5 Reasons 2020 is Still a Great Year to Study a UK Masters

You don't need me to tell you that 2020 has been a difficult year for people thinking of studying abroad. We've tried our best to help, staying on top of what coronavirus means for Masters study, suggesting ways to keep your international study search going, explaining what's happening with language tests and sharing important news as it happens.

With this post, I want to take a step back and try to be positive. Because most of that recent news has been good news for people thinking of studying a UK Masters degree next year.

#1 There are still huge numbers of courses to choose from

Right now, this website lists over 18,000 opportunities to study a postgraduate degree in the UK (I've just looked). The exact number might have changed by the time you're reading this, but I bet it's still pretty high. You can check it using the search box up there^.

The important thing is that UK universities are still open, still providing world-leading postgraduate opportunities and still really keen to have you come and study with them. They're also working hard to ensure their campuses are safe right now (you can find out exactly how using a simple link in their course listings here on FindAMasters).

#2 You can study them online / by distance learning without visa issues

Online study often works very well at postgraduate level, particularly in some subjects. It's normally difficult to do on a Tier 4 Student Visa, but the UK Government has recently relaxed these restrictions as part of some temporary visa changes. If your course needs to begin by distance learning, you can study from within your home country and come to the UK later, when it's safe to do so.

#3 You'll be able to stay in the UK for up to two years after your Masters

There's no doubt in my mind that the world will need more skilled workers and expert thinkers with the kind of skills you get from a postgraduate qualification. The UK Government seems to agree, as its new Graduate Route visa will allow you to stay and use those skills here (if you want to).

This is the very first year students on a typical one-year UK Masters can benefit from the Graduate Route and you'll still be able to do so if you need to study part of your course online from your home country.

#4 This is the last year EU students will automatically benefit from UK fees and student finance

The recent announcement that EU students will lose automatic access to home fee status from 2021-22 isn't great news, but that doesn't change the guarantees that already apply for 2020-21.

If you start a UK Masters as an EU student this coming academic year, you'll pay lower fees and still have access to postgraduate student loans. It's a shame (in my personal and professional opinion) that this is the last year you can automatically do so, but, if you've been thinking of studying a postgraduate course in the UK. . . now's probably the time.

#5 You could apply for the EU Settlement Scheme (for your PhD?)

If you do take advantage of this 'last chance' to benefit from EU fee and funding guarantees in the UK, you'll also be eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme.

You'd need to apply for this from within the UK before 31 December 2020. That would allow you to receive 'pre-settled' status, with the right to continue living in the UK for up to five years. During that time you'd be able to apply for a PhD and potentially extend your fee and funding status to that degree too.

Next steps

I've kept this post short, as we've covered most of these topics in detail during the past few weeks. Hopefully, by bringing them together, we've helped reassure you that studying a UK Masters is definitely an option this year.

Of course, there are lots of other great international study options out there too – we're working hard to make sure our guides are the best sources of information about them.