UK Is a Trap for International Students – My Personal Experience

Without Prejudice

I completed my Masters and am now in the final year of my PhD in Computer Science these are my_qualifications. As an Indian living in the UK, I’ve seen firsthand challenges here, and honestly, the environment has become extremely tough for international students.

If you’re considering coming here, please think twice- you might end up wasting your money, time, and energy. Many students force themself into part-time jobs that barely support a decent quality of life. I’ve seen friends who finished their Masters and even extended their post-study visas become extremely thin, lose their hair, and eventually return to India because they simply couldn’t cope.

The issues go beyond health. The food quality, sky-high housing costs, unpredictable work hours, poor weather and even racism contribute to a decline in overall well-being. Your financial situation can also suffer, with your family often having to bear the burden.

For example, the recent 2024 Southport Incident (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024\_Southport\_stabbings) are just one indicator of the kind of environment you might face(Search the Public Reaction- Stockport Incident Riots ).

One more important note: In the UK, a one-year MSc is often considered equivalent to a BTech or BE in India or less in the US, which means it offers little return on investment compared to a full MS degree in the USA or a Mtech, ME, MS in India.

Please take my experience seriously. You might want to reconsider coming to the UK.

ALL these are known to everyone starting from Students> Immigration Officers> Universities> Employers. Still no one will tell you.

EDIT: Thank you, everyone! I really appreciate your curiosity, but I won’t be answering personal questions. However, I noticed a few recurring ones, so here are some responses. Tbh, I just checked now and realized I got so much attention—haha!

1. My Education: I completed my MSc and am now pursuing a PhD at the same university. It’s a Top 5 or Top 10 school (I’ll leave you all guessing- haha!).

2. MSc and Jobs: Someone mentioned completing an MSc in Finance and securing a job before graduation from LSE without facing any racism. That’s great! It likely means they focused on networking, applying early (online), and possibly had prior experience from India. In London, landing a job is definitely possible, given how diverse the job market and people are.

3. MSc (1 Year) vs. India: Many FAANG companies in India don’t list MSc as an eligibility criterion, instead specifying "Master’s required" (which usually means MTech/ME). If MSc/MCA is accepted, then fine. I personally faced a situation where a government organization in India rejected me because the role was open only to MTech/ME/MS graduates, not MSc (1 year) holders and same for BSc(Hons) UK/ BS USA (3/4 years) Students Sadly. That’s when I realized how different degree perceptions are.

To summarize:

  • BSc/MSc (1 Year) (UK) (Hons) – Though company policies won’t change for you if you use this in India.
  • BTech/MTech (India)
  • BS/MS (USA) (2 years)
  • BSc/MSc (India) – Often underrated in India compared to engineering/tech degrees.

What do you all think about these perceptions? Who do people/employers prioritize? Well, I know all the answers.

4. About Ireland: I don’t have firsthand experience, but I’ve studied and worked with many Irish friends.

5. Top College ≠ Job Guarantee: Just attending a top university doesn’t secure a job. I know someone who completed a UG in ECE with a 2.92/4.0 GPA in India, had startup internships and one year of full-time experience at a startup, and still got an MSc Robotics/AI/ML (related) offer from a Top 6 university in the UK. I even know their LinkedIn but won’t share it.

6. Spouse Visas in the UK: I’ve seen many cases where one person studies and does part-time work while their spouse (who came as a dependent) works full-time. Reason why Rishi Sunak’s government stopped dependent visas in Jan 2024 (You all know why).

7. Skilled Worker Visa Salary Hike: The minimum salary requirement for a skilled worker visa was increased by Rishi Sunak’s government. Again, you all know why.

I have a lot more to share, but I’d rather not trigger unnecessary discussions (already received plenty of DMs). I made this post to give you all a deeper understanding of the reality beyond what you see online.

EDIT 2: This post is only truly understandable to those who have lived in the UK for at least three years, rather than to more recent arrivals or others.