Q: ARE THERE ANY BENEFITS OFFERED TO INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WHILST STUDYING IN UK?

A: 2 sources of benefit are:

• NHS: All international students staying in UK for the purpose of education for 6 months or more qualify for free health care through the National Health Service.

• NATIONAL UNION OF STUDENTS: Loads of discounts are negotiated on behalf of their student members on things like books, stationery, food, clothes, travel and entertainment. All students are entitled to free NUS membership.

Q: WILL I GET A REFUND IF MY VISA IS REFUSED?

A: If your visa is refused and you have paid a deposit to your institution for tuition fees then you will receive a refund of the deposit when you send the institution a copy of your visa refusal letter from the High Commission. A few institutions deduct a small amount usually no more than £ 100 for processing the refund payment.

Q: HOW CAN I FINANCE MY STUDIES?

A: As compared to the cost of studying in India only, going abroad can seem to be steeply expensive. However one must keep the possible returns in mind which are in the form of quality of education, international exposure and boost to ones career when evaluating the costs of studying abroad. A student can rely on sources like family funds, bank loans, scholarships, bursaries, sponsorships etc to provide for funds required by him.

• Bank Loans
  Most nationalized banks offer students loans at competitive rates for considerable time periods which may enable a large section of students to go and study abroad. They will ask for a collateral security to be pledged. You can even consider the possibility of an international bank loan. Kindly ask your Edwise counsellor for further details.

• Educational Trusts/ Institutes
  Such organizations may also be able to help the student to fund his studies abroad.

• Sponsorships
  A blood relative is always preferred but other sponsors can also help to fund your education in the UK provided a logical explanation is given as to why he is willing to sponsor you.

Q: SHOULD I PAY A DEPOSIT?

A: Some universities require the students to pay part of the tuition fees in advance in order to reserve a place for them in the university. In any case we recommend that all students should make a deposit payment as it facilitates in getting a student visa.

Q: HOW ARE THE UNIVERSITY RATED?

A: British Universities do not have a formal ranking system but the government does take the responsibility to monitor and control the quality of education provided by each university through the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. The Government conducts a Research Assessment Exercise once in every 5 yrs. which determines the level of research activity in a university department. The departments are graded as high as 5* and as low as 1. General League Tables Prepared by newspapers like the Sunday Times and Financial Times can also be checked.