Great Britain combines tradition and modernity like no other country in the world. This also applies to the British higher education landscape: here, centuries-old university buildings reminiscent of castles meet the latest teaching standards and exemplary teaching materials. When studying in the UK, old values such as diligence, discipline, and a certain etiquette are just as much a part of everyday life as internationality and diversity. While students are honored for their achievements in caps and gowns, the LGBTQIA+ flag flies outside on the university campus – to name just one example.
Most of the more than 100 universities in the United Kingdom are state-run. Due to their long history, many universities decide independently on the content of their courses and the admission of students. Internationally recognized degrees, the quality of teaching, and the strength of research at these institutions attract young talent from all over the world to study in the United Kingdom every year. More than ten percent of students in bachelor's programs come from abroad, and in postgraduate programs such as master's degrees, the figure is as high as 33 percent.
Since a higher education reform in 1992, the higher education landscape in the UK has become highly diversified. In addition to universities, there are a large number of higher education institutions (HEIs) that also offer continuing education programs in the tertiary education sector. These institutions often specialize in a particular field and offer career-oriented programs. If you are interested in studying in the UK, it is important to understand that not all HEIs – often referred to as colleges – are authorized to award academic degrees. In principle, only universities and a few historically established university colleges in the UK have what is known as degree awarding power. Before you start studying in the UK, you can check this page of the UK government website to see which institutions and courses are officially recognized. This is the only way to ensure that the degree you obtain will be accepted by other universities and employers (abroad).
Are you already excited about studying in the United Kingdom, or do you feel anxious about leaving your comfort zone? That's understandable; it's definitely a big step. But let us tell you: it's worth it! If you take a closer look, you'll quickly see that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. We've listed five reasons why studying in Great Britain pays off – pretty convincing, right?
British universities regularly occupy the top spots in international university rankings such as the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, with the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge leading the way. Did you know that these universities are among the oldest in Europe and were founded in the early 13th century? The Russell Group brings together the country's 24 leading universities.
Universities in the UK employ a large number of teaching staff and other personnel. While in Germany, one employee is responsible for an average of 35 students, in the UK the ratio is only 12 to 14 students. This enables a comprehensive service for students. Classes are small and all students are assigned a personal tutor who guides them through their studies and advises them if they have any questions.
If you don't want to waste any time and want to finish your studies as quickly as possible so you can start your career, you should consider a master's degree in the United Kingdom. Unlike in other European countries, in the United Kingdom you only need to study for one year to earn your master's degree. Small classes, tightly structured schedules, close supervision by teachers, and a general attendance requirement make this possible.
In the UK, it is common to meet up in a pub after class. This is a great opportunity to wind down after a long day and get to know your fellow students from all over the world. In addition, universities have a wide range of societies – clubs for various purposes and topics – where you can pursue your interests and network with like-minded people.
English is and remains the most important global language in business and politics. And where better to learn the language than in its country of origin? Studying in the UK gives you the chance to bring your English up to native speaker level. You will also meet lots of new people from all over the world, which will help you grow as a person and improve your intercultural skills.
At first glance, the British education system does not seem to differ greatly from the German system. However, there are a few differences you should be aware of if you want to study in the UK. To help you get off to the best possible start on your adventure abroad, we have put together a short list for you:
Traditionally, the academic year in the United Kingdom is divided into three trimesters of ten to 12 weeks each: autumn term (October to December), spring term (January to March), and summer term (April to June/July, including exams in the second half of the term). However, some universities in the United Kingdom are now switching to the semester system, as is common in Germany, for example. In any case, there are lecture-free periods around Christmas, Easter, and during the summer.
If you study in the UK, you can choose between three types of study: Single Subject Course (degree program with one major), Joint Subject Course (degree program with two majors of equal standing) or Combined Subject Course (degree program with one major and up to two minors). This allows you to tailor your studies to your interests in a very flexible and specialized way.
Within the subject area, there is a more structured approach. There is often a relatively fixed timetable with compulsory modules that must be taken and a few elective modules. This structure, combined with a general attendance requirement for lectures and seminars, ensures that most students in Uk universities complete their studies within the standard period of study and that there are few dropouts.
Although the Bologna Process in 1999 introduced the ECTS credit system in all European countries, Great Britain uses the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS) instead. The principle is similar to ECTS. For every course, written assignment, and practical section during your studies in the UK, you receive credits – usually ten for a standard course. In each academic year leading up to your bachelor's degree, you must earn 120 credits – that's 12 courses per year and four courses per trimester. Two CATS points are roughly equivalent to one ECTS point.
As usual, studies in the United Kingdom are divided into undergraduate and postgraduate sections.
After the three-year bachelor's program, students receive a Bachelor of Honours, divided into First Class Honours Degree, Second Class Honours Degree, and Third Class Honours Degree, depending on their final grade (exception: in Scotland, the bachelor's degree takes four years).
If you study in the UK in a master's program, you will usually receive your master's degree after just one year. The UK distinguishes between the Taught Master and the Master of Research, depending on whether the program is more focused on teaching or research. The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a special form of master's degree for which you must also have several years of professional experience.
If a master's degree is not enough, you can complete a three- to five-year doctoral program to obtain a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), which are the highest university degrees in the United Kingdom.
In addition to these traditional degrees, there are several country-specific degrees in the UK, such as the Foundation Degree or the Diploma of Higher Education, which are shorter and often practice-oriented.
If you study in the UK, you will receive your grades as percentages. The following table provides an overview of the UK grading system:
| UK grade in % | Designation | Translation | German Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70+ % | First Class | Mit Auszeichnung bestanden | 1,0 – 1,3 |
| 60– 69 % | Upper Second-Class | Mit gutem Erfolg bestanden | 1,7 – 2,3 |
| 50 – 59 % | Lower Second-Class | Mit Erfolg bestanden | 2,7 – 3,3 |
| 45 – 49 % | Third Class | Bestanden | 3,7 |
| 40 – 44 % | Pass | Knapp bestanden | 4,0 |
| 0 – 39 % | Fail | Durchgefallen | 5,0 – 6,0 |
A different, stricter grading system applies to master's programs in the UK: Here, you must achieve 50% to pass (Pass), 60% earns you a Merit, and 70% earns you a Distinction.
Studying in the UK is unfortunately not cheap. The individual universities charge tuition fees that vary greatly depending on the university, location, and degree program. To make matters worse, since Brexit in 2021, students from the EU no longer pay the same “home fees” as domestic students, but instead have to pay significantly higher tuition fees, just like all other international students. But there is also some good news: Compared to other English-speaking countries such as the US or Australia, tuition fees in the UK are lower. The fact that study programs in the UK are also shorter than in the US (three years instead of four for a bachelor's degree and one year instead of two for a master's degree) means that you can save even more money. This means that you can get your university degree in the UK more cheaply (and faster) than in the US, for example.
To give you a rough overview, here are a few figures: If you study for a bachelor's degree in the UK, you can expect tuition fees of between £10,000 and £40,000 per academic year. This corresponds to approximately €12,000 to €47,000. A master's degree usually costs between £9,000 and £30,000, which corresponds to approximately €10,000 to €36,000.
As with studying in the US, tuition fees depend on whether you are studying at a private or public university in the UK, as well as your chosen subject and degree.
In addition to tuition fees, you will also have to pay for living expenses. Living costs vary greatly from region to region, but as a general rule, they are cheaper in the north and in rural areas than in the south and in cities. London is the most expensive city in Great Britain. Rents in particular are a major cost factor here, so you should expect living costs of around £1,400 per month.
One way to study in the UK in a more affordable way is to opt for a semester abroad in the UK instead of a full bachelor's or master's degree. If you only study in the UK for a shorter period of time, you will naturally have lower living and accommodation costs. Since you will take fewer courses during a semester abroad in the UK than you would during a full degree program abroad, you will only have to pay a proportion of the tuition fees. If you participate in an exchange program between your home university and a British partner university, the tuition fees are often waived entirely. In addition, you can take advantage of a wide range of external funding opportunities for international students – more on this in the next section. So your dream of studying abroad in the UK doesn't have to be ruined by high tuition fees! Contact the International Office at your university to find out more about the options for studying in the UK for a semester.
Don't want to miss out on a degree from a prestigious UK university? Then the Dual Degree (two-degree) program might be right for you. You will first study two semesters in a master's program at Munich Business School and then spend two more semesters in London – either at the top-ranked Queen Mary University of London, which is part of the Russell Group, or at Regent's University London, one of the most diverse and international business schools in the world. After successfully completing your studies with a master's thesis, you will have two degrees: a UK master's degree depending on your choice of subjects and a German Master of Arts from Munich Business School!
With Munich Business School (MBS), your dream of studying abroad in the UK can come true! At MBS, stays abroad are an integral part of the bachelor's and master's programs. Here, internationality is not only taught, but also lived. Of course, the United Kingdom is also represented in MBS's global network of partner universities. Get an overview of the universities in the UK where you can study with MBS.
So, you've decided to study in the UK. Great! But you've probably also heard that it's expensive. Don't let that put you off though. There are lots of ways to fund your studies in the UK, including tuition fees and living costs. Here are some ideas to get you started:
The DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) scholarship database is a good first port of call if you are enrolled at a German university and are looking for a scholarship to study abroad in the United Kingdom.
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is the largest provider of scholarships for study abroad. Here you will find a wide range of scholarships for all courses of study as well as subject- and country-specific funding. Since Great Britain is no longer part of Erasmus+ following Brexit, the PROMOS scholarship from the DAAD may also be of interest to you – provided you are planning to study in Great Britain for between one and six months. In addition to the DAAD, there are other private, church, and political foundations that award scholarships. On the British Council website, you can also find out which scholarships from the British government or various universities are available to you. One interesting example is the Chevening Scholarship – a full scholarship from the British government for students from over 160 countries who wish to complete a one-year master's degree in the UK and have at least two years of professional experience (including internships and voluntary work).
So check directly to see if you meet the relevant requirements. If so, your tuition fees in the United Kingdom will be subsidized by up to €5,600 for a maximum of one year – regardless of whether you are studying in the United Kingdom as part of a semester abroad or a one-year master's program.. You will also receive a monthly grant and subsidies for travel, health insurance, and living expenses. Since Brexit, study programs lasting longer than one year are no longer eligible for funding through the Auslands-BAföG.
Half of the BAföG for studies abroad is a grant and the other half is an interest-free loan, which means that you must repay half of the money you receive after completing your studies. The subsidy for tuition fees is exempt from repayment.
During semester breaks, you can even work full-time. Typical part-time jobs for students include waitressing, tutoring, or working in retail. Internships and working student positions are also permitted, provided they are part of your studies.. A part-time job can help you offset some of the high costs of studying in the US. At the same time, you will immerse yourself even more deeply in US campus life and experience the country and its people up close – a very unique experience.
Please note: If you are in the UK without a student visa, for example because you are studying in the UK for a shorter period of up to six months, working is strictly prohibited. If working is important to you, it may be worth studying in the UK for longer and applying for a student visa.
If you only want to study in the UK for one or two semesters, you can apply for a KfW student loan or, if you are already enrolled in a master's program, a education loan of the German federal governement. The latter is also suitable for financing a complete master's degree in the UK. An education fund that explicitly focuses on studying abroad is the Fonds der Deutsche Bildung.
Before signing a contract, you should carefully compare the providers and be aware that these financing models are loans and that you will have to repay the money you receive (plus interest). You can find more details on how student loans and education funds work on our blog.
If you want to study in the United Kingdom, it's not enough to just have the necessary funds. To ensure that your application and entry into the United Kingdom are successful, you need to take care of a few academic requirements and legal matters in advance. We have listed the most important points for you:
Good to know: To apply for a full bachelor's degree program in the UK, you must apply to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Be sure to note the early application deadlines. The application process for master's programs is not centrally organized, but is handled by the respective universities. If you would like to study in the United Kingdom as part of a semester abroad, you can either apply directly to the university in the United Kingdom or organize your stay with your home university (in the case of an exchange program).
Studying in the UK is a dream for many young adults – and with good reason! At the same time, studying abroad in the UK is a big step that needs to be well planned and financed. To provide you with the best possible support in organizing your stay, this FAQ section provides answers to frequently asked questions about studying in the UK.
Of course! Provided you meet the relevant admission requirements, you can study in the UK even if you are a German citizen. This means that you must have the appropriate educational qualifications (high school diploma/"Abitur" for a bachelor's degree, bachelor's degree for a master's degree, master's degree for a doctoral program) and very good English skills, which you must confirm with a recognized test. English universities place particular emphasis on good grades, relevant aptitude, and personal motivation, especially in the case of international students. You should therefore prepare your application documents, including letters of reference and motivation, with great care. If the university has admitted you to the program and you plan to study in the UK for more than six months, you must apply for a visa before departure. If you meet these admission requirements, you can study in any city in the UK, which means that as a German citizen, you can also study in London. However, please note that London's universities are among the most prestigious in the country and studying in London is therefore often more expensive than in other parts of the country.
On average, international students in the UK pay between £10,000 and £40,000 per year for a bachelor's degree and between £9,000 and £30,000 for a master's degree. Overall, tuition fees for studying in the UK are slightly lower than in the US or Australia. However, there is no general answer to the question of costs. How much it costs to study abroad in the United Kingdom depends, among other things, on which university you attend, what you study, and how long you want to study in the UK. In general, it is cheaper to study in the UK for a semester or a year than to complete an entire degree program. You may be able to save a lot of money if your home university has a partnership with a university in the UK.
Tuition fees apply when studying in the UK. So, there is no such thing as free education in the traditional sense in the UK – neither for domestic nor international students. However, there are some exceptions and financial support options that can help you study in the UK for (almost) free. Here are a few ideas:
The elite universities in Great Britain have joined together to form the Russell Group. These include:
and 15 other universities that are renowned for their academic excellence, research, and reputation beyond national borders.
Of course you can do your master's degree in the UK. In fact, it is very popular to study for a master's degree in the UK because, unlike in other European countries, the program only takes one year instead of two. This means that after just one year of master's study, you will have your degree in your pocket and can start your career. Speaking of getting off to a flying start: international graduates from British universities earn significantly higher salaries than students who have obtained an equivalent degree in their home countries. A master's degree in the UK is therefore doubly worthwhile!
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