In this article we will present the benefits, costs, methods of application, funding sources and last but not least even sources of entertainment, if tomorrow you decide to study in the UK; a country with over 800 years of university tradition and academic performance, recognized anywhere in the world.
The UK education system
Access to the UK education system has only one condition: graduation from 12 classes. In other words, any high school graduate with a Baccalaureate degree in Romania can attend the courses of a faculty in Great Britain.
Studies in the UK, more affordable than you think
Undergraduate programs (or Bachelor as they are called in the UK)
As in Romania, the faculty begins with the program called Bachelor Degree, the equivalent of the license / faculty, followed by the master’s program. The baccalaureate is the key to access to studies in private or state universities that include programs such as Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Engineering (BEng), Bachelor of Architecture (BArch), Bachelor of Law (LLB). ), Mater of Arts (MA) or Master of Engineering (MEng).
In addition to the Baccalaureate, Romanian students must pay a tuition fee of approximately £ 7,000 – £ 9,250 / year. Don’t worry, EDMUNDO advisors are here to show you the easiest and most accessible way to your dream!
Master’s programs
The Bachelor Degree program has continuity by following a master’s program, which is materialized by: Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (Msc), Master of Philosophy (MPhil) or Master of Literature (MLitt). As in the case of the license, enrollment in a master’s program is conditional on the payment of an amount between approximately £ 3,000 – £ 15,000 / year for Master’s programs or £ 6,000 / year for MBA programs. As in the case of Bachelor’s programs and Master’s programs, there are funding opportunities available.
The good news for you is that there are multiple sources of funding for studies in the UK! So, you don’t have to be the best, you don’t have to be grade 10 or take impossible exams, trust EDMUNDO and be one of those who know what they want and who today live the full experience of an international environment.
Sources of funding
BREXIT may affect the availability of the main sources of funding described below, BUT this is NOT true yet. Political change is not in our way, access to universities in the UK being possible! How?
For undergraduate or Bachelor studies
A first option to finance your studies can be achieved through the government loan Tuition Fee Loan , which covers the tuition fee at 100%, with a value of approximately £ 9,250.
The loan works as follows: the applicant sends by mail the application form together with a copy of the bulletin. After being admitted to the university and starting the study program, the university receives the money related to the entire tuition fee from the Government on behalf of the student. The future sounds better and better doesn’t it?
The advantage of the loan is that it is paid only after completing the studies, regardless of their duration, and the repayment will start from the moment you exceed the threshold of 25,000 pounds as annual income, and you will have to repay 9% of the amount exceeding this threshold. The tax is taken monthly from the salary by the Government.
If you do not want to build a life in the UK and you want to leave the country, the same calculation principle will apply depending on the threshold set by the government, for the country you are in. For example, for Romania the established threshold is £ 10,000 / year.
The coolest thing is that the tuition fee will not change during the years of study. EDMUNDO advisers also recommend contracting the loan at the beginning of the studies, in order to guarantee its granting regardless of the status of Great Britain in the European Union.
For Master’s studies
And for the Master there is a loan very similar to the Tuition Fee Loan , above. This time, European students admitted to a master’s program in the UK can receive up to £ 11,222 to fund their studies.
The advantage of the loan is that it, unlike the Tuition Fee Loan, will be received directly by the student, in the personal account and, implicitly, can be used for the tuition fee or for any other current expense, at the discretion of the student. The loan must be repaid after graduation under conditions similar to those of the Tuition Fee Loan.
The good news is that these government loans are not your only financing opportunity. Thus, you have the opportunity to receive scholarships or merit scholarships from universities. They cannot support you financially in the UK, their value being between £ 1,000-2,000, but they are an extra income.
Job part time
Another way to earn money are part-time jobs which, in addition to giving you an income, are also an opportunity to gain experience during your studies. It will take about 6 months to find a part-time job where you will have:
– £ 6.80 / hour for those aged 18-20
– £ 7.90 / hour for those over 21
The most important thing is to have a discussion with your parents to see if they can support you financially at least in the first year of study, until you find a part-time job, because the scholarship cannot cover your daily expenses. per day, accommodation or transport, provided they are worth approximately £ 600-800 / month.
Application for studies in the UK
Wondering how to apply to one of the UK universities? Simple! Through UCAS.com , your national and international online platform, where you can apply for a bachelor’s program and receive the official response of universities. In addition to completing the UCAS platform, the application also involves writing a personal essay and a letter of recommendation.
The costs of a student in the UK
Accommodation / rent
The cost of rent in the UK is between £ 70-400. The value of a pound in RON is currently 5.29, so living in the UK itself will cost you between 370-2119 RON per month. The amount invested in accommodation depends on your preferences. Thus, you can opt for a dormitory room on the university campus, at a price between £ 280-540 per month, or you can choose a private room, for which you will pay an amount between £ 150-480 per month. To all these expenses are added the utilities which will cost you about £ 70 a month.
Transport
Depending on your preferences, shipping costs may vary. Thus, for situations when you prefer to travel alone or are in a time crisis, you can opt for a taxi, 1 km with a cost between £ 2 – £ 5.50 (10 – 29 RON). If you prefer public transport you have two options: the bus at a price of £ 1.40 – £ 2.50 / journey (7.5 – 13 RON) or the subway which costs £ 2.10 – £ 5 / journey (11 – 26 RON).
Internet and telephony subscription
Although the United Kingdom seems far away, with the help of the Internet and the telephone service, your loved ones will be closer to you. So, the cost of a calling card is £ 15 / month (79 RON), and the Internet subscription will cost you £ 35 / month (185 RON) to communicate freely regardless of the time or place you are.
The cost of daily living in the UK
Along with accommodation, transport or the internet, living in the UK also involves food costs, but these depend on your culinary preferences, reaching up to £ 70 (RON 370) per week and £ 160 per month, respectively. . Imagine you are in the supermarket and your shopping list includes: 1 L milk (£ 1), 6 eggs (£ 1.7), cheddar cheese (£ 8.32 / kg), apples (£ 1.67 / kg), tomatoes (£ 1 / kg), chicken breast (£ 3.23), so the voucher will reach the amount of £ 17 (90 RON). If you want to dine in the city, a KFC or McDonald’s menu costs around £ 5.50, a beer in the pub costs around £ 2, and a lunch in the city costs between £ 4-7.