Study and Work in England: Find out how

To make the dream of studying and working in England come true, students must organize and prepare well in advance, ensuring that they fulfill the necessary prerequisites for the undertaking. As the educational institutions in the country are among the best in the world, this experience, without a doubt, is a professional turning point and can be quite satisfying.

How to study and work in England?

Two possible scenarios exist where international students can study and work legally in England are:

At work with volunteering

Volunteering has specific rules and is also an alternative for those who want to study and work in England. In addition to being an enriching experience that makes the curriculum more engaging. It is necessary to know that volunteering and unpaid work are different concepts, and volunteering generally refers to cultural work in museums, projects with needy people and actions with charities.

When obtaining the TIER 4 visa

This visa is granted to students who will stay in the country for at least 24 weeks (or six months), either as a university student or while pursuing professional studies. In this case, when doing an exchange program, it is possible to work up to 20 hours a week during classes and holidays, as vacations are not allowed to work, according to the rules in force by the British government.

How to get a visa to study and work in England?

Issues involving immigration matters and the granting of visas to study and work in England are controlled by the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) body, an entity linked to the British government that defines the legislation regarding the entry of foreigners into the region.

Nowadays, a visa is mandatory for international students who attend undergraduate or postgraduate courses in the country and wish to study and work in England. Applying for a visa at least three months before classes start is best. Upon entering this process, students must present the CAS, a unique reference number sent by the university proving the student’s relationship with the institution.

How does higher education work in England?

For students thinking about studying and working in England when studying higher education in the country, it is important to understand that it is divided into two types: undergraduate courses and postgraduate courses. Below is a walkthrough of what is required to enter these courses.

University graduate

First, you need to prove your language proficiency, which can be done through the IELTS test. A good grade on this exam is one of the differentials to getting a place in a renowned educational institution.

After that, it is necessary to pay attention to the specific requirements of the desired universities, which can be checked on the UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) platform. This site brings together all the information on how to attend an undergraduate degree in England and where to apply. It is ideal to start the application process a year in advance, as British educational institutions usually take up to 3 months to inform about approval.

In this enrollment process, in addition to being required to include personal data, undergraduate students who wish to study and work in England also need to inform their academic records. 

The High School Leaving Certificate transcribed through a sworn translation, the result of the IELTS or another internationally accepted proficiency exam, two written recommendation letters from professors written in English, and a personal introduction letter.

Postgraduate studies

The educational institution’s website usually manages the selection process for postgraduate studies in British universities. Still, some have joined an online platform similar to UCAS, which is UKPASS. Thus, it is up to the student who wants to study and work in England to define the postgraduate course at the university they wish to attend and then look for which channel to apply for.

From then on, the process is very similar to that of graduation, being necessary to inform matters such as: 

• professional and academic background
•  a digitized version of the graduation transcript in sworn translation into English
• IELTS UKVI certificate
• three professional reference letters or from graduation professors
• personal introduction letter explaining why you want to join that course.

A good suggestion is to look for professionals specialized in the subject to avoid missing deadlines or forgetting documents. Finding a reliable exchange agency is essential for anyone wishing to study and work in England. The highlight has helped at each stage of this process, helping to make your experience more straightforward and less bureaucratic.

Advantages of studying and working in England

In addition to the high quality of life, students who choose to study and work in England also gain access to several advantages.

Culture

England is one of the most outstanding cultural references in the western world. For centuries, the country has been influencing the rest of the planet and has a rich and exceptional history. To top it off, the British are featured in architecture, fashion, art and design.

Quality of educational institutions

England has some of the oldest and most respected universities in the world. As the level of educational institutions in the country is very high, a diploma from one of these colleges is highly recognized in the rest of Europe, increasing the professional chances of the student who wants to study and work in England.

Plurality of people

As it attracts students from all over the world, students who choose to study and work in England have access to people from many different nationalities, encouraging the exchange of experiences and cultural customs. Another advantage is the chance to network with individuals from the four corners of the planet, which can result in good opportunities in the future.

Free leisure

By studying and working in England, students can visit some of the world’s most famous art and history museums at their leisure without spending a dime! London is home to the National Gallery, the Tate Modern, and the British Museum, some of the unmissable examples that offer high-quality leisure and free of charge.

What is it like to work in England?

After studying and working in England and getting the TIER 4 visa, students can start thinking about getting a job there. Although only being allowed to work part-time in the country does not prevent students from getting good extra money, which can help a lot in supporting them during their stay in England.

This is a great opportunity to speak English with native speakers and achieve fluency in the language more efficiently. Generally, it is easier for students to get work in restaurants and cafeterias, as shop assistants or providing services in hotels, for example. Even in a simple job, wages in the country are usually at least 8 pounds per hour.

Regarding how to find a job, many students manage to do so by referring friends and classmates. But in addition, many stores and restaurants have vacancy forms available. To fill them out, ask at a location if any vacancies are currently open. The student will be instructed to fill in the form and submit their CV if the answer is positive.

There is also the possibility of looking for a job online through job vacancy sites such as Total Jobs, Hays, and others. In any case, exchange students who choose to study and work in England can easily find a job in the country’s large cities.

Cost of living when studying and working in England

The fact that the pound is such a valued currency makes many believe that the cost of living in the country is high. However, students planning to study and work in England can sigh relief. According to a Worldwide Cost of Living report recently released by The Economist, the capital London has dropped nearly 20 positions. It is now ranked 24th among the most expensive cities to live in.

For experts, this drop in the cost of living to stay in the country is one of the effects of the UK leaving the European Union through Brexit. Therefore, studying and working in England is now more worthwhile than a few years ago in terms of housing, food, and services expenses.

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