UK University Education Become Less Expensive

Studying in the United Kingdom has never been better. Thanks to the global recession, it has now become a boon for Indian students who want to study abroad, especially in the UK. The reasons are aplenty.

According to authorities of the British Council, studying at universities in the UK has become a cheaper affair. The tuition fees for a management course, which used to be about Rs 6.37 lakh, will now cost about Rs 5 lakh.

Though the fee amount remains the same in terms of pounds, the decrease in the pound value from Rs 85 in June last year to Rs 67 this month makes a lot of difference to the Indians wanting to study there.

Further, the living expenses too have come down in the UK from last year’s level. Students have to spend anywhere between oe 6,000 (Rs 4 lakh) and oe 7,000 (Rs 5 lakh) per annum based on their lifestyle and location.

Interestingly, the UK universities have also increased the scholarship amounts to encourage meritorious students to pursue higher studies, again due to global recession. ``Many are finding it difficult to pursue their studies due to financial problems.

As most of the universities in the UK are State-run, the British Government has increased the scholarship amounts to encourage overseas students to pursue higher studies,’’ explains Tamsin Grund, international officer at the University of Gloucestershire. Students can take advantage of the Tier-1 scheme which allows students to stay in the UK up to two years after successful completion of their studies to take up employment. Thus, students can cover their study costs by working in the UK and do not need work permit.

Students can also take up parttime work during their study up to 20 hours a week and full-time work during vacations.