The UK has the best universities in the world for postgraduate studies. These universities provide world-class education and accommodation facilities. They also offer various options for master's degrees to both domestic and international students. This makes the UK the ideal place for students to pursue masters.
A master's degree in the UK lasts anywhere between 1-3 years. It provides study options course-based, research-based, or both. Along with this, students also have various options in specialization, fields, and courses. This allows students to pick the perfect degree for themselves.
Table of Contents
- Why Pursue a Masters in UK?
- Masters In UK for International Students: Course Highlights
- Types of Masters in UK
- Top Universities in UK for Masters
- Popular Masters Courses in UK
- MS in UK Eligibility Requirements
- English Language Requirements for Masters in UK
- MS in UK Admission Process
- Application Deadline to Study MS in UK
- Documents Required for Masters in UK
- Cost to Study MS in UK
- Scholarships for Masters in UK
- Jobs and Salary After Masters in UK
- Student Visa Process to Study for Masters in UK
- Post-Study Work Visa After Masters in UK
Why Pursue a Masters in UK?
The first question when a student wants to pursue masters in the UK is why. Why pursue a master's in the UK? Well, six reasons can clear this doubt.
These are given below:
- Top-ranked Universities: Most universities providing masters in the UK are top-ranked in the world. These include universities like: the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, etc. According to the latest QS Ranking, the UK has four universities in the Top 10. While according to THE, the UK has three universities in the top 10.
- Duration of Program: The program duration for a master's in the UK is one year for most universities. While some programs like MRes and MEng are 2-4 years long. However, it is much less than the master's program in USA or Canada, which take up to 1.5 to 2 years.
- Scholarships and Grants: Studying in the UK can cause financial difficulties for many people. But the UK has the perfect solution for that in the form of scholarships. These are offered to eligible students who need financial support. They are a significant benefit as they cover 100% of the study and living costs. They are covered by the UK government, institutes, or private organizations.
- Future Scope: A master's graduate in the UK can earn up to 35,000 GBP per year. This can increase by 40% after they gain experience of 5-10 years. Graduates can also get a chance to work for some of the top recruiters. Some of these are Aecom Corporation, NHS, JP Morgan Chase and Co, Amazon, etc.
- Best Cities for students: According to the latest QS World Ranking, the UK has 14 cities in the top 120 best cities for students. There are 7 of them in the top 50, with London being Number 1.
Masters In UK for International Students: Course Highlights
Degree |
Masters in UK |
Course Duration |
1 – 3 years |
Annual Tuition Fees |
15,000 GBP – 35,000 GBP |
Popular Specializations |
Computer Science, Architecture, Management, Marketing, Psychology |
Admission Eligibility |
60% – 75% in Bachelors, GRE/GMAT Score, IELTS Score |
Average Salary Offered |
35,000 GBP |
Highest Paying Degrees |
Masters in Finance, MSc in Computer Science, MSc Business Analytics, MSc Data Science |
Highest Paying Sectors |
Finance, Executive Management |
ALSO READ: Advantages of Studying in UK
Types of Masters in UK
All the universities and colleges in the UK offer two types of master's. These are Research-Based and Taught. Given below are details of these programs:
- Research-Based Masters: Research-Based education is integral to some degrees and academic supervision. These degrees are MRes, MSc, and MPhil. These courses have a lot of similarities with PhD but are shorter and less demanding.
- Taught Masters: 4 courses in the UK offer led master programs. These are very different from research programs. They assess students based on dissertations, exams, and projects. Some of these are MSc, MA, MEng, and MBA.
Top Universities in UK for Masters
As mentioned earlier, the UK is home to some of the top universities in the world. According to the latest QS Ranking, the UK has four universities in the Top 10. While according to THE, the UK has three universities in the top 10.
Given below are some of the top universities along with their popular courses, deadline, and fees:
S. No. |
University Name |
Popular course |
Deadline |
Fees per Annum (GBP) |
1 |
University of Oxford |
MSc Advanced Computer Science |
Jan 7, 2022 (closed) |
26,390 |
2 |
University of Cambridge |
Master of Finance |
May 31, 2022, |
42,703 |
3 |
Imperial College London |
MSc Advanced Computer Science |
Jun 30, 2022 |
31,689 |
4 |
University College London |
MSc Business Analytics |
Mar 31, 2022 |
30,443 |
5 |
London School of Economics and Political Science |
MSc Data Science |
Rolling Admissions |
27,741 |
6 |
University of Edinburgh |
MSc Accounting and Finance |
Apr 20, 2022 |
30,235 |
7 |
King’s College London |
MSc Cyber Security |
Mar 25, 2022 |
25,455 |
8 |
University of Manchester |
MSc Finance |
Aug 19, 2022 |
27,741 |
9 |
University of Warwick |
MSc Business and Finance |
Jul 31, 2022 |
29,196 |
10 |
University of Bristol |
MSc Management |
Feb 16, 2022 (closed) |
24,105 |
11 |
University of Bedfordshire |
MSc Computer Science |
Rolling Admissions |
14,130 |
12 |
University of Liverpool |
MSc Data Science and Artificial Intelligence |
Jul 31, 2022 |
31,066 |
13 |
University of Nottingham |
MSc Business and Management |
Aug 5, 2022 |
21,299 |
14 |
Nottingham Trent University |
MSc International Business |
Rolling Admission |
15,689 |
15 |
Durham University |
MSc Management |
Rolling Admissions |
23,481 |
Popular Masters Courses in UK
UK Universities are famous for providing a range of options for master's courses. These differ by type of master, specialization, courses, and fields.
But not all of these courses are popular among students. Given below are popular courses in the UK along with their details:
Program |
University |
Estimated Total Fees (GBP) |
MS in Computer Science in the UK |
University of Oxford; Imperial College London; |
30,000 - 34,000 |
Masters in Architecture (M.Arch) in the UK |
University College London; University of Cambridge; University of Sheffield; Manchester School of Architecture |
21,000 - 40,000 |
MS in Management in the UK |
Imperial College Business School; London School of Economics and Political Science; Warwick Business School; Alliance Manchester Business School |
23,000 - 30,000 |
MS in Marketing in the UK |
University of Edinburgh; University of Bath; University of Bristol; University of Exeter; |
20,000 - 26,000 |
MS in Psychology in the UK |
University of Oxford; University College London; |
23,000 - 53,000 |
QUICK READ: Other Courses in UK
MS in UK Eligibility Requirements
The eligibility requirement for courses differs by each course and university. Given below are some of the standard eligibility criteria:
- GRE or GMAT score proof
- Proof of Work experience (mainly required for management programs)
- Research Proposal (for postgraduate research programs)
- Students may have to appear for an Interview (depending upon the program)
QUICK READ: Requirements to Study in UK
English Language Requirements for Masters in UK
All international students from non-EU countries must prove their English proficiency. This can be done by providing the scores of PTE, IELTS, or TOEFL exams. The minimum marks required for each are:
ALSO READ: Exam Required to Study in UK
MS in UK Admission Process
Students need to apply to their preferred university to get enrolled. They can do so by following these steps:
- Go to the college website and fill out the application forms
- Include all the necessary documents like a CV/resume, bachelor's certificate, etc.
- Once the form is filled, check the deadlines for scholarship applications.
- Take note of key deadlines
- Keep an eye on the application form
- Once it gets updated, you will either get an acceptance-rejection letter.
- If you've received an acceptance letter, you can go on to fulfil other requirements.
Application Deadline to Study MS in UK
The application deadlines for the top universities in the UK are given below:
University |
Application Deadlines |
University of Oxford |
October 15 |
University of Cambridge |
December 2, January 6 |
Imperial College London |
Medicine, related courses and programs: October 15, |
University College London |
April 26 |
London School of Economics and Political Science |
September |
University of Edinburgh |
June 30 (Applying before January 29 is recommended) |
King’s College London |
March 26 |
University of Manchester |
Rolling admission |
University of Warwick |
July 31 |
University of Bristol |
Application accepted from October through Summer |
Documents Required for Masters in UK
Some important documents that one must have when applying to study in the UK are:
- Scanned copy of transcripts from all the institutes previously attended
- SOP for the UK
- Personal Statement
- Two to three recommendation letters (academic or professional)
- Updated Resume
Cost to Study MS in UK
There are three costs that we must take into consideration while calculating the cost of studying MS in the UK. These are Pre-arrival Costs, Tuition Fees, and Living Costs.
Giving below is an average amount of each of these:
Pre-Arrival Cost
Fee Type |
Cost (GBP) |
UCAS |
20 |
UK Student Visa |
348 |
Health Insurance |
260 per annum |
IELTS |
162 - 180 |
TOEFL |
298 - 918 |
GRE |
166 |
GMAT |
250 |
Tuition Fees
University |
Annual Fees (GBP) |
University of Oxford |
24,105 |
University of Cambridge |
28,884 |
Imperial College London |
32,728 |
University College London |
17,870 |
London School of Economics and Political Science |
22,338 |
University of Edinburgh |
26,390 |
Kings College London |
20,884 |
University of Bristol |
16,696 |
University of Warwick |
23,564 |
University of Manchester |
24,063 |
Cost of Living
Type of Expense |
Cost per year (GBP) |
Accommodation |
5,300 |
Transportation |
250 |
Utilities |
500 -730 |
Course Material |
400 |
Food and Household Items |
1,500 |
Scholarships for Masters in UK
Scholarships are great for students who can't afford to study abroad or have financial restrictions. They help reduce financial strain. Students can easily apply for scholarships if eligible. These may be provided by the government, funding agencies, or universities.
All the students must apply for these as they are beneficial. Some of the essential scholarships that students can apply for are:
University |
Scholarship |
Amount (GBP) |
University of Oxford |
Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies |
100% Tuition fees and living expenses |
University of Cambridge |
Trinity Hall - Mann Studentship for Sciences |
10,000 - 40,000 |
Imperial College London |
Stevenson Funds |
7,500 |
University College London |
Alumni Scholarship |
10,000 |
London School of Economics and Political Science |
Hilde Himmelweit Scholarship |
2,000 |
University of Edinburgh |
John Fisher High-Performance Scholarship |
50% of tuition fees |
King’s College London |
Norman Spink Scholarship |
10,000 |
University of Manchester |
GREAT Scholarship |
100% of Tuition fees |
University of Warwick |
WMG School Scholarship |
100% of Tuition fees |
University of Bristol |
Think Big Postgraduate Scholarship |
5000, 10000 & 20000 |
Jobs and Salary After Masters in UK
Students pursuing a master's from the UK can get a package of up to 64,000 GBP after graduation. This is 23% more than any other master's graduate package. Thus, working after graduation in the UK is a significant ROI.
Given below are some of the top-paying master's jobs in the UK:
Job Position |
Annual salary (GBP) |
Executive Manager |
100,000 |
MBA |
88,000 |
Executive Masters |
72,000 |
Masters in Finance |
71,000 |
LLM |
62,000 |
Financial Services |
77,000 |
Executive Management & Change |
70,000 |
Airline |
63,000 |
Legal Department |
61,000 |
Compliance, AML, KYC & Monitoring |
57,000 |
Legal & Paralegal |
56,000 |
Graphic Designing |
24,000 |
Software Development |
32,000 |
Data Analysis and Management |
38,000 |
QUICK READ: Part-time Jobs in UK
Student Visa Process to Study for Masters in UK
The student Visa required to study full-time in the UK is the Tier 4 Visa. It is valid for the entire study period and an additional six months. It is the ideal Visa for international students. Thus, students must remember to apply three months in advance.
Some essential documents they must carry are:
- Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
- Sponsorship from the university
- Proof of financial stability
- Copy of passport
Post-Study Work Visa After Masters in UK
UK has excellent Post Study work opportunities that also provide ROI. But, students must have Post Study Work Visa to do so. This Visa allows students to stay in the UK for two years after graduation. They can do this to work in the UK and gain experience. But, to get a Visa, students must find a job within six months of graduation.
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