Study Abroad in UK

Top universities

The UK is home to some of the world’s top universities and is known for its high standard of education. Universities in the UK consistently perform well in the world university rankings – four of the world’s top ten universities are in the UK. A stellar reputation for high-quality teaching and world-innovating research means that by studying in the UK, you will be immersing yourself in a long history of high-quality academia. 

The UK is vibrant and diverse

The UK is a culturally diverse country that has a long history of welcoming international students to study at its universities. Made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; each has its own cultural identity and traditions.

While studying in the UK, you will be surrounded by fellow international students, giving you the chance to build a global network of friends and future professional contacts.

Expert support for international students

Universities in the UK offer excellent support for international students. Cardiff University International Study Centre has specialist staff who dedicate their time to helping international students adapt to living and studying in the UK. They offer excellent guidance from day one, supporting students with the application process, visa information, organising accommodation and answering any questions you may have.

Improve your English skills

One of the biggest benefits of studying in the UK is improving your English language skills. During your degree, you will have dedicated modules to improving your English skills, but you will also naturally develop them through simple everyday life tasks such as conversing with fellow students, ordering food at restaurants and attending live shows and events. Having excellent English language skills will help your graduate career prospects, as many organisations across the world use the language.  

Thousands of subject options

UK universities offer a great variety of subject options to choose from. No matter what your area of interest is, it is likely you will find a degree focused on it in the UK. This is one of the best reasons to study in the UK. You can combine your interests with your education, making for a more exciting and enjoyable learning experience.

Degrees in the UK come in a variety of forms to better suit different study needs. Depending on the subject you choose, you may have a course that is heavily focused on either practical or theoretical work, or in some cases a balance of the two. There are also some courses that have more contact hours or shorter study lengths, and you can even take part in a work placement. A typical undergraduate degree in Wales takes three years to complete – four with a work placement. If you want to study a postgraduate degree, it will normally take one year to complete.

Excellent graduate job prospects: work while you study

Once you have graduated from Cardiff University, you will be able to stay and work in the UK with a 2-year post study work visa.

UK university graduates have exciting career opportunities available to them, due to having a degree that is world-renowned for its high quality. While studying in the UK, you will be developing highly valued transferrable and critical thinking skills, both of which are extremely sought after by employers.

As well as great graduate job prospects, you are also able to work while you study to help cover expenses or gain valuable work experience. To be able to work in the UK as an international student, you must be enrolled on a full-time course and have a Student visa. You cannot work more than 20 hours a week during term time, even if you wish to work extra, unpaid hours. Outside of term time, international students can work up to 40 hours per week.

The UK is an interesting place to live

If you choose to study abroad in the UK, there is always something to see or do, no matter what your interests are. In every part of the UK, you will find a mix of restaurants, shops, sporting activities, live shows and festivals to keep you entertained. These work hand in hand with the country’s deep multicultural roots, allowing you to delve into not just British culture, but also cultures from all over the globe.

General facts about studying in the UK

• There are currently 679,970 international students pursuing various degrees in various universities in the UK, according to 2021/2022 statistics from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
• As per previous year’s data, the total number of international students studying in the UK has seen a spike. In the previous year, there were 605,130 international students.
• If we look at the current number of international students vis a vis the previous year (2020/2021), there has been a significant increase of 12.3%. Clearly, there are benefits of studying in the UK because of which it is such a popular study destination for international students.
• The total number of students enrolled in Higher Education institutions in the UK, which is 2,862,620 across all institutions depicts an increase of 4.02% compared to the total number of students in the academic year of 2020/2021 academic year. In this year, this number was 2,751,865.
• According to The Higher Education Statistics Agency, 556,985 international students pursued their degrees in the UK in 2019/2020. This is an increase from the previous year’s number, which was a total of 496,110 students in the academic year 2018/2019.
• According to the UK Government, the number of students who received a Sponsored Study (Tier 4) visa in the year ending in September 2019 was 276,889, which is an increase from the previous years. This also is one of the benefits of studying in the UK.
• This has shown to be a 16% increase from the previous year and was noted to be the highest level of Tier 4 granted visas since the year 2011.
• The total number of students enrolled in Higher Education institutions as of 2018/2019 is 2,456,545, including both international as well as students whose home country is the UK. This has shown a 1.7% increase from 2017/18 with 2,414,745 students.
• In 2022, the majority, or 22.3% of international students in the UK, come from China, meaning that there are roughly 151,690 students from China studying in the UK.
• 26.1% of first-year non-UK students, a total of 99,965, are international students arriving from China.