I made a post about the top universities in other nations besides America. But are any of these universities realistic opportunities for an American student?
The UK has a system called UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, an independent charity, and the UK’s shared admissions service for higher education. If you are applying to a UK school, you will do so through UCAS. They have a page to help international students.
There is an October 15th deadline for the following year, meaning you need to be on the ball if you want to apply to a prestigious university.
Entry Requirements
You then need to look into the entry requirements, which start with Tariff Points. Unfortunately, most Americans cannot match their coursework to UK “Levels.” Your best options are the SAT and Advanced Placement tests.
The University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, the University College London (UCL), and the University of Edinburgh are the top five schools in the UK. Here is a quick overview of their requirements for American students.
| University | SAT | AP Tests | Approx. Annual Overseas Tuition |
| The University of Oxford | 1480 | 3+ 5s | $35,000 – $53,500 |
| The University of Cambridge | 1500 / 1460 | 5+ 5s | $29,500 – $45,000 ($77,500 Med.) |
| Imperial College London | N/A | 3+ 5s | $41,000 – $44,000 ($56,500 Med.) |
| The University College London (UCL) | 1440 / 1280 | 2-4 5s | $27,000 – $42,500 |
| The University of Edinburgh | 1290 | 2+ 4s | $28,000 – $39,000 |
On a unique note, you can only apply to Oxford or Cambridge, not both.
Selecting a Major
In the UK, students spend the last two years of high school going deeper into the study area they would like to pursue at university. Since American high schools are geared towards breadth instead of depth, this disadvantages students.
Instead of selecting a “major,” you will choose a “course.” UCAS offers content to help you with your decision-making process but also emphasizes that most courses will specialize in this area. Comparatively, most American universities have “general electives” to encourage students to experience new things and broaden their knowledge.
Other Tips
- You may have to pay a healthcare surcharge as part of your visa application (~$500).
- With your student visa, you can work up to 20 hours per week while studying.
- Most dormitories are single occupancy. Don’t expect a roommate.
- You will be responsible for your tuition financing as you cannot receive UK Financial Aid
- UK Universities may place up to 100% of their course grade on the final exam
- 70-100% is the highest grade level (First Degree)
