Many students have a dream to study abroad and the United Kingdom is one of the most popular countries among all and for its top notch tech, history and quality education. There is frequently number is increasing in the UK university of the international students year after year. After reviewing the number of the students every year the UK university has started offering a wide range of courses for the International students in the short term. In 2024 over 110,006 visa issues for the Indian students for the UK Study. Students after 12th grade can choose and pursue study in the UK universities and there are various short term programmes also available for the Indian students they can opt for.
There are four levels in the UK educational system including; primary, secondary, further, and higher education. That's why the UK holds 2nd place in the Education Ranking by country 2024 according to US News and World Report. Studying in world class institutions from the UK gives you more than just a certificate, it also gives you hands-on experience and high level knowledge.
In this article you will get the detailed information about the short term UK courses, benefits, their eligibility, cost of living and the admission process.
Why Study Short-Term Courses in the UK?
A. Skill Enhancement
Taking short term courses from the UK universities can be very beneficial for you most importantly for your skill enhancement, their short term courses can help you get deeper knowledge of your chosen field with the top tech facilities.
B. Advancement of Career
Short term courses help you to build your skill and get a certificate in the short term which can be very helpful for your career growth and they are recognized by all over the world, so if you are thinking of studying in the UK then it can be your best choice for your career growth and scope.
C. Flexibility
Many UK universities give the flexibility on the courses as you can pursue them on your own time and place so you can easily manage your study with your side hustles and other work without any stress. And this can be helpful for you to manage both work and study equally.
D. Cost-effective
When we think about the UK Study then the first thing that comes to mind is its cost but when it comes to the short term courses they are more cost effective than the long term degrees, therefore many of the students preferred short term courses rather than the long term.
Top Short Term Courses in UK for International Students
1. Business Management
There are several UK Universities that offer short term courses in the Business Management field. These short term courses can help you gain skills about business, finance, accounting and entrepreneurship, also you will learn the core principles of business, team leading and decision making.
You can check the below table to get the details of the respective duration and the major highlight of the course from UK University.
| Major Details | Information |
| Course Name | Business Management (top-up BA) |
| Type | Degree |
| Duration | 12 months |
| Key Modules |
|
Here you can find the Career Opportunities after Pursuing Business management from the UK University.
| Job Role | Average Per Annum Salary |
| Freelance Consultant | INR 54.8L (GBP 50K) |
| Office Manager | INR 32.9L (GBP 30K) |
| Project Coordinator | INR 30.7L (GBP 28K) |
2. Data Science and AI
Many universities in UK also provide various short term courses in the field of Data Science and AI and as you all know that it is one of the great and growing sector nowadays and it’s also trending so if you’re thinking to pursue this course then it will be your great decision because you will work with the larger data with the AI knowledge and develop the AI modules, it will be great experience for you because they have one of the greatest tools around the world.
Here you will find the details about the duration of the respective course and the major highlight.
| Major Details | Information |
| Course Name | Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (Conversion Programme) MSc |
| Type | Degree |
| Duration | 12 months |
| Key Modules | Two preparatory modules Six compulsory modules (Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Computer Vision, etc.) Final year project |
Here you can find the Career Opportunities after completing the Data Science and AI from the UK University.
| Job Role | Average Per Annum Salary |
| Data Analyst | INR 38.3L (GBP 35K) |
| Junior Data Scientist | INR 41.1L (GBP 37.5K) |
| Business Intelligence Analyst | INR 43.8L (GBP 40K) |
3. Digital Marketing
If you are someone who is interested in the media then pursuing digital marketing from the UK university can be your best choice.This course covers SEO, social media strategies and also gives you the practical knowledge of handling social media and you can also become an influencer or an entrepreneur because they have advanced technology and the real world experience that can enhance your skills to the next level.
Below you can find the details about the duration of the respective course and the major highlights.
| Major Details | Information |
| Course Name | Digital Marketing Strategy and Analytics |
| Type | Online Career Accelerator |
| Duration | 6 months (12-15 hours per week) |
| Key Modules |
|
Here you can find the Career Opportunities after completing the Digital Marketing from the UK University.
| Job Role | Average Per Annum Salary |
| Social Media Coordinator | INR 28.5L (GBP 26K) |
| Content Writer | INR 32.9L (GBP 30K) |
| SEO Specialist | INR 35.7L (GBP 32.5K) |
4. Fashion Design
Several top universities offer Fashion designing courses in the UK with a strong knowledge of practical and theoretical aspects. You can discover that the fashion of the UK is next level including, styling, fashion and business fashion. If you have interest in the fashion sector then choosing the one from the UK will be a great experience.
Below is the checklist of the course duration and the key points.
| Major Details | Information |
| Course Name | Fashion Design Technology |
| Type | Graduate Diploma |
| Duration | 1 year (30 weeks) |
| Key Modules |
|
Here you can find the Career Opportunities after completing the Fashion Design from the UK University.
| Job Role | Average Per Annum Salary |
| Assistant Stylist | INR 26.3L (GBP 24K) |
| Fashion Assistant | INR 28L (GBP 25.5K) |
| Freelance Designer | INR 57L (GBP 52K) |
5. International Law and Human Rights
Studying International Law and Human Rights from any UK university gives you knowledge of both theoretical and practical and it covers all the major topics of human rights law and studying law courses from the UK gives you deep knowledge of the Global knowledge system and human rights issues and their experts thought with the example of the current international challenges, so it gives you great information and the hands on experience on the Law and Human Rights.
Below you can find the details about the course duration and the main highlight of the course from the UK.
| Major Details | Information |
| Course Name | International Law Foundation Programme Online |
| Type | Foundation |
| Duration | 9 months (September entry) or 6 months (January entry) |
| Key Modules |
|
Here you will find the Career Opportunities after completing the International Law and Human Rights from the UK University.
| Job Role | Average Per Annum Salary |
| Legal Researcher | INR 31.2L (GBP 28.5K) |
| Paralegal | INR 27.4L (GBP 25K) |
| Legal Assistant | INR 26.3L (GBP 24K) |
6. Cyber Security
This course will teach you how to protect data and systems from theft with the high tech technology and the system. This course is designed to focus on the employability, and one thing is really interesting is that top universities from the UK provide a variety of programmes in the field. And this course provides you a deeper information of both offensive and defensive with the high tech systems and about Cyber Security Management.
Find the details about the duration and the major highlight of the course.
| Major Details | Information |
| Course Name | Cyber Security Online Bootcamp |
| Type | Bootcamp |
| Duration | 6 months (full-time) |
| Key Modules |
|
Here you can find the Career Opportunities after Pursuing Cyber Security from the UK University.
| Job Role | Average Per Annum Salary |
| Cybersecurity Technician | INR 1.1Cr (GBP 100.7K) |
| Junior IT Support | INR 25.6L (GBP 23.4K) |
| Security Analyst Assistant | INR 38.3L (GBP 35K) |
7. Health and Social Care
If you are interested in studying in the UK and the Health care, Fitness and medicine fields then you can pursue these short term courses and start your career with the dipper of knowledge and practical skills. These courses will give you information on the health care system, policies and challenges. Experts will teach you with hands-on experience and practical case studies. This will help you deal with the real world health challenges from the entry level to the advanced level.
Below you can find the details about the respective duration and the major highlight of the course.
| Major Details | Information |
| Course Name | Health and Social Care Management – Level 6 (Fast Track) |
| Type | Diploma |
| Duration | 6 months |
| Key Modules |
|
Here you can find the Career Opportunities after completing the Health and Social Care from the UK University.
| Job Role | Average Per Annum Salary |
| Care Assistant | INR 24.5L (GBP 22.4K) |
| Support Worker | INR 25L (GBP 22.8K) |
| Healthcare Assistant | INR 25.6L (GBP 23.4K) |
8. Creative Writing
When you are thinking of studying creative writing in a UK university then you will find a range of courses from the recognized UK universities.This course will upgrade your writing skill from the experts view, this course will provide you flexibility in writing with the supportive environment. With the innovative techniques these courses are for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. So if you are interested in writing you can go with these short term courses provided by the top UK universities.
Here you will find the details about the respective duration and the major highlight of the course.
| Major Details | Information |
| Course Name | Creative Writing |
| Type | Writing Course/Workshop |
| Duration | 6 months |
| Key Modules |
|
Here you will find the Career Opportunities after completing the Creative Writing short-term course from UK university.
|
Job Role |
Average Per Annum Salary |
| Freelance Writer | INR 35.3L (GBP 32.2K) |
| Content Writer | INR 32.8L (GBP 30K) |
| Editorial Assistant | INR 26.3L (GBP 24.2K) |
9. Language Courses
Many UK universities offer Language courses in the various languages, if you are interested in becoming a teacher or want to get into the guest lecturing line then these short term courses are for you. This short term course in the UK includes languages like English, Spanish, Russian, Dutch, French, German, Italian and many more. Some UK universities have more options in language learning apart from these like; Gujarati, Hebrew, and Persian, so it will be best for you if you check from the universities first before applying for these courses.
Here you will find the details about the respective duration and the main highlight of this short-term course from the UK.
| Major Details | Information |
| Course Name | Language Courses |
| Type | Diploma |
| Duration | 6-11 months |
| Key Modules |
|
Here you will find the Career Opportunities after completing the Language Courses from UK university.
| Job Role | Average Per Annum Salary |
| Copy Editor | INR 37.01L (GBP 31K) |
| Translation and Interpretation | INR 35.1L (GBP 30K) |
| Professor | INR 106.33L (GBP 90K) |
Short Term Courses in UK Without IELTS
If you are interested in the UK university but back to back you are not able to do because of not scoring well in the IELTS exam, so here a good news for you that many universities in UK offer to pursue many short term courses without IELTS and gives you many other ways to give proof of your English proficiency. The duration of the UK courses without IELTS can be from few months to maximum 12 months which also includes masters programmes and that are shorter than the Indian programmes.
Here is the list of some short-terms courses in the UK for Indian Students which can give a high jump to your career and growth.
| University | Courses | Total Fees |
| Coventry University | Pre-sessional English Courses | INR 2.4L to INR 7.2K(GBP 2.2K to GBP 6.6K) |
| University of Portsmouth | MA Graphic Design | INR 18.9L (GBP 17.2K) |
| University of the Arts London | Practical Public Relations | INR 68.1K to INR 81.3K(GBP 620 to GBP 740) |
Top Short Term Courses in UK After Graduation
Are you also one of those students who always wonder what could be my next step after completing graduation which gives a boost to my career? Then you can absolutely explore these short-term courses in the UK. There are many universities which provide a range of short-term courses after graduation to International students and they will be the best for your career.
| University | Course | Fees |
| University of Manchester | Project Management | INR 1.6L (GBP 1.5K) per module |
| London School of Business and Finance | Financial Risk Management | INR 3.3L to INR 4.4L(GBP 3K to GBP 4K) per session |
| University of Strathclyde | Human Resource Management (PG Diploma) | INR 4.4L (GBP 4K) |
| Imperial College London | Digital Transformation | INR 3.5L to INR 3.8L (GBP 3.5K) |
| University of Warwick | Advanced Management (Diploma) | INR 20.3L (GBP 18K) |
Short-Term Courses in the UK Eligibility Criteria
There are many short-term courses in various fields offered by the UK universities, no matter if you are looking for Creative Writing, digital marketing, Cyber Security and any other course. You just have to clear the eligibility criteria before getting admission in a UK university so it's better to check it beforehand.
Minimum Age: There is a minimum age requirement for the short-term courses from the UK universities, candidates should be at least 16 years of age or older.
English Proficiency: Universities in the UK provide courses in English language so you need to prove your English language skill and take tests like IELTS or TOEFL or provide other proof.
Course-Specific Requirements: There are some fields like fashion, design and photography for them you need to submit your portfolio and to have learned required skills for being eligible in these courses.
Visa requirements: If you are thinking of applying to any university in the UK then you must need a visa and its length depends on your course duration.
Work Experience: In some rare courses UK universities require work experience while it is not mandatory for all but it’s required for some short-term courses in the UK.
Statement of Purpose (SOP): There are some courses in which they ask you to write an essay on why you are interested in the particular course.
Process to Short Term Courses in the UK
Here is the process of the applying for the short-term courses in the UK university:
- For applying to any UK university for the short-term course, first start with the research and select any university according to your skill and interest.
- Then ensure the eligibility criteria that you are eligible to apply for the course and university including language and academic knowledge.
- After that, start preparing to apply and gather all the documents like; passport, academic report and certificate and proof of your English proficiency.
- Next visit the University website and complete the required process to submit your Application for the preferred course.
- Write Statement of Purpose (SOP) some universities may ask you to submit it before admission.
- Complete the required process and submit your application on the university portal.
- If you get selected for the course you will get acceptance mail from the university after that, apply for the Visa.
Cost of Studying in UK for Short-Term Programme
There are various factors that come to mind when you think of studying in the UK and the biggest concern is what will be the cost of living and studying in the UK. However, pursuing short-term courses from a UK university can give a big growth to your career but having a great planning of finance is also important. The living cost for living in the UK can be around £900 to £1,400 (₹94,500 to ₹1,47,000 INR) for a student, but it also depends on your lifestyle.There is no accommodation provided by the universities to students due to opting for short-term courses in the UK.
Final Thought
Short-term Courses in the UK universities for the International students can provide multiple benefits with the chance to explore multiple top notch technology and these universities are recognized by many countries. If you are also thinking of pursuing any of these courses from the UK university then it can give a big boost to your career and open doors of many opportunities all around the world and make you ahead in the competition. However you will also get the opportunity to explore different cultures and expand your network.
