School of African Studies University of London Admission 2026-27

London is the top choice for Indian students studying in UK, with over 40 universities and colleges offering world-class programs across STEM, business, law, humanities, and emerging fields like AI and data science. The Top 5 Universities in London, as per QS World Rankings 2026 & THE 2025 Rankings, include:

  • Imperial College London (#2 QS, #9 THE) – Elite for engineering, medicine, and tech.
  • University College London (UCL) (#9 QS, #22 THE) – Renowned for research in sciences, arts, and social sciences.
  • King’s College London (#31 QS, #36 THE) – Strong in law, health, and business.
  • London School of Economics (LSE) (#45 QS, #24 THE) – Best for economics, finance, and politics.
  • Queen Mary University of London (#145 QS, #135 THE) – Affordable with excellent programs in medicine and law.

The average fee at Universities in London for a Master’s program is 25–50 lakhs/year. Living costs are INR 1.5–2 lakhs/month (shared accommodation). The Graduate Route visa lets you stay and work full-time for 2 years post-graduation. During studies, you can work part-time up to 20 hours/week. London offers vibrant Indian communities in areas like Southall and Wembley, affordable eats from £5 curries, and easy Tube access. Explore the full list of universities in London with fees, deadlines, and Indian student reviews below.

Check Out: UK Universities List

Table of Contents

  1. Top 10 Universities in London
  2. Why Study in London?
  3. Popular Courses for Indian Students at Universities in London

    3.1 Top MBA Universities in London

    3.2 Top MS in Computer Science Universities in London

    3.3 Top Engineering Universities in London for Indian Students

    3.4 Top LLM Universities in London

  4. Admission and Application Requirements for Universities in London
  5. Visa Requirements to Study in UK
  6. Cost of Living in London
  7. Scholarship Opportunities in Universities in London
  8. Universities in London: Important Considerations for Indian Students
  9. FAQs

Top 10 Universities in London

Check out the top universities in London for Indian students.

University NameQS 2026 Global RankThe Guardian 2026 UK RankAverage Fee (GBP/year)Average Fee (INR/year)Popular Course Among Indian Students
Imperial College London23£38,00041,04,000MSc Computer Science
University College London (UCL)98£35,00037,80,000MSc Management
London School of Economics504£32,00034,56,000MSc Finance
King’s College London4021£30,00032,40,000MSc Data Science & Analytics
Queen Mary University of London14545£28,00030,24,000MSc Engineering
University of the Arts London251-3007£25,00027,00,000MA Fashion Design
City, University of London32855£22,00023,76,000MSc Business Analytics
Birkbeck, University of London351-40070£20,00021,60,000MSc Economics
SOAS University of London511-52085£24,00025,92,000MA International Studies
London Metropolitan University801-850100£16,50017,82,000MSc Public Health 

Popular Courses for Indian Students at Universities in London

Check out the popular fields that Indian students choose to study at universities in London.

  • STEM Fields: London universities, such as Imperial and UCL, are renowned for STEM programs.
  • Business and Finance: Institutions like LSE and City, University of London, offer globally recognised business programs.
  • Law and Humanities: King’s College London and Queen Mary University offer strong programs in law, attracting aspiring lawyers from India.

Check Out: Popular Courses in UK for Indian Students

Top MBA Universities in London

The popular universities offering an MBA in London for Indian students are as follows:

University NameAverage Fee (GBP/year)Average Fee (INR/year)Application Deadline 2026Notes for Indian Students
London Business School (LBS) MBA£123,9501.48 CrRound 1: 13 Sep 2025
Round 2: 15 Jan 2026
Round 3: 26 Mar 2026
Final: 21 May 2026 (decisions by Jul 2026)
Full program cost; 95% placement at McKinsey/Google; Chevening full funding available; GMAT 700+ preferred.
Imperial College Business School MBA£78,00093.6 Lakhs13 January 2026Tech/innovation focus; GREAT Scholarships (£10,000); 98% employability; IELTS 7.0.
Brunel MBA£29,50035.4 LakhsRolling; priority: 31 Mar 2026; final: 31 Aug 2026Affordable with placements; Brunel International Scholarships (£6,000 for Indians); no GMAT required.
Birkbeck, University of London MBATBATBARolling; opens Oct 2025; final: 31 Aug 2026Evening classes for working pros; Birkbeck Scholarships (£2,000–£5,000); flexible for Indian professionals.
City, University of London MBA (Bayes Business School)£49,50059.4 Lakhs11 Jan 2026Fintech emphasis; Bayes Scholarships (£5,000+ for Indians); 92% in consulting/finance; GMAT optional.

Check Out: List of MBA Universities in London

Top MS in Computer Science Universities in London

University Name with ProgramAverage Fee (GBP/year)Average Fee (INR/year)Why Popular Among Indian Students
Imperial College London MSc Computing£46,00049.68 LakhElite AI/ML focus; 98% employability (£60k+ starting salaries); GREAT Scholarships (£10,000) for Indians; strong for tech giants like Google/Amazon.
UCL MS Computer Science£42,70051.2 LakhResearch-driven with Python/R emphasis; UCL Global Masters Scholarship (£15,000 for Indians); 95% placement in London fintech
King’s College London – MSc Advanced Computing£40,45048.55 LakhEthics & cybersecurity specializations; King’s India Scholarship (£10,000); 92% grads in roles at Meta/Deloitte; vibrant Indian community in central London.
Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) – MSc Computer Science£35,25042.3 LakhAffordable with industry projects (e.g., IBM); QMUL India Scholarships (£5,000); high ROI for data roles (£50k+ salaries); flexible for working Indians.

Check Out: Complete List of Computer Science Universities in London

Top Engineering Universities in London for Indian Students

University NameAverage Fee (GBP/year)Average Fee (INR/year)
Imperial College London MEng£45,50054.5 Lakhs
University College London (UCL) MSc Engineering£42,70051.2 Lakhs
King’s College London MSc Engineering£40,45048.5 Lakhs
Queen Mary MS Engineering£31,45037.7 Lakhs

Check: Engineering Universities in London

Top LLM Universities in London

University NameAverage Fee (GBP/year)Average Fee (INR/year)
Birbeck University of London LLM£22,98027.5 Lakhs
London School of Economics (LSE) LLM£39,90047.8 Lakhs
King’s College London LLM£38,30045.9 Lakhs
Queen Mary University of London LLM£33,00039.5 Lakhs
SOAS LLM£27,84033.2 Lakhs

Also read: Top Courses in UK

Why Study in London?

London remains the number-one choice for Indian students heading to the UK as:

  • It is home to 4 universities ranked in the global top 40 (Imperial #2, UCL #9, King’s #40, LSE #50 in QS 2026), giving you access to world-class education.
  • More than 25,000–30,000 Indian students already live here, so you’ll find familiar food, temples, Diwali celebrations, cricket screenings, and active Indian societies on almost every campus.
  • Fresh Master’s graduates easily start at £38,000–£55,000 (INR 46–66 lakh).
  • The city hosts the European headquarters of Google, Amazon, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Deloitte, DeepMind, & HSBC, meaning internships and full-time offers are right on your doorstep.
  • The 2-year Graduate Route visa lets you work anywhere in the UK without sponsorship, while part-time jobs (20 hours/week) at £12–18/hour help cover living costs.

With an English-speaking environment, excellent public transport with student discounts, and a safety ranking higher than New York, Sydney or Toronto, it’s easy to see why one in every four Indian students who choose the UK picks London.

BenefitWhy It Matters
Home to 40+ universitiesLargest concentration of top-ranked universities in the UK
World’s #1 student city (QS 2025)High-quality education + multicultural environment
2-Year Graduate Route VisaStay back and work after your degree
Global career hubHQs of Google, Amazon, HSBC, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, Deloitte, Meta
Large Indian communityOver 100,000 Indian students + strong support ecosystem
Top scholarshipsChevening, GREAT, Commonwealth, university merit awards

Check: Why Study in UK?

Admission and Application Requirements for Universities in London

You can apply to London universities mainly in two intakes in UK: January and September. Undergraduate applicants must apply via UCAS, while postgraduate applicants can choose to apply directly to the university or via UCAS (depending on the chosen university). Check out the common application and admission requirements for admission to London universities.

  • Academic Criteria: A minimum of 65%-70% in your previous studies is required for admission to universities in London. However, top-tier London universities have much higher requirements. For example, UCL and LSE often require a “First Class” or “Upper Second Class” degree, which equates to 75%-80%+ for many international systems.
  • English Proficiency: A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 (with no band below 6.0) is standard, although some programs may require a higher score. You can also opt to take alternative exams to study in UK, such as TOEFL, PTE, and CAEL.
  • Additional Tests: For specific programs (like MBA or specialized master’s programs), students may need GRE/ GMAT scores.
  • Documents: Academic transcripts, ELP scorecards, LORs, SOP for UKFinancial proofs, work experience are among the common documents you need to submit.

Visa Requirements to Study in UK

Indian students must apply for a Student Visa. To be eligible, you must have a valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed UK university. This is a digital record generated once you accept an unconditional offer and pay any required deposit.

You must prove you have enough money to cover your tuition fees for one academic year plus living expenses for each month of your course (up to 9 months).

  • Funds for London: You must show £1,483 per month (Total of £13,347 for 9 months).
  • Processing Time: The standard processing time is 3 weeks (15 working days) once you attend your biometric appointment.
  • When to Apply: You can apply up to 6 months before your course starts. It is highly recommended to apply at least 2–3 months in advance to account for seasonal delays.
  • The UK has fully transitioned to digital eVisas. You will no longer receive a physical Biometric Residence Permit (BRP); instead, you will use a digital account to prove your immigration status.

Also Read

Cost of Living in London

CategoryAverage Cost (GBP)Details & Tips
Rent (Shared/Halls)£750 – £1,200University halls average £848. Private house shares in Zones 2-3 are roughly £800+.
Groceries£160 – £250Shop at Aldi, Lidl, or ASDA to stay closer to £160. Buying in bulk helps.
Utilities£60 – £100Includes electricity, gas, water, and heating. Often included in student halls.
Transport£103 – £150Monthly Student Oyster Card (Zones 1-2) is £103. Cycle to reduce this to near zero.
Mobile & Internet£30 – £50SIM-only deals (Voxi/Smarty) start at £10. Home fiber is ~£25-£35.
Leisure/Social£100 – £200A pint in a pub is £6.50, and a meal at an inexpensive restaurant is £20.
Miscellaneous£50 – £80Books, toiletries, and laundry.
Total Monthly£1,253 – £1,830Equivalent to approx. 1.4 Lakh – 2.1 Lakh 

Check: Cost of Living in London 

Ways to Reduce Costs

  • Student Oyster Card: Provides a 30% discount on travelcards and bus/tram passes.
  • 16-25 Railcard: Costs £30/year but saves 1/3 on rail fares across the UK—pays for itself in 2-3 long-distance trips.

Scholarship Opportunities in Universities in London

Studying in London can be expensive for many Indian students. Here comes the scholarships in UK for Indian students at your ease. Check out the popular scholarships you can get during your time in any of the universities in London.

Scholarship NameFunding ProviderTarget AudienceValue & CoverageKey Deadlines (Approx.)
Chevening ScholarshipUK GovernmentHigh-potential leaders (Masters)Full Coverage: Tuition, monthly stipend, flights, and visa fees.Aug – Nov (Pre-entry year)
Commonwealth ScholarshipCommonwealth CommissionCitizens of Commonwealth countriesFull Coverage: Tuition, living allowance, and airfare.Oct – Dec (Pre-entry year)
GREAT ScholarshipsBritish Council & UK UnisPostgraduates from specific countries (e.g., India, China)Minimum £10,000 towards tuition for a one-year Master’s.Jan – June (Varies by uni)
UCL Global Undergraduate ScholarshipUniversity College LondonInternational students from low-income backgroundsFull tuition fees + maintenance allowance (limited awards).April 2026
Global Talent ScholarshipQueen Mary UniversityHigh-achieving international UG & PG applicantsUG: Up to £12,000 / PG: £5,000 tuition discount.Automatic or May 2026
President’s ScholarshipsImperial / City / QMULOutstanding academic achievers (UG & PG)Varies; typically £5,000 to full tuition awards.Jan – May 2026
Felix ScholarshipsPrivate TrustUnderprivileged students from India/Developing nationsFull Coverage: Tuition and living costs (SOAS, Reading, Oxford).Jan – Feb 2026

Universities in London: Important Considerations for Indian Students

Studying in London offers Indian students a world-class education but comes with unique academic, financial, and lifestyle adjustments.

  • The Graduate Route visa remains the most significant advantage, allowing Indian graduates to stay and work for 2 years (3 years for PhDs) without needing a job sponsor.
  • Many students use the 2 years to find an employer who can eventually sponsor them for a Skilled Worker Visa, which leads to Permanent Residency (ILR) after 5 years of working.
  • While UKVI requires £1,483/month for visa purposes, real-world costs are often closer to £1,600–£1,800/month due to high transport and utility costs.
  • Always use a Student Oyster Card (30% discount) or a 16-25 Railcard. Walking or cycling can save you up to £100 monthly.
  • Accommodation in areas like Bloomsbury or South Bank fills up 6 months in advance.
  • Most private landlords require a UK-based guarantor. If you don’t have one, services like Housing Hand can act as one for a fee, or you may be asked to pay 6 months’ rent upfront.
  • As a full-time student, you are exempt from Council Tax, but you must apply for an exemption certificate through your university.

The IHS (£776/year) gives you access to the NHS. Register with a local GP (doctor) immediately upon arrival; do not wait until you are sick. UK universities focus heavily on independent research and critical thinking. Unlike the structured Indian system, you may only have 12-15 hours of lectures a week, with the expectation that you spend 20+ hours on self-study.