UK Admission Process for Indian Students

The UK is one of the most popular study abroad destinations for international students. Every year, more than 400,000 students pursue their higher education in UK universities. 

The admission process for Indian students involves various steps from choosing the right intake to booking flights. Moreover, students are required to appear for various standardized tests like IELTS, TOEFL, GMAT and GRE. UCAS is one of the main applications for undergraduate courses and it is eligible for more than 39,000 courses. 

Tips to follow for UK Admission Process for Indian Students 

Before applying to any university in the UK, it is important to follow a few steps. The tips and tricks for the smooth admission process are mentioned below. 

• Step 1: Review the eligibility criteria and make sure you meet all the requirements.
• Step 2: Find the course and select universities
• Step 3: Prepare your documents
• Step 4: Write your declaration
• Step 5: Apply to college
• Step 6: Pay the Immigration Medical Surcharge
• Step 7: Apply for your visa
• Step 8: Visa Interview

 

Why Study in the UK? 

There are plenty of reasons why Indian students go to UK universities. Some of the reasons for studying in UK are mentioned below. 

• The UK is responsible for over 8% of the world’s research, most of which is carried out by UK universities.
• Professionals from India and beyond flock to the UK for a highly regarded degree. In this way, students learn about other business communities and form lifelong connections.
• London is regularly voted the best student city in the world with the best student life. Whether you want to study in other UK cities like Oxford and Cambridge or at the London Business School, the UK welcomes everyone.
• Many international students tend to get their study visa after work in the UK and find well-paying jobs in the UK itself. Almost every major company in the world is represented in the UK, which means more jobs.
• British universities have adapted to Indian culture to some extent so that their Indian students feel at home and welcome in another country. This warm atmosphere has also been the reason for thousands of Indian students to study in the UK every year. From Diwali in the UK in 2021 to Halloween, students will be exposed to unforgettable student life.

 

UK Admission Process for Indian Students: Popular Intakes in UK 

The primary intake to study in UK is fall and most of the Indian students apply for this intake only. The least popular intake is Summer and very few courses are available for the same. A brief of the same is tabulated below. 

Intake	Starting Months	Deadlines
Fall	September	June- July
Winter	January/February	August-September
Summer	April/May	October-January

 

UK Admission Process for Indian Students: UCAS Application Deadline for 2022 Entry

UCAS is one of the major applications for UK universities. It is accepted by most of the universities and offers various programs. The upcoming deadlines for the same are mentioned below. 

 

Date	Details
18 May 2021Â	UCAS UG application Opens
7 September 2021	Pay and send applications to UCAS. Universities and colleges can start making decisions on applications.Â
15 October 2021Â	Oxford University, Cambridge University and most courses in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine/science are available.Â
26 January 2022Â	Majority of undergraduate courses applications arrive at UCAS by 18:00 (UK time) on the equal consideration date.Â
30 June 2022Â	If an application is sent by 18:00 (UK time) on this day, UCAS will send it to the chosen universities or colleges.Â
9 August 2022	SQA results day
18 August 2022	A level results day
28 September 2022	Final deadline for applications to 2022 courses
18 October 2022	Deadline for adding Clearing choices

 

UK Admission Process for Indian Students: Documents Required 

While applying for UK universities, students are required to submit a few essential documents. The list for the same is mentioned below. 

• Academic transcripts.
• Completed application form
• Application fees
• Student permit for UK or visa application
• SOP
• Essay
• GPA, GMAT, or GRE scores
• Work Experience 
• Standardized tests
• LOR
• Proof of financial availability
• CV/ resume.
• Immigration documents.
• English proficiency test scores.

 

UK Admission Process for Indian Students: GRE Scores

 

For Stem courses to study in UK, students are required to submit GRE scores. The universities accepting GRE scores with their range are mentioned below. 

 

University	Required Score
University of Oxford	Verbal- 160 Quantitative- 160 or above Writing- 4.0
University of Manchester	Verbal- 170 Quantitative- 165 Writing- 3.5
Durham University	Verbal- 150 Quantitative- 161 Writing- 0-6
University of Sunderland	Verbal- 160 Quantitative- 145 Writing- NA
Lancaster University	Verbal- 130-170 Quantitative- 130-170 Writing- 0-6
London School of Economics and Political Science	Verbal- 170 Quantitative- 130-170 Writing- NA

 

UK Admission Process for Indian Students: GMAT and IELTS 

 

To apply for UK universities, students are required to submit scores of IELTS and GMAT. The score range for both exams are mentioned below. 

University	GMAT Score	IELTS Score
London Business School	Min: 600 Avg: 701	7.5
University of Oxford Said Business School	Not Required	6.5
ESCP Business School	687 with the median at 700	7.5
City University, Cass University of Cambridge: Judge	An average score of 638 or above	7
Imperial College Business School	An average GMAT score of 660 or above	7
Warwick Business School	Range of 580 to 760 is acceptable	7
City, University of London: Bayes	600 as a minimum to qualify for their MBA or Executive MBA.	7
Alliance Manchester Business School	An average GMAT score of 642 or above	6.5- standard 7.0- higher
Henley Business School	Minimum GMAT score of 600	7
Cranfield School of Management	Average GMAT score of of 610	6.5

 

UK Admission Process for Indian Students: UK  Student Visa 

International students should apply for a student visa as soon as they receive the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from their respective university/college. The overall UK student visa process usually takes around a month to complete. Applicants must apply for a Tier 4 (General) student visa or a short-term study visa, depending on the program of study.

 

• Current passport or other valid travel document
• Confirmation of Admission (CAS) from your course provider
• Proof that you have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course; this depends on your circumstances.
• Proof of consent from parents or other legal guardian if you are under 18 years of age
• Proof of your relationship to your parents or legal guardian if you are under 18
• Tuberculosis Test Results
• Written approval of your application from your financial sponsor if you have received funds for your tuition and living expenses in the last 12 months. 

UK Admission Process: Health Insurance

International students applying to the UK must pay GBP 470 per year for health insurance. This is known as the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) and must be paid along with the visa fee when applying for the student visa. Once the immigration health surcharge is paid, you will be registered with the NHS and will be entitled to government health care while you study. According to the NHS, you do not have to pay anything for:

• Contact your doctor or visit an outpatient clinic.
• Hospital treatment after an emergency (A&E).
• Treatment of minor injuries in a public clinic.
• Consultation or treatment with a specialist on the recommendation of your family doctor.

UK Admission Process for Indian Students: Preparation Timeline 

To prepare for any university in the UK, it is better to have a sorted admission timeline. The admission process for Indian students with preparation months is tabulated below. 

 

Item	Month
Shortlist University, Learn about loans and scholarships, Work on UCAS form	April- SeptemberÂ
Start preparing for tests like GMAT, GRE, UKCAT, IELTS and TOEFL. Register and check guidelines.Â	June- DecemberÂ
Shortlist Colleges and collect documents like LOR, Essays and Statements. Apply as per the deadline	August-November
Send replies to mails from universities. Go for interviews and tell your interest to university through the admission decision.Â	December-April
Apply for scholarships and student loan	April-JulyÂ
Start preparing for flying and arrange bank cards. Keep your documents with you handyÂ	July-AugustÂ

 

For the smoother UK admission process for Indians, it is advised to work according to the above mentioned timeline. Applying early and as per deadlines help students to secure seats easily in their desired university.