MS in UK: Top Universities, Course, Eligibility and Fees

MS in UK

MS in UK: The UK is renowned for having top-notch higher education. The United Kingdom is a great place to study for many reasons. Not only does it have 17 top universities in the world, but many of the courses are taught in English. Students can also enjoy numerous exciting learning experiences while living in the UK.

In addition to this, the United Kingdom contains several cities that rank highly in various metrics, with London being the top-ranked city in the world for students according to the QS ranking for 2022. However, other cities, such as Manchester, Birmingham, and Edinburgh, are also great places to pursue an education. All these reasons make study in UK an enticing option to study abroad.

There are a few things to consider when looking at MS programs in the UK. Full-time 1- or 2-years courses are available in research, course-based, or a combination of both programmes. It’s also worth considering that UK universities offer specialization in a wide range of professions, fields, and courses to choose from, allowing international students to pursue their preferred degree program. With that in mind, some of the most sought-after MS courses for students who want to pursue them abroad include engineering, general science, and computer science.

If you’re thinking about pursuing an MS in UK, this article is for you. We’ll cover everything from the top universities in the UK for MS programs to the cost of studying and eligibility requirements. Plus, we’ll share some of the best courses for MS students in the UK.

Table of Contents

Why MS in UK?

Here are some reasons why study MS in UK.

  • Top universities: The UK is home to some of the best universities in the world. According to the QS world ranking 2022, four universities have secured their position in the top 10 universities. These universities include ones like Oxford University and Cambridge University, among others.
  • 1 years programs: Unlike countries like Canada and the US, an MS and MBA in UK is usually 1 year long. However, programs like MEng and MRes take longer than 1 year to complete.
  • Future Scope: With an unemployment rate as low as 3.7%, the UK has a lot of opportunities for international students after their MS. The average salary after MS in UK ranges between 31,000 LKs and 58,000 LKs per annum.
  • Best student cities in the UK: Did you know, according to QS ranking 2022, the best student city for studying abroad is London in the UK. Not only that, around 14 cities out of 120 cities in the QS ranking 2022 are from the UK.

Also read:  9 Reasons for Indian Students to Study in the UK!

Types of Masters (MS) in UK

There are two main types of master’s degrees in the UK: taught and research. 

Taught Master in UK: Taught master’s degrees include programs such as the Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MSc), Master of Engineering (MEng), and Master of Business Administration (MBA). Students in these programs are required to attend weekly lectures, tutorials, and seminars. Assessment is done through projects or dissertations. Full-time taught master’s programs generally the last one to two years. 

Research Masters in UK: MRes, MPhil, and certain MSc degrees in the UK are research-based MS courses. These are an integral part of these degrees, and academic supervisors are often allocated to students pursuing any of these courses. These are similar to PhDs, but they require less academic research and they last for a shorter duration.

MS courses in UK

Here’s the list of some of the top MS specializations in the UK with the universities they are offered in. Besides these courses, some of the other top MS specializations in the UK are MS in Biology, MS in Geology, MS in Health Science, MS in Mathematics, MS in Engineering, MS in IT and Networking.

S.No.CoursesUniversities
1MS in Computer Science in UKUniversity of Oxford; Imperial College London;
University College London; University of Edinburgh
2MS in Management in UKImperial College Business School; London School of Economics and Political Science;
Warwick Business School; Alliance Manchester Business School
3MS in Psychology in UKUniversity of Oxford; University College London;
King’s College London; University of Edinburgh
4MS in Marketing in UKUniversity of Edinburgh; University of Bath;
University of Bristol; University of Exeter;

Also read: Postgraduate studies and programs in UK.

MS in UK requirements

Here are the criteria for applying for an MS in UK for Indian students.

  1. Graduation Degree: Students must possess a three- to four-year graduation degree in the same field as the program for which they are applying. You may need to have 75% and 60% marks, respectively in India. 
  2. GMAT/GRE score: Applicants or students are required to have a GMAT or GRE score. The GMAT/GRE score varies with the course applied to.
  3. Work Experience: To enroll in UK universities, you must have a minimum of two years of work experience. However, it’s not always mandatory.
  4. English proficiency: In order to pursue a MS in the UK, students must take English proficiency tests like the IELTS, TOFEL, and PTE. Some universities will then conduct a personal interview. IELTS – band 6 to band , TOEFL – 90 to  100,  PTE – 60 & above 
  5. Visa and passport: A visa and a passport are crucial for studying any course in the UK. But it’s extremely important to remember to apply for a UK visa three months in advance. 

 Also read: How to Apply for a UK Student Visa

Documents Required for Admission in UK

Besides the personal details, some of the important documents that students are required to have to apply for MS in UK are:

  1. Admission application form
  2. Statement of purpose
  3. Certificate of English Proficiency exams
  4. Personal statement of the student
  5. Scanned copy of academic transcripts from the previous institution 
  6. Recommendation letters, if required.
  7. Updated Resume/portfolio/CV

Top MS colleges in UK

Here is the list of top MS colleges in the UK with their QS world university ranking 2022. The QS World University Ranking is one of the most widely read university rankings and is released annually.

S.No.UniversitiesQS World University Ranking 2022
1The University of Oxford#2
2The University of Cambridge#3
3Imperial College London#7
4University College London (UCL)#8
5The University of Edinburgh#16
6The University of Manchester#27
7King’s College London#35
8The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)#49
9The University of Warwick#61
10The University of Bristol#62

Also read: List of top Universities in UK.

Application process for MS in UK

Here’s the application process for applying to MS in the UK for Indian students.

  1. Select a course and university: Selecting a course and university is the first step in beginning an MS in the UK. Students must thoroughly research the UK’s universities and the courses they offer before narrowing their choices to the ones that are best suited to their needs.
  2. Check deadlines: The next step is to check the deadlines for the interested universities. Students should start the application process for MS in the UK six months to a year in advance in order to give an English proficiency test, submit the applications and get admission.
  3. Entrance Test: The third step in the application process for MS in the UK is to give entrance tests like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, or GRE/GMAT/LNAT/BMAT/MAT. The Duolingo Test, a recent addition to English proficiency tests, is accepted all over the world and enables students to take the exam from the convenience of their homes.
  4. Put together the documents: Now that you have given your entrance exams and selected the universities you want to apply to, it’s time to put together all your documents. This includes writing SOPs, getting recommendation letters from teachers, test scorecards, and financial statement documents.
  5. Fill out application forms: The last step is to fill out application forms for universities. Students can fill out the application form on the official website of the university they want to apply to.

Also Read: How to Apply in a University in United Kingdom.

MS in UK Cost in Indian Rupees.

MS in UK cost vary according to the specialization and university one is applying to. While clinical degrees and laboratory programs are more expensive, degrees in the humanities and social sciences are comparably more affordable. The average first year cost of MS in UK for Indian students is INR 21.41 lakhs (approx). However, compared to the U.S. and other countries, most UK universities offer shorter programs (1 year for master’s degrees instead of 2 years) and average undergraduate degrees take 3 years rather than 4 years. This could result in significant savings on a year’s worth of tuition and living expenses, greatly balancing the situation. 

Listed below are the top universities with their tuition fees per academic year for Indian students.

S.No.UniversitiesTuition fees per annum (INR)
1The University of Oxford23.2 lakhs
2The University of Cambridge27.8 lakhs
3Imperial College London31.5 lakhs
4University College London (UCL)17.2 lakhs
5The University of Edinburgh21.5 lakhs
6The University of Manchester25.4 lakhs
7King’s College London20.1 lakhs
8The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)16.07 lakhs
9The University of Warwick22.68 lakhs
10The University of Bristol23.16 lakhs

Also read: Tuition fees in UK colleges

Cost of living in UK

The cost of living in the UK depends on which city you choose to reside in. It is difficult to calculate an absolute value for the cost of living, but we can arrive at an estimated living cost. The average cost of living in UK for an Indian student is around INR 5.97 lakhs per year. Listed below are the estimated costs of living in the UK.

Expense TypeCost per year (in INR)
Accommodation31,000-49,000 per month.
Transportation3,970 per month.
Food and Household Items8,900-20,000 per month
Miscellaneous (Books, utilities, leisure, etc.)50,740 per month

Also Read: Cost of Living in the United Kingdom.

MS in UK - Scholarships

Universities in the UK offer thousands of scholarships to international students. The scholarships are offered to international students based on merit-based, need-based, student-specific or course-specific grants. Many universities in the UK also offer some concession on the tuition fees if the initial deposit is made within the final deadline.

University based scholarships for MS in UK

Here is the list of scholarships offered by some of the top universities in the UK for MS.

UniversityScholarshipOfferings or Awards (GPB)
The University of OxfordThe Oxford Center for Islamic StudiesTuition fees and living expenses.
The University of CambridgeTrinity Hall – Mann Studentship for Sciences10,000 to 40,000
Imperial College LondonStevenson Funds7,500
University College London (UCL)Alumni Scholarship10,000
The University of EdinburghJohn Fisher High-Performance Scholarship50% of tuition fees

Some popular UK scholarships for Indian students

  1. Dr. Manmohan Singh Scholarships: This scholarship is launched by St. John’s College in honor of Dr. Manmohan Singh. The scholarship allows academically outstanding Indian students to study at the University of Cambridge and covers academic fees, travel, living expenses and a UK visa. Applications in aerospace engineering and energy studies will be given preference.
  2. Goa Education Trust Scholarships: The Goa Education Trust Scholarships give Indian students the chance to pursue postgraduate level studies in the UK. They are given out in association with the British Council of India. The scholarship provides full or partial tuition fees based on qualifications and excellence.

   Also read: List of Scholarships for Indians to Study in the UK.

Free or cheapest MS colleges in UK for indian students

For those who want to study their MS in the UK but are on a low budget, here’s the list of universities in the UK that offer masters with comparatively low tuition fees. 

S.No.UniversitiesPostgraduate tuition fees (INR)
1The University of Chester13, 36,763
2Leeds Beckett University.14,45,150
3Anglia Ruskin University14,34,827 – 17,23,857
4The University of West London13,67,731
5The University of Greenwich14,96,762 – 18,58,050
MS in UK application process

MS in UK without IELTS

UK universities certainly welcome students from all around the world, regardless of IELTS scores or other similar tests. In fact, it’s quite possible to apply to MS programs in the UK without IELTS altogether. However, there are a few different requirements and process steps to keep in mind. Listed below are the universities in the UK that accept students without an IELTS score.

UniversityPrograms offered
The University of BristolMS in Civil Engineering
MS in Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
MS in Electrical Engineering
MS in Healthcare Management
Sheffield Hallam University.MS in Business Analytics
MS in Accounting and Economics.
MS in Accounting and Finance
MS in Applied Social Sciences
London Southbank UniversityMS in International Accounting and Finance
MS in Advanced Clinical Practice
MS in Civil Engineering
MS in Development Studies
MS in Data Science
The University of GreenwichMS in Accounting and Finance
MS in Computer Science
MS in Big Data and Business Intelligence
MS in Advanced Chemical Engineering
The University of EssexMS in Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology,
MS in Research Methods in Psychology
Masters in Sport and Exercise Psychology
Masters in Psychology

Jobs after MS in UK

The best place for recent MS graduates to begin their careers is in the UK, which is home to some of the most well-known global business hubs among international applicants. The MS degree is the most prestigious and valuable degree in the UK. An MS graduate can make an average salary of 31,000 lakhs per year, according to various surveys and websites.

University-wise average salaries after MS in the UK

After completion of MS in the UK, many universities offer a number of job opportunities to international students to start their careers. Here’s the list of universities offering the highest paying jobs after MS in the UK for Indian students.

UniversitiesAverage Salary per annum (INR)
The University of Oxford36.9 Lakhs
The University of Cambridge34.1 Lakhs
Imperial College London44.5 Lakhs
University College London (UCL)47.9 Lakhs
The University of Manchester47.9 Lakhs

Position-wise average salaries after MS in the UK

Some of the more popular job profiles of MS graduates with average salaries are listed below.

ProfileAverage Salary (INR)
Technical Director43.5 Lakhs
Pharmacy Manager31.0 Lakhs
Data Scientist34.4 Lakhs
Data Analyst27.7 Lakhs
Project Manager (Software)50.4 Lakhs
Data Engineer27.7 Lakhs

 Also read: Work and study in UK for Indian students.

FAQS

The average cost of studying MS in UK is around 19.21 lakhs to 28.81 lakhs. However,this cost does not include the cost of living in the UK.

According to QS ranking 2022, the United Kingdom contains several cities that rank highly in various metrics, with London being the top-ranked city in the world for students and having around 17 Top ranked universities.

MS in Uk takes around 1- 2 years to complete. However, courses like MEng and MRes take around 2-3 years to complete.

International students who have completed their undergraduate or master’s degrees can apply to stay in the UK for a further two years after their studies. This period of time allows them to seek employment and gain valuable experience in their chosen field.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to deciding which MS course is the best. It largely depends on the student’s interests. Some popular MS courses include computer science, architecture, marketing, and management.

No, it is not required to have a GRE score for MS in UK. Although there are some universities that require a GRE score. 

Yes, you can get jobs after MS in UK. Some of the top universities offering the highest annual salaries to their students are Oxford University, Cambridge University, and Imperial College London.

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