• A statement of purpose or SOP is an opportunity for you to discuss and convince the admission committee of interest and knowledge, making you a suitable candidate to pursue the chosen program at their university. In other words, an SOP is your chance to shine and make yourself stand out.

  An SOP for the UK serves the same motive and is therefore a key requirement for admission across all study levels in all institutions. However, there are elements of a statement of purpose which are specifically applicable only to Universities in the UK.

  SOP for the UK: How to Write an Impressive Essay

  Writing a statement of purpose for the UK is a tricky task involving thorough introspection, numerous drafts, and knowing when to stop. While your first draft will most be a dumping ground for thoughts, the actual process will begin thereafter.

  Obviously, your SOP needs to have an introduction, a body & a conclusion. However, the triggering question is how to compile all the information & what aspects to focus on.

  Theme: Reflect and pick an element to provide consistency & maintain the flow of your Statement of purpose for the UK. It should be strong enough to make you stand out amongst thousands of applicants.

  Engagement with your Subject: Universities in the UK expect the students to be involved in the area of interest even outside the school/college premises. It could be as small as reading relevant books or as huge as gaining professional experience.

  Expectation from the University (PG programs): It is significant for you to address how being a part of a specific university will be beneficial to you. For instance, if you are planning to Study at Cambridge University, how being a member of the Cambridge community will prove to be an asset for you.

  Opening & Closing Statement: While a good opening statement will encourage admission officers to read beyond the paragraph, a strong conclusion will summarize your SOP for them.

  SOP for the UK: How is it Different from Others?

  While the statement of purpose or personal statement varies from program to program (SOP for MBA in the UK will differ from SOP for Law in the UK), there are a few guidelines that are uniform for all programs. A few of those guidelines are:

  Length: A Statement of Purpose for the UK should be a maximum of 4,000 characters (700-800 words). Universities & UCAS are stringent about the character limit; surpassing the limit will result in rejection. 

  Unique by Academic: UK universities expect you to focus on your academic qualifications and achievements. Around 75% to 90% of your SOP should be academic, highlighting your passion for the course, seminars you have attended, and books you have read. Check out the Sample SOP form UCAS.

  Language: Unlike other countries like Canada, and Australia, UK universities are quite stringent about applicants’ proficiency in English. So, an SOP for the UK should be in English and free of grammatical errors.                                                                                                                                

 For most new undergraduate students in the UK university will be their first time living independently, away from home and family. It is important to consider what accommodation is available and to check websites for application details and deadlines.

Most first year students opt to stay in “halls of residence” – accommodation owned and run by the university where they are part of a community and easily able to get to know other ‘freshers’. Everything in halls is sorted upfront: the rent usually includes bills and some cleaning services and is paid for at the beginning of each term. Other advantages include pastoral care services, disability support and maintenance services being on hand.

The majority of UK universities guarantee accommodation for first year students (although it is worth checking the small print to see whether this guarantee only applies to those who have accepted the university as their firm, or first choice). For ‘campus’ universities, such as the Universities of Warwick and Exeter, halls of residence are likely to be on the same site as the teaching and research and leisure facilities. For ‘city’ universities, students may have to travel to lectures from their accommodation (LSE students have an average travel time of 20 minutes from their student halls). Collegiate universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, York and Lancaster offer accommodation within their colleges, with Oxford and Cambridge offering this for the whole of the undergraduate degree period.

Within ‘halls of residence’ there will be a range of choices available in terms of location, facilities and cost – although there is no guarantee that everyone will get exactly what they want. Facilities will vary, from a single study bedroom in a flat with a shared kitchen and bathroom, to en-suite accommodation with all meals provided. Other choices could be between single gender or mixed gender facilities, single or twin rooms and contracts that are term time only or throughout the whole year. All of these come with cost implications with rents varying from £3,000 to £7,000 a year. Applications for accommodation are made online and it is very important to check individual university websites as different institutions have different application dates and procedures.

After the first year, most students choose to move out of university accommodation into private rental accommodation (often sharing with a group of friends), or private, purpose-built student halls. Whichever choice you make your university housing office should have lists of approved landlords and student-friendly lettings agents and be able to provide.

If your reasons for visiting the UK are academically inclined, it is even more pertinent that you grasp the basics of the language. Whatever your goals may be, learning the language would be an immediate benefit. We live in a world where education is vital to our everyday lives. From the man sitting in front of a desk in an office to the woman selling things in a shop, we all have to use some knowledge.

While our education levels may differ, totally ignoring them is near impossible. University in the UK for a master's is a step further in their academic career. As in many other countries, Master's programs are taken seriously in the UK. It is apt to emphasize that a master's requires commitment and funds to get to a top university in the UK to step further in your academic journey.

As a student, you have to decide what program you want to study and why. There are primary factors to consider to registering for any of the Master's programs available in the UK. Understand this and attempt to provide you with all the details needed if you want to register for a master's in any university in the UK.

Why Study Masters in the UK

As a student, if studying Master's is your top priority, there are so many reasons why you should choose the UK. The UK has some of the top world-ranking universities that offer numerous Master's programs. Irrespective of your field, art, science, or commercial. They are top-notch and advanced in terms of technology and updated outline courses. If your course is related to the science field, there is room to explore more in your field of study.

Here are some more reasons you should pursue your Master's degree in the United Kingdom.

World-class education and value for money:

Look no further if you want to study at a university with a solid academic reputation and good value for money: the UK has a long history of academic success dating back to the 11th century. Its universities continue to set the bar in academia. In the United Kingdom, there are over 160 universities and higher education institutions, with 84 of them appearing in the QS World University Rankings 2021.

The Cost of Living is Affordable:

For both domestic and international students, the UK has a relatively low cost of living. While certain cities, such as London, Oxford, and Brighton, are on the higher end of the student budget, there are still plenty of affordable student destinations in the UK, such as Aberdeen, Manchester, and Newcastle, that offer a good quality of education and lifestyle.

Duration of The Programs:

Master's degrees in Canada, the United States, or any other country take 1.5 to 2 years to complete. In most circumstances, though, if you are studying in the United Kingdom, the period is one year. Only a few programs, such as MEng and MRes, take two to four years to complete.

Where else can you equip yourself better in the English language than in the UK?

The United Kingdom is the second most popular English-speaking location for international students globally. You'll be putting yourself up for future success after graduating if you study and immerse yourself in the English language in the UK.

You can also work part-time while studying:

International students are often permitted to work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during university breaks. A part-time job is a great way to supplement your income while acquiring new skills and meeting new people. You can even get an employee discount depending on your work!

“Time flies” or “Time flies, remember death”. I am not, however here to talk about death, or the end of all things—but the importance of time and its proper use in your academic development. Everything or every event depends on time, from sporting activities to business meetings; our birth to our first graduation ceremony or first kiss. Time gauges our successes and failures, also our life and its development in a society and the planet.

 I had to consider several implications of using my time effectively—using time to bring about a favorable result. Failure would be a sure thing if I did not complete my assessments or make space in my busy schedule to study and review the material. I also had to consider the length of time it would take to cover all the necessary chapters in the module that would bring about a comprehensive understanding of the topic. So time, when applied effectively brings about good results. However, as they say “Rome was not built in a day”, so it would be suffice to say that some of us still struggle with this construct of measuring time and how it affects our daily activities. It would be fitting to suggest ways one can accomplish tasks or goals, especially of personal development. I have labelled it as the The 5 W’s of Time Management.

The idea of the 5 W’s is not new so I will not attempt to claim ownership of its origin. We have heard about 5 W’s before when composing a story or detailing an event. They are Who, Why, What, Where and When.

How does time fit into these 5 W’s? 

Let’s start by tackling these aspects of an event or task, using the context of a main character who is a university student and we will see how the construct of time affects them.

1.    Who?
We are the main characters! You must recognize at this point in time that on one half, you are responsible for your own development, no one else. The other half is Who you will affect positively after (a point in time, obviously) whether it is your family, friends or work peers.

2.    Why?
Setting aside a moment to pinpoint the reasons behind your academic journey and pushing those reading hours would bring about a realization or create that sense of purpose for yourself. In other words, the great why.

3.    What?
Identify your objectives or goals and what is needed to accomplish them. Formulate a detailed plan and engage in continuous, steady action through study. Those with time constraints need to consider how to bring about a successful outcome, perhaps graduation and starting your chosen career.

4.    Where?
The event or task has to be done in a place which occupies a moment in time, the Where. A student must find a quiet place to study and it must be done at the best time, without distractions, to achieve success. 

5.    When?
One must determine the most opportune moment to complete a task or goal, for doing the particular thing at the wrong moment in time, could hamper success. Reviewing material last minute or not making time to practice would place an obstacle to a student’s academic development.

Effectively applying the 5 W’s of Time Management has helped my study process exponentially. If you choose to use it, I hope it will do the same for you.

Having a part time job in UK is extremely popular among international students. Firstly, because living a study abroad dream comes with high cost and gives a huge burden. Additionally, having some extra cash can help students to pay for some additional loans and living expenses. Not only this, but a part time job in UK can also help students to enhance their professional and practical skills.

UK is a top three study abroad destination and the average cost of studying in the UK for Indian students is around 15,00,000-40,00,000 INR depending on your program and level of study. The cost of living in UK also varies depending on your location in the UK and your lifestyle. Uk allows international students on a Tier 4 student visa to work for 20 hours during course time. However, several top universities recommend students to work 15 hours per week to maintain work-study balance.

When looking for part time jobs in the UK, make sure you do not compromise with your studies at any cost. Working late after attending classes, running behind schedule, missing classes will eventually make your life in the UK stressful. As an international student, initially the study pressure on you will also be more as you will need time to adapt to the UK Education system. It is recommended that you look for jobs within close vicinity to the campus. Part time jobs not only help you to manage your budget but also provide experience, management skills, networking opportunities and skill building.

Part Time Jobs in UK: Permitted Work Hours

All international students require a Tier 4 Student Visa to pursue further or higher education in the UK. With a student visa, an international student can study and participate in part time jobs in the UK under restricted hours. The hours of work depend upon what course you are pursuing and whether you are working during course time or holidays. The eligibility criteria for part time Jobs in UK for international students are listed below:

• Work for 20 hours per week during course time if you are enrolled in a full-time degree program.
• During holidays, students are allowed to work for 40 hours per week.
• Students enrolled in foundation level programs are only allowed to work for 10 hours per week.

On-campus Part Time Jobs in UK for International Students

There may be internal positions on campus that international students could fill. These positions usually arise in libraries, cafeteria, admissions office, bookstore, campus tour guide, etc. By working on campus, students can also save the time and money spent on travelling. However, on-campus jobs for international students are limited and cannot be relied upon. The general eligibility criteria applies for students seeking part time jobs on campus:

• Students enrolled in full-time degrees such as bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. programs are allowed to work for a maximum of 20 hours per week during the study period.
• Full-time degree students can work full-time during holidays.
• Working for only 10 hours per week is permitted for students who are enrolled in language programs or foundation level courses.
• Part-time program students are not eligible to apply for part time jobs on campus.

Off-campus Jobs for International Students

There are several off-campus jobs for international students in the UK. Some of the highest paying jobs are available in the Marketing, Education, Administration, Health and Social Service sectors. International students can start looking for off-campus jobs closer to the university. It is easy for international students to find jobs to work as assistants, helper, receptionist, cashier, waiters, delivery staff, babysitter, caretaker, etc. Retail outlets are one of the major sources of employment for students seeking part time jobs in UK for international students.

However, there are some restrictions for international students seeking part time jobs off-campus. These rules must be adhered to since failure to comply with any of these might lead to the cancellation of your UK student Visa and even deportation.