Master's degree in Britain is a program that follows the successful completion of a bachelor's degree. Its duration is only one year, which is less than the two-year master's programs offered by most countries of the world. This means that international students can save time and money, start a career faster by obtaining a master's degree.
The UK is home to the world's leading universities, known for the quality of teaching and research. British postgraduate studies are highly valued by employers, and for international students studying in the UK, it is a fantastic opportunity to improve English, immerse themselves in a multicultural community of scientists and students. A study conducted by the Higher Education Statistics Agency showed that 86% of students who have received a master's degree in the UK, after graduation, are successfully employed in 6 months.
Advantages of studying Master's programs in Britain
- Some of the best universities in the world offering master's programs, including Oxford and Cambridge, are located in England. 4 British universitiesaccording to QS News, 3 - according to THE version are in the top 10 of the ranking of the best of 2020.
- The UK is considered one of the most popular destinations for studying abroad after the US. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), in 2016, 8.6% of international students chose it as a place of study (second place after the US (19.4%), leaving behind countries such as Canada (3.8%), Australia (6.7%).
- QS News' 2019 Ranking of the Best Student Cities included 14 English cities in a list of 120 countries from around the world. 7 of them entered the top 50, and London took 1st place.
- Duration of programs: Obtaining a master's degree in Canada, the United States or any other country takes an average of 1.5 to 2 years. In the UK, the duration of standard programmes is 1 year, and meng and MRes courses require 2 to 4 years to complete.
- The advantage of choosing to study MS in the UK is student grants and scholarships that cover tuition fees and living expenses. Scholarships are provided by the government, institutions, private organizations.
- UK MS graduates in the UK can earn up to £35,000 per year. This is 29% more than undergraduate graduates earn, with 5-10 years of experience, the salary increases by about 40%. Some of the best employers for graduates in the UK labour market: NHS, Aecom Corporation, Amazon, JP Morgan Chase & Co.
Types and content of Master's programs in the UK
There are four main types of programs in Britain:
- Master of Arts (MA)
- Master of Science (MSc)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Master of Engineering (MEng).
Each lasts 1-2 years (full-time).
Master's courses include weekly seminars and lectures, intermediate exams, a dissertation or a project. Research degrees include Master of Science (MSc), Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Master of Research (MRes) courses: they are built on research work, studying an academic problem, defending one's research.
British universities offer a variety of specialties and areas of study to choose from, allowing foreign applicants to find a degree program to their liking. Some of the most popular master's courses are Masters of Science, Business Administration, and Law. Among them are the maximum number of applications for management, STEM courses.
Best universities to get a Master's degree in the UK
- University of Oxford: MS Law and Finance; Public Policy; MBA; Taxation – 24 500£/g.
- University of Cambridge: Masters in Corporate Law; MPhil in Economics; Master of Finance – £29,290/year
- Imperial College London: MS Strategic Marketing; Global Innovation Design; Business Analytics – £33,154/year
- University College London: MS – Banking & Digital Finance; Clinical Neuroscience; Management – 18 107£/g.
- London School of Economics and Political Science: MS – Global Media & Communications; Economics; Human Resources & Organizations – £22,705/year
- University of Edinburgh: MS International Marketing; International Human Resource Management; Accounting & Finance – £26,825/year
- King’s College London: MS Computer Science; Finance Analysis; International Marketing – £21,238/year
- University of Manchester: MS Commercial Project Management; Pollution & Environmental Control; Data and Knowledgement – £24,112/g.
- University of Warwick: MS Engineering Business Management; Master in Journalism; MS Data Analytics – £23,614/year
- University of Bristol: MS – Accounting & Finance; Data Science; Economics – £16,739
Admission requirements for undergraduates in UK universities
- To apply for a master's degree at British universities, it takes 3 to 4 years of undergraduate degree in the relevant field with a minimum academic achievement of 60% to 75%.
- International students must demonstrate a high level of English proficiency.
- Students can apply to UK universities through the UCAS common application portal or on university websites.
- Most UK universities accept applications within a year without any specific deadlines. The main months of admission are September/October and January/February.
- Work experience (mainly required for management programs).
- Research proposal (for postgraduate research programs).
- Interview (depends on the program).
- Admission to most UK universities requires 90% in the quantitative and verbal part and 50% in the analytical part of gre.
GPA GRE for some of the best universities
University | Average GRE requirement |
University of Oxford | 160 (quantitative reasoning, critical writing skills) |
University of Cambridge | 167 – quantitative reasoning 4.0 – writing skills |
Imperial College London | - 159 Quantitative reasoning 145 – verbal reasoning |
University College London | 161 – quantitative indicators |
London School of Economics and Political Science | 161 – quantitative indicators |
University of Edinburgh | 161 – quantitative, verbal reasoning |
King’s College London | Not required |
University of Manchester | 165 – quantitative, verbal reasoning |
University of Warwick | 160 – quantitative, verbal indicators |
University of Bristol | Not required |
GMAT Result Requirements
GMAT results are required mainly for UK universities offering MBAs.
University | Average GMAT requirements |
University of Oxford | 690 |
University of Cambridge | 640-730 |
Imperial College London | 600 |
University College London | 600 |
London School of Economics and Political Science | 600 |
University of Edinburgh | 600 |
King’s College London | Not required |
University of Manchester | 659 |
University of Warwick | 700 |
University of Bristol | Not required |
Documents required to obtain a master's degree in the UK
- Scanned copies of transcripts from all universities where the applicant studied + certified translation
- Statement of Purpose
- Personal statement
- 2-3 letters of recommendation from a professional or scientist
- Resume.
Minimum language requirements for admission to the best universities in the UK
- IELTS – 6.0-7.0
- TOEFL (iBT) – 90-100
- PTE – 60.
UK Student Visa
Tier-4 (General) visa – a student visa to the UK required to obtain a full-time diploma. It is valid for the entire period of study + 6 months. International students must apply for this visa at least 3 months before the start of their studies.
Required documents:
- Proof of Admission to Study (CAS)
- University Sponsorship
- Proof of financial solvency
- Copy of passport.
The cost of studying at Master's courses in the UK
The average cost of studying for a Master's degree in the UK for an international student is 14,620 pounds sterling,the specific amount depends on the type of master's degree, university. The second stage of higher education in England is much cheaper than the master's courses of the United States, by 30-60%, if we talk about private universities. The price of studying varies from 15,000 to 35,000 pounds per year.
Program | University | Tuition fees |
MBA | London Business School Cambridge Judge Business School Said Business School Warwick Business School | 40 000-87 900£/g |
MS in Computer Science in UK | University of Oxford Imperial College London University College London University of Edinburgh | 30 000-34 000£/year |
Masters in Architecture (M.Arch) in UK | University College London University of Cambridge University of Sheffield Manchester School of Architecture | 21 000-40 000£/year |
MS in Management in UK | Imperial College Business School London School of Economics and Political Science Warwick Business School Alliance Manchester Business School | 23 000-30 000£/year |
MS in Marketing in UK | University of Edinburgh University of Bath University of Bristol University of Exeter | 20 000-26 000£/year |
MS in Psychology in UK | University of Oxford University College London King’s College London University of Edinburgh | 23 000-53 000£/year |
Additional costs include registration fees, test fees, health insurance, application fees.
- UCAS – 20£
- Student visa – 348£
- Medical insurance – 260£/year
- IELTS – 162-180£
- TOEFL – 298-918£
- GRE – 166£
- GMAT – 250£.
Scholarships for Masters in British universities
Most universities in England offer scholarships for international students, which can compensate up to 100% of tuition fees.
University | Scholarship type | Scholarship amount |
University of Oxford | Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies | Tuition fees, living expenses |
University of Cambridge | Trinity Hall – Mann Studentship for Sciences | 10 000-40 000£/year |
Imperial College London | Stevenson Funds | 7500£/g |
University College London | Alumni Scholarship | £10,000/year |
London School of Economics and Political Science | Hilde Himmelweit Scholarship | 2000£/year |
University of Edinburgh | John Fisher High-Performance Scholarship | 50% of the tuition fee |
King’s College London | Norman Spink Scholarship | £10,000/year |
University of Manchester | GREAT Scholarship | Tuition fee 100% |
University of Warwick WMG | School Scholarship | Tuition fee 100% |
University of Bristol | Think Big Postgraduate Scholarship | £5000, £10,000, £20,000 per year |
Work after obtaining a Master's degree in England
Every year, more than a million international students come to the UK for a master's degree due to the high quality of education, prestigious universities, and a friendly atmosphere. Although the cost of education is higher than in some countries, the salary offered after graduation is higher than the price of education.
The highest paid master's degrees in the UK
- 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.
Salaries after graduation in Britain (per year)
- Coventry University – 39 000£
- Dundee University – 53 000£
- Glasgow Caledonian University – 40 000£
- Imperial College of London – 100 000£
- King's College London – 53 000£
- Leicester University – 63 000£
- Middlesex University – 50 000£
- LSE – 80 000£
- Manchester University – 86 000£
- University of Nottingham – 70 000£
- University College London – 69 000£.
Post-Study Work Visa after Masters in UK
A post-graduate work visa, the Graduate Route,allows students to stay in the UK for 2 years after earning a degree. This applies to anyone educated in 2021 or later. International students must find work in the UK 6 months after the expiration of a Tier-4 visa in order to be eligible for a work visa.
