Be University Wise guides › FAQs
UK university and uni questions answered
124 short answers for UK and international students applying to university, from official sources. Each answer links to a fuller guide.
Checked against official sources on 24 September 2026.
- Choosing a university (12)
- UCAS applications and deadlines (14)
- Personal statement, references and tests (10)
- Offers, results day and Clearing (10)
- UCAS points and entry requirements (10)
- Tuition fees and student finance (12)
- Cost of living and accommodation (9)
- International students: visas and money (14)
- International students: English, work and after graduating (12)
- About the Be Wise ranking and our data (13)
- From the latest data (8)
Choosing a university
How to compare universities and courses, and what official data can and cannot tell you.
# How do I choose a UK university?
Start with the subject, then compare courses on what matters to you: what students say about teaching, how many carry on after the first year, what graduates go on to do, entry grades, location and living costs. Visit open days if you can, and read each course page carefully, because two courses with the same name can be very different. Your five choices
# What is the best university in the UK?
There is no single best university for everyone. Different league tables use different measures and give different results. The Be Wise ranking uses only official data on student experience, continuation, graduate prospects and earnings, and lets you change the weights to match what matters to you. How we rank
# Should I choose a university for the course or for the place?
Usually the course comes first, because you will spend most of your time studying it, but the place matters too. Rent, travel home, the size and feel of the city or campus, and support services all affect how happy you will be. Many students shortlist on the course and then choose between places. Your five choices
# What is the difference between a city university and a campus university?
A city university has buildings spread across a town or city, so you live and study among local people and services. A campus university has most teaching, accommodation and facilities on one site, often on the edge of a town. Some universities are collegiate, meaning students also belong to a smaller college, as at Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, Lancaster and York.
# What is Discover Uni?
Discover Uni is the official UK website for comparing undergraduate courses, run on behalf of the UK higher education funding and regulatory bodies. It shows course-level data on student satisfaction, continuation, graduate outcomes, earnings and the entry qualifications of past students. Be University Wise uses the Discover Uni dataset in its rankings. Sources and licences
# What is the National Student Survey?
The National Student Survey (NSS) asks final-year undergraduates across the UK about their course, covering teaching on the course, learning opportunities, assessment and feedback, academic support, organisation and management, learning resources and student voice. The 2026 results were published by the Office for Students in July 2026. Sources and licences
# Are league tables reliable?
League tables are useful for a first look, but each one reflects its own choice of measures and weights, and small differences in position usually mean very little. Look at the figures behind the position and check the course itself. The Be Wise ranking shows every figure it uses so you can see how each position is reached. How we rank
# What is a foundation year?
A foundation year is an extra year at the start of a degree for students who do not meet the normal entry requirements or who studied different subjects. If you pass it, you usually move on to the first year of the degree. It adds a year of fees and living costs.
# What is a sandwich course or placement year?
A sandwich course includes a year working in industry, usually between the second and final years, so a three-year degree becomes four years. Placement years can help with graduate jobs. Look for course titles that mention a placement year, a year in industry or a year abroad.
# What is joint honours?
A joint honours degree splits your study between two subjects, such as History and Politics. It suits students who cannot choose between two subjects, but it can mean fewer optional modules in each. Check how the time is divided between the two subjects, and whether the course is accredited if your career needs that.
# Can I study at university part time?
Yes. Many universities and the Open University offer part-time degrees, often taking about twice as long. Student finance rules for part-time study are different, so check GOV.UK or your student finance body. International students on a Student visa generally need to study full time. Student finance
# What is a degree apprenticeship?
A degree apprenticeship combines a paid job with study for a degree. Your employer and the government pay the training costs, so you do not pay tuition fees. You apply to the employer rather than through a normal UCAS application. Degree apprenticeships
Sources for this section: UCAS dates and deadlines; Discover Uni; National Student Survey 2026, Office for Students; Discover Uni dataset, 8 September 2026 edition, HESA; LEO graduate outcomes, tax year 2023-24, Department for Education; GOV.UK: Student finance; GOV.UK: Student finance if your course starts on or after 1 January 2027; GOV.UK: Repaying your student loan; Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS); Student Finance Wales; Student Finance NI; GOV.UK: Find an apprenticeship; UCAS: apprenticeships.
UCAS applications and deadlines
How the UCAS application works for courses starting in 2027.
# When is the UCAS deadline for 2027 entry?
18:00 UK time on 13 January 2027 for most undergraduate courses. Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses have an earlier deadline of 18:00 on 15 October 2026. UCAS dates and deadlines
# When do UCAS applications open for 2027 entry?
You can register and start your application from 12 May 2026. Completed applications can be sent to UCAS from 1 September 2026, once your school or college has added your reference. UCAS dates and deadlines
# How much does it cost to apply through UCAS?
For 2027 entry the application fee is £34.50 for up to five choices, or six for conservatoires. The fee is waived for students who received government-funded free school meals in secondary school and for care leavers. UCAS dates and deadlines
# How many universities can I apply to?
Up to five courses on one UCAS application. For medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or veterinary science you can use up to four choices, and the fifth for a different subject. Your five choices
# Can I apply to Oxford and Cambridge in the same year?
Usually not for undergraduate courses. Oxford and Cambridge generally do not accept an application to both in the same year, with limited exceptions such as organ scholarships. Check both universities' admissions pages. UCAS dates and deadlines
# What happens if I miss the January deadline?
You can still apply until 30 June 2027 with choices, and after that through Clearing. Universities do not have to consider late applications in the same way, and popular courses may have filled. Courses with the 15 October deadline rarely consider late applications. UCAS dates and deadlines
# What is equal consideration?
Universities must consider every application that arrives by the equal consideration deadline in the same way, whether it came in September or on the deadline day. Applying early does not in itself give you an advantage, though some universities make decisions on a rolling basis. UCAS dates and deadlines
# Who writes my UCAS reference?
Usually a teacher or adviser at your school or college. If you are applying independently, you can ask someone who knows you well in an academic or work setting, such as a former teacher or employer, but not a family member or friend. UCAS dates and deadlines
# What is UCAS Extra?
UCAS Extra lets you add one more choice at a time if you have used all five choices and hold no offers. For 2027 entry it opens on 25 February 2027, and the last date to add an Extra choice is 1 July 2027. UCAS dates and deadlines
# Can I change my UCAS choices after applying?
You can swap a choice within 14 days of the date on your UCAS welcome email, once for each choice, and not after 30 June. If you applied to fewer than five courses, you can add more up to 30 June, as long as you have not replied to any offers. After that, your options are UCAS Extra or Clearing. Your five choices
# Can I apply for deferred entry?
Yes. Many courses accept applications for deferred entry, starting a year later, for example if you plan a gap year. Say so on your application and check the course page, because some courses, such as some medicine courses, have their own rules.
# Do international students apply through UCAS?
Most undergraduate applications, from the UK and abroad, go through UCAS and follow the same deadlines. Some universities also accept direct applications from international students, particularly for January starts and foundation programmes. International students
# Do I need to apply for accommodation through UCAS?
No. University accommodation is booked with each university, usually after you accept an offer. Check each university's accommodation deadlines, because some guarantee a room only if you apply by a certain date.
# When do universities make decisions?
Universities make decisions at different times, from within a few weeks of your application to the spring. Decisions appear in your UCAS Hub. For 2027 entry, universities must decide on applications sent by 13 January 2027 by 12 May 2027. If you have all your decisions by then, you must reply by 2 June 2027. Firm and insurance
Sources for this section: UCAS dates and deadlines; UCAS: application fee for the 2027 cycle; Discover Uni.
Personal statement, references and tests
What goes into your application besides your grades.
# What are the UCAS personal statement questions?
From 2026 entry onwards there are three questions: why do you want to study this course or subject; how have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject; and what else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful. Personal statement
# How long is the UCAS personal statement?
Up to 4,000 characters in total across the three answers, including spaces. Each answer must be at least 350 characters. Personal statement
# Can I write a different personal statement for each university?
No. The same personal statement goes to all your choices, so write about the subject rather than a particular university. Personal statement
# Can I use AI to write my personal statement?
Your statement must be your own work. UCAS and universities check statements for copying and similarity, and you may be asked about what you wrote at an interview. Using tools to check spelling or get ideas is different from having your statement written for you. Personal statement
# Which admissions tests are used for 2027 entry?
The main tests are UCAT for most medicine and dentistry courses, LNAT for law at some universities, and the UAT-UK tests ESAT, TMUA and TARA used by Cambridge, Imperial, Oxford and some others. Admissions tests
# When is the UAT-UK test for 2027 entry?
The October sitting for ESAT, TMUA and TARA is 12 to 16 October 2026, and booking closes at 18:00 on 28 September 2026. Oxford and Cambridge applicants must take the October sitting. The January sitting is 4 to 8 January 2027, with booking from 26 October to 21 December 2026. Admissions tests
# Does Oxford still use the MAT, PAT and TSA?
No. From 2026, Oxford uses the UAT-UK tests alongside LNAT and UCAT, in place of its own older tests. Admissions tests
# Are there bursaries for admissions test fees?
Yes. Test providers offer bursaries to cover the fee for eligible students, for example those receiving certain benefits or free school meals. Apply for the bursary before you book the test, because fees already paid may not be refunded. Bursaries are usually for UK or EU applicants, and each test sets its own deadline. Admissions tests
# Do all courses have interviews?
No. Interviews are common for medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, teaching, many health courses, Oxford and Cambridge, and some creative courses that ask for auditions or portfolios. Most other courses decide from your application alone.
# What is a contextual offer?
A lower offer that some universities make to applicants whose circumstances may have made it harder to achieve high grades, such as care leavers or students from areas where few people go to university. Each university sets its own rules. Contextual offers
Sources for this section: UCAS: how to write your personal statement, 2026 entry onwards; UAT-UK: ESAT, TMUA and TARA; University of Oxford: admissions tests; UCAT; LNAT; UCAS dates and deadlines.
Offers, results day and Clearing
What happens after you apply.
# What is the difference between a conditional and an unconditional offer?
A conditional offer becomes a place if you meet its conditions, usually certain grades. An unconditional offer means the place is yours already, although you may still need to send documents. Firm and insurance
# What are firm and insurance choices?
Once you have your decisions, you choose one offer as your firm choice and can keep one as your insurance choice. Your insurance is a back-up, usually asking for lower grades, in case you miss your firm offer. Firm and insurance
# Should my insurance choice ask for lower grades?
Usually, yes. If your insurance asks for the same grades as your firm choice, it gives little protection. Only choose an insurance offer you would be happy to go to, because you are committed to it if you miss your firm offer and meet the insurance conditions. Firm and insurance
# What happens if I miss my offer grades?
The university may still accept you, offer you a different course, or decline. Check your UCAS Hub on results day. If you are not placed at your firm or insurance choice, you can look for a course in Clearing. Clearing
# What is Clearing?
Clearing matches students who do not hold an offer with courses that still have places. For 2027 entry it opens on 2 July 2027 and is busiest on results days in August. Clearing
# Can I use Clearing if my results are better than expected?
Yes. You can release yourself into Clearing from your UCAS Hub to look for a different course. Speak to the university you want to move to first, because releasing yourself gives up your current place. Clearing
# How do I find Clearing places?
Vacancies are shown in the UCAS search tool and on university websites from 2 July. Phone or message the universities you are interested in with your UCAS personal ID and results ready, and only add a Clearing choice once a university has agreed to offer you a place. Clearing
# Can I get accommodation if I go through Clearing?
Often yes, but choice may be limited. Apply for accommodation at your new university as soon as your place is confirmed, and tell your student finance provider that you have changed university. Clearing
# What is the difference between Clearing and UCAS Extra?
UCAS Extra runs from 25 February to 1 July 2027 and lets you add one choice at a time if you have used all five choices and hold no offers. Clearing opens in July and is open to anyone without a place, including late applicants. UCAS dates and deadlines
# Can I reapply to university next year?
Yes. If things do not work out, you can apply again in the next cycle with your actual results, which some students find strengthens their application.
Sources for this section: UCAS dates and deadlines; UCAS: application fee for the 2027 cycle.
UCAS points and entry requirements
How grades turn into UCAS Tariff points and how universities use them.
# How many UCAS points is an A* at A level?
56 points. An A is 48, a B is 40, a C is 32, a D is 24 and an E is 16. UCAS Tariff points
# How many UCAS points are AAB at A level?
136 points: 48 + 48 + 40. UCAS Tariff points
# How many UCAS points is a Scottish Higher?
An A is 33 points, a B is 27, a C is 21 and a D is 15. An Advanced Higher A is 56 points. UCAS Tariff points
# How many UCAS points is a T Level?
A Distinction* is 168 points, a Distinction 144, a Merit 120, and a Pass 96 (with a C or above in the core) or 72 (with a D or E in the core). UCAS Tariff points
# How many UCAS points is a BTEC Extended Diploma?
From 168 points for D*D*D* down to 48 points for PPP. DDM is 128 points and MMM is 96. UCAS Tariff points
# How many UCAS points is the IB Diploma?
The IB Diploma itself does not carry points, but its parts do: a Higher Level 7 is 56 points and a 6 is 48, a Standard Level 7 is 28 points, and the Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge carry up to 12 points each. UCAS Tariff points
# How many UCAS points is the EPQ?
The Extended Project Qualification carries up to 28 points: A* is 28, A is 24, B is 20, C is 16, D is 12 and E is 8. UCAS Tariff points
# Do universities use UCAS points or grades?
Both. Many universities make offers in grades, such as AAB, while others use points. Some count only your best three A levels or Highers. Always check the entry requirements on the course page. UCAS Tariff points
# What are predicted grades?
The grades your school or college expects you to achieve, which it adds to your UCAS application. Universities use them to decide whether to make you an offer. Be University Wise lets you enter both your predicted grades and the grades you expect, and compares both with past entrants. UCAS Tariff points
# What do Aspirational, Realistic and Safer mean in Be University Wise?
They compare your UCAS points with those of past students on the course. Aspirational means your points are below most past entrants, Realistic means they sit in the middle half, and Safer means they are above most. Past entry grades are not offers. How we rank
Sources for this section: UCAS: calculate your UCAS Tariff points; National Student Survey 2026, Office for Students; Discover Uni dataset, 8 September 2026 edition, HESA; LEO graduate outcomes, tax year 2023-24, Department for Education.
Tuition fees and student finance
What university costs in each part of the UK, and how loans work.
# How much are university tuition fees in England?
For 2026/27, up to £9,790 a year for a full-time undergraduate course at universities and colleges with a Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) award, or £9,525 without one. For 2027/28, the Office for Students has published limits of £10,050 with a TEF award and £9,780 without. Eligible students from England can take out a student loan for their tuition fees. Tuition fees
# How much are tuition fees in Wales for 2026/27?
The Welsh Government set a limit of £9,790 a year for 2026/27. Eligible students from Wales can get a Tuition Fee Loan, so they do not have to pay upfront. Tuition fees
# Is university free in Scotland?
For eligible students from Scotland studying in Scotland, the tuition fee of £1,820 a year is paid by the Student Awards Agency Scotland, so they do not pay it themselves. Students from the rest of the UK can be charged up to £9,790 a year at Scottish universities. Tuition fees
# How much are tuition fees in Northern Ireland?
Up to £4,985 a year for students from Northern Ireland at Northern Ireland universities in 2026/27. Students from Northern Ireland studying in Great Britain can be charged up to £9,790. Tuition fees
# How much Maintenance Loan can I get?
Students from England can get up to £9,118 a year living with parents, £10,830 living away from home outside London, or £14,135 in London, for 2026/27. The amount depends on household income, so many students get less than the maximum. Student finance
# When do I start paying back my student loan?
From the April after you leave your course, and only when your income is over the repayment threshold. Students from England who started from 1 August 2023 are on Plan 5, which currently takes 9% of income above £25,000 a year. If your income falls below the threshold, repayments stop. Student finance
# How much do I repay if I earn £30,000?
At the current Plan 5 threshold of £25,000, you repay 9% of £5,000, which is £450 a year, or £37.50 a month. The threshold may change by the time you start repaying. Student finance
# What is the Lifelong Learning Entitlement?
The new student finance system in England for courses starting on or after 1 January 2027. It gives a tuition loan allowance of up to £39,160, about four years of full-time study at current rates, which can be used across courses and modules. GOV.UK says the amount may change over time. Student finance
# Do I have to pay tuition fees upfront?
No, if you are eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan, which is paid straight to the university. International students usually pay fees themselves, often in instalments set by the university. Tuition fees
# Do my parents' earnings affect my student loan?
They affect the Maintenance Loan for living costs, which depends on household income, but not the Tuition Fee Loan. Some students are assessed as independent, for example if they are estranged from their parents or are care leavers. Student finance
# What extra financial help is there for students?
Depending on your circumstances: Disabled Students' Allowance, Childcare Grant, Parents' Learning Allowance, Adult Dependants' Grant, NHS funding for some health courses, and bursaries, scholarships and hardship funds from universities. Student finance
# Where do students from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland apply for student finance?
Students from Scotland apply to the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS), students from Wales to Student Finance Wales, and students from Northern Ireland to Student Finance NI. Student finance
Sources for this section: GOV.UK: Student finance; Welsh Government: tuition fee limits for 2026 to 2027; Department for the Economy (NI): rates memorandum 2026 to 2027; Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS); Queen's University Belfast: tuition fees; GOV.UK: Student finance if your course starts on or after 1 January 2027; GOV.UK: Repaying your student loan; Student Finance Wales; Student Finance NI.
Cost of living and accommodation
What it costs to live as a student.
# How much does it cost to live as a student in the UK?
It depends mainly on rent. Average private rent in the UK was £1,400 a month in August 2026 on ONS figures, but student rooms in halls or shared houses usually cost less, and rents vary a lot between cities. Use a budget that adds rent, bills, food, travel, course costs and going out. Cost of living by city
# Do students pay council tax?
In England, Scotland and Wales, a home where everyone is a full-time student does not pay council tax. Northern Ireland has domestic rates instead, which are often included in the rent. Cost of living by city
# Is it cheaper to live at home while at university?
Usually, because rent is most students' biggest cost. The largest Maintenance Loan is lower if you live with your parents (£9,118 in 2026/27 for students from England), so compare the full cost, including travel. Student finance
# Are bills included in university halls?
Most university-owned halls include heating, electricity, water and internet in the rent. Private halls and shared houses vary, so check what is included before you sign. Cost of living by city
# Is first-year accommodation guaranteed?
Many universities guarantee a room in halls for first-year students who apply by a deadline and make the university their firm choice. The rules vary, so check each university's accommodation pages.
# How long are student tenancies?
Private student lets are often for 10 to 12 months, even though teaching runs for about 9 months. University halls are often shorter. Check the length, because it changes the yearly cost. Cost of living by city
# Can students work part time?
Many UK students work part time during term, and there is no legal limit for UK students, although many universities recommend no more than about 15 to 20 hours a week. International students on a Student visa usually have a limit of 20 hours a week in term time. Working while studying
# Do I need a TV licence as a student?
You need a TV licence to watch or record live TV on any channel or to use BBC iPlayer, including on a laptop or phone. A licence for your parents' home does not usually cover you in halls or a shared house.
# How can I work out a student budget?
List your likely monthly costs (rent, bills, food, travel, phone, course costs and going out), multiply rent by the months in your tenancy, and compare the total with your loan and any other income. The Be University Wise budget calculator does this for any university city. Cost of living by city
Sources for this section: Price Index of Private Rents, Office for National Statistics; GOV.UK: Student finance; GOV.UK: Student finance if your course starts on or after 1 January 2027; GOV.UK: Repaying your student loan; Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS); Student Finance Wales; Student Finance NI; GOV.UK: Immigration Rules, Appendix Student; GOV.UK: Student visa.
International students: visas and money
The Student visa rules as at September 2026.
# Do I need a visa to study in the UK?
If you are not a British or Irish citizen and do not have settled or pre-settled status, you will usually need a Student visa for a degree course. Student visa
# How much does a UK Student visa cost?
The application fee is £558, whether you apply from outside or inside the UK. You also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 for each year of your visa. Student visa
# How much money do I need for a UK Student visa?
Your unpaid first-year tuition fees plus living costs of £1,171 a month outside London or £1,529 a month in London, for up to 9 months: £10,539 or £13,761. Visa money
# How long must the money be in my bank account?
At least 28 days in a row, and the end of that period must be within 31 days of the date you apply. Visa money
# When can I apply for a Student visa?
Up to 6 months before your course starts if you apply from outside the UK, or up to 3 months before if you apply from inside the UK. You must apply within 6 months of receiving your CAS. Student visa
# What is a CAS?
A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies: a reference number your university gives you once you have an unconditional offer. You need it before you can apply for your visa. CAS
# Can anyone sell me a CAS or guarantee a visa?
No. Only a licensed student sponsor, usually your university, can issue a CAS, and nobody can guarantee a visa. Anyone offering to sell one is running a scam. Scams and agents
# When can I travel to the UK on a Student visa?
Up to 1 month before your course starts if it lasts more than 6 months, or up to 1 week before if it is shorter. Student visa
# How long can I stay on a Student visa?
If you are 18 or over and studying at degree level, you can usually stay for up to 5 years. The visa normally covers your course plus a short period afterwards. Student visa
# What is the Immigration Health Surcharge?
A charge paid when you apply for your visa that lets you use the NHS. For students it is £776 for each year of the visa, and you still pay it if you have private medical insurance. Health surcharge
# Can I bring my family on a Student visa?
Usually not as an undergraduate, unless you are government-sponsored. Only government-sponsored students on courses longer than 6 months, and students on a PhD or other research-based postgraduate course, can bring dependants. Bringing family
# Do I need a tuberculosis test for a UK Student visa?
Only if you are applying from a country where the test is required. If you are, you must include the test results with your application. Student visa
# What documents do I need for a UK Student visa?
A current passport and your CAS. You may also need proof of money, an ATAS certificate, tuberculosis test results, consent from your parents if you are under 18, and written consent from a financial sponsor. Student visa
# What is the international student levy?
The government plans a levy on higher education providers in England of £925 a year for each international student from 1 August 2028, subject to legislation. It is charged to providers, not directly to students, although some may reflect it in their fees. International students
Sources for this section: GOV.UK: Student visa; GOV.UK: Student visa, documents you must provide; GOV.UK: Student visa, money you need; GOV.UK: Immigration Health Surcharge, how much you pay; GOV.UK: Register of licensed student sponsors; British Council: education agents and counsellors; British Council: database of UK-trained counsellors; GOV.UK: Student visa, your partner and children.
International students: English, work and after graduating
English requirements, ATAS, work rights and the Graduate Route.
# What level of English do I need for a UK Student visa?
Level B2 or above on the Common European Framework of Reference for a degree course. Your university can usually assess this itself. English tests
# What IELTS score do UK universities ask for?
Many undergraduate courses ask for around 6.0 to 7.0 overall, with a minimum score in each part. Law, medicine and some other courses ask for more. Each university sets its own requirement. English tests
# Who does not need to prove their English for a UK visa?
Nationals of majority English-speaking countries including Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the USA, and several Caribbean countries, among others. Universities may still ask for evidence for admission. English tests
# Do UK universities accept the Duolingo English Test?
Some do and some do not, and acceptance can differ by course. Check the English requirements on each course page before you book a test. English tests
# What is ATAS?
The Academic Technology Approval Scheme applies to some international students of sensitive subjects at master's level or above, including some integrated master's degrees. It takes at least 30 working days, so apply as soon as your university tells you it is needed. ATAS
# How many hours can international students work in the UK?
Degree-level students at a university can usually work up to 20 hours a week in term time and full time in vacations. Students cannot be self-employed or work as a professional sportsperson or entertainer. Working while studying
# What is the Graduate Route?
The Graduate visa lets you stay in the UK to work or look for work after an eligible degree: 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027, and 3 years after a PhD. Graduate Route
# How much does the Graduate visa cost?
The application fee is £937, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge at the standard rate, usually £1,035 for each year. Graduate Route
# Will I pay home or international fees?
It depends mainly on your immigration status and where you have lived. Most people on a Student visa pay international fees. The university decides, and UKCISA explains the rules. Fee status
# Do EU students pay home fees in the UK?
Since 2021, most EU, EEA and Swiss nationals other than Irish citizens pay international fees unless they have settled or pre-settled status and meet the residence rules. Fee status
# Should I use an education agent?
Many students do, and agents are usually paid by the university. Ask which universities an agent works with and whether they charge you anything. The British Council trains agents, and many trained agents choose to be listed on its Study UK website. Always pay fees to the university directly. Scams and agents
# Can I start a UK degree in January?
Some universities offer January starts on a limited number of undergraduate courses, more often on foundation programmes. Check course pages for a January intake. International students
Sources for this section: GOV.UK: Student visa, knowledge of English; GOV.UK: Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS); GOV.UK: Student visa; GOV.UK: Immigration Rules, Appendix Student; GOV.UK: Graduate visa; UKCISA: UK Council for International Student Affairs; GOV.UK: Register of licensed student sponsors; British Council: education agents and counsellors; British Council: database of UK-trained counsellors.
About the Be Wise ranking and our data
How Be University Wise works.
# How does the Be Wise ranking work?
Each university is scored on four official measures: student experience (30%), continuation (25%), graduate prospects (25%) and earnings five years after graduating, compared with the UK average for the same subjects (20%). The results are combined and shown out of 100. How we rank
# Where does Be University Wise get its data?
From the National Student Survey 2026 (Office for Students), the Discover Uni dataset (HESA), LEO graduate earnings (Department for Education) and private rents (Office for National Statistics). Every figure shows its source. Sources and licences
# Does Be University Wise copy other league tables?
No. The ranking uses only official data and fixed rules set out on our how-we-rank page. We link to commercial league tables but do not reproduce their results. How we rank
# Why are research ratings not in the ranking?
Research ratings say little about the undergraduate experience, so they are not part of the Be Wise ranking. The Teaching Excellence Framework is also left out because it covers England only. How we rank
# Why are entry grades not scored in the ranking?
Entry grades measure who gets in rather than what a university does for its students. We show them and use them for the Aspirational, Realistic and Safer labels, but they do not count towards the score. How we rank
# Can I change how the ranking is weighted?
Yes. In the app, sliders let you change the weight of each measure, for example to put student experience or career outcomes first. Your choices stay in your browser. How we rank
# Why does a university say not enough data?
If a university has too few survey responses, or fewer than three of the four measures published, we do not guess. It is listed as not enough data, which says nothing about its quality. How we rank
# Are colleges included in the rankings?
Yes. Colleges that teach degree courses are included and marked College, under the same rules as universities. How we rank
# Why are Northern Ireland universities ranked on three measures?
The LEO earnings data does not include Northern Ireland, so universities there are ranked on student experience, continuation and graduate prospects, with the earnings weight shared among those measures. How we rank
# How often is the ranking updated?
Once a year, when new official data is published. Visa, fee and student finance guides are checked every month against GOV.UK. Recent changes
# Can universities pay to improve their position?
No. Nobody can pay to appear in the ranking or to move up it, and advertising never affects any ranking or list. How we rank
# Does Be University Wise store my answers?
No. Your grades and answers are processed in your own browser and are not sent to us. Your shortlist is saved only on your own device.
# Is Be University Wise connected with UCAS?
No. Be University Wise is not affiliated with UCAS or any university. It gives general information from official data, not careers, admissions or immigration advice.
Sources for this section: National Student Survey 2026, Office for Students; Discover Uni dataset, 8 September 2026 edition, HESA; LEO graduate outcomes, tax year 2023-24, Department for Education.
From the latest data
Answers taken from the official data behind Be University Wise, updated when new data is published.
# Which university is top of the Be Wise ranking?
Imperial College London is first in the overall Be Wise ranking, followed by London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), University of Cambridge, University of St Andrews and University of Oxford. The ranking combines official data on student experience, continuation, graduate prospects and earnings. UK university rankings
# Which UK universities had the highest student satisfaction in the 2026 National Student Survey?
On the average positive score across the seven survey themes, among providers with at least 250 responses: BPP University (92.9%), Birmingham Newman University (92.0%), University College Birmingham (92.0%), University of St Andrews (90.8%) and University of Wales Trinity Saint David (90.7%). UK university rankings
# Which UK universities have the highest continuation rates?
On Discover Uni data for full-time degree students, the highest shares still studying or qualified a year after starting were at University of Cambridge (98.4%), University of Oxford (97.4%), London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) (95.5%), University of Bath (95.3%) and University of St Andrews (94.9%). UK university rankings
# Which UK universities have the best graduate prospects?
On Discover Uni data, the highest shares of graduates in professional or managerial work, or further study, 15 months after finishing were at Imperial College London (89.3%), BPP University (85.4%), University of Suffolk (79.7%), London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) (79.2%) and University of Bath (79.1%). UK university rankings
# Which university subjects lead to the highest earnings?
On the Department for Education's LEO data for the 2023-24 tax year, the highest typical earnings five years after graduating were for medicine and dentistry (£57,000), economics (£52,700), mathematical sciences (£45,800), physics and astronomy (£44,100) and engineering (£44,100). Earnings vary widely by university, region and job. UK university rankings
# Which UK university cities have the lowest rents?
On ONS average private rents for August 2026, the lowest among UK university towns and cities were in Durham (County Durham, £650 a month), Carlisle (Cumberland, £681 a month), Hull (£694 a month), Middlesbrough (£698 a month) and Sunderland (£707 a month). These are averages for the whole local council area and all private homes, so student rooms often cost less, and rooms near a campus can cost more. Cost of living by city
# Which UK university cities are the most expensive to rent in?
On ONS average private rents for August 2026, the highest were in London (£2,332 a month), Oxford (£1,963 a month), Bath (Bath and North East Somerset, £1,885 a month), Bristol (£1,883 a month) and Brighton (Brighton and Hove, £1,808 a month). The UK average was £1,400 a month. These are averages for all private homes across the local council area. Cost of living by city
# How do rents compare across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
On ONS average private rents, England was £1,459 a month (August 2026), Scotland £1,013, Wales £846 and Northern Ireland £874 (June 2026). London was £2,332. Cost of living by city
Sources for this section: National Student Survey 2026, Office for Students; Discover Uni dataset, 8 September 2026 edition, HESA; LEO graduate outcomes, tax year 2023-24, Department for Education; Price Index of Private Rents, Office for National Statistics.
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Open Be University WiseA plain-text copy of these questions and answers is at faq-full.txt.