Top Reasons & Benefits to Study in UK for Nigerian Students

The decision to study abroad is a big decision, so it’s important to understand your options. The UK is a great place to study and has a lot to offer international students. Statistics have confirmed that the United Kingdom has over 30% of Nigerians studying either a bachelor’s or a Master’s Degree program. One begins to wonder why the UK is a go-to place for many Nigerians to study. There are lots of reasons why students should choose to study in the UK as their destination for further studies. To know all about the top reasons and benefits of studying in the UK for Nigeran students and other international students, keep on reading this blog.

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11 Reasons and Benefits Why You Should Study in UK?

Some of the oldest colleges and universities in the world, with origins in the 12th and 13th centuries, are located in the United Kingdom (UK). With such a rich history, UK education has established a standard for other nations. Here are some of the top reasons and benefits which show why Nigerian and other international students choose to study in the UK for their higher studies: 

1. Universities with International Recognition

The highest academic standards are found at UK universities. According to the 2022 QS World Ranking, four of the top 10 institutions worldwide, including Oxford and Cambridge, are located in the UK. You’ll discover that practical and useful information is valued more highly in the UK than textbook learning there. This will help you develop analytical and critical thinking abilities as well as creative capacity in your field of study.

2. Quality Education

The UK’s independent Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) routinely evaluates the educational standards of all of the nation’s colleges and universities. In addition to evaluating their work through audits and topic evaluations, it also assists in locating the top teaching methods and provides comments for improvisation. The UK higher education funding authorities also look at these research requirements, and they regularly publish their findings. Regardless of the course, they choose to take, this guarantees that all students have access to the greatest learning, research, and teaching opportunities.

3. Unique Culture

The UK’s unparalleled cultural diversity offers you the ability to live in a multicultural setting, make friends with other foreign students, and gain a variety of useful skills required to compete in today’s global industry.

4. Strong Research Infrastructure

The Research Excellence Framework rates 30% of UK university research as “world-leading” and 46% as “internationally good” (REF).

5. Shorter Duration of Courses

Since UK courses are shorter and more intensive than those in many other nations, you’ll graduate more quickly without sacrificing academic quality. A graduate programme will take you just one year to complete, as opposed to the three years it takes to finish an undergraduate programme. This not only saves you time but also a significant sum that would have been spent on tuition and living expenses.

6. Working while Learning

During term time, you are permitted to work part-time for up to 20 hours per week in order to pay for both your education and your daily living needs. Even during your semester break, you can work full-time. This will assist you with paying your costs and gaining experience in your subject of study.

7. Financial Aid and Scholarships

To help overseas students pay for their education and living expenses, the majority of UK institutions provide merit-based scholarship programmes and financial options. You must first be accepted into the programme of study in order to apply.

8. Support System

The UK government extends a cordial invitation to thousands of foreign students each year. In addition to hosting events, parties, activities, and trips, international student clubs offer support during difficult times by offering guidance on personal issues and supporting you in fitting in.

9. Perks for Students’ Health

The National Health Service will provide you with free medical care while you are studying in the UK if you are an international student (NHS). You will have to pay a modest International Health Surcharge in order to receive this benefit (IHS). You can get guidance on this matter from your Leverage Edu counsellor.

10. UK Student Visa

In order to pursue higher education at a UK university, one must get a UK Tier 4 General student visa. For foreign students who have gotten an offer or CAS and can demonstrate that they have the necessary financing available, it is relatively straightforward to get and the procedure is easier, more transparent, and more user-friendly. To know more about the visa process in the UK, read our blog on the student visa process of the UK. 

11. Explore Europe while Studying

Major European nations including France, the Netherlands, and Belgium are well connected to the UK, with Belgium being the closest at lengths between 300 and 1,000 miles. While studying in the nation, you may go to many locations because the airport is open round-the-clock.

UK vs Nigeria

The majority of students desire to attend prestigious, sizable universities. Many of them travel to far-off countries to receive a top-notch education. But not everyone can afford to pay such high tuition fees and attend these prestigious institutions and universities. Nigerian students also want to attend these prestigious universities. Let’s explore some similarities and differences between the education system of the UK and Nigeria.

The educational systems of the UK and Nigeria have certain commonalities.

1. First off, both systems rigorously adhere to British English grammar.

2. The titles of the school grades are the same in Nigeria and the UK.

3. Each nation has its own national curriculum.

Below are the differences between the Education System of Nigeria and the UK

Parameter	United kingdom	Nigeria
Age of entry	By law, the compulsory age for a child to start school is 5 years.	There is no enforced age for starting school. Some children start earlier than 5 years, others later while some do not at all.
Finance	The UK government funds the education of children between the ages of 5 and 16 years.	Here, the government only subsidises the prices of its public schools to make them cheaper. However, they are of very bad quality. There is also the option of private schools which must be funded by parents or guardians.
Age of continuity	By law, the child must be 11 years and above to enter secondary education and must be 18 years and above to enter university education.	Although there are laws regarding the ages for continuity there is no real enforcement of children’s ages to enter any level of education.
A ‘levels or Sixth form	It is compulsory for a child to go to a sixth form or A’ level college before entering any university.	Here, it is no longer compulsory to do A’ levels before entering university. Hence, numerous children start university education before 18 years.

Some Facts About Universities in the UK

Studying in the UK is a straightforward process that takes only a few steps to complete. The first step is to register at one of the many reputable universities in the UK, some of which are listed below: 

• The University of Birmingham, offers over 200 undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes including law, business, engineering and social sciences. 
• The University of Bristol delivers world-class education in seven faculties with over 50 departments. 
• King’s College London (KCL) is one of the top 20 universities in Europe and was established in 1829 by King George IV. KCL has over 75 departments covering a wide range of subject areas including Science, Arts and Medicine. 
• Durham University is ranked 5th among research-led institutions in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and all its degree programmes have been rated gold or silver under the new TEF. 

Top Universities in the UK  

List of top universities in the UK for the year 2022 – 2023:

Top Universities in the UK	QS World University Rankings 2022	THE World University Rankings 2021
University of Oxford	#2	#1
University of Cambridge	=3	#2
University College London	#8	#4
Imperial College London	#7	#3
The University of Edinburgh	#16	#6
The University of Manchester	=27	#8
King’s College London	#35	#7
London School of Economics and Political Science	#49	#5
University of Bristol	#62	#10
University of Warwick	#61	#9
Queen Mary University of London	117	110
University of Bath	166	201-250
University of East Anglia (UEA)	=303	=200
University of Essex	439	301-350

Popular Courses in the UK

Here we have mentioned the best courses in the UK that are selected by the majority of international students: 

• Business Studies
• Accounting and Finance
• Economics
• Law
• Art & Design
• Computer Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Biological Sciences
• Electrical Engineering
• Politics 

Eligibility Criteria to Study in the UK

International students must be aware of the following essential requirements to study in the UK:

• Copy of a valid passport
• Students must complete their undergraduate or postgraduate studies with a minimum of 65% – 70% marks, as per University norms. This will ensure that they have enough knowledge and skills to pursue their studies successfully. 
• Some universities also specify that students must have a minimum CGPA above 3.0 on 4 point scale or equivalent while applying for their graduate-level programs.
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and C1 Advanced (Certificate in Advanced English). 
• GMAT/GRE or any other entrance exams for masters programs
• Academic Transcripts
• Letter of Recommendations (LOR)
• Portfolio (for specific courses)
• A CV/Resume (if applicable)
• Statement of Purpose (SOP)

Popular Intakes: UK 

Intake	Starting Months
Fall Intake (Primary Intake)	September
Winter Intake (Secondary Intake)	January/February
Summer Intake (Least Intake)	April/May

Cost of Studying in the UK 

Educational expenses of a graduate degree range from £ 18,000 to £ 35,000 (NGN 1.8 Million – NGN 3.5 Million), contingent upon the college and scope of courses. As far as the typical cost for basic items, this would cost around £ 11,000 – 12,500 (NGN 1.1 Million –NGN 1.2 Million) for an extended time of the study (i.e 9 months).

Post Study Work Opportunities in the UK 

The UK offers a lot more opportunities for work. It is a highly globalised nation and offers various opportunities to people from diverse backgrounds. There are various sectors in which you can avail yourself of jobs such as healthcare, engineering, law, accounting and many more. In addition to that, the country has also come up with a new visa scheme for international students called the New Graduate Route Visa. 

The scheme allows international students to work in the UK after their studies for 2 – 3 years without any minimum salary requirements. This scheme will open up a lot of doors for you in your career as you will get to experience working in another country. Nigerians have been taking full advantage of this simple immigration pathway to the UK by enrolling to study at prestigious universities, which can greatly increase their prospects of finding rewarding employment there.

UK Work Visa Requirements

Type of Visa	Restriction	Maximum Staying	Sponsorship Needed	Dependents Allowed
Tier 2 (General) visa	Minimum salary of £30,000 per year	5 years and 14 days	Yes	Yes
Tier 4 Doctorate Extension Scheme	A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) issued by your university	1 year	Yes	Yes
Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) visa	18 to 30 years old and from the nationals of certain countries*	2 years,	Yes but only for the nationals from the Republic of Korea	No
Tier 5 Temporary Worker – Government Authorised Exchange visa	Authorised exchange schemes	1-2 years depends on different schemes	Yes	Yes
Start-up Visa	Endorsement letter from an authorised body	2 years	No	Yes

FAQs

Here are some of the important reasons and benefits why an international student chooses to study in the UK. If you are one of them who is planning to leave for the UK to pursue your further education, Leverage Edu can help you to make your study abroad dream come true.