3 career benefits of studying a master’s degree in the UK

There were over half a million international students studying in the UK in 2021, and who can blame them? The UK offers a huge array of well-ranked universities, a vibrant culture, and great access to the rest of Europe.

But what benefits does studying in the UK as a Chevening Scholar have for your career? Read on to find out.

1. Your degree will be respected all around the world

There are over 160 universities in the UK, all of which are required to meet rigorous educational standards by the UK government.

This means that the education you will be receiving during your degree is of a very high standard. In fact, many of the world’s top-ranked universities are based in the UK, including of course Oxford and Cambridge Universities, but also:

• Imperial College London
• University College, London (UCL)
• London School of Economics (LSE)
• University of Edinburgh
• King’s College London
• University of Manchester

Fun fact: all of these universities are featured in the Times Higher Education top 50 universities in the world!

As well as top-notch skills, this will also give you an important advantage when it comes to getting hired. When an employer sees a UK university on your transcript, they will know you have a quality education, and it’s not unlikely that they’ll recognise your university’s reputation.

This can not only lead to better job prospects, but potentially higher salaries. A 2019 study found that graduates from the Russell Group alliance of universities generally received higher-than-average compensation.

2. You’ll have ample opportunities for work experience

One of the requirements of a Chevening Scholarship is that alumni must return to their country of origin after they graduate. However, this does not mean that you won’t be able to get professional experience in the UK.

As a full-time graduate student, your UK study visa will allow you to work part-time alongside your studies as long as you don’t rely on your earnings for financial support. If you were studying with a Chevening Scholarship, this wouldn’t be necessary anyway, but it could be a great way of supplementing your existing work experience or gaining experience in a new area.

Indeed, you could even complete an internship during your degree, as long as it did not exceed more than 20 hours of your time weekly.

If you do decide to take this opportunity, just make sure that you can balance your workload with your degree responsibilities, not to mention exploring your new home!

3. You’ll get access to a global network of alumni

Finally, thanks to the international diversity of the student population in the UK and your brilliant Chevening network, you will be sure to leave your program with a huge list of contacts all around the world.

Our Cheveners hail from 160 eligible countries, and all will be returning home after they graduate. Your close friends will soon become important connections all around the world, working across diverse sectors including entrepreneurship, government, non-profit organisations, and big business.

With all this to look forward to, why would you hesitate to apply?

By Amy Hughes