The United Kingdom is one of the most popular destinations for international students. With its top-ranking universities, pioneering research, and historic culture, it comes as no surprise why 485,000+ international students have made the UK their academic home. There has been a rise of international students coming from India and Nigeria especially to study in the UK, with one of the reasons being that they are able to study in the United Kingdom for free.
While the UK has gained the notoriety of being one of the more expensive countries for education, there is a way for you to get a world-class education without paying for anything as an international student. In this article, we will go over the generous process as well as specific universities where international students can get their bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D. degrees in the UK for free.
How to Study in the United Kingdom for Free
1. Submit Your Applications Early
Whatever course you want to take in the UK, it’s best if you apply early.
For undergraduates, applications can easily be submitted through the Universities and College Admissions Service portal or UCAS. If you plan on applying to Oxford or Cambridge – or if you want to take a Medicine or Dentistry course – you need to complete your application as early as October.
As for other courses, you should meet the deadline of January 15. If you’re planning to apply for art or design programs, you may submit your documents as late as March. Although applications are accepted until June 30, it’s best to apply early as you will need to register for a student visa, among many other documents.
As for graduate studies, requirements and deadlines vary according to the university. Generally, these institutions will require you to submit your qualifications, personal statement, and reference letters.
2. Get Financial Aid
UK universities offer a variety of scholarships for international students, which is the best way to get free education in the United Kingdom. These include the GREAT Scholarship, Chevening Scholarship, and Commonwealth Scholarship.
3. Apply to Affordable Universities
Although UK universities can cost you up to GBP £38,000 per year, there are quality schools that levy lower fees. A good example is Buckinghamshire New University, where the annual tuition is GBP £15,200. Another good option is London Metropolitan University, where you only need to pay GBP £15,200 per year for an undergraduate degree.
Tuition-free Options for Bachelor’s Studies in the UK
Here are some British universities that offer full scholarships to international students so that bachelor students can study in the United Kingdom for free. These institutions provide a free UK bachelor’s degree for international students if they get the following scholarships.
Tuition-free Options for Master’s Studies in the UK
International students can study master’s degree for free in the UK if they receive scholarships. Some of the universities where international students can acquire a free master’s degree in the UK by applying for full-ride scholarships are:
Tuition-free Options for Ph.D. Studies in the UK
You can complete your doctorate studies for free in the UK at the following institutions:
In addition to all the scholarships listed above, more scholarships are offered to international students who want to study in the UK, so be sure to take a look at all the scholarships offered by these UK institutions.
We hope that this article on how to study in the United Kingdom for free was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in the UK and UK Study Guide for more articles and scholarship opportunities!
