One of the common problems faced by students who wish to study abroad in UK is meeting living and education expenses. Generally the education expenses are paid via scholarships, education bank loans, personal and family savings, corporate sponsorships. Some students also opt for some sort of part time work to meet some of their financial requirements.

There are opportunities for abroad studying students to work in the UK during their studies. Special rules make it possible for them to work while studying. The opportunities available include part-time or vacation work, as well as course-related work placements.

Students can find out about part-time jobs that are available by consulting notice boards around their institution, looking in local newspapers and job centers, and visiting the college or university careers office. Many institutions have their own ‘job shop’, which display part-time and holiday vacancies and may issue job vacancy bulletins.

Piece of Advice to students – Please think carefully about how much time will be available for part time job during studies. Success on course should be priority. Your studies may be intensive and demanding and you should be realistic about the amount of time this will leave for part-time work. Many students find that working part-time helps improve their communication skills, but you must be careful not to let work interfere with your studies.

From 3rd March 2010, students studying below degree level or on a foundation degree course can work up to ten hours per week during term time and full-time during the holidays.

Degree level students and above can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during vacations.

After completion of the course

Students studying in the UK Universities are entitled to visa extension of 2 yrs after completion of their course under Post Study Work Visa Scheme (PSW)

Post-Study Worker (Tier 1)

The category of post-study worker (Tier 1) was introduced in the new points based system and allows the UK to retain the most able international graduates who have studied here and provides a bridge from being a student to becoming a skilled or highly skilled worker.

Abroad studying students who have completed an undergraduate or postgraduate degree course from recognized UK colleges may apply as a post-study worker within 12 months of obtaining their qualification.

During their stay here, post-study workers can look for work without needing to have a sponsor. The visa is valid for up to two years and it is expected that students will switch into another tier of the points based system as soon as they can.

Eligibility

To apply under the points based system and be accepted into the post-study worker category, students must pass a points-based assessment and score:

• 75 points for attributes which include – UK qualification, study at a UK institution,  immigration status during UK study and/or research, and the date of award of the qualification

• 10 points for English language

• 10 points for available maintenance (funds).

Applicants must demonstrate that they can maintain themselves and their dependants, as they will not have access to state benefits.

 As under Tier 1 (post-study worker), once registered in Tier 1 (General) the graduate is free to move around the labor market and employers need only check their documentation to employ them. 

Please refer to www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier1/general for more details on this subject.

Postgraduate courses in general are aimed for students willing to give their 110% to the study of their personal choice. Before opting to study abroad for your post graduation in UK MBA Universities, UK engineering universities or even a PG in UK Biotechnology, be forewarned that abroad studying for post graduation is not for the fainthearted. Besides having to give their all and some more to the course, students will also have to deal with the extra stress of supporting themselves. This means, they will have to manage a part time job as well as the hectic schedule of their course.

MBA in UK are a particularly intensive and challenging form of taught postgraduate course. Students are expected to work through a large amount of material, complete business projects and assignments and give regular presentations.

UK postgraduate programmes are intensive and students should be prepared for a busy workload. There will be classes to attend, a great deal of independent reading and/or experimental work to be done between classes, written assignments to be submitted on a regular basis and a substantial dissertation to write.

One of the most stimulating aspects of a taught programme of this kind is the opportunity to interact one-on-one with fellow students and the best professors and guides in the subject. You get the chance to share and compare ideas with other students on the course there by expanding your horizon and forging lifelong professional contacts for your future. There are abundant opportunities to work with other students in this way.

Programmes will usually have a number of compulsory courses and a pool of optional courses from which students can choose to suit their interests. Most Master’s degrees also provide training in research methodology and the opportunity to undertake a sustained piece of writing.

As a general rule, students on Master’s or Diploma programmes will be required to undertake a great deal of work on their own initiative. The difference between undergraduate and most taught postgraduate study is that the academic staff focus more on providing the framework for students to pursue their own interests, although they will always be available to give assistance. Indeed, especially in smaller programmes, the relationship between the academic staff and the students can be quite close. The onus is completely on the student to undertake their post graduation to the highest level of achievement and gain as much knowledge in the process as they can.

A huge amount of time, money and effort is involved in pursuing any post graduate degree. It calls for complete dedication and hard work for many years and many small and big disappointments lie in the path. There are no guarantees that any new research you might take up in the process will always be successful. Thus be very sure of yourself and the support from your academics and family, even consult some study abroad consultants before making your final decision; for once it’s made, there’s no looking back!

The study abroad opportunities in postgraduate education for students in the UK are among the best in the world. Because there are rigorous quality assurance and academic audit procedures, students can be certain that the education they receive in the UK will meet the highest standards. This is reflected in the high student pass rates. It’s not surprising that UK institutions are so highly regarded by the rest of the world. However, unless you are very sure about your choice of institute for pursuing Engineering or MBA in UK, it is advisable to take the help of UK education consultants who can guide you step by step with the various formalities as well as help you make the correct choice of career and institute for your study overseas.

Why choose UK for a postgraduate degree?

• UK higher education is quality assured by government-supported agencies and stringent assessment mechanisms. It awards internationally acceptable qualifications, so wherever students eventually live or work, employers and society in general will value their achievement.
• Very strong research base – the UK produces about nine per cent of the world’s papers and receives about ten per cent of the world’s citations. UK usually ranks second to the USA in terms of volume and is second only to USA among G8 nations in terms of research quality in most subject areas, which is important for students. The students have access to the most up-to-date knowledge, and are led by some of the leading professors and researchers in their field.
• Strong links exist between the academic community and employers; most postgraduate study is directly relevant to the world of work and therefore career prospects are improved accordingly.
• Intensive courses reduce the costs of both fees and living expenses, which means a postgraduate education is more affordable in the UK.
• Scholarships and fellowships are available for many courses, so even if students do not have private means or sponsorship, they may still have the opportunity to advance their knowledge.

UK Postgraduate (sometimes known as graduate) qualifications are an ideal building-block for a successful career. Every year, more than 185,000 students from all over the world choose the UK for their postgraduate studies and this number is increasing every year.

We successfully counsel postgraduate students as we have knowledge of the wide range and variety of courses available for UK postgraduate courses. Keeping in view the students’ requirements, we take into account their existing level of academic attainment, their career needs and aspirations, and the resources available to them.

Students opting to study abroad especially in UK, have to deal with problems like expensive education and unaffordable accommodation. UK education consultants can be a big help in addressing these concerns as they have a well developed network of institutions that can help you obtain UK scholarships and guide with institutional and private affordable accommodation. Besides, UK education consultants specialize in career counseling to suggest the best Engineering Universities in UK and the top UK MBA Institutes best suited to your study interest. Below is a guide to help you with different accommodation options you can choose from to make your study overseas more comfortable.

University Owned Accommodation:

Halls of residence

Here students live in study bedrooms, either alone or sharing with another student with sharing/ en-suit bathroom facilities. Breakfast and an evening meal are usually provided.
Self-catering halls (Specially for students going for PG programs)
Here, accommodation is similar to halls of residence, but students can buy and prepare their own food, sharing kitchen facilities with other students. Many international students prefer this type of accommodation because they can choose what to eat and how the food is prepared.

Institution accommodation must be arranged before coming to UK. When offered a place on a course a student will usually be asked if he or she would like institution accommodation or alternative private accommodation. All booking deadlines must be met to be sure of getting preferred accommodation. 

Studio Apartments

There are limited numbers of studio apartments or family accommodations for couples/ family, owned by the University.

Usually the rates given on the University owned accommodations are inclusive of Bills.

Privately Owned Accommodation:

Accommodation in the private sector includes shared flats or houses, lodgings, bedsits. Prices vary considerably. This can be a more risky option than student accommodation, and your university housing officer might not be able to help you if you run into problems with your landlord.

Flats and houses

Students may wish to share a furnished flat or house with friends after they have been in the UK for some time. They will share all the rent, gas and electricity bills. This sort of accommodation can be cheaper than others.

Lodgings

These consist of a rented room in a private house with the landlord or landlady living in the same house, perhaps with their family. Meals may be provided and kitchen facilities used. Lodgings can provide good company and support but students will not be completely independent.

Bedsits

A bed-sitting room is a single room for both living and sleeping. Cooking facilities may be in the bedsit or elsewhere in the building. Bathroom facilities are normally shared. Bedsits give independence and a lot of freedom, but may be lonely. They vary in size and quality so a student should never take a room without seeing it first.

Accommodation for mature students

If students plan to bring their families along, and are sure they have adequate finances to meet the extra costs involved, we would advise them to travel ahead of their families, before their course begins. This will help them to secure a suitable place to stay before the arrival of their dependants.

Accommodation for families in institution accommodation is extremely limited. In general, accommodation will have to be found in the private sector, although the institution’s accommodation office may be able to provide advice and lists of suitable accommodation agencies. Some institutions have schemes under which they manage accommodation on behalf of private landlords. 

www.educationuk.org
www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/information_sheets.php
www.accommodationforstudents.com/

http://www.ielts.britishcouncil.org.in/scholarships.php

The British Council is delighted to announce the launch of the British Council IELTS Scholarship for Indian students planning to study at universities overseas. In line with its mission to promote the global sharing of knowledge and ideas, the British Council will select eight students from India, each of whom will receive an award of Rs.3,00,000 towards the cost of tuition fees.

Application procedure:

Take an IELTS test with the British Council and receive your scores.

Download and complete the application form and go through the FAQs.

Last date for completed applications is 31 July 2010. You must complete selection Task.

Forty applicants will be shortlisted. We will notify you via email by 6 August 2010 whether you have been short-listed. Short-listed applicants will be required to make a ten minute presentation on a topic that will be communicated, followed by a brief interview.

We must receive from the short-listed applicants a letter of acceptance from the university you plan to attend prior to 20 August 2010.

Failure to submit your letter of acceptance by the 20 August deadline will result in your immediate removal from the short-list of applicants.

We will notify all short-listed applicants of the final result by email by 31 August 2010.

Essential eligibility criteria are that applicants must:

Be a citizen of India.

Begin full time postgraduate study outside India in 2010.

Attend a higher education institution that accepts IELTS as part of its admission requirements.

Have a valid IELTS score, with a minimum band score average 6.5.

Have taken their most recent IELTS test with the British Council.

Be able to provide an acceptance letter from the attending institution by 20 August 2010.

Important Documents
IELTS Scholarship Application Form
IELTS Scholarship FAQs

An original hard copy of your application should be sent to
IELTS Scholarship
British Council
British Deputy High Commission
737 Anna Salai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu – 600002

The complete application must be received by British Council by 31 July 2010.