UKBuilt for International Students Heading to the UK

Your Complete Guide
to Studying in the UK.

Search 500+ UK colleges and universities, find scholarships, prepare for IELTS, track your Student Visa, and plan your Graduate Route — all in one free tool.

Browse Schools

Free · No credit card · Works for all visa types

600K+
International students in UK
160+
UCAS-registered institutions
2 yrs
Graduate Route post-study work
£10K–£38K
Typical international tuition/yr

Search UK Colleges & Universities

Tuition · Ofsted ratings · visa sponsorship · IELTS requirements · student count

Search for a UK college or university above, or click a popular school to explore

Everything You Need to Study in the UK

Not just information — an interactive planning tool that tracks every step from UCAS to Graduate Route.

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Search 500+ UK Colleges & Universities

Explore FE colleges, Russell Group universities, and specialist institutions across all four nations — with tuition, IELTS requirements, visa sponsorship status, and Ofsted ratings.

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UCAS Application Checklist

Track all 14 UCAS steps — personal statement (4,000 chars), references, choices, Hub submission, and conditional offers — with wallet uploads and deadline reminders.

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Student Visa Tracker

Interactive checklist for your UK Student Visa: CAS letter, IHS surcharge payment (£776/yr), online application, biometrics appointment, BRP collection, and 90-day entry rule.

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Graduate Route Visa Guide

Stay in the UK for 2 years (3 for PhD) after graduation — no employer sponsor needed. Track your switch date, Graduate Route eligibility, and path to Skilled Worker visa.

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IELTS & TOEFL Practice

AI-graded writing tasks, reading sections, and listening practice. Prep for the IELTS Band 6.0–7.5 most UK universities require — free diagnostic included.

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UK Scholarship Finder

Chevening, GREAT, Commonwealth, and hundreds of institutional scholarships. Filter by nation, level, and eligibility — with direct application links and deadline alerts.

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Cost of Living Calculator

Annual cost breakdowns from FE colleges (£15K/yr total) to Russell Group London (£60K+/yr). Includes NHS surcharge, housing deposit, and proof-of-funds calculator.

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Pre-Departure & Arrival Checklist

10 must-complete tasks before and after arrival: BRP collection, NHS GP registration, UK bank account, National Insurance number, council tax exemption certificate, UK SIM setup.

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Your 18-Month UK Application Timeline

UCAS, Student Visa, and CAS deadlines all on one timeline. We keep you on track.

18 Months Out
Research UCAS-registered institutions
Register for IELTS Academic / PTE Academic
Begin 4,000-char UCAS personal statement
12 Months Out
UCAS by Oct 15 for Oxford/Cambridge/medicine
Most courses: UCAS deadline Jan 31
Apply for Chevening / GREAT / institutional scholarships
6 Months Out
Receive CAS letter from university
Pay NHS Immigration Health Surcharge (£776/yr)
Apply for UK Student Visa online (£363 fee)
1 Month Out
Attend biometrics appointment (VAC)
Arrange UK bank account & accommodation
Prepare documents for UK Border Force entry

English Tests for UK Admission & Visa

IELTS Academic is the most widely accepted — PTE Academic is also Home Office approved with results in 48 hours.

IELTS Academic

🌍 Most accepted

Required by 99% of UK universities. Tests listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Band 6.0–7.5 required depending on program and institution. Also accepted by UK Home Office for Student Visa.

Score: Band 0–92h 45min
💡 The standard for UK university admission and visa. Take Academic (not General Training) for UG/PG entry.

Pearson PTE Academic

💻 Fast results

Fully AI-scored, computer-based. Results in 48 hours. Accepted by 99% of UK universities and approved by UK Home Office for Student Visa — a fast, modern IELTS alternative.

Score: 10–90~2 hrs
💡 Results in 48 hours and accepted for both university admission and UK visa — great IELTS alternative.

TOEFL iBT

🎓 Academic

Accepted by most UK universities for undergraduate and postgraduate admission. Not accepted by UK Home Office for visa purposes — only IELTS, PTE Academic, or Trinity SELT are approved.

Score: 0–120~3 hrs
💡 Use for school admission only — UK Home Office requires IELTS, PTE Academic, or Trinity SELT for visa.

Cambridge C1/C2

🏅 No expiry

C1 Advanced (CAE) and C2 Proficiency (CPE) have no expiry date. Widely accepted by UK universities — particularly for English Literature, humanities, and teacher training (PGCE).

Score: Grade A–C~4 hrs
💡 No expiry date — ideal for long-term UK study plans. Widely accepted, prestigious, and recognized for PGCE.
📊 IELTS Band Quick Reference for UK Universities

Most UK universities require IELTS Academic. Overall band and each component score both matter — a single low component can result in rejection.

Band 5.5
Some FE Colleges
Band 6.0
Most undergraduate entry
Band 6.5
Standard UG / PG entry
Band 7.0
Russell Group standard
Band 7.5
Oxford / Cambridge / Medicine
Band 8.0+
Near-native / Law / PGCE

Cost of Studying in the UK (GBP)

International student annual costs — tuition plus estimated living expenses.

Institution TypeTuition/yrLiving/yrTotal/yr
FE College (A-Levels / BTEC)£5K–£12K£10K–£15K£15K–£27K
Undergraduate (non-Russell Group)£14K–£22K£12K–£16K£26K–£38K
Russell Group University£22K–£32K£14K–£20K£36K–£52K
London Universities£22K–£38K£18K–£26K£40K–£64K
Master's (1 yr)£15K–£30K£12K–£18K£27K–£48K
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NHS Surcharge Required
£776/yr per student
Paid upfront when applying for your Student Visa — covering the full course duration. Paid online at time of application.
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Proof of Funds Required
£1,334/mo (outside London)
Must show 9 months of living funds (£12,006 outside London, £15,120 in London) held for 28 consecutive days before applying.
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Tuition Loans (Not for Intl)
UK/Irish citizens only
International students cannot access UK Government Tuition Fee Loans. Plan for Chevening, GREAT Scholarship, institutional bursaries, or personal savings.

UK Scholarships & Funding

Browse UK scholarships — Chevening, GREAT, Commonwealth & institutional awards.

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Track Your Student Visa & Graduate Route Step by Step

Interactive checklists for your UCAS application, CAS letter, UK Student Visa, IHS surcharge, biometrics, and Graduate Route eligibility — with wallet uploads and calendar reminders.

Common Questions About Studying in the UK

UK

Your British Future
Starts Here.

Free to start. No credit card. Set up your school list, track your Student Visa, and prep for IELTS in under 3 minutes.

✓ Free to start✓ No credit card✓ IELTS practice included✓ Works on mobile