Study in the US or the UK? Here's the Best Option

Want to study abroad? The UK and the US are undoubtedly the top choices for many people. However, the differences between the two countries in terms of educational systems, visa policies, and costs are so significant that people are often confused when making a choice. In the UK, the courses are compact, with three years for undergraduate studies and one year for master’s degrees, which is very “efficient and quick”. While in the US, undergraduate studies usually last for four years, with rich learning content and a wide variety of extracurricular activities – one emphasizes efficiency and the other focuses on diverse experiences.

In this context, choosing a suitable country for studying abroad is of course important, but how to transfer money safely and quickly to that country is also a top priority. BiyaPay provides efficient and convenient international remittance services, allowing you to remit money easily and exchange currencies in real time without worrying about the security of funds. Just imagine that after handling the affairs of the school, you can directly use BiyaPay to make one-click transfers to the US and the UK, which is safe, efficient and worry-free. Doesn’t it save you a lot of troubles?

Next, we will help you compare the differences in studying abroad between the UK and the US from aspects such as the educational system, tuition fees, visas, and employment prospects, so that your path to studying abroad will no longer be confusing!

Educational System and Length of Schooling

In the choice of studying abroad, the educational system and length of schooling are often the most obvious differences.

In the US, undergraduate studies generally last for four years and mainly focus on “liberal education”.

The choice of disciplines is very flexible. You are allowed to try different fields in the freshman and sophomore years and gradually clarify your major direction. In other words, universities in the US are more like a “buffet-style” learning experience, where you can adjust according to your interests at any time. You can even “cross-border” to study different disciplines through elective courses. Double majors and minors are also quite common.

However, universities in the UK follow another “refined and quick” route.

The length of undergraduate schooling is usually three years (except in Scotland), and that of master’s degrees is mostly one year, with a compact rhythm and clear goals. This means that universities in the UK pay more attention to students’ in-depth study in one field. Majors are assigned when students enter the university, and their studies will revolve around the core content of this major. It is relatively difficult to change majors.

Therefore, if you hope to have a broader disciplinary experience, the length of schooling in the US may be more suitable for you; if you are more inclined to quickly study in-depth in a professional field and enter the workplace as early as possible, then the length of schooling in the UK may be more appropriate.

Tuition Fees and Scholarships

Tuition Fees

US: According to the report of the College Board, in the 2023 - 2024 academic year, the average tuition fee for out-of-state students at public four-year universities was $29,150, and that for private four-year universities was $41,540.

UK: The tuition fees for undergraduate courses are generally between £10,000 and £15,000, and those for master’s courses are about £12,000 and £18,000.

Cost of Living

US: The cost of living varies by region. In big cities like New York and Los Angeles, the monthly living cost is about $1,000 - $2,000; in medium-sized cities like Pittsburgh and Seattle, it is about $800 - $1,000 per month; in the southern and midwestern regions, it is about $600 - $800 per month.

UK: The cost of living in London is relatively high, about £1,000 per month; in other cities like Birmingham and Manchester, it is about £800 per month; in smaller cities, it is about £600 - £800 per month.

Scholarship Opportunities

US: It offers a variety of scholarships and grants. Especially in research projects, positions such as research assistants and teaching assistants also provide opportunities for international students to relieve their financial burdens.

UK: Scholarship opportunities are relatively scarce and the competition is fierce, especially for full scholarships.

Overall, tuition fees and living costs in the US are relatively high, but there are abundant scholarship opportunities; the length of schooling in the UK is shorter and the total cost is relatively low, but scholarship opportunities are limited. When choosing a study abroad destination, you need to comprehensively consider your own financial situation, preference for the length of schooling, and the possibility of applying for scholarships.

BiyaPay: A Good Helper for Cross-border Remittances for Overseas Study

Cross-border remittances are often an important aspect that overseas students must face. Whether it is for paying visas, tuition fees, or daily living expenses, a safe and convenient payment tool can greatly simplify the process. BiyaPay provides such a solution.

Through BiyaPay, you can enjoy local transfer services in most regions around the world. The handling fee is as low as 0.5%, and the funds can arrive on the same day. It is especially suitable for overseas students who need to make payments in emergency situations. For users who use digital currencies, BiyaPay also supports the real-time exchange of digital currencies into mainstream legal tender such as US dollars and British pounds, making cross-border remittances and fund management easier and safer.

Employment Prospects and Visas

Whether they can find jobs smoothly and stay legally in the local area after graduation is a matter of great concern for overseas students. The UK and the US have their own characteristics in this regard, and understanding them clearly will help you make a wise choice.

US

The job market in the US is vast, especially in fields such as technology and finance, with many opportunities. However, if you want to work legally in the US, you usually need to apply for an H-1B visa. There is a fixed quota for this visa every year, and the competition is fierce. According to the data of the US Department of Homeland Security, the number of applications for the H-1B visa in fiscal year 2024 dropped significantly, mainly because the government strengthened the restrictions on multiple applications, aiming to reduce fraud and abuse.

Even so, it is still challenging to obtain an H-1B visa.

UK

The UK reintroduced the Graduate Visa (also known as the PSW visa) in 2021. This visa allows international students to stay in the UK to work or look for jobs after graduation: undergraduate and master’s graduates can obtain a two-year visa, and doctoral graduates can obtain a three-year visa.

This provides graduates with valuable time to accumulate work experience and lay the foundation for applying for long-term visas or permanent residence in the future.

If you hope to have a greater chance of staying in the local area to work after graduation, the UK’s PSW visa provides a relatively relaxed policy environment, which is suitable for students who hope to accumulate work experience and consider long-term development. While the US has abundant job opportunities, it is difficult to obtain an H-1B visa, which is suitable for students who have clear career plans in specific fields and are willing to face visa challenges.

Admission Requirements

UK

Applications for universities in the UK are made through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).

Each applicant can apply for up to five universities through the UCAS system (four if applying for medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine).

The whole application process is relatively simplified and mainly includes documents such as transcripts, recommendation letters, and language test scores (such as IELTS). In addition, applicants only need to prepare one personal statement to explain the reasons for choosing the major and their career plans, and this statement will be submitted to all the applied schools at the same time.

The advantage of this application method is that students only need to write one personal statement and don’t have to customize documents for each school, saving time and effort.

However, since most UK universities attach great importance to students’ academic achievements and the proportion of extracurricular activities is relatively low, students with excellent academic performance and clear goals will have more advantages.

US

In contrast, the application process for universities in the US is more flexible. There is no limit to the number of schools that can be applied for (generally it is recommended to apply for 6 - 8 schools), and the application requirements of each university are also different.

Applicants can apply directly through the admissions department of the school or use the Common Application, which provides convenience for applying to multiple schools. However, each university often has independent supplementary questions or requirements at the same time.

In the US application, transcripts and language test scores (such as TOEFL or IELTS) are still basic requirements, but US schools pay more attention to students’ comprehensive abilities.

Therefore, when applying for universities in the US, extracurricular activities, volunteer experiences, internships, etc. will all become factors for consideration.

Most schools also require applicants to submit multiple essays, and applicants need to write customized essays according to the requirements of each school, which takes more time and energy.

Immigration and Long-term Development

For many overseas students with long-term plans, whether they can stay smoothly, obtain permanent residence rights or even citizenship after graduation is an important factor in choosing a country for studying abroad. The UK and the US have different characteristics in long-term immigration paths, which are suitable for students with different development directions.

US

The H-1B visa can provide short-term job opportunities for overseas students, but to convert to permanent residence (green card), after obtaining the H-1B visa, the employer needs to initiate an application, usually through the employment-based immigration channels (such as EB-2, EB-3 categories).

This process is subject to the annual quota restrictions, and the application quotas for different countries are different, so it may face a long waiting time. For students who hope to obtain long-term residence in the US, this process often requires a certain amount of time and patience with policies.

UK

The long-term immigration path in the UK is relatively clear. Graduates can accumulate work experience through the PSW visa (Graduate Visa), then apply for the T2 work visa, and after meeting certain conditions, they can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). Usually, they can convert to permanent residence status after five years.

The UK welcomes highly skilled immigrants. For overseas students working in fields such as medicine, technology, and engineering, it is relatively easy to obtain a T2 visa. In addition, the UK’s permanent residence policy has relatively clear requirements for work continuity and residence years, making the whole process more predictable.

In conclusion, the UK and the US each have different advantages for studying abroad and are suitable for different types of students. The flexible length of schooling and abundant job opportunities in the US make it an ideal place for diversified development, but it faces challenges in visas and immigration; the compact length of schooling and relatively relaxed immigration policy in the UK make it a good choice for quickly obtaining degrees and accumulating work experience.