The U.K has become a popular destination for international students due to the ease of admission and numerous opportunities available. Most of the Universities in the U.K accepts applications for three (3) major intakes:
- January Intake
- May Intake
- September Intake
Please find below the step-by-step process to guide you in applying and gaining admission into a U.K university:
- School and Course Selection: The first step to take in order to fulfill your U.K study dream is to research the schools and courses you would like to study. This should be done before the admission calls for these universities begin. It is usually advisable to consider more than one school in order to broaden your options, especially in the case of rejections.
- Check for Entry Requirements: After confirming the schools and courses you would be interested in pursuing, go to each school’s website and find out the requirements for entry. You can send emails to the consultants in various schools to seek clarification on the entry requirements.
- Prepare for Application: After getting information on the requirements, the next step is to prepare the necessary documents for the application process. These documents usually include;
- Valid passport
- Academic certificate and transcript
- Letters of reference
- Statement of purpose
- Language test results (in some cases).
It is best to have these documents prepared before admission starts in order to improve your chances.
- Apply to School: Once the school begins calls for admission, you can fill out the application forms for the schools you are interested in and upload the necessary documents. Application for postgraduate studies is done through UK Postgraduate Application and Statistical Services (UK PASS) or directly to the universities.
- Prepare Funds: While waiting to be granted admission which can take several weeks, it is advisable to prepare funds you would be needing to cover tuition and other expenses. Most schools require a proof of funds statement to show that the applicant is capable of paying the tuition fee and also has enough money to cover accommodation and other expenses before issuing a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS). The amount needed depends on the school and its location, for example, schools within London need a minimum of £1000 per month and outside London £1200 per month.
- Provisional Admission Offer: If your application is successful and you meet the schools’ requirements for admission, you are offered admission. This admission will provide details on the tuition and amount needed to show as funding. This also provides information on tuition installments to be paid, a certain amount is paid upfront (usually 30%) as tuition fees to secure admission and facilitate receipt of CAS. Fees are paid using the form A document in Nigerian banks which helps in purchasing foreign currency to pay for services. In addition to the first tuition installment payment, certain schools request bank statements to show proof of funding and in some cases, the banks are contacted by the school to confirm these funds.
- Health Insurance: In order to access free health care when you arrive in the UK, you are asked to pay a surcharge of £470 for a year during your process.
8. Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies: After payment of tuition and confirmation of funds, the school issues a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS). This CAS has a unique reference number that qualifies the applicant to apply for a UK Study Visa.
9. Applying for a Study Visa: Following receipt of the CAS, the student applies to the UK embassy for a study visa (this application can be done online via https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/apply). The documents necessary for this process are:
- a valid international passport
- CAS document/Number
- a statement of proof of funds or scholarship, tuberculosis test results, and health documents.
A Visa interview is scheduled and also a date for biometrics.
10. Travelling: After your visa is approved, you can proceed to book your flight tickets and prepare yourself by getting the necessary things like the right clothes for different weathers, electronics, and foodstuff you will be needing and you will be set to go.
