The UK has been a dream destination for studying abroad for many students in the Philippines. A combination of advanced education, leading research and thriving student culture has made the UK one of the most favourite destinations for Filipinos. Student Cities like London, Manchester and Edinburgh offer the best facilities and a working environment. UK universities are highly accommodating for Filipino students. Here’s your pocket-guide to Study in UK from Philippines!
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Ofcourse, the best student cities, exciting nightlife and post-study work opportunities add up and make study in UK from Philippines the right decision.
Top Universities in UK
UK has more than 164 universities both public and private. The education offered by public universities is considered better than private due to the large research activity and innovation. If you are a Filipino on a mission to study in the UK, here are the top universities you must consider to study in:
- University of Oxford
- Cambridge University
- Imperial College London
- Brunel University
- University of Liverpool
- Queen Mary University of London
- University of East Anglia
- University of Strathclyde
- University of Hull
- Arts University Bournemouth
- University of Plymouth
- University Of Sheffield
- University of Essex
- Leeds Beckett University
- University College London
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Manchester
- King’s College London
- London School of Economics
- University of Warwick
- University of Bristol
- University of Bath
- University of Portsmouth
- City, University of London
- Anglia Ruskin University
- Middlesex University
- University of Law
- De Montfort University
- University of Stirling
The universities mentioned above are not only credited for their education but also based on their international student environment which makes them ideal choices to study in UK from Philippines.
Eligibility Requirements
If you are from the Philippines and you wish to study in the universities of UK, you need to qualify in the eligibility requirements for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Undergraduate Courses to study in UK from Philippines
Eligibility Criteria | Minimum Requirement |
Academic | High School Diploma from any school in Philippines Foundation Course in any UK University Bachelor’s degree from any recognised university in Philippines IB- 24 to 31 points |
Proof of English Proficiency | IELTS, TOEFL, PTE (Minimum requirement vary from university to university) |
The UK Education system is considered more advanced than the Philippines. Therefore, students with a high school diploma have to apply for the foundation course first to catch up to other students and then advance to the undergraduate course. For a direct entry into the undergraduate course, you need a bachelor’s degree from any local university in the Philippines or an IB score of 24 to 31. Postgraduate Courses to study in UK from Philippines:
Eligibility Criteria | Minimum Requirement |
Academic | Master’s degree or Bachelor’s degree from Centres of Excellence or elite university with the highest distinction |
Proof of English Proficiency | IELTS, TOEFL, PTE (Minimum requirement vary from university to university) |
Entrance Exam | GMAT (For MBA and specific master’s programs) |
Note that the English language requirements will be higher for postgraduate courses than undergraduate courses for students who want to study in UK from Philippines.
Must Read: Duolingo Accepting Universities in UK
Documents Checklist
Documents are the most important part of the application process. Once you are eligible, compile all the necessary documents together so that you can attach them to your application form online. Since everything is conducted online, be aware that you attach the correct documents and in the English language only. Here’s the list of the documents required to study in UK from Philippines:-
- A valid copy of the passport
- Academic transcripts
- Certificate of English Proficiency
- Statement of Purpose
- Letters of Recommendation
- Updated Resume
The magic of an excellent SOP is not unknown to international students. Write a perfect SOP for UK to impress the admission committee!
Application Process for Filipino Students
The application process to study in UK from Philippines depends upon the course that you choose. Both undergraduate and postgraduate courses have different application processes.
Application process for undergraduate courses:
- If you have completed high school in the Philippines, you will first be required to apply for the foundation courses at the universities in UK. You can apply for the foundation program as per your preferred undergraduate degree through the UCAS portal.
- The integrated undergraduate degree will be of 4 years- 1 year of foundation and 3 years of bachelors.
- Students have to apply with the universities for the undergraduate degree within the application deadline.
- After a processing time of 4 to 6 weeks, you will be notified if you have been accepted.
- You can directly apply for the undergraduate degree to study in the UK from the Philippines if you have a good bachelor’s degree from a local university with the highest distinction.
Application process for postgraduate courses:
- To apply for postgraduate courses, you need a good master’s degree from centres of excellence in the Philippines with the highest distinction.
- You can apply directly to the universities in UK without any common platform.
- Attach all the important documents mentioned above to your online application and then submit them within the deadline.
- If you receive an offer letter- it may be conditional or unconditional.
- Once you pay the deposit, your admission is secured and you can start looking for accommodations, scholarships and UK Visa applications.
Popular Courses for Filipino Students in UK
- Nursing
- Computer Science
- Law
- Business Administration
- Medicine
- Education
- Finance
- Economics
- Accounting
- Psychology
- International Relations and Politics
- Civil Engineering
- Data Science
Visa Requirements
If you wish to study in UK from Philippines, you have to apply for the UK Tier 4 Visa which allows you to stay in UK till the completion of your program. The visa allows you to stay in UK for 1 month additionally after your program is over. The duration of the program must be more than 6 months and you have to be over 16 years old to apply for the UK Student visa.
It is recommended that you start the visa application to study in UK from Philippines at least 6 months before your program starts. Once you receive the CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies) from your university in UK, you can start the application process. The processing time of the UK Visa for Filipinos might be around 15 working days.
Cost of Studying in UK from Philippines
UK can be expensive for Asian countries like the Philippines due to its metropolitan nature and high purchasing power. As a student, there are two types of cost- the cost of education and the cost of living. The cost of education for students who wish to study in UK from Philippines is given below:
Type of Expense | Average Cost (£) | Average Cost (PHP) |
Tuition fee | Undergraduate- £8000-30,000 per yearPostgraduate- £15,000-35,000 per year | Undergraduate- 532427-1996603 per year Postgraduate- 998301-2329370 per year |
IELTS | £175 | 11,650 |
GMAT | £189 | 12,613 |
TOEFL | £168 | 11,200 |
UK Tier 4 Visa | £348 | 23,160 |
International Travel (Manila to London) | £1258 | 83,789 |
Cost of Living in UK for Filipino Students
The cost of living in UK if you are from Philippines is as follows:
Type of Expense | Average Cost (£) | Average Cost (PHP) |
Accommodation | £350-550 per month | 23293-36604 per month |
Transport | £40 per month | 2662 per month |
Food | £100-250 per month | 6655-16638 per month |
Miscellaneous | £500 per month | 33276 per month |
Scholarships to Study in UK from Philippines
If you aren’t financially sufficient to study in UK from Philippines, you can always apply for one of the following scholarships:
- Chevening Scholarship
- Gates Cambridge Scholarship
- Rhodes House Scholarship
- MBA Skoll Scholarship
- Edinburgh Global Research Scholarships
- UK Scholarships from the British Council
- Denys Holland Scholarship
Must Read: Scholarships to Study in UK for Indian Students
Don’t let the tedious application process stop you from studying in the UK from the Philippines! Contact our Study abroad experts at 1800572000 to book a counselling session. You can also download the Leverage App – One-stop solution for all your study abroad needs!