If you want to study in English, you will naturally first think of the usual English-speaking study destinations – the UK, the US, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa. Many of these popular English-speaking study destinations err towards the expensive side though, particularly for international students. If you’re concerned about costs, or simply like the idea of studying somewhere different, read on for a selection of alternative destinations where you can study abroad in English and maybe save some money at the same time…

Europe

Europe is fast becoming a top region for finding study programs in English, even in countries where English is not the local language. If you’re an EU citizen, you can obtain a free university education – with all your lectures taught in English – in around half of all European countries, including Denmark, Austria, Norway and Greece. Fees tend to be higher for non-EU students, but are still comparatively lower than you’ll find in other popular study destinations. English-taught courses were few and far between as recently as 2009, particularly at bachelor’s level, but there has since been a fifty-fold increase in the number of English-taught bachelor’s degrees available. 

You can now easily search from over 900 English-taught courses through our helpful matching tool, which finds your perfect course in just a few steps.

Germany 

Around 56 percent of Germany’s population speaks English (particularly amongst the younger generation), and there are many programs available to study in English, particularly at postgraduate level. If you want to study at undergraduate level, English-taught courses are harder to find.

There are no tuition fees for undergraduate degrees at public universities in Germany, with the exception of universities in the state of Baden-Württemberg, where non-EU students now need to pay fees of €3,000 (~US$3,360) per year. Master’s degrees are also free if you have gained your undergraduate degree in Germany, while PhD courses are also often either free or very low-cost. Private universities in Germany will charge tuition fees, but these are often still less than the international average.

Find out more about studying in Germany in English and the costs of studying in Germany.

The Netherlands 

If you want to study in English in the Netherlands, you won’t struggle to communicate with the locals – 90 percent of Dutch residents are English speakers. There’s also no shortage of English-taught courses – more than 2,000 are available, the majority of which are master’s degrees. The government agency Study in Holland has a Study Finder, which will help you find your perfect English-taught course at any level of study.

Although tuition is not free in the Netherlands, fees are much less than the average for English-speaking countries, particularly if you’re from the EEA/Switzerland/Surinam, as you will pay €2,087 per year for most courses in 2019/20. If you’re not from these locations you will pay at least €6,000 (~US$6,700) per year, depending on your subject and study level.

Austria 

Teaching in Austria is mostly conducted in the country’s official language, German, but there are around 260 programs available in English at various study levels – the Studienwahl website has a search tool to help you find a course taught partially or fully in English. This is another country with a high percentage (73 percent) of English speakers. Higher education is free for Austrian nationals and students from the EU. Students from non-EU countries can expect to pay €726.72 (~US$815) per semester.

Greece 

Around half of Greece’s citizens can speak English. While teaching at universities is mainly in Greek, specialized study programs are also available in English at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. Again, tuition fees are free for domestic and EU students at undergraduate level in public universities, while students from non-EU countries will pay around €1,500 (~US$1,700) per year, often including course textbooks.

Scotland 

If you’re an EU national keen to study in the UK but not so keen on the high tuition fees, you may like to consider Scotland, as there are no tuition fees for students from Scotland or elsewhere in the EU (excluding students from the rest of the UK). Although Brexit may affect this, it has been confirmed that EU students starting a degree in Scotland from 2019/20 will be able to study for free for the duration of their course. Scotland is primarily English-speaking, but also has two recognized regional languages, Scottish Gaelic and the Scots language.

Explore the top universities in Scotland.

Russia

Russia is another country offering a wider range of English-taught programs, as well as 15,000 government scholarships, both of which aim to attract more international students. However, the number of English speakers is much lower here at around five percent of the population (though it will vary by region, with cities like Moscow and St Petersburg having a higher proportion of English speakers), so it’s a good idea to learn some basic Russian to help you get by.

Read more about studying in Russia in English.

Denmark 

Although most teaching in universities in Denmark is conducted in Danish, there are more than 700 internationally recognized programs taught in English, and 86 percent of the country’s residents can speak English. You can find study programs in English via the study in Denmark website. Universities in Denmark are free to attend, at all levels, for all EU/EEA/Swiss students. If you are from outside the EU/EEA, you will be required to pay fees, which on average cost €6,000-16,000 per year (US$6,750-18,000).

Sweden

Another country with a large number of English speakers, over 860 programs are taught in English at Swedish universities. University is free for Swedish citizens and citizens of EU countries. However, non-EU students pay fees. These are set by each university; you can expect to pay somewhere between SEK80,000 and SEK190,000 (around US$8,600-20,500) per year depending on your subject and degree level.

Finland 

Finland is another destination worth considering to study abroad in English. Finnish institutions provide over 400 courses in English, and there are no tuition fees for EU students. Non-EU students pay tuition fees of approximately €5,000-20,000 (~US$5,900-23,550) per year.

Again, there are many English language speakers among the nationals of this country (70%). English language courses are more common at universities of applied sciences and polytechnics, and only a small number of English-taught courses at bachelor’s degree level are available at general universities. A database of English courses can be found on the Studyinfo.fi website.

Norway

The only Nordic country continuing to offer free tuition to all students (regardless of nationality), Norway offers a good range of English-taught programs, mainly at master’s level, and the vast majority of residents know English. At the University of Oslo (the country’s highest ranked university in the QS World University Rankings® 2019 at 135^th) there are a wide range of English-taught programs at all study levels. You will still need to pay a student welfare organization fee each semester, which is typically no more than NOK600 (~US$70).

Asia

Singapore 

A vibrant and multicultural city state, Singapore includes some of the most prestigious universities in the world, with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore National University both ranked among the top 15 in the QS World University Rankings. If you want to study in English in Singapore, the good news is that English is one of its official languages, with around 80 percent of the population fluent, and it’s also the official language of instruction at universities. However, costs in Singapore are relatively high – as an example, undergraduate tuition fees at NUS started at S$17,550 (~US$13,000) in 2018, and the high standard of living is matched by high living costs.

Malaysia 

Malaysia is quickly becoming a popular study destination for international students, and has recently invested heavily in the higher education sector, for example by welcoming international branch campuses, which are run by universities based in other countries. Existing branch campuses include those operated by the UK’s University of Nottingham and Australia’s Monash University. However, the country’s own universities more than hold their own, with Universiti Malaya its highest ranked at joint 87^th in the QS World University Rankings.

English is the language of instruction at private colleges and some government universities, and is also commonly used among Malaysians. For those less proficient in the language, most colleges also offer English proficiency classes. The cost of living for international students in Malaysia is as low as US$3,440 per year.

Hong Kong 

One of the world's leading international financial centers, Hong Kong mixes eastern and western cultures, with English widely used in both daily life and higher education – almost all university-level teaching is conducted in English. Average tuition fees are estimated to be around HK$90,000-265,000 (~US$11,465-33,760) a year, so you may wish to apply for a scholarship, either from your university of choice or the Hong Kong government.

India 

There is a great deal of diversity in India, both in terms of culture and language – hundreds of dialects are used here, and in fact the 2001 census identified no less than 26 different mother tongues with more than a million speakers. However, in Indian universities, the language of instruction is largely English, especially at postgraduate level, and there are often language classes available for non-native speakers to strengthen their knowledge of the language. The costs of living in India is very affordable, and tuition fees are also on the low side, with courses usually costing US$3,300-7,800.

Taiwan 

Another location with a growing number of international students choosing to study in English is Taiwan, in which the language is widely spoken and understood. Keen to attract international students, universities in Taiwan are increasing the number of degree courses taught partly or entirely in English. There are various English-taught programs available, which you can search for via the Study in Taiwan website. Taiwan’s highest-ranked university, National Taiwan University (ranked 72^nd in the world), has tuition fees starting at US$3,300 per year.

Africa and the Middle East

Egypt 

Although the official language of Egypt is Arabic, English is widely used in tourist spots and cities, with most of the street signs bilingual in literary Arabic and English. However, English is less common in rural areas. Given their names, you won’t be surprised to learn that the British University in Egypt (near Cairo) and the American University in Cairo both conduct teaching in English. Tuition fees vary depending on credit hours, with non-Egyptian students at the latter university paying at least US$14,556 per year.

Israel 

The official languages of Israel are Hebrew and Arabic, but English is also widely used, with around 85 percent of the population proficient in the language. Courses at universities in Israel are often taught in Hebrew, but many leading universities in Israel also increasingly offer English-taught programs. Tuition fees are around US$9,000-15,000 per year.

Saudi Arabia

Home to some of the highest-ranked universities in the QS Arab University Rankings, Saudi Arabia’s official language is Arabic, but many residents know English. There are no tuition fees at some universities (such as King Saud University) and a good range of English-taught courses available, particularly for master’s degrees and courses in engineering, science and medicine.

Note that for all of these countries, if you want to study in English and you are not a native English speaker, you will most likely need to prove your proficiency in the language with a test such as the IELTS, TOEFL or PTE. It’s also worth getting to grips with the basics of the local language, to help you settle in.

This article was originally published in November 2015. It was last updated in April 2019.

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Mineral and mining engineering is a discipline which applies knowledge and skills in science and technology to the process of extracting minerals from the earth, in the safest and most efficient ways.

If you’re interested in studying a mining engineering course at university, the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019 features 50 top schools for the subject worldwide, all ranked based on a methodology which assesses four important indicators.

Read on for a region-by-region breakdown of the world’s top mining engineering schools in 2019 – including an initial overview of the top 20 – or click here for the full ranking table. And if you’re interested in studying a master’s in this subject, you can read our guide here.  

Top mining engineering schools in the US & Canada

Currently, 14 of the world’s top mining engineering schools are based in the US and Canada, with both locations claiming spots in the top 20. A further two US universities make the top 30, both of which climbed a total of four places in the ranking this year: Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) (from 27^th to 23^rd) and the University of Colorado at Boulder (from 34^th to joint 30^th).

Canada has six entrants in the mining engineering ranking, including four in the top 20, led by McGill University in third place, while Queen’s University isn’t far behind in seventh.

Top mining engineering schools in Europe

In Europe, the UK leads the mining engineering schools ranking with the most representatives (four) this year, including one in the top 20, and the University of Southampton sealing the top 30 list in joint 30^th place, after improving its position by an impressive 12 spots.

Nearby in Ireland, two universities enter the mining engineering schools ranking for the first time this year, both of which are in the top 200 of the QS World University Rankings® 2019: Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and University College Dublin (UCD).

Other participants with two representatives in the ranking also include Germany and Russia – the former claiming one university in the top 20. In Russia, two universities are ranked for mining engineering, with St.Petersburg Mining University in the top 20, while the National University of Science and Technology ‘MISIS’ is 42^nd.

With just one representative each, the Netherlands, France, Italy, and Spain follow; of the four, only the Netherlands is home to a mining engineering school in the top 20, while the rest are all new to the ranking, and include notable entrants such as Université PSL (Paris Sciences & Lettres) (21^st), Politecnico di Torino (24^th), and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (34^th).

Top mining engineering schools in Australia & New Zealand

Australia is currently home to eight top mining engineering schools, with six excellent performers in the global top 20. Other notable Australian representatives in the ranking this year include the University of Adelaide and the University of Newcastle, ranked joint 26^th and joint 40^th respectively for this subject.

Meanwhile, New Zealand enters the ranking for the first time this year, with Victoria University of Wellington ranked 44^th for mining engineering.

Top mining engineering schools in Latin America

In Latin America, Chile is home to the highest-ranked university for mining engineering (Universidad de Chile), as well as Universidad de Concepción, which ranks 29^th. Mexico’s only representative, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), went up a promising eight places this year to rank in the global top 20 for the subject, while Brazil’s only representative, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), maintains its position at 33^rd.

Top mining engineering schools in Asia

Heading east to Asia, China harbors three of the world’s best universities for mining engineering, with Nanjing University and Wuhan University being its best performers, both having shot up from joint 43^rd place to now rank 25^th and joint 26^th, respectively.

Closely following China is Japan, with two entrants in total, led by Kyushu University in 28^th place, while Waseda University is joint 40^th.

India is also home to two top mining engineering schools, one of which – Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) – is a notable new entrant in 38^th place, and also ranks 162^nd in this year’s QS World University Rankings.    

Top mining engineering schools in the Middle East & Africa

And finally, South Africa’s University of the Witwatersrand (in the global top 20), is Africa’s only representative in this year’s mining engineering ranking, while Saudi Arabia is the only Middle Eastern nation featured, with King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) as its representative in 37^th place (up three spots from last year).

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Sponsored by the School of Life Sciences at the University of Warwick

Whether you want to deepen your understanding of genetic testing or stem cell research, or you’ve got an avid interest in the growing production of biofuels, you may want to consider going one step further in your academic career and study a master’s degree in life sciences.

We spoke to the School of Life Sciences at the University of Warwick to find out what you can expect from a master’s in life sciences should you decide to study one.

Life sciences are the cornerstone to life on earth

Life sciences are the study of living organisms – from plants to animals to human beings. It’s the DNA of our planet, yet there’s still so much to discover and understand. For example, what’s the impact of climate change on our planet? How are we going to find a solution to the growing resistance of bacteria against the overuse of antibiotics?

Specialize in your area of interest

A master’s in life sciences is a highly versatile degree, according to recent graduates from Warwick’s School of Life Sciences.

“The degree has a very diverse stance, and the coursework can be tailored to topics of your personal interests. The university offers you the freedom to investigate topics that you have a passion for, which also allowed me to learn about a range of environmental issues that other students were researching and weren’t in the syllabus,” said Carlie Evans who studied the MSc in Environmental Bioscience in a Changing Climate.

You’ll be able to expand your scientific knowledge and gain an insightful understanding into the basic fundamentals, such as microbiomics and metageomics. Specializations such as biodiversity, conservation and ecosystem services, environmental accounting, and biological invasions in changing environments let you tailor your degree to suit you and your career aspirations.

Learn from the best and contribute to the world of groundbreaking research

A master’s in life sciences at the University of Warwick goes one step further and allows you to collaborate with your peers to investigate key research. Gaining that all-important practical experience, as well as learning the theory, is absolutely essential as well as being taught by those who are active researchers themselves.

“All the lecturers could talk from a wealth of professional and academic experiences and remain at the forefront of research in their respective fields,” said Henry James, another MSc in Environmental Bioscience in a Changing Climate graduate.

You’ll have a plethora of career opportunities at your fingertips

Life sciences have much to offer when it comes to careers – and not just in the worlds of medicine and science either. With the practicality of a master’s degree like this, you’ll be able to explore many career paths, as Max Dafforn, an MSc in Sustainable Crop Production graduate discovered.

He told us: “During my course I discovered precision farming and decided that this rapidly advancing part of the agricultural industry was what I wanted to move into.”

You can also take your area of expertise and work in an interdisciplinary role, such as biotechnology or medical biotechnology. This is what drove one student, Katie Dowson, to study the MSc in Medical Biotechnology and Business Management.

She said: “I wanted to improve my business knowledge so that I could confidently enter a career that required scientific but also strong commercial acumen. The variety of business and biotechnology modules to choose from and the excellent reputation drove me to choose Warwick.”

Another student, Patrick Mwirigi, who completed his MSc in Biotechnology, Bioprocessing and Business Management, said: “This is the best course for anyone who has a passion for both science and business. Especially if you are passionate about health-related fields and want to start a business in that area.”

Lead image: University of Warwick, School of Life Sciences

The study of religion is undeniably a fascinating topic for many, often the center of deep and insightful – though sometimes heated – debates. If you happen to be studying a degree related to theology, or perhaps you’re interested in pursuing a course in the subject at university level, you may have often pondered upon the potential list of career options you could choose from after you graduate. Well, you’ve just stumbled across another one now – read on to find out more about the different jobs you can get with a theology degree.  

Typical theology jobs

Religious studies teacher (primary school/secondary school)

Many universities report that the majority of their theology graduates go on to secure teaching posts. What all teaching jobs have in common in terms of the often-required skillsets, are excellent communication skills (both oral and written), patience, adaptability, and a demonstrative passion in your chosen field of teaching.

One of the main benefits of theology jobs in teaching is that you’ll usually get to enjoy more holidays than the average office-worker, and your job itself could provide you with a variety of activities with your pupils, which could include going on day-trips to new and exciting places of interest.    

Unless you hold a bachelor’s degree in either education or any other subject with a teaching qualification, to become a teacher you’ll need to make sure you hold a recognized qualification that’ll allow you to teach; for example, if you’re in the UK, this will typically be a QTS (Qualified Teaching Status), or a PGDE (Professional Graduate Diploma in Education) if you’re in Scotland. 

University lecturer

In terms of the skills needed to become a university lecturer, these won’t differ much from the general requirements for becoming a teacher, except that you’ll be teaching adults and not children or teenagers. Academically speaking, you’ll also need to hold more qualifications to be able to qualify as a higher education lecturer – you’ll need specialized expertise in your area of study, as well as research and administration experience, and you’ll generally need to hold a PhD in a related area (in this case, theology) on top of your bachelor’s degree. To become a university lecturer, you won’t need a separate teaching qualification, although you will take on various teaching roles while doing your PhD.   

As a higher education lecturer, your job will revolve around designing and preparing teaching materials, delivering lectures and seminars, developing and implementing new methods of teaching to mirror changes in research, assessing, setting and marking students’ exams/coursework, and helping to guide and support students. You’ll also be responsible for supervising research groups and activities (including those of your students) in all academic levels, undertake your own research projects, write and publish research papers, attend conferences and seminars in your field of expertise, carry out administrative tasks related to your department, and much more.   

Chaplain/cleric

Chaplains are religious or philosophical figures who provide guidance and counseling to those seeking it in secular organizations. They may work in variety of settings, including hospitals and other social care organizations, universities, schools and colleges, sports organizations, and even the armed forces or prison. As a chaplain, your responsibilities will include responding effectively to needs of pastoral support and counseling, carrying out administrative tasks, responding to queries, keeping accurate and up-to-date records of contacts, and writing reports.

Because you’ll be working with people from a variety of backgrounds, you’ll need to have the right set of communication and interpersonal skills, as well as a willingness to help people and listen to their problems. You’ll typically work regular nine-to-five office hours, though you could be required to work beyond this, including evenings and weekends (particularly if you work in a healthcare setting).

To enter the field as a junior chaplain, a theology degree usually won’t be enough, and you’ll need to hold some work experience under your belt.  However, since chaplains can represent a wide range of faiths, the required qualifications can vary.  

Youth worker

As a youth worker, you’ll be working to make a difference to the lives of young people with varying degrees of needs and goals. You’ll provide them with guidance, support and advice in their personal, social and educational growth, assisting them to reach their full potential. Youth workers usually work with people between the ages of 11 and 25, in various settings such as schools, colleges, faith-based groups, and youth centers.

Though part-time work is common in youth work, you might work around 37 hours per week, and it may be necessary to work some evenings and weekends. Self-employment is also possible. You may be expected to travel during your work day, in order to visit locations where activities and meetings with other agencies take place.

To become a youth worker, you’ll need to first make sure your BA Hons is authorized by the National Youth Agency (if you’re in the UK), or the equivalent overseas. If you hold an undergraduate degree in a subject other than youth work (for example, in theology) you’ll also need to complete professional training through a relevant postgraduate course. Because youth work provides a lot of opportunities for voluntary work, this may also be a good chance for you to gain some appropriate work experience before applying for a fixed-term role in this field.   

Minister of religion

A minister of religion’s primary responsibility is to perform spiritual functions in relation to religious beliefs and practices, providing guidance, motivation and training for worshipers within a specific religion.

As a minister of religion, you’ll be required to conduct and supervise services of public worship, deliver talks and sermons, manage – and partake in – social and welfare activities within religious communities, perform marriages, funerals and special memorial services, vist homes, hospitals and other institutions to offer religious advice, and provide counseling while making referrals to specialized qualified professionals when necessary.   

Specializations in this career path vary among the different faiths, and typically include Priest, Monk, Imam, Rabbi, etc. In the same way, employability requirements will vary depending on the nature of your specialization, though typically, some form of academic qualification and expertise in your faith is essential, and you’ll need to be able to deal with people of all ages, races, personal requirements and even faiths, in some cases.

Other theology jobs

As a theology graduate, you of course aren’t limited to the above roles, and you’ll find a variety of other jobs in which your degree may be useful. Other possible theology jobs can include working as an advice worker, archivist, a charity fundraiser, counselor, community development worker, civil service administrator, police officer, and roles in publishing, such as editorial and journalism. Additionally, you may be pleased to know that there are many employers out there who accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so there may be plenty of other career options open to you.

‘What Can You Do With a Theology Degree?’ is part of our ‘What Can You Do With…’ series.  We have also covered art, biology, business, communications, computer science, English, engineering, fashion, finance, history, geography, law, marketing, mathematics, management, philosophy, performing arts, politics, psychology, sociology, sports, chemistry, economics and physics.

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Thinking of studying in the UK, and interested in finding work during or after your studies? Read on for advice on UK work visas and the application requirements…

Working in the UK during your studies

If you’d like to find part-time work while studying in the UK, you’ll need to be aware of the requirements and restrictions that apply to students from your country:

Students from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland

If you’re from a country within the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you can work in the UK while studying, without any restrictions or permissions. You should be prepared to show your passport or identity card to your employer to prove you’re an EU national, and should apply for a National Insurance number (scroll to the end of this article for details).

Students from outside the EU

If you’re a student from outside the EU, you’ll most likely be in the UK on a Tier 4 (General) student visa, which will tell you the number of hours you can work during term-time. If you’re attending a publicly funded UK university at degree level or above, or taking part in a study abroad program at an overseas higher education institution, you can work for up to 20 hours per week during term-time and full-time during the Christmas and Easter breaks.

You can’t work if you’re attending a private university (of which there are only five in the country) or a publicly funded college. If you’re aged 16 or 17 or studying below degree level, you are only permitted to work for up to 10 hours per week during term-time. You can have more than one employer as long as you don’t go beyond the 10/20 hours per week limit.

Time spent completing a permitted work placement as part of your studies will not count as part of your 10 or 20 hours. However, any work placements must not take up more than a third of your total study time – or half if you’re studying at an overseas higher education institute or on a Tier 4 (Child) visa.

You can take up most types of employment, but cannot be self-employed or work in business activity, a role as an entertainer or professional sportsperson (including sports coach), or any permanent full-time position, unless it’s on a recognized foundation program or as a students’ union sabbatical officer. You can work full-time after finishing your degree as long as your visa status is still valid and you don’t work in a permanent position, self-employed, as a doctor or any of the other prohibited roles mentioned above.

Working in the UK after graduation

Students from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland

Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland are entitled to work and stay in the UK without the need for a visa – so far there have been no changes to this following the UK’s referendum on membership of the EU. If the UK withdraws from the existing freedom of movement agreement, future EU students may need to apply for visas for study and post-graduation employment.

Students from outside the EU/EEA

There are various visa schemes open for non-EU students to remain and work in the UK after completing their studies. The Start Up Visa, which will replace the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa in July 2019, is intended for people outside the EU and Switzerland who want to start their own business in the UK. To apply for this visa, you’ll need to get endorsement from an authorized body, which can be a UK university. You could also be endorsed by the Sirius Programme. You’ll need to pay a fee for this visa, as well as the healthcare surcharge to access the National Health Service (NHS). If your application is successful, you can stay in the UK for two years.

However, the most popular way to gain a UK work visa is through the Tier 2 (General) visa, which is for skilled workers from outside the EEA and Switzerland who have a job offer to work in the UK. To be eligible, the job will usually need to have a salary of at least £20,800 (~US$27,300) per year, although there are some roles excluded from this.

To switch from the Tier 4 Student Visa to the Tier 2 visa, you’ll need to have successfully gained a degree from a licensed Tier 4 sponsor. You must be applying from inside the UK and apply before your current visa expires.

Other eligibility requirements and documents needed include:

• Evidence that you can support yourself financially – you must prove with bank statements that you have at least £945 (~US$1,240) in your account for 90 days before you apply, or a certificate of sponsorship if applicable.
• A certificate of sponsorship from a licensed sponsor.
• Proof that you can speak English to the required level, unless you’re from a country where this is not required (list here).
• Biometric information (fingerprints and a photograph).
• Current passport.
• Tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where this is required.
• A criminal record certificate (if you’re working with vulnerable people).

To apply, you’ll need to pay the appropriate visa charge and healthcare surcharge for yourself and any dependents. If your application is successful, you can stay in the UK with a Tier 2 (General) visa for a maximum of 5 years and 14 days, or the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus one month, whichever is shorter. Your stay must start no more than 14 days before the start date on your certificate of sponsorship. After five years, you can apply for a permanent residency card.

If you’d prefer to work in the UK for a shorter period, you could apply for the Tier 5 (Temporary Worker - Government Authorised Exchange) visa, which is for those undertaking work experience or training programs. The requirements for this are similar – you’ll need £945 in savings and a certificate of sponsorship from your UK sponsor (your employer). This UK work visa allows you to stay in the country for 12 or 24 months, depending on which scheme you apply for.

National Insurance numbers

Everyone who wants to work in the UK will need a National Insurance (NI) number, a unique code which is used to track your tax payments and contributions to the UK’s social security system. This is free to obtain – you’ll need to apply by phone as soon as possible, and can only do so in the UK. You should have your passport/visa information to hand when you call.

The NI number will take around four weeks to be issued, and depending on your visa status, you might be asked to attend an interview. You can start work without a NI number but will need to prove to your employer that you’ve applied for it and give them the number once it’s issued. If you have a biometric residence permit (BRP) you may already have a NI number printed on the back, so you won’t need to apply for another one.

This article was originally published in December 2016. It was updated in April 2019.

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