Studying in the UK

There are 168 institutions of higher education in the UK, 106 of which are Universities. Individual university websites are always the best place to go for information on which courses and degrees are offered.

Most universities also have an International Office to help potential and current international students cope with student life in the UK. We are happy to provide you with a link to a comprehensive list of universities.

• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate Studies
• Immigration Requirements
• Working in the UK as a student
• Fellowships, Scholarships and Awards
• Studying Abroad – additional information
• Useful Addresses and Websites

Undergraduate

All UK universities offer undergraduate level courses in various subjects. Most undergraduate programmes are three years in length, except in Scotland where a typical programme lasts for four years.

The British Council provides information regarding which degrees are awarded in the UK and the length of a programme of study.

Educational institutions set their own fees for International Students studying at undergraduate level. Fees for classroom based studies in 2005/2006 ranged from £7,000 – £10,500 yearly and the national average was £7,500.

For current fees, consult the educational institution you wish to attend.

All applications for undergraduate study in the UK should be made online through UCAS, the organisation responsible for managing applications to higher education courses in the UK.

Postgraduate Studies

Full-time study for a master’s degree lasts for one or two years and involves either coursework with written examinations or supervised research culminating in a thesis or a combination of the two.

Full-time study and research for a doctorate degree (PhD/DPhil) involves at least three years of supervised research, culminating in a thesis dissertation.

The British Council provides information regarding which degrees are awarded in the UK and the length of a programme of study.

Fees for postgraduate studies vary by educational institution. According to the British Council, in 2006 the average cost of classroom based Master’s Programmes was £7,900 per year. Doctoral programmes cost a similar amount.

Post-graduate students may be eligible to apply for a Canadian Student Loan.

Workshop-based, clinical medicine/dentistry and courses requiring laboratory based research tend to have higher fees. For current fees, please consult the institution you wish to attend.

Immigration Requirements

Canadians who wish to study in the UK will require a Student Visa. Student visas are issued by the British High Commission in Ottawa and are available online.

Information can also be obtained from the nearest British Consulate in major cities across Canada:

British Consulate-General
Suite 800, 1111 Melville Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6E 3V6
Tel: (604) 683 4421
Fax: (604) 681-0693
Email: Vancouver@britainincanada.org

British Consulate
2500-360 Main Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3C 4H6
Tel (204) 896 1380
Fax (204)957 0227

Hon. British Consul
113 Topsail Road
St John’s, Newfoundland
A1E 2A9
Tel (709)579 2002
Fax (709)579 0475

British Consulate
1 Canal St, PO Box 605
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
B3Y 2Y9
Tel (902) 461 1381
Fax (902) 463 7678

British Consulate-General
Suite 2800, 77 Bay Street
College Park
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 2G2
Tel (416)593 1290
Fax (416)593 1229
Email: Toronto@britainincanada.org

Honorary British Consul
Le Complexe St-Amable
700-1150 Claire-Fontaine
Quebec City, Quebec G1R 5G4
Tel.: 418 521 3000
Fax: 418 521 3099

British Consulate-General
Suite 4200, 1000 De la Gauchetiere West
Montreal, Quebec
H3B 3A7
Tel (514) 866 5863
Fax (514) 866 0202
Email: montreal@britainincanada.org

Working in the UK as a student

Holding a student visa allows you to work in the UK under certain conditions.

You can take part-time or holiday work, but you must not:

• work for more than 20 hours a week during term time unless your placement is part of your studies, has been agreed with your educational institution and leads to a degree or qualification awarded by a nationally recognised examining body
• do business, be self-employed or provide services as a professional sportsperson or entertainer, or
• work full-time in a permanent job.

Further information about obtaining working in the UK and visas is provided by the UK Home Office Border Agency.

Fellowships, Scholarships and Awards

There are various scholarship and awards programs in the United Kingdom for Canadian citizens. The website Education UK, maintained by the British Council, offers a searchable database of scholarships based on the applicant’s country of origin.

The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan is a genuine partnership between developed and developing countries, involving both home and host country in the selection process.

Post-graduate students may be eligible to apply for a Canadian Student Loan.

Please note that residents of Québec, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories are eligible for different loan schemes administered by their province. Students from these provinces should contact their local Student Assistance Office for more information

In addition, many universities offer their own scholarships and awards programs in specific fields of study or for international exchange students.

Studying Abroad – additional information

The UK Council for International Student Affairs: an organization which protects international students’ rights and includes information on immigration, fees and financing as well as accommodation and UK culture.

Studying and Living in the United Kingdom - PDF ^* (1.21 MB): a guide published by the British Council.

The International Students Guide: published by HERO, the online gateway to High Education in the UK.

Hobsons: Information for Study abroad programmes and post grads.

Prospects Graduate Careers: the UK’s official graduate careers Web site.

Host UK: works with international students who are studying in the UK to give them short visits in British homes.

Useful Addresses and Websites

Association of Commonwealth Universities
Woburn House
20-24 Tavistock Square
London, WC1H 9HF
UK
Tel: +44 (0)207 380 6700
Email: info@acu.ac.uk

British Council in Canada
80 Elgin Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5K7
Tel (613) 237 1530

British Council in the UK
British Council Information Centre
Bridgewater House,
58 Whitworth Street
Manchester, M1 6BB
UK
Tel: +44 (0)161 957 7755
Email: generalenquiries@britishcouncil.org

UCAS
Customer Service Unit,
UCAS, PO Box 28,
Cheltenham, GL52 3LZ
UK
Email: enquiries@ucas.ac.uk

British High Commission in Ottawa
Immigration Section
80 Elgin Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5K7

---

* If you require a plug-in or a third-party software to view this file, please visit the alternative formats section of our help page.