The United Kingdom or the UK for short is consist of  England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom is a unitary parliamentary democracy country that ruled by a monarch Queen Elizabeth II as the head of states and runs by a prime minister that currently held by Boris Johnson along with his cabinets and The UK parliaments.

The United Kingdom is the fifth-largest economy in the world and second-largest Economy in Europe after Germany. Around 80% of UK’s GDP comes from the services sector especially in the financial service industry as its capital London is the largest financial center in the world. As unitary states, each state might have a different policy from other states. Take the education sector, for example. In Wales, small groups of the students are taught in Welsh at their school, in Scotland, the Scottish Universities usually have longer courses compare to the other Universities in other states in the United Kingdom , and in England has a tradition of independent schools and home education, where parents may choose which education system is good for the children by any permitted means. Generally, the education in the UK started at age 5 years old until  16 years old and fall into 4 stages; Primary Education, Secondary Education, Further Education, and Higher Education.

To know more about the education system in the United Kingdom check here.

Commonwealth Scholarships

Commonwealth scholarships are a scholarships program that is given and funded by The UK Department for International Development (DFID) to attract young bright students outside the UK to study in UK’s universities.

The eligible countries to apply for the scholarship provided by the Commonwealth Scholarship are the member of the Commonwealth countries outside the United Kingdom. See list Commonwealth Countries. Commonwealth scholarship and fellowship offer around 800 awards for the programs annually.

Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships

Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship is a scholarship program funded by DFID for low and middle-income Commonwealth countries to study in the UK. The scholarship is provided for a full-time master program in the UK’s universities that without the support of the scholarship the young and talented students from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries are not able financially to study in the UK.

The provided scholarship is offered for the following study themes;

• the development of science and technology,
• improvement of the healthcare system,
• global prosperity,
• strengthening global security in maintaining peace,
• resilience, and ability to respond in the crisis,
• access, inclusion, and opportunity.

The eligibility and requirements

For the scholarship, the participants must be a permanent resident, citizen, or granted refugee status from eligible Commonwealth countries and unable to afford study in the UK without the financial support from the Commonwealth Scholarship.

To apply the applicants must first choose the universities that are part funding agreements with the Commonwealth Scholarship to see the list of UK’s universities here. Each and every university that is on the list might have different requirements and a deadline for its admission process. It is advised to the candidates of the Commonwealth master’s scholarship to check the additional requirements needed upon applying to their chosen university and their chosen master study program.

The application for the master scholarship program should be applied online or/and through national nominating agencies from each respective Commonwealth countries member to see the list of national nominating agency and their contacts, It is normal that you might need additional requirements needed from your national nominating agencies for applying for the scholarship, so it is advised for you to have a plan for your application beforehand. the Commonwealth scholarship institution does not accept a direct application or any application submission outside mentioned eligible admission process policy.

To see more detailed information about the Commonwealth master’s scholarship check here and to inquire more information such as the next application deadline you can inquire here. Also whether there is another scholarship program specifically for your respective country check here.

Gates Cambridge Scholarship

Gates Cambridge Scholarship is a scholarship program for all international students outside the UK funded by Bill and Melinda foundation in Cambridge University.

Bill and Melinda’s foundation started back in 1997 and formally established in the year 2000 by Bill Gates founder of Microsoft and his wife’s to tackle extreme poverty and health problem in many developing countries. Bill and Melinda foundation has donated $210 million to Cambridge University back in October 2000 to help the students around the world including the US students in their study program and hopes that the scholar will bring positive impact and changes in their home country.

Gates Cambridge scholarship only provides for full-time Master and doctoral/Ph.D. in Cambridge University and for those who are not yet pursuing their higher degree program may take a look at other possible scholarships provided by Cambridge University.

Eligibility and Requirements

The eligible applicants for Gates Cambridge Scholarship are international students from outside the United Kingdom who have leadership capability and potential, commit to improves the lives of others, and have excellence intellectual ability and applying for full-time following programs;

• Full-time Ph.D. (three-year research degree program)
• MSc and Mitt (two-year research degree program)
• One-year post graduate course.

To see more detailed information check here.

To apply the applicants via the Cambridge University online portal and provide following documents to apply for the Gates Scholarship program.

Gates Cambridge Statement; approximately 500 words explaining why you need the scholarship. This is important to shortlisted candidates who meet the mentioned criteria for the scholarship.

CV/Resume: Research Proposal for the Ph.D. Program

Gates reference; two reference letter for admission process, this is very important for your candidacy. It is very important for your reference letter to be written by someone who has proper standing and understands the criteria needed for applying for the  Gates Scholarship. It can be your university professor or dean, superior in your working environment, head of your non-profit organization that understands your good personalities and qualities. And it is very important the referee understand that gates scholarship mission is improving the lives of others, therefore the referee should be objectively convincing in writing your leadership potential and commitment to helping others. To find out more about the Gates Cambridge Scholarship you can visit the official website of Gates Cambridge Scholarship.

Good Luck.

Whether it’s the fast-paced lifestyle of London you’re looking for, or the more laid-back culture of Edinburgh, as a prospective international student, you are guaranteed to fall in love with one of the United Kingdom’s many popular study abroad destinations.

It’s no wonder that the number of international students choosing to study abroad in the United Kingdom for their Bachelor’s or Master’s degree is increasing rapidly. Whether you’ve considered the UK as a study abroad destination to further your education or you are still on the fence, here are 7 great reasons why you should study in the UK!

1. Home to Some of the World’s Best Universities

Studying in the UK means studying at a world-renowned institution. The United Kingdom currently has six institutions in the Global University Rankings with the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge both scoring 100% when it comes to their academic reputations. There’s a reason why the UK produces 14% of the world’s most cited research papers!

2. Internationally Recognized Degrees and Qualifications

The quality of the universities in the UK means that your degree will be held in high regard by employers the world over, giving you an edge over other applicants. As a graduate from a UK university, you’re amongst an incredibly talented alum – the British Council estimates that 38% of Nobel Laureates who studied abroad did it in the UK.

3. A Cheap Study Destination

The UK is substantially cheaper than other English-speaking study abroad destinations such as the US and Australia when it comes to paying for higher education. Tuition fees in the UK sit between at least £2,000 and £3,000 cheaper than the United States and Australia.

You also don’t need as much in your bank in order to apply for your visa to study in the UK, just £16,000 compared to the US (£18,000+) and Australia (£25,000+).

4. A Huge (and Growing!) Student Population

The United Kingdom has universities in nearly every city, meaning that, wherever you go, there is a thriving student population – and it’s growing! UK student numbers rise every year across all levels of higher education so you will always be surrounded by like-minded individuals from diverse backgrounds (and, more importantly, shops and restaurants that offer student discounts.)

Integrating into such student populations will be the first step to making lifelong friends from around the globe, one of the most special aspects of studying abroad.

5. Free Healthcare to Keep You Healthy

The United Kingdom has the National Health Service, which means if you are studying in the UK for 6 months or more you are able to access healthcare completely free of charge. You still have to pay for medicine, but this is also capped under the NHS and you will only ever pay £8.60 per item, regardless of how expensive the medicine you have been prescribed is.

This comes as a great benefit to students who are worried about funding their study abroad experience. Hopefully, you will not get sick, but the peace of mind just in case is worth it!

6. Work Opportunities While You Study

Your student visa means that you’re able to work up to 20 hours per week in a part-time job. The UK also has a guaranteed minimum wage, meaning you could earn a minimum of £118.00 before tax per week to help fund your studies.

Or, you can consider an internship through your university at one of the many internationally famous companies based in the UK, such as the BBC, Rolls Royce, or Burberry. One way or another, your resume will look great after completing your study abroad experience.

7. Highest Student Satisfaction Rating

The UK boasts one of the highest student satisfaction rates amongst English speaking countries, with over 90% of the whopping 2.32 million students in the UK happy with their experience.

This is an impressive number, especially considering the unique and various locations, universities, and programs offered across the UK! Therefore, if you’re still undecided about where to study abroad, you are almost sure to love an experience in the UK, no matter in which city you end up.

So, what do you think? Are you ready to explore all the amazing universities and programs that the UK has to offer?

The visa application process is straightforward, and for genuine students, it’s not that difficult to obtain a ‘Tier 4 Study Visa’.

Many Nepali students dream of going to the United Kingdom in pursuit of education and work experiences. The destination is looked upon as a welcoming environment for international students, giving them a chance to meet people from all across the world.

Talking about why Nepali students should choose the UK for abroad studies, Bickram Shrestha, Education Officer at British Council, shares, “Compared to other countries, the length of courses are shorter on average in the UK, and its tutorial + lecture + project-based approach to study is very effective and represents value for money.”

“Business administration, computer science, engineering and technology, and social studies are the most popular subjects Nepali students go to the UK for,” informs Shrestha.According to him, the universities and colleges in the UK provide a good student welfare service and free medical care to all international students, giving them an access to a good cultural and social life.

For those not at the right level to enter a degree level, there’s a wide range of Access, Foundation and Bridge courses to choose from. Then after, the students can go for undergraduate and post graduate courses. The destination also promises the students’ improvement in their English, which in return improves the job prospects and enhances international links.

The visa application process is straightforward, and for genuine students, it’s not that difficult to obtain a ‘Tier 4 Study Visa’. Attend the visa application center to submit your application and biometric information and you will be called for an interview, which will be focused on your reasons for going to the UK. This is known as a credibility interview. The visa officer will consider the report of the interview alongside your visa application and documents. You can apply for a visa up to three months before your date of travel to the UK. If you have any problem, you can visit the British Council for help.

However, before anything else, one should be aware of the fact that living and studying in the UK is expensive. According to Shrestha, the standard living expenses for a student in Inner London is £1,000 per month, and £800 per month for those living in Outer London or elsewhere in the UK. Tuition fees vary according to choice of courses and universities. The foundation courses will cost around £4,000 to £12,000, undergraduate courses £7,000 to £25,000 and post graduate courses will cost between £4,000 and £34,000.

But the good news is, the UK Government provides the scholarship called Chevening (www.chevening.org) to deserving Nepali students. It covers all the expenses including air fare and accommodation during the study period in the UK. Similarly, there are Erasmus Mundus, and university-specific scholarships that the students can apply for. University-specific scholarships can range from a grant of £500 to £3,000, 25 per cent tuition fee waiver, 50 per cent tuition fee waiver and some university may offer a full scholarship. For more information on university-specific scholarships, you can visit official websites of universities you’re interested in, or check (www.educationuk.org)

Students doing their undergrads or above can also work legally for up to 20 hours a week. Shrestha further elaborates, “However, there’s no limitation in the working hours during holidays. If the students are doing a four-year undergraduate program that allows students to work during the entire third year, then they can work one year as an industrial attachment, either voluntarily or on a paid basis. Universities will help them get placement for such a degree. And after PhD, they get a year’s time to establish themselves as either an entrepreneur or a researcher, or find a job in the UK market.”

A recent article published in The Guardian by Shreya Paudel, a Nepali student studying International Politics at Middlesex University, London, reflects on the emotional and financial crises faced by international students in the UK. In his article, he quotes Daniel Stevens, the international students’ officer for the National Union of Students as saying, “For poor international students or those that find serious problems with their institution, the struggle is vast. There’s rarely a safety net to fall back on or route for a reprieve. The government needs to be doing more to ensure that international students are adequately protected and empower them to seek redress against institutions.”

However, some international students do get to realize the most ideal version of their dream of studying in the UK. Kushal Joshi shares an example.

“One of my cousins had a strong background in Environment Science with a degree from Kathmandu University and had experiences of going on climate change related seminars in Brazil and other places. So he applied to do Masters in the same subject in one of the mainstream universities. He was not only granted a full scholarship, but his travel fare to and from Nepal was taken care of, and he also used to get money for his living costs. 

Such scholarships are extremely rare and you need to research quite heavily to find one. Certain universities are kinder than others and sometimes it depends on the course as well. You are less likely to find a scholarship for medicine or business. But a rarer specialist subject like climate studies, which is for the benefit of the wider society, might be funded by organizations to encourage students to study it more. He is now near the end of his course and due to the generous scholarship he got, he didn’t need to work and could totally focus on his studies,” he elucidates.

Another student, Arpu Aryal, doing Chartered Institute of Management Accountants in Glyndwr University in London, has a happy story to share too. “The course I’m doing is pretty tough, but the good thing is that all the study materials are provided by the university itself, so we don’t have to spend money buying books and other study materials. This seemingly little facility has shoved a significant amount of financial burden off my shoulders,” she quips. 

source: ARYAL, SUPRASANNA

Australia is the country with the 3rd largest number of international students from different countries and different cultures. Many international students in Australia pay full fees for their degree. Although Australia has many different scholarships for international students to help them with their educational expenses. These scholarships can cover the full or half of your expenses of studies, which is a great help for international students studying in Australia. Apart from education or study expense, there are other scholarships that cover other costs like accommodation or living expenses, etc.

Many students are interested in gaining one of these scholarships, so they can get help pay for their studies in Australia. International students who are willing to get these scholarships should know that most of these international student scholarships are based on academic merit and are very competitive. Now if you are planning to gain any of these international student scholarships, the thing you should know that it’s not going to be easy as many international students are willing to get it, so they can live life abroad a little more easily.

To help you all Edvise hub decided to mention a few important tips that can help you get a scholarship to pay for your degree and get the best education. Read on to know more about it!

The following websites outline some of the different scholarship available in Australia:

• Australian Awards
• Study in Australia Scholarship Search
• International Federation of University Women (IFUW)
• Endeavor Scholarships and Fellowships

Do your Homework on available scholarships:

The first thing can be the research, about all the available international student scholarships. Getting information and details about different scholarships, its requirements and criteria. Common scholarship providers in Australia are the educational institutes, Government, or private or nonprofit organization. You have to check all the details properly to find one of the most suitable scholarships for you.

It’s better to start as soon as possible because as earlier you begin with your research, the more opportunities you would have to get one of these. Make sure to write down on a paper and make a list of all the available scholarships, the application process, requirements, and its deadline of each scholarship.

Make sure to go through the criteria and process of each scholarship thoroughly before applying for any. Some scholarships are maybe for certain program, course or level of studies (for research work, etc.) Also, be prepared for the scholarship, because they have strict academic requirements, you should work on your grades if you are willing to get a scholarship to study abroad in Australia.

Participate in community life:

Most of the scholarships are based on academic merit or financial needs. However, there are some scholarships in Australia that can be awarded for community participation, like participation in community services, groups, clubs or sporting teams. Australian educational institutes do offer scholarships for students who are active, supportive in their community and have strong leadership skills. So make sure to write all about your activities and participation in a community in your scholarship application. It does not matter if `you are applying for academic or financial need scholarship, mentioning your capabilities and activities will improve your chances of getting a scholarship in Australia.

Apply for as many as possible:

Australia has plenty of scholarships option for international students, some might cover for full academic expenses some might half, but they can help you get through with your degree in Australia easily. And it is suggested to apply for as many scholarships as possible. Do not need to limit your search because you never know what can be the best suit for you. University scholarships for international students are mostly awarded by the faculty, so make sure to check with your faculty.

Ask for the help:

Your scholarship application means a lot and sometimes it can be the only way to get a scholarship. Therefore, it’s important that your application should be clear, concise and effective. You have to make sure that there is not even a single mistake and you are stating your point clearly because the single mistake can cost you the scholarship. To be on the safer side it’s suggested to get some professional help for writing a proper application. To prevent the common mistakes like grammar, spelling issues or lack of details. Also, you can ask some trustworthy sources to review your application like a teacher, parents or even a friend.

Make sure to review the requirements and criteria:

Now when you are done with an application, make sure to check the requirements and criteria again. Check, that you have submitted everything you need to apply for a particular scholarship also; you have answered all the needed questions in detail do check the word limit as well. If you have any questions or difficulty, it is better to ask for help, or you can even confirm it directly from the scholarship provider before submitting your final documents or application for international student scholarship.

Tips to help students who are willing to apply for an international student scholarship in Australia, Being an education consultancy, Faith tries to help students who are willing to study abroad in Australia or are already in Australia at its fullest. If you have any questions or if you want to know more details about admission in Australia You can contact us at info@faith.edu.np . You can also check our other blogs on Australia in the blog section.