Over 50,000 Indian students move to the UK for higher education every year, and for good reason. Not only do the universities of the United Kingdom provide top-quality courses and education, but they also offer a wide range of job opportunities and placement packages.
Choosing a course in the UK that aligns with your goals and gives you high returns is the first step towards building a sustainable career. To delve deeper into this, with the UK as your destination in mind, read on!
Key Highlights
The top courses to study in the UK are Medicine, Engineering, Business Administration (MBA), Computer Science, and Law.
The cost of studying in the UK is between GBP 24,000 and GBP 55,000 per year (INR 27.6 - INR 63.25 lakhs).
Professionals in the UK healthcare sector earn the highest salaries, with annual incomes ranging from GBP 60,000 to GBP 150,000 (INR 69.6 Lakhs to INR 1.72 Crore)
The United Kingdom remains one of the most popular destinations for international education, especially for Indian students. From globally ranked universities to robust career outcomes, the UK offers exceptional value for both academic and professional growth.
Here are the top reasons to study in the UK:
The UK is home to some of the best universities in the world, like Oxford, Cambridge and UCL, offering courses across a wide range of disciplines. Whether you're interested in traditional fields like engineering, finance, and law, or modern, in-demand domains like fintech, UX design, and sustainability, UK institutions have you covered.
UK degrees are typically shorter than those in other countries, 3 years for undergraduate programs and 1 year for most master’s programs. This reduces your overall tuition and living costs while allowing you to enter the workforce sooner for a quicker return on investment.
Top employers like Deloitte, Google, Barclays, PwC, and GSK actively recruit from UK campuses. Many international students secure well-paying jobs right after graduation, making the study experience financially rewarding.
The UK’s Graduate Route visa allows international students to stay and work for up to 2 years (3 years for PhD graduates) after completing their studies. This opens doors to gaining valuable work experience and possibly settling in the UK long-term.
Top courses in the UK include business analytics, computer science, and data science. Higher education in the UK is acclaimed for its academic quality and high ROI.
Here are the most in-demand courses to study in the UK:
Let’s discuss the top courses in detail:
The one component that is common to the fields of consulting, finance, marketing, and technology is the importance of analysing company performance and making data-driven, objective decisions. Business analytics is precisely what helps you achieve this, and there is no better place to study it than the UK. Courses here blend statistical analysis and business intelligence and teach through case studies and live industry projects.
The most popular courses in this field are M.Sc. in Business Transformation, M.Sc. in Management (Business Analytics), and M.Sc. in Operational Research and Risk Analytics.
Business Analytics is a rapidly growing field, with an increasing number of universities offering the course. The top universities for the study of the same are listed below.
|
Best University |
Fees in GBP |
Fees in INR |
|---|---|---|
|
University of Leeds |
32,250 |
37.42 lakhs |
|
University of Edinburgh |
33,100 |
38.40 lakhs |
|
Warwick Business School |
37,270 |
43.24 lakhs |
|
Cambridge University |
38,140 |
44.25 lakhs |
The average tuition fees for Business Analytics range from GBP 18,000 - GBP 29,500 (INR 18.24 - INR 29.9 lakhs). This course is also specifically known for providing a strong ROI. To know more about the expected fees, see the table below.
|
Course Offered |
Avg Fees in GBP |
Avg Fees in INR |
|---|---|---|
|
BSc in Data Science and Business Analytics |
35,000 |
40.61 lakhs |
|
MSc in Business Analytics |
23,500 to 41,000 |
24.49 to 42.73 lakhs |
Program lengths can vary according to course specifications, but in general, the BSc programs last for 3-4 years, while MSc programs are 1-2 years long.
While there are different requirements for the course level and university, some general guidelines are listed below.
Some of the top-paying jobs with their descriptions and salaries are as follows.
Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are the top companies that recruit business analysts.
After graduation, you can apply for the 2-year post-study work visa (Graduate Route). Getting this experience in the UK can put you on the fast track to PR through the skilled worker route.
If you go for a data science study in the UK, you will gain proficiency in machine learning, statistics, and data ethics, all of which are greatly sought after globally. Courses tend to focus on practical projects, industry partnerships, and learning about AI and big data use. Graduates end up working in finance, healthcare, technology, and government, influencing the way the world utilizes data.
The most popular programs in Data Science are MSc Health Data Analytics & Machine Learning, MA Big Data in Culture & Society, and BSc Data Analytics.
With the catalytic rise of AI and machine learning, many top universities have quickly added specialised data science courses to their curricula. To know more about the fees for the same, refer to the table below.
|
Best University |
Fees in GBP |
Fees in INR |
|---|---|---|
|
King’s College London |
37,800 |
43.47 lakhs |
|
University of Bristol |
35,500 |
40.82 lakhs |
|
University of Edinburgh |
36,800 |
42.32 lakhs |
|
London School of Economics and Political Science |
29,200 |
33.58 lakhs |
You can expect to pay an average amount of GBP 19,000 - GBP 40,000 (INR 19.25 - INR 40.54 lakhs) per annum for a Data Science course. The section below covers the study level breakdown of the fees for the same.
|
Course Offered |
Avg Fees in GBP |
Avg Fees in INR |
|---|---|---|
|
MA Big Data in Culture & Society |
GBP 15,000 - GBP 40,000 |
17.25 - 46 lakhs |
|
MSc Health Data Analytics |
GBP 15,000 - GBP 40,000 |
17.25 - 46 lakhs |
|
BSc Data Science & Analytics |
GBP 10,000 - GBP 30,000 |
11.55- 34.5 lakhs |
In most universities, the BSc course is 3 years long, while the MA/MSc course lasts from 1-2 years, depending on full-time or part-time study.
While there are different requirements for the course level and university, some general guidelines are listed below.
Some of the top-paying jobs with their descriptions and salaries, in this domain, are as follows.
The top employers of Data Science graduates in the UK are Accenture, Databricks, and Amazon.
Data science professionals are in very high demand, which makes getting PR through the skilled worker route much easier than in other sectors.
Universities in the UK will provide you with solid foundations in programming, data science, and software development, while addressing real-world challenges through research and innovation. The UK is an IT leader, which makes courses here very responsive to industry trends, providing you with the skills and exposure necessary to excel in a rapidly changing tech world.
The most popular courses in this field are B.Sc. in Computer Science, M.Sc. in Advanced Computer Science, and M.Sc. in Human Computer Interaction.
Of late, more and more universities are offering CS courses due to their ubiquitous global prevalence, and the UK is no exception. Listed below are some of the top universities that offer this course.
|
Best University |
Fees in GBP |
Fees in INR |
|---|---|---|
|
Oxford University |
59,260 |
68.76 lakhs |
|
UCL |
41,000 |
47.57 lakhs |
|
Kings College London |
35,800 |
41.53 lakhs |
|
Cambridge University |
41,124 |
47.72 lakhs |
Coding and programming will soon be expected in almost every field, and might even become most people’s second language. Thus, the programs being offered in this domain are numerous. The most popular ones are:
|
Course Offered |
Avg Fees in GBP |
Avg Fees in INR |
|---|---|---|
|
BSc in Computer Science |
16,624 |
19.20 lakhs |
|
MSc in Advanced Computer Science |
15000 - 30000 |
17.41 - 34.82 lakhs |
|
MSc in Human Computer Interaction |
15500 - 29000 |
17.99 - 33.66 lakhs |
Program lengths can vary according to course specifications, but in general, the BSc programs last for 3-4 years, while MSc programs are 1-2 years long.
While there are different requirements for the course level and university, some general guidelines are listed below.
Some of the top-paying jobs with their descriptions and salaries, in this domain, are as follows.
The top employers in the Computer Science domain are Meta, Google and Microsoft in the UK.
Computer science graduates go on to take many jobs that are on the Shortage Occupation List. This significantly boosts their chances of getting PR through the skilled worker route.
The UK is a popular country among business students due to its international business centers and solid academic status. UK universities focus on critical thinking and practical experience, preparing you for careers ranging from finance to entrepreneurship. Leaders like Anshu Jain, former CEO of Deutsche Bank, are an excellent example of British Business acumen.
As the UK is home to some of the world’s largest companies, the domains of Marketing, Finance, HR, and Operations never go out of fashion.
With the London Stock Exchange close by, students across the globe flock to the UK. It is thus no surprise that the high demand for steam is reflected in the tuition fee. To know more about the same, see the table below.
|
Best University |
Fees in GBP |
Fees in INR |
|---|---|---|
|
Oxford University |
41,130 |
47.72 lakhs |
|
Imperial College London |
40,700 |
47.22 lakhs |
|
UCL |
37,500 |
43.51 lakhs |
|
Cambridge University |
41,120 |
47.71 lakhs |
On average, the tuition fee for a Master’s in Management is greater than for other courses due to the high expected ROI. To get an idea of the same, look at the table below.
|
Course Offered |
Avg Fees in GBP |
Avg Fees in INR |
|---|---|---|
|
Master’s in Financial Analysis |
49,950 |
57.4 lakhs |
|
BSc Business and Management |
37,000 |
42.5 lakhs |
While course durations can vary according to university, a BSc takes 3-4 years, while a Master’s usually takes 1-2 years to complete.
While there are different requirements for the course level and university, some general guidelines are listed below.
The following jobs provide an overview of the responsibilities and salaries of professionals working in the Management domain.
McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and Bain & Company are the top employers of MBA graduates in the UK.
After finishing an MBA in the UK, you can remain for 2 years under the Graduate Route. However, MBA roles often require past work experience and may not easily lead to visa sponsorship unless you obtain a high-level position in consulting, finance, or tech.
The United Kingdom is home to the NHS (National Health Service), which is renowned worldwide for its efficiency and quality of care. If you study here, you will learn through a patient-centered approach, a strong focus on clinical research, and integrated medical training. The healthcare sector is also well known to provide the highest incomes in the UK.
The popular programs here include MB BChir, MBChB, BSc Medicine, MBBS Medicine, and BMBS Medicine.
In the UK, you can study medicine at some of the world’s oldest and most prestigious universities. Degrees from here have global recognition, meaning that you can practice in India after graduation as well. The following are some of the most prominent universities.
|
Best University |
Fees in GBP |
Fees in INR |
|---|---|---|
|
Imperial College London |
50,400 |
58.48 lakhs |
|
Queen Mary University of London |
49,950 |
57.96 lakhs |
|
Oxford University |
46,600 |
54.07 lakhs |
|
Cambridge University |
70,554 |
81.87 lakhs |
Since Medicine is highly sought after and requires lots of infrastructure to be taught well (labs, hospitals, etc), its fees tend to be higher. To get an idea of the different degrees in this field, refer to the table below.
|
Degree name |
Fees in GBP |
Fees in INR |
|---|---|---|
|
MBBS |
42,000 |
48.73 lakhs |
|
MBChB |
38,000 |
44.09 lakhs |
|
MB BChir |
67,000 |
77.74 lakhs |
An MBBS usually lasts for 5.5 years, while MBChB and MB BChir take up 5-6 years.
While there are different requirements for the course level and university, some general guidelines are listed below.
The most lucrative jobs in this sector, with their descriptions, are as follows.
In the Public sector, the NHS is the biggest employer in the UK, while several corporate healthcare companies also recruit graduates.
After finishing your MBBS from a top Medical School in the UK, you can apply for the Foundation Programme, which leads into specialty training. The NHS actively sponsors medical graduates, and doctors are on the Shortage Occupation List, which makes your path to permanent residency smoother and more structured.
Finance education in the UK combines analytical ability with business ethics, which is perfect for handling the intricacies of contemporary global markets. With London as a global financial centre, you'll have direct access to industry experts and career prospects. Alumni such as Rishi Sunak, a former Prime Minister and Chancellor with a finance degree, demonstrate the success UK finance graduates can achieve.
MSc in Financial Economics, MSc Finance, and BSc Finance are popular courses in this field.
With the London Stock Exchange close by, it is unsurprising that some of the most premier institutions in the UK offer top courses in Finance and Accounting.
To get an idea of the fees charged by top universities, refer to the table below.
|
Best University |
Fees in GBP |
Fees in INR |
|---|---|---|
|
University of Oxford |
35,260 - 59,260 |
40.5 - 68.1 lakhs |
|
Imperial College London |
47,500 |
54.62 lakhs |
|
London School of Economics and Political Science |
29,200 |
33.58 lakhs |
|
University of Cambridge |
57,850 |
66.52 lakhs |
Finance, Accounting, and International Business tend to cost more due to the high ROI and demand. On average, you can expect to spend GBP 20,000 - GBP 45,000 (INR 20.27 - INR 45.61 lakhs). For a study-level breakdown, refer to the table below.
|
Degree Name |
Fees in GBP |
Fees in INR |
|---|---|---|
|
Masters in Finance |
32,000 |
36.8 lakhs |
|
MSc in Finance and Accounting |
40,000 |
46 lakhs |
|
BSc Finance |
18,700 - 36,000 |
28.5 - 41.4 lakhs |
On average, an undergraduate degree in Finance takes 3 years in the UK, while a postgraduate degree takes 1-2 years.
While there are different requirements for the course level and university, some general guidelines are listed below.
The two careers in this domain, along with their descriptions and salaries, are listed below.
Chartered Accountant / Finance Director Track: If numbers excite you, this stream is for you. With an average salary of GBP 90,000 (INR 1.03 crore), you would keep the books straight, optimise tax, and steer corporate finance in this domain.
Investment Banker (Analyst/Associate): With one of the highest-paying careers, these professionals structure deals and raise capital for their companies on a global scale. Their annual remuneration is GBP 84,000 (INR 96.6 lakhs).
Management Consultant: These professionals solve strategic problems for big clients, ranging from market entry to cost cuts. Their annual salary is GBP 60,800 (INR 69.9 lakhs).
The top employers of finance graduates in the UK are PwC, Deloitte, EY, and KPMG.
After graduation, you can stay in the UK for up to 2 years through the graduate route. Getting PR through this domain is not easy due to high competition, but it can be done if you get professional credentials like ACCA or CIMA for roles in auditing, etc.
UK law schools provide a challenging foundation in fields such as constitutional, criminal, corporate, and international law, which are favorites among Indian students who want to pursue global legal careers. If you take up law studies in the UK, you'll get to interact with case-based learning, critical debate, and historical legal systems that have created modern democracies. Alumni typically end up being top lawyers, judges, and public figures.
Law gives one of the most competitive and rewarding careers in the UK, a country which is well known for its legal might. The most popular courses here are LLB and LLM, specifically in the Corporate world.
Almost every top university in the UK offers a course in Law, because they recognise the need for good lawyers in every firm. To know more about the fee structure in top universities, refer to the table below.
|
Best University |
Fees in GBP |
Fees in INR |
|---|---|---|
|
Oxford University |
41,130 |
47.72 lakhs |
|
UCL |
31,100 |
36.09 lakhs |
|
Kings College London |
31,600 |
36.67 lakhs |
|
Cambridge University |
27,024 |
31.36 lakhs |
The average tuition fee for Law courses in the UK is in the range of GBP 19,500 to GBP 44,000 (INR 19.76 - INR 44.59 lakhs). The estimates according to the course are listed below.
|
Degree name |
Fees in GBP |
Fees in INR |
|---|---|---|
|
LLB |
44000 |
51.07 lakhs |
|
LLM |
49000 |
56.88 lakhs |
An LLB, being an undergraduate course that lasts for a duration of 3 years, is studied on its own, and 5 years if studied through an Integrated Programme. An LLM, being a PG course, lasts for a duration of 2 years.
While there are different requirements for the course level and university, some general guidelines are listed below.
The top jobs in this field, with descriptions and salaries, are as follows.
The top employers for law graduates in the UK are Clifford Chance, Deloitte Legal, and Clyde and Co.
Indian graduates have a more complicated path, since one has to pass the SQE (Solicitors Qualifying Examination) to practice in the UK. PR is attainable if you work for a sponsoring firm, but it is competitive, particularly for international students who do not have UK legal work experience.
The UK is home to a rich variety of Architecture, ranging from Gothic to Modern. They thus provide the best education to aspiring students through a combination of design theory with practical studio work and sustainability-driven innovation. Alumni of British colleges like Sir Norman Foster and Edward Lyutens, who reshaped skylines around the globe, demonstrate the international influence of architects who trained in the UK.
Master of Architecture, BSc Construction Management, and MSc Construction Project Management are the most popular careers in this field.
The UK has several universities that offer top courses in Architecture, the quality of which is unparalleled. See the table below to get an idea of the fees in the highest-ranking universities.
|
Best University |
Fees in GBP |
Fees in INR |
|---|---|---|
|
The University of Manchester |
28,000 |
32.2 lakhs |
|
Lancaster University |
24,700 |
28.4 lakhs |
|
UCL |
31,100 |
36.10 lakhs |
|
Cambridge University |
35,380 |
41.07 lakhs |
You can expect to spend an average of GBP 17,000 - GBP 40,000 (INR 17.23 - INR 40.5 lakhs) for tuition fees in this domain. For a more detailed breakdown, refer to the table below.
|
Degree name |
Fees in GBP |
Fees in INR |
|---|---|---|
|
Master of Architecture |
20,000 - 50,000 |
23 - 57.5 lakhs |
|
BSc Construction Management |
15,000 - 30,000 |
17.25 - 34.5 lakhs |
|
MSc Construction Project Management |
11,000 - 45,000 |
12.65 - 51.75 lakhs |
Depending on the level of study, course durations can vary. For a general overview, however, an MA/ MSc takes 2 years, and a BSc takes 3 years.
While there are different requirements for the course level and university, some general guidelines are listed below.
The top careers in this field, along with job descriptions and average salaries, are listed below.
Gensler, HOK, and Perkins and Will are the top employers of UK architectural graduates.
Skilled labour is in short supply in the UK in areas such as construction and infrastructure, including architecture and project management. Prospects are improved for graduates from these fields of sponsorship and long-term PR opportunities, particularly if employed towards RIBA accreditation or if you are employed on the Shortage Occupation List.
Through universities such as Cambridge, you'll also have access to state-of-the-art labs and real-world challenges to develop hands-on skills that employers look for. A nation with a rich heritage of invention, from the Industrial Revolution to today’s discoveries, the UK provides you with a platform on which to stand on the shoulders of greats such as Sir James Dyson and create the future.
Engineering is diverse, versatile, and indispensable for the smooth functioning of any country. The UK offers all the traditional courses, such as Civil, Mechanical, and Electrical engineering, to its students.
While courses may be old, the techniques used to teach them are new. If you join the following universities, you’ll be taught the newest skills by the best professors.
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