you’ll be able to put some money aside to help fund your education.
 Depending on where you are from, you might also be able to get a student loan or scholarship from your own country to study overseas. 
Last updated 20 December 2024.
PTE Academic can support you on your journey abroad. Our computer-based, bias-free English language proficiency test is accepted by all universities in Australia – as well as by the Department of Home Affairs for all visa categories.
Learn more about PTE Academic in Australia.
July 19, 2021
Living expenses in the UK for international students
By PTE Author
Reading time: 3 minutes

Studying abroad in the UK can be expensive. International students need to budget for flights, tuition, textbooks, accommodation, and don’t forget the visa application.
Of course, living costs in the UK for international students can vary depending on your lifestyle and where you live. So, in this blog, we’ll look at how much students in the UK spend on average each month – and explore how much it cost to live in a large city, compared to a smaller city.
Average student living expenses in the UK
July 18, 2021