Boarding Schools in the UK
Why study at a UK Boarding School?
Parents choose to send their children to live at boarding schools in the UK to learn about culture, language, recreations, culinary traditions and atmosphere; so that by the time they join university, they speak fluent English and enjoy total familiarity with studying and living in the UK.
The cost can be considerable, but the facilities and academic standards justify the initial spend and a cursory glance at the A-Level results of most boarding schools will explain why these most British of institutions attract a global client base.
UK boarding schools are famously safe and disciplined environments for international students, featuring some of the very best teaching staff in the country alongside top class musical, artistic and sporting facilities. Students will emerge with complete fluency in English and completely at home in an Anglophone environment to study and work anywhere in the world.
Boarding School Fees
Fees for UK boarding schools range from £20,000 to £30,000 per year for each child. The cost can be as low as £12,000 for day pupils who live with their parents/guardian or in their own accommodation, and there are many excellent schools that take international pupils on that basis.
Trusted UK Boarding Schools
- Bredon School
- Ellesmere College
- Farringtons School
- King's College Taunton
- Langley School
- Morton Hall Girls School
- Oswestry School
| - Padworth College
- Rendcomb College
- Rishworth School
- St Bees
- St Christopher School
- St James Senior Boys School
- Warminster School
|
Requirements To Study In UK
There are many different entry requirements depending on your chosen type of UK study. The great thing about studying in the UK is that even if you don’t meet the requirements for one course, you can choose another at a different level and work your way up. The UK offers a range of study options to suit international students at all levels.
Improving your English language skills
You will need a good understanding of English before you can study at most further and higher education institutions in the UK. Studying an English language course in the UK, such as English for academic purposes (EAP) or a pre-sessional course, will prepare you for further study.
Another option is to take an English test such as IELTS in your home country before you come to the UK. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the world’s leading English test of its kind, testing the four language skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. Over 1,000 UK institutions recognise IELTS and the test is available in over 125 different countries.
You could also take the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic), which is administered online at Pearson testing centres. The test is recognised by more than 100 institutions in the UK and accurately measures the English language listening, reading, speaking and writing abilities of non-native speakers.
Entry requirements for UK undergraduate study
The qualifications you need depend on the course you want to study. You should have completed at least 13 years of education in your own country or in the UK, and have taken pre-university qualifications equivalent to UK A-levels, Scottish Highers or National Diplomas.
If you haven’t got these qualifications yet don’t worry – you can still study in the UK.
Qualifications required :
HND
Qualifications equivalent to one or two UK A-levels, two Scottish Highers or a Higher National Certificate or BTEC National Diploma; or an international foundation year. Plus IELTS 5.5-6.0
Foundation Degree
Qualifications equivalent to one or two UK A-levels, one or two Scottish Highers or a National Diploma; or an international foundation year. Plus IELTS 5.5-6.0
Diploma of Higher Education
Qualifications equivalent to one or two UK A-levels, two or three Scottish Highers or a National Diploma; or an international foundation year. Plus IELTS 5.5-6.0
Degree
Qualifications equivalent to two or three UK A-levels, three or four Scottish Highers, a Higher National Certificate or Diploma, or BTEC National Diploma; or an international foundation year. Plus IELTS 6.0-6.5
Entry requirements for postgraduate or MBA study
To begin a postgraduate course in the UK, you'll need to hold an undergraduate degree from the UK or overseas. You'll be expected to have obtained a first or good 2:1 (or international equivalent) in a directly related subject and you'll need to speak English to at least IELTS 6.5 level for most courses.
Qualifications required :
Pre-master's
Undergraduate degree plus IELTS 5.0-5.5
PG Cert/PG Dip
Undergraduate degree plus IELTS 6.5-7.0, or a pre-master's course
Master's degree
First or upper second class undergraduate degree plus IELTS 7.0, or a pre-master's course
MBA
First degree, 2-3 years’ business experience, plus IELTS 6.5-7.0
PHD
Master's degree, plus IELTS 6.5-7.0
Entry requirements for UK independent schools
To apply to a UK independent school, you'll need to have a good standard of education from your own country. You won't be expected to have passed formal qualifications, but may be asked to sit the school's own entrance exam in subjects such as English and maths.
Some schools may ask students to sit entrance exams in English and maths. The common entrance exam is also used by many schools for students who enter at the age of 13.
Entry requirements for career-based and pre-university study
The qualifications you’ll need will depend on the course you want to study. Some qualifications (such as A-levels Scottish Highers and and BTEC National Diplomas) are below university level and lead directly on to higher education. Others (such as HNDs and foundation degrees) are university-level qualifications that enable you to join a degree course in the second or third year.
Qualifications required :
BTEC National Diploma
Good general high school education equivalent to four GCSEs grades A –C, plus IELTS 4.5-5.0
AS/A-levels
Good general high school education equivalent to five GCSEs grades A –C, plus IELTS 4.5-5.0
Scottish Highers/Advanced Highers
Good general high school equivalent to six Standard Grade qualifications grades 1-3, plus IELTS 4.5-5.0
International Foundation Year
Twelve years of school education or equivalent in your own country, plus IELTS 4.5-5.0
HND
Qualifications equivalent to one or two UK A-levels, two or three Scottish Highers or a BTEC National Diploma or an international foundation year, plus IELTS 5.5-6.0
Foundation Degree
Qualifications equivalent to one or two UK A-levels, two or three Scottish Highers or a BTEC National Diploma or an international foundation year, plus IELTS 5.5-6.0
UK tuition fees are frequently a source of controversy, with prices having risen to eye-watering levels for home students (UK/EU) in recent years. Now, UK and EU students at English universities are required to pay up to £9,250 (~US$13,050) per year.
International undergraduate tuition fees vary considerably, starting at around £10,000 (~US$14,130) and going up to £38,000 (~US$53,700) or more for medical degrees (source: Reddin Survey of University Tuition Fees). At all levels, humanities and social sciences degrees tend to cost the least, while laboratory and clinical degree programs are markedly more expensive, but when you combine these fees with the average cost of living in the UK, around £12,200 (~US$16,950) per year, then it can be hard to see how it’s possible to study in the UK without it costing you a small fortune. The total average cost of studying in the UK is estimated to be at least £22,200 (~US$31,380) per year, with studying in London likely to be significantly more expensive.
While these costs may be daunting, remember that most UK universities offer shorter programs compared to countries such as the US (three years for the average undergraduate degree instead of four, and one year for a master’s degree instead of two), so you may be able to subtract a year's worth of fees and living costs from your total budget.
If these figures haven’t been enough to put you off studying in the UK, here’s a closer look at what you’ll be spending your money on, and how Brexit may affect your costs.
Students’ cost of living in the UK
Current UK student visa requirements stipulate that you must have at least £1,015 (~US$1,435) in your bank account for each month you plan to stay in the UK anywhere outside of London. This works out as £12,180 (~US$17,200) per year.
If you wish to study in London, you’ll need to budget considerably more - at least £1,265 (~US$1,800) per month, the equivalent of £15,180 (~US$21,500) a year.
When you’re here, you can make the cost of living in the UK more affordable by taking advantage of student discounts – for example, students in London can get an 18+ Student Oyster photocard, giving you 30 percent off travelcards and bus/tram season tickets, and students all over the country can apply for an NUS Extra Card for a small fee.
One other way to beat the banker and make your money go further is to study somewhere in the UK where the cost of living is cheaper. According to the Natwest Student Living Index 2017, Welsh capital Cardiff is the most affordable city for students in the UK, followed in the top three by Aberdeen in Scotland, and Durham in north-east England.
Accommodation
Most students live in university halls of residence in their first year before moving into rented private accommodation in their following years. Many universities offer both self-catered and catered halls of residence, with food included in the price of rent for the latter.
The biggest difference in the cost of living in London compared to the rest of the UK is in rent, with University College London (UCL) estimating accommodation expenses of £8,073 (~US$11,400) per academic year (nine months/39 weeks). However, you may be able to find more affordable accommodation in university halls or a flat share.
The results of Save the Student’s National Student Accommodation Survey 2017 found that students spend an average of £125 (~US$175) per week on rent in the UK – with a huge regional variation: students in Northern Ireland spent only £91 (~US$129) a week, which is exactly half the amount spent by those in London (£182/US$257). Unless bills are included, you’ll probably spend a further £70 per month (~US$100) on bills for utilities and the internet.
Other average living costs in the UK
- A weekly food shop will likely cost you about £30/$42, and a meal in a pub or restaurant can be about £12/$17
- Depending on your course, you’ll likely spend at least £30 a month on books and other course materials
- Your mobile phone bill is likely to be at least £15/$22 a month
- Gym membership costs roughly £32/$45 a month, but you may be able to get a student discount
- A typical night out (outside of London) costs about £30/$42 in total
- In terms of entertainment, if you want to watch TV in your room, you need a TV license – this is £147 (~US$107) per year. A cinema ticket costs roughly £10/$14
- Depending on your spending habits, you might spend £35-55 (US$49-77) or so on clothing each month
UK tuition fees – UK/EU students
There are two levels of tuition fees at publicly funded UK universities: home student fees (including EU students) and international student fees. For home students, institutions in England can charge up to a maximum of £9,250 (~US$13,050) per year for undergraduate degree programs. In Wales, the maximum fee is £9,000 (~US$12,700), while in Northern Ireland the limit is £4,160 (~US$5,900) for EU and Northern Irish students, and up to £9,250 for students from the rest of the UK.
In Scotland, an undergraduate degree is effectively free for students from Scotland and the EU. This is thanks to a subsidy from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). The SAAS also offers a tuition fee loan of up to £5,500 (~US$7,770) for home postgraduate students.
It should be noted that the Scottish definition of “home” student differs slightly, in that it doesn’t include students from the rest of the UK – i.e. England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Students from the rest of the UK who want to undertake an undergraduate degree in Scotland will pay up to £9,250 a year.
There’s also good news for students from Wales, who only need to pay £3,900 (~US$5,500) per year in UK tuition fees to study anywhere in the UK, with the rest covered by the Welsh government.
Postgraduate tuition fees vary significantly, depending on the university and the subject. Home students may be able to receive some funding from one of the UK’s research councils, the university itself, or via a career sponsorship scheme.
UK tuition fees – international students
For international students, undergraduate fees for 2017/18 started at around £10,000 (US$14,130) for lecture-based courses, going up to £38,000 (~US$53,700) or more for a top undergraduate medical degree. You can view the 10 most affordable universities for international undergraduates here.
At postgraduate level, international fees for classroom-based programs in 2017/18 started at around £11,000 (~US$15,545) and went up to £32,000 (~US$45,200). For laboratory-based programs, average annual fees vary from £12,000 (~US$16,940) to £27,200 (~US$38,400). You can view the most affordable UK universities for international postgraduates here.
UK scholarships and student funding
Home (UK/EU) students are eligible for loans, grants and other forms of funding to cover their UK tuition fees, with differing amounts of funding depending on location. While student loans for home students tend to cover all tuition fees, the additional loan to cover the cost of living in the UK often falls short of the amount actually needed. In the 2017/18 academic year, the maximum living loan was UK£8,430 (~$11,900) for students outside London and up to £11,002 (~US$15,500) for those who study in London. In both cases, this is likely to be a few thousand pounds short of your annual living expenses.
Undergraduate home students at private UK universities (of which there are only three) can still apply for tuition fee loans for most courses, as well as maintenance loans and maintenance grants. However, the tuition fee loan might not cover the full amount.
A large range of scholarships to study in the UK are also offered by the government, individual universities, independent organizations and various charities. The Education UK website provides an overview of scholarships available from the British Council and other organizations. It is also worth checking to see what scholarships and support schemes are available from the government and other organizations in your own country.
Prominent UK scholarships for international students include:
- Chevening Scholarships – Government-funded UK scholarships open to outstanding students with leadership potential from around the world, to study at postgraduate level at accredited UK universities.
- Marshall Scholarships – Scholarships for high-achieving US students to study in the UK.
- Commonwealth Scholarships and fellowships – UK scholarships offered by member governments to citizens of other Commonwealth countries.
UK scholarships are more widely available at postgraduate level, with relatively few offered for undergraduate students. However, always check with your chosen university, as support is often available for exceptional undergraduate students.
For a longer list of prominent international scholarships to study in the UK, see this article. For advice on scholarship applications, download our guide on how to find scholarships to study abroad.
What impact will Brexit have?
The UK’s decision to exit the European Union (Brexit) means many EU students are concerned that their tuition fees could increase. However, there’s no sign the government plans to increase fees yet. In fact, so far many UK universities have pledged to keep tuition fees fixed at the same rate for current EU students for the duration of their course. It’s also been confirmed that EU students enrolling at UK universities in both autumn 2018 and autumn 2019 will remain eligible for the same fees and financial aid as domestic students throughout their course, even after the UK leaves the EU in March 2018.
From some of the highest tuition fees in the world to one of the most expensive countries to live, studying in the UK costs a wealth.
Luckily, there are many options for you to make your education in British universities an easy mission to accomplish which wouldn’t be the case in most popular study destinations. A well-developed and easily accessible student loan system, plus many scholarship schemes will offer you enough financial assistance to study in UK.
Moreover, in UK, similar to most of the top international study destinations, foreign students are allowed to work part-time. In the UK as an international student, you’re allowed to work up to 20 hours at maximum per week during term-time and full-time during holiday breaks. But there are many restrictions and conditions you must stay in line with in order to be allowed to work.
Eligibility
Your eligibility to work in the UK while studying depends on two major restrictions: those set by your university and those by state-run official institutions. First, you must ensure that your university doesn’t have any constrain pulling you back from working before dealing with state officials. For example, depending on your study course your university may limit working hours to you, aside from governmental restrictions.
In the UK, particularly in big cities like London, international students can easily find a part-time job. Some universities may only allow you to work inside the campus, but there is no need to worry because there are still many options available to you. However, before getting out to hunt part-time jobs you must check if you’re eligible for such work. It all starts with your Tier 4 visa, the official student visa in the UK. The first criteria you must check is your age. If you’re under 16 and don’t have a Tier 4 (General 4) you’re not qualified to work in the UK.
Note that these working prohibitions are only weighted to students coming from a country rather than EU/EEA countries or Switzerland. Citizens of EU/EEA, including Switzerland, don’t need permission to work in the UK while they’re attending a university.
All conditions and limitations are printed out on your Tier 4 sticker (vignette) including the number of hours you can work per week during term-time. When receiving your residence permit paperwork there will be a letter that will offer you all information, whether you can work or not while you’re studying.
If one of the following is stated in that letter you can work in the UK:
- Work must be authorized
- Able to work as authorized by the Secretary of State
- Work as in Tier 4 Rules
- Restricted as in Tier 4 Rules
- Restricted work – Part-time during term-time, Full-time during vacations
- Restricted work time
- Work limited to 20 hours per week at maximum during term-time
- Work limited to 10 hours per week at maximum during term-time
Your passport’s sticker may say something a bit different to all of the above options, but if none of the following isn’t mentioned you’re eligible to work.
If none of these is clearly stated in your paperwork or you have a problem understanding it, we advise you to contact them personally before deciding to get a job.
Note that if you decide to move to a higher level of study or change the course you may be required to initiate a new immigration application. Until you receive a response to this new application you must adhere to the old immigration status.
How many hours you’re allowed to work per week?
How many hours you’re permitted to work in the UK depends on the type of the course you’re attending too. Below are shown how many hours you can work with respect to the type of course.
In these types of courses, a student can work up to 20 hours per week
A full-time course at a degree level or above in a recognized higher education institution
A short-term student registered in a program of a foreign higher institution settled in UK
In the following types of courses, students are allowed to work only 10 hours a week
- In a full-time course below level degree sponsored by a recognized body or a publicly-funded as a higher education institution.
- Any course where the student is aged over 16 holds a Tier 4 (Child) visa
While students attending these courses are not allowed to work while studying in UK
- In a part-time postgraduate course or above that is supported by a recognized body in the UK or that receives public funds as a Higher Education Institution
- In a course at a further education college at whatever level
- In a course at any level offered by a private higher education provider
- At any course where the student aged under 16 has a Tier 4 (Child) visa
In the UK you’ll face some limits on working hours depended on few elements, including the type of your course and the type of Tier 4 sponsor you’re studying at. Full-time students can work for 20 hours per week at maximum, whether you get or not paid for your job. You can’t average a week in a long period of time since there’s a legal definition of the week. Based on this rule a week is the period of 7 days between a Monday and Sunday.
Types of jobs you’re not allowed to do
After you make sure you’re allowed to work in the UK, you’ll now have to deal with some constraints on the type of work you’re willing to do. There are certain jobs you’re not allowed to do while studying in the UK. Below are some types of them (paid or not paid) you can’t engage to when you’re holding a Tier 4 visa:
- Be a self-employed or working freelance
- Initiate a business activity
- Full-time permanent job
- Professional sportsperson including sport coach
- Work as an entertainer
- Work as a dentist or a doctor in training, except you’re enrolled in a foundation program.
What types of jobs can you find in UK for students?
In general, the primary purpose of student visas in the UK is to serve as a route for you to study without barriers. Despite being designed only to allow you to attend the university, your student visa can also allow you to work within certain time limits. However, note that the extent to which you’re allowed to work, it’s made rather for your professional gains or to complement your budget. Said otherwise, the government wants to be ensured you’re not losing the track of your studies while working.
If a work placement is mandatory for your study course, then there is a fixed time-limit you should work. Currently, if you’re attending such course you’re allowed to work for the period of time which is less than 33% of the whole duration of your course.
The following circumstances make an exemption to this rule:
- Your study course is offered in a recognized higher education institution and it’s at RQF 6 or SCQF 9. You’re allowed to work up to 50% of the total length of your studies.
- Your study course is part of a study abroad programme and it’s at RQF 6 or SCQF levels. You’re allowed to work up to 50% of the total length of your studies
- You’re a Tier 4 (Child) aged 16 or above. You’re allowed to work up to 50% of the total length of your studies.
- Work placement is an integral part of the study course and there’s a UK statutory requirement that allows you to exceed this limit.
As a foreigner and as an individual who may not have a clue of how the labour market work, it may be hard guessing what type of jobs you can and still not violating the law. Surely, there are many such jobs, but if you don’t know at least some of them right from the beginning you may end up with fewer options available.
Many students fear that they lack the proper skills to find a job as a student. That is mainly wrong because the majority of student jobs require no specific qualifications or skills. Furthermore, regardless of how hard may be to perform the task in a job placement as a student, you will always receive provision from an experienced employee.
But have you ever thought about what types of jobs you can find while studying in UK. Below we give you a long list of student jobs in the UK, which will give you an idea over what jobs to seek in UK as a foreign student.
- Student Support officer
- Sales assistant
- Pharmacy Deliver Driver
- Pizza Deliver Driver
- Veterinary care assistant
- Personal Assistant
- Physiotherapy assistant
- Admission Officer
- Sport Facilities Worker
- Gardener
- Customer Assistant
- Freelance translator
- Waitress
- Receptionist
- Facilities Assistant
- Residence Guider
- Promotional worker
- Enrollment advisor
- Finance Assistant
- Social Media Assistant
- Newspaper distributor
- Photographer
- Personal Tutor
- Ice Cream scooper
- Host at a Restaurant
- Smoothie Maker
- Bartender
- Cashier
- Blogger
- Graphic designer
- Software Developer Intern
- Bookseller
- Tour Guide
- Research Assistant
- Waitress at the university cafeteria
- Pet caretaker
- House Cleaner
- Babysitter
- Brand Ambassador
- IT assistant
- Security guard
- Fitness instructor
Source :-
https://www.studying-in-uk.org/
https://www.studyin-uk.com/
https://www.topuniversities.com/
http://charms.co.in/