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The United Kingdom, a hub for global education and diverse career opportunities, attracts international students from all walks of life. But amidst the excitement, application fees can often become a hurdle. If you’re wondering “are there universities in the UK without application fees?”, the answer is a resounding yes! We’ve compiled a list of top universities in the UK that waive application fees, along with valuable details to help you navigate your application journey. So, ditch the fee concerns and keep reading to discover your perfect educational fit!
Key Takeaways:
Here are the key takeaways that you can derive from this guide:
- Several universities in the UK accept applications without an application fee.
- Many universities offer an application fee waiver for applicants of weaker financial backgrounds.
- It is wise to verify the eligibility criteria beforehand to ensure that you qualify for applying without an application fee.
- No application fee provides equal opportunity to students of all backgrounds and promotes a more diverse student body.
- Ensure you apply within the stipulated deadlines to avoid delays later in the process.
Top UK Universities Without Application Fee For International Students
Most significantly, applying to universities without application fees helps you save a lot of money. The following sections include a list of the top universities in the UK without application fees and those who offer a waiver. The table also includes their average annual tuition fees and the most popular courses at the respective universities.
| University | QS World Rankings 2024 | Popular Courses | Average Annual Tuition Fees |
| University of Glasgow | #76 | Accounting, Dentistry, Statistics | £30,500 |
| University of Birmingham | #84 | Business Management, Engineering, Geology | £22,000 |
| University of Leeds | #75 | Art, Design, MBA, Economics | £21,000 |
| University of Liverpool | #176 | Archaeology, Architecture, English | £20,900 |
| University of Kent | #336 | Journalism, BA, MBA | £17,000 |
| Newcastle University | #110 | BA, Computer Science, Healthcare | £22,200 |
| University of Dundee | #441 | Dentistry, BA, Nursing | £23,250 |
| Coventry University | #571 | Business Management, Advertising and Marketing, Criminology, Engineering, Nursing | £18,325 |
| University of Sheffield | #104 | Architecture, Biology, Computer Science | £23,975 |
| Lancaster University | #122 | Architecture, Criminal Justice, Design Management | £20,500 |
| University of Greenwich | #671 | Arts and Humanities, Business and Management, Medicine | £16,712 |
| University of Southampton | #81 | MS, MIM, MBA | £17,300 |
| Durham University | #78 | Biochemistry, Engineering, Philosophy | £24,000 |
| Queen Mary University of London | #145 | Biology, Accounting, Robotics | £21,200 |
| University of Strathclyde | #276 | Engineering, Accounting, Business, Law | £16,100 |
| University of East Anglia | #295 | MBBS, MA, MIM | £21,200 |
| Birkbeck, University of London | #374 | Data Science, Computing, HR, Finance | £9,250 |
| Brunel University London | #343 | Digital Service Design, Finance, Math, Computing | £24,846 |
| Oxford Brookes University | #3 | English, Japanese, Education | £9,250 |
| University of Essex | #459 | BA, Fine Arts, Accounting, MBA | £18,450 |
Universities That Provide A Fee Waiver
Now that we’ve explored all the colleges in the UK without application fees, let us look at some of the top institutes that offer application fee waivers to their applicants. Students can apply for fee waivers and get them approved at the time of application itself. Although the process differs for each university, the steps are usually mentioned on the university’s official application portal.
| University | QS World Rankings 2024 | Popular Courses | Average Annual Tuition Fees |
| Imperial College London | #6 | Finance, Data Science, Computing, Mathematics and Computer Science, Engineering | £26,775 |
| University of Oxford | #3 | Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Mathematics, Materials Science, Law, MBA | £40,835 |
| University of Cambridge | #2 | MBA, Finance, Physics, Archeology, Biotechnology, Economics, Physics | £30,339 |
| University of Warwick | #67 | Business, Engineering, Biological Sciences, Neuroscience, MBA | £27,062 |
| University of Bristol | #55 | Engineering, Computer Science, Economics, Mathematics, Management | £27,200 |
UK Universities Without Application Fee And IELTS
Some universities in the UK do not require you to undertake an English proficiency test. These universities do not mandate application fees. Given below are such universities-
- University of Strathclyde
- University of Bristol
- University of York
- University of Dundee
- University of Birmingham
- Coventry University
- Northumbria University
- University of Stirling
- Royal Holloway University
- Nottingham Trent University
| Can you get a student visa without IELTS? Yes, you can get a student visa without IELTS from the visa authorities. They will consider your admission offer letter from the university. However, an English proficiency test can make it easier for you to participate in class discussions, and other social environments. |
How Can You Apply For An Application Fee Waiver At Different Universities
The application fee waiver criteria varies among universities. Hence, its important to do some homework before directly asking for a fee waiver. This can save a lot of your time and last minute hassles. Given below are a few of well-known universities in the UK without application fees and the criteria to avail this benefit:
| University/College Name | Criteria |
| Lancaster University | You can apply to both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. |
| University of Cambridge | Applicants With Refugee StatusApplicants With Asylum Seeker StatusUK Applicants From Low Income Households can apply |
| University of Sheffield | Students can apply for any postgraduate taught masters degree programme at the University of Sheffield without paying an application fee. |
| Imperial College London | No application fee on Master’s or postgraduate courses. The college charges a fixed amount of £135 to apply for MSc and MRes courses |
| University of Oxford | Low income countries Low-income groups in the UKApplicants seeking re-admissionApplicants to related research courses |
| University of Warwick | No application fees required for postgraduate research applications or Postgraduate Awards (PGAs) |
Benefits Of Universities In UK Without Application Fee
Now that we’ve explored the list of UK universities without an application fee for international students, let us see why they pose such a great advantage. Here are the top reasons why you should consider applying to a university with no application fee.
- You can save a lot of money by applying to universities in the UK without an application fee. Since the fees are charged in GBP, merely applying to different universities becomes an expensive affair. Moreover, most of these are often non-refundable.
- If there’s no application fee, the accessibility to a university increases. You can explore different courses, programmes and electives without worrying about the financial burden.
- Universities in the UK without an application fee often attract a large number of applicants from all academic backgrounds. Thus, you can challenge yourself appropriately and get an estimate of where you stand in terms of global competition.
- Since there are no constraints of finances, all applying students have equal opportunity to procure a seat at the university.
- Without any application fee, the universities can expect a more diverse student body since students of all academic and financial backgrounds will apply without restrictions.
How To Apply To Universities In The UK Without Application Fee?
To begin with, universities in the UK without application fees have a similar APPLICATION process to those that charge a fee to apply. Thus, there’s little to no difference in the application procedure, except that you don’t need to pay. Nevertheless, here are the standard steps you can follow while applying to any university.
- Research the different universities thoroughly and shortlist the ones that suit your academic and career goals.
- Verify the eligibility criteria and admission requirements to ensure that you fulfil each.
- Check the minimum required scores of standardised tests like SAT, GRE, IELTS or TOEFL.
- Compile all the necessary documents as listed in the university’s admission requirements to avoid any discrepancies later. You may require letters of recommendation, academic transcripts, personal essays, resumes and more.
- Fill out the application form and upload all the required documents.
- Submit the application fee waiver if obtained.
- Ensure that you fill out the application form within the given deadlines.
- Typically, you can expect to hear back from the university within four to six weeks.
FAQs
1. What are the most popular degree programmes offered in universities in the UK without application fees?
Engineering, Architecture, Finance, Business Management, Accounting, MBA, MBBS, and courses related to the healthcare industry are some of the popular programmes offered in universities in the UK without application fees.
2. Are there any eligibility criteria for the fee waivers?
To be eligible for application fee waivers, your family’s annual income must fall within the bracket mentioned on the university’s website, or if your family receives public assistance or welfare benefits. You may also be required to submit proof of annual household income.
3. Can I apply to multiple UK universities without an application fee?
You can apply to multiple universities in the UK without an application fee at the same time. Through UCAS – Universities and Colleges Admissions Service – you can apply to up to five universities and five different courses through the same application.
Thank you for reading our guide to the list of UK universities without application fee for international students! Let us know your thoughts or queries in the comments section below!
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