Financing Your
Education
The cost of education for an international
student in the UK can be lower compared to the
USA and other countries. Some
courses in the USA can be $25,000 plus
a year in tuition alone. Tuition for the majority of UK higher
education institutions is in the region of £6,000 to £7,000 a
year - considerably less!
You can also save a lot of money because your degree will
generally take less time to complete in the UK than in other
countries. Although four-year programs are increasing in
popularity, most degree programs in the UK require a three-year
course and a masters program is typically between one and two
years. When you consider the shorter time-frame, the cost will be
much lower if you only have to plan for three years instead of
four or even five as in many other countries.
Although international students can manage
their affairs so that their UK education is affordable, UK
policymakers are taking note of an alarming trend in the cost of
education for non-EU students. With exchange rates climbing, life
in the UK can be quite expensive generally.
In addition, unlike in many other EU countries, non-EU students
are charged higher rates in the UK than students from EU
countries.
One recent study from the Higher Education Policy Institute
warned that the UK must act to contain and reduce tuition and
costs to stay competitive in the hunt for international students.
As global competition for international students heats up, we'll
be watching for the UK to act aggressively to keep the UK
a primary destination for international
students.
Information on
Funding
Prospective students should initially contact
their own Ministry of Education who will have details of any
scholarship schemes which may be available.
Most scholarships for overseas students studying
in the UK are funded by the British Government for postgraduate
study and are paid to another government for its students, either
directly or indirectly through organizations such as the British
Council. The British Council office in the student's home country
should have details of scholarship schemes and be able to give
advice about course availability. If there is no British Council
office, students can contact the nearest British Embassy or High
Commission. Students are only eligible to apply for scholarships
whilst still in their own country. Students already in the UK are
rarely considered.
Scholarships are highly sought after
and students will need to apply up to one year in
advance of the start of the course. It is important that
the scholarship meets the student's needs, as it is unlikely that
they will be able to change course or extend the scholarship once
it has started.
The student will also need to check the terms of the scholarship
as some of them are only 'partial' and will not meet the full
costs of living in Britain, especially if the student intends to
bring their family with them.
Students should check with the British Council
on the current cost of living and with the intended institution
on local costs, such as travel and accommodation. Once in the UK,
additional funding is very difficult to find.
Public Funding
The Immigration and Nationality
Department will only agree to grant visas to overseas
students if the student is able to show that they are
able to support themselves financially throughout their period of
study without recourse to public funds. Applying for public funds
may place a student's immigration status in jeopardy.
Currently, "public funds" include: Income Support, Housing
Benefit, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Council Tax
Benefit, Attendance Allowance, Severe Disability Allowance,
Incapacity Benefit, Disability Living Allowance, Child Benefit,
Jobseeker's Allowance, Invalid Care Allowance, Council Housing or
Housing for Homeless People. In emergencies, however, overseas
students may be able to claim short-term help, usually for a
maximum period of 42 days, by way of urgent cases payment from
the local Benefits Agency.
Urgent Payment Cases
These are payments of Income Support/Jobseeker's
Allowance at a reduced rate. The claim will only
be possible if the student has previously supported themselves
without recourse to public funds and the reason they have no
money is temporary, for instance because remittances from abroad
have been disrupted and the student expects funds from abroad to
resume. While having recourse to public funds could jeopardize an
overseas student's status, claiming Income Support or Jobseeker's
Allowance urgent cases payments would not necessarily do so.
Generally students should seek advice before making a
claim.
| Reference / Image Credits: NOCCCD, Operachic Typepad, FWA, British Council |
