Study in the UK from India
The UK’s main attraction for Indian students is the one-year master’s degree: a full postgraduate qualification in twelve months, followed by the right to stay and work. That post-study period is two years for now and falls to 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027. The UK does not cap student numbers, and visa decisions are quick. What has tightened is everything around it: dependants, English, and the salary you need to stay on afterwards.
The numbers that matter
Typical master’s length
1 year
Graduate visa after study
2 years, falling to 18 months from 1 January 2027. 3 years for PhD graduates
Health surcharge
£776 a year for students
Work during term
20 hours a week for degree students
Dependants
Only for research postgraduates and government-sponsored students
Salary needed to switch to a Skilled Worker visa
£41,700, or £33,400 as a new entrant
What you need for the Student visa
- A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies from a licensed university
- Tuition for the first year plus living costs for up to nine months, at the monthly amount the Home Office sets, higher for London. The money must be held for 28 consecutive days
- English at the level your university requires
- A tuberculosis test from an approved clinic in India
- ATAS clearance for some science and technology research courses
The 28-day rule is strict. If the balance dips below the required amount for a single day, the visa is refused.
After you graduate
The Graduate visa lets you work in any job, or look for work, with no sponsor. It cannot be extended. To stay longer you switch to a Skilled Worker visa, which now requires a degree-level job and the salary shown above. Plan for this from your first term: choose a field where graduate salaries reach the new-entrant threshold, and use the university’s careers service early.
Costs
Tuition for international students commonly runs from the low to the high tens of thousands of pounds for a master’s, with medicine and MBAs higher. London is the most expensive place to live. Many universities offer partial scholarships to Indian students, and they are worth applying for.
Questions people ask us most
Is IELTS required?
Your university decides. Many accept other tests or waive it for strong Class 12 English marks.
Can I bring my spouse?
Not on a taught master’s. Only on research degrees.
Can I get PR after studying in the UK?
Settlement comes after years on a work visa, not from study. Time as a student does not count on most routes.
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