New Delhi : In a recent webinar organised by IDP Education, the global leader in international education services, senior education representatives from the United Kingdom shared insights and tips for Indian students to streamline their UK education aspirations, planning, and building global careers.

The webinar “Discover the Path to Studying in the UK,” part of the IDP Study Insights series, provided a platform for Indian aspirants and their parents to get direct access to UK stakeholders and answers to related queries. The expert panel shared practical tips on getting student visas, funding a UK education, optimising living expenses, securing housing, and finding part-time or full-time employment in the UK.

The panel comprised of:

• Sir Steve Smith, UK International Education Champion, UK Government
• Alison Barret MBE, Director, British Council India
• Jamie Arrowsmith, Director, Universities UK International (UUKi)
• Sanam Arora, Founder & Chairperson, NISAU
• Prof. Sir Anton Muscatelli, Vice Chancellor – Glasgow University
• Prof. Adam Tickell, Vice Chancellor – University of Birmingham
• Piyush Kumar, Regional Director – South Asia, Canada and LATAM, IDP Education

Top advice from the experts:

1. Invest in a UK education for its unmatched academic excellence

(Sir Steve Smith, UK International Education Champion, UK Government)

• “One word that comes up most often when students are asked why they want to come or have been to the UK is the quality of the education. The UK has some of the very best universities in the world. It has four universities in the global top ten and fifteen in the top 100. It’s interesting to note as well the UK has educated 58 world leaders.”

1. Look at specific institutional and country scholarships

(Alison Barret MBE, Country Director India – British Council)

• Students need to do quite a bit of research, I think, to identify the scholarship that will work for them. A good place to start is to look at the Study UK Scholarships finder portal where students can find information on the different scholarships. Some scholarships cover all the fees, and some scholarships pay a contribution. So, students need to figure out what it is that they need and what they’re looking for.
• It’s also important to think about the institutional scholarships as well. More and more UK universities now have specific scholarships for Indian students and quite a lot of those universities have launched those scholarships here at the British Council. So, students should also look at the institute websites as well and see what’s available to them.

1. Take advantage of the Graduate Route for post-study work opportunities

(Jamie Arrowsmith, Director, Universities UK International)

• “The graduate route offers qualifying students the chance to work in the UK for two years after completing their studies, three years for doctoral students. The GR was explicitly created to make the UK more attractive to international students from countries like India recognising just how hugely important it is, that individuals have the opportunity to gain work experience. The government wanted to know whether it was working. They had some concerns over potential abuse. The government did commission a review and found out that there was no abuse and that the GR was serving its purpose.”
• “Importantly, there are no restrictions to the type of work that students on the Graduate Route can undertake. They do not need to be sponsored by the university or importantly, by the employer for the period that students are on the graduate route. So once students have confirmation that they’ve completed their studies, they can apply for the graduate route visa. On receiving the visa students are able to work and live in the UK for two or three years, after graduation.”

1. More ways of funding a UK education beyond education loans, and spotting newer scholarships

(Sanam Arora, Founder & Chairperson, The National Indian Students and Alumni Union)

• “A lot of students very often don’t look at the institutional scholarships in particular. It’s really important to follow the websites and the social media pages of universities as well, which often are very up-to-date about scholarships and financial support. Applying early for scholarships is also quite important too. Another big tool that tends to work is fundraising online. So many of our own alumni like to give back as part of their philanthropic efforts.”
• “If aspirants are struggling for finances, utilising a combination of those part scholarships or full scholarships, financial assistance like loans and fundraising initiatives, students can actually make their money go a longer way than they might plan for.”

1. Look beyond the overall university rankings, and research deeper. Pick a university also based on budget

(Prof. Sir Anton Muscatelli, Vice Chancellor of Glasgow University)

• “I think rankings do matter because they do correlate with quality. However, what I would say to any student is they need to look at what course is right for them as that is what really matters at the end of the day. And, of course, it depends on how a university is ranked in the subject of their choice e.g. if students want to study medicine, they should look at universities and medical schools and look at their rankings. But sometimes it’s not just about rankings as many rankings largely also focus on research and research power. So, students should take an in-depth look at the university that they want to study. They should look at every aspect.”
• “It was interesting to receive so many questions also about accommodation and the cost of accommodation. So clearly, if an aspirant is worried about the cost of accommodation they may not want to go and study in the most expensive city in the UK. But there are plenty of choices around the UK as to where students might go. These are the various dimensions I think aspirants should look at.”

1. Select the UK for the best Research and Diversity

(Prof. Adam Tickell, Vice Chancellor – University of Birmingham)

• The Russell Group is the group of the most research-intensive universities in the United Kingdom. Students will get the opportunity to learn from some of the very best academics. The University of Birmingham has been part of the top 100 in both major rankings. It is a very, forward-thinking, progressive, exciting university. We are a highly diverse city and a highly diverse university. Students from India will get a very warm welcome. The president of our Student Union is an Indian from Bengaluru.”

1. Choose the UK for its reasonable cost, stable policies and pro-international students outlook | Start planning early

(Piyush Kumar, Regional Director – South Asia, Canada and LATAM, IDP Education)

• “Currently, the UK has the most stable policies as far as international education is concerned unlike what we are hearing from some other destinations. There is absolutely no confusion around the fact that the UK continues to be a very welcoming country for Indian and international students. The UK offers higher quality education at a reasonable price compared to other popular destinations. The qualifications are recognised across the globe, including India.”
• “My advice to students planning to study abroad/ in the UK is to apply as early as possible to increase chances of getting the offers and scholarships. Early application can also help students to apply for, and get, student visas on time. Students can also take advantage of IDP’s unique Fast Lane offering which helps students get an in-principle offer from the universities within minutes and get the final unconditional offer much faster than the normal route.”

The session concluded with a strong message for international students: the UK is open and welcoming to international students, and students should make the most of their time in the UK by focusing on both academic achievements and personal development.