United Kingdom

As a high school student, I always thought of living abroad as a step towards happiness. It might have been my belief that freedom would solve my problems, but that wasn’t true.

As high school students, most of us have no idea how different university life can be. We imagine an idealistic future. Yes, you will meet new friends, explore cities you have yet to visit and get to try things you are not familiar with. However, there are limitations that it’s important to be aware of.

Now that you’ve organised your student visa for the UK, it’s worth knowing if you can work while you are studying, as well as how many hours and what kind of work you can do. 

How many hours can I work as an international student in the UK? 

International students can work in the UK if they are on a student or Tier 4 visa. If you are in the UK on a visitor or short-term visa, work is not allowed at any time, including unpaid positions and volunteering. 

The Rhodes Scholarship provides exceptional people from around the world with the life-changing opportunity to study at the University of Oxford.

My name is Paula Vivas. I’m a second-year joint honours BA history and politics and international relations student at Royal Holloway, University of London. As a student ambassador at Royal Holloway, I meet many prospective students who are eagerly awaiting their A-level results but are often terrified about not getting into university. I always remind them that there’s often another chance – through clearing. It’s great to be able to write about my experience with clearing because it means a lot to me.  

I grew up in the US but decided to study both my master’s and PhD at the London School of Economics and Political Science in the UK because I wanted to work with my advisor, Jennifer Sheehy-Skeffington.

I spent almost a decade working abroad before I decided to do my PhD. That time helped me decide if the PhD made sense for me. It also helped strengthen the clarity and depth of my research questions through the advice and mentorship I received along the way.

If you are looking to study in the UK but aren’t sure if you are quite ready for the transition from high school to university, a foundation year might be the next step.

Most UK universities offer foundation years to international and domestic students to provide them with the opportunity to gain more study skills, develop their English language skills and improve their grades in order to boost their undergraduate university applications.

Trying to remember everything you need to apply to universities abroad can be a challenge, especially when you’re considering multiple locations. In this guide, we’ve listed all the forms and documents you need to prepare with the relevant links to help you study abroad. 

The UK is a popular choice for students from all over the world and is home to some of the most global prestigious universities.

Preparing to study in another country can be exciting, but it can also be daunting at times. There is lots to prepare for and think about, especially when it comes to funding your studies. It’s important to research funding options before you arrive so you can avoid any costly mistakes. Here is a rundown of everything you need to consider when planning how to fund your studies.

Top 10 universities in the UK for social science degrees 2024

Scroll down for the full list of best universities for social sciences in the UK