Study in the UK

A programme equivalent to the first year of a Bachelor's degree, taught at a pathway college on or near campus. It suits students with good secondary-school results who do not meet direct entry requirements. Meet the progression requirements and you move into Year 2 of an eligible degree at the partner university — without adding a year.

Usually yes, within limits set by your visa. Full-time degree-level students at a higher education provider with a track record of compliance can work up to 20 hours a week in term time; students on courses below degree level, such as most Foundation and International Year One programmes, up to 10 hours. Full-time work is allowed in official vacations. Some providers and all part-time courses carry no work permission, and your visa conditions are final.

Most degrees start in September or October; January starts exist for selected courses, and pathway colleges add November and spring starts. For 2027 undergraduate entry the main UCAS deadline is 13 January 2027 (15 October 2026 for Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine courses); Master's applications go directly to the university. Start 6–12 months ahead.

Most degrees ask for English at CEFR B2 level — often around IELTS 6.0–6.5 for Bachelor's and 6.5–7.0 for Master's — but each university and course sets its own requirement. Pathway programmes typically accept lower scores. If you are just below the level, a university pre-sessional English course can lead into your degree. We check what applies to you.

Tuition is set by each university; the British Council's Study UK guide quotes £11,400–£38,000 a year for undergraduate and £9,000–£30,000 for postgraduate courses. For the Student visa you must show £1,171 a month outside London or £1,529 in London for up to nine months (£1,203 and £1,570 for applications from 30 November 2026), plus the £776-a-year health surcharge and the £558 visa fee (GOV.UK, October 2026). We help you budget realistically.

Yes. Most universities offer international scholarships, often automatic tuition discounts for self-funded students of roughly £2,000–£7,000 a year at the examples we checked, and the UK Government's Chevening programme funds one-year Master's degrees for competitive candidates. Each university sets its own criteria and values change yearly, so we check the current options for your profile. Nobody can guarantee a scholarship.

Through our agreements with Kaplan International Pathways, Study Group and Navitas we advise on pathway programmes leading to around 40 UK universities. For other universities we support your direct application. Our relationship with pathway universities is through the provider, and admission decisions are always made by the college or university.