2 countries & territories
Three-year bachelor's (or four with placement year/Scotland), one-year master's, three-to-four-year PhDs. UK applications go through UCAS with up to five course choices; Ireland uses the CAO points system. Specialist degrees start day one — you apply to the subject, not the school.
Covers: United Kingdom · Ireland
Last updated
Application platform
UCAS (UK) / CAO (Ireland)
Intakes
Autumn (Sep/Oct)
Tuition (USD/yr, undergrad)
$12,000–$45,000
Student visa
Student Visa (UK) / Stamp 2 (Ireland)
Home student of the UK & Ireland?
GlobalStudyBoard is built for international students applying to the UK & Ireland. If you are a citizen or resident, you usually apply as a domestic student — tuition is typically lower, you may qualify for home-student finance, and you do not need a student visa. We don’t cover the domestic home-student route in depth; for fees, funding and the home-student application process, use the official United Kingdom & Ireland government and university sources (for example UCAS).
21 institutions we cover in the UK & Ireland.
Oxford · Est. 1096
The oldest English-speaking university in the world. Oxford uses a tutorial system where students meet weekly in groups of one to three with their tutor. Depending on the course, applicants may also need to take an admissions test or send written work, and shortlisted applicants are interviewed online in December.
Cambridge · Est. 1209
Cambridge's 29 undergraduate colleges house and support undergraduates and provide supervisions (Cambridge's equivalent of Oxford's tutorials). The Mathematical Tripos and Natural Sciences Tripos are particularly famous. Interviews held in December.
London · Est. 1907
A STEM-focused university in South Kensington, London. Imperial offers degrees only in science, engineering, medicine, and business — and ranks among the world's top universities in each. Heavy industry partnerships with the City of London.
London · Est. 1826
UCL is the largest constituent college of the University of London by enrolment and was the first English university to admit students regardless of religion. Wide subject coverage and a central Bloomsbury location.
London · Est. 1895
Focused exclusively on social sciences. LSE is a global leader in economics, finance, international relations, and law. Famous alumni include numerous heads of state and Nobel laureates.
Edinburgh, Scotland · Est. 1583
A research-intensive Scottish university with strong programs in AI/informatics, medicine (one of the oldest medical schools in the English-speaking world), and the humanities. Scottish bachelor's degrees run four years.
Standardised tests used by universities in the UK & Ireland.
International English Language Testing System
Test of English as a Foreign Language (Internet-Based Test)
Pearson Test of English Academic
Graduate Record Examinations
Graduate Management Admission Test (Focus Edition)
University Clinical Aptitude Test
8 curated tracks — pick a path, then go deep hub by hub.
UK & Ireland Admissions · UCAS Application In Depth · Entry Routes & Qualifications · Ireland: CAO & Leaving Cert
5 topic hubsUK & Ireland Universities · Oxbridge & the Collegiate System · Russell Group In Depth · University Groups & League Tables
6 topic hubsUK & Ireland Courses & Careers · Economics & Finance Degrees · Psychology Degrees · Natural & Life Sciences
8 topic hubsMedicine & Competitive Courses · Admissions Tests In Depth · Healthcare Degrees Beyond Medicine
3 topic hubsUK & Ireland Tuition & Scholarships · Tuition & Funding In Depth · UK & Ireland Scholarships in Depth
3 topic hubsUK & Ireland Student Visas · Student Visa Process In Depth · Visas: Refusals & Extensions
3 topic hubsWork & Stay (UK & Ireland) · Graduate & Work Visa Routes · Graduate Careers & Employability · Professional Licensing (UK & Ireland)
4 topic hubsUK & Ireland Student Life · Settling In: Practicalities · Student Practical Life & Money
3 topic hubsMost applicants apply via UCAS (UK) / CAO (Ireland). Confirm current requirements on the official university or application-platform website before applying.
The main intake is Autumn (Sep/Oct). Application deadlines vary by university — always verify on the official source.
Undergraduate tuition is roughly $12,000–$45,000 per year (USD). Fees change every academic year — verify on the official university website.
Student Visa (UK) / Stamp 2 (Ireland). Immigration rules change frequently — verify on the official government source before applying.
UK: 20 hrs/week during term, full-time on breaks. Graduate Route: 2 years stay after degree. Work rules can change — verify on the official source before relying on them.
Official sources for the visa and work rules above
Free tools
Each tool opens on the destination you have chosen in the header or, if you have not chosen one, on the UK & Ireland, and needs only a free account. The tools keep what you enter, so confirm your own dates and figures on the official site. Where a tool adds something of ours — a validity rule, a university’s details, a cost line — it links the official page or our guide wherever we have one.
Questions students ask
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