Among the most critical factors that make the UK attractive to Indian students is the opportunity that UK graduates have to launch a global career. Besides earning a degree from highly  regarded international institutions, UK graduates also gain a powerful network of friends and mentors — a key tool for growing a resourceful and successful career. Moreover, the UK also has a rich heritage and position in the global socioeconomic landscape; both India and the UK have been hard at work in their mission to internationalise higher education, closely collaborating to create plans for more cooperation in transnational education and implement more policies that support student mobility and bilateral opportunities for students. 

Overall, here are five of the biggest factors that make the UK one of the most popular choices for Indians looking to pursue higher education abroad, according to India Today: 

• • Credibility – The UK is home to some of the best universities in the world, with four out of 10 of the top 10 universities globally coming from the UK according to the QS Global Rankings 2023. The UUKi’s International Graduate Outcomes report also found that 83% of international graduates from the UK feel that their degree enabled them to secure a job.
  • Employability – QS Graduate Employability Rankings consider UK graduates among the most employable in the world. With various internship and placement opportunities, alongside their new Graduate Route policy (allowing  international students to stay for two to three years in the UK post-graduation to work), the UK offers international students plenty of support to kickstart their careers.

• • Eligibility and Policy – India and the UK have a signed agreement on mutual recognition of academic qualifications, which supports more seamless acceptance of UK qualifications and allows all Indian graduates from the UK to pursue further studies, research, or employment when they return to India.

• • Affordability – Universities in the UK and the British government offer a host of scholarships for Indian students. On average, education in the UK costs also less in comparison to other popular foreign education destinations. 

• • Liveability – The UK’s large Indian population creates a cultural bridge between the two countries.  The UK is a melting pot of different cultures, making it a great environment for international students to gain  new cultural experiences. In support of this, UK universities network international students to faculty, mentors, and fellow students with similar backgrounds,  allowing access to emotional and academic support.