US vs UK for Masters is one of the biggest debates among international students. While drawing a difference between US vs UK for Masters the main factor would be the tuition fees. The tuition fees for MS in USA is 25,000 USD to 63,000 USD (~20.52- 51.74 lakhs INR), while the tuition fees for Masters in UK is 15,000 GBP to 35,00 GBP (15-30 lakh INR).
Over 30% of the total population of students pursuing Masters in UK is international students. According to the QS News Rankings 2024 for Best Student Cities included 14 cities of the UK. On the other hand, US government spends 476,452 million USD, or 2.7% of its GDP, on R&D. So earning an Masters in USA increases your chances of getting financing for your research study.
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US vs UK for Masters Top Universities
USA and UK both have some of the top ranked universities in the world according to the QS World University Rankings 2024. UK is popular for its education in the field of Business, Computer Science, Psychology among other fields, whereas USA is popular for masters programs in the field of Computer Science, IT Engineering, Finance and other disciplines.
MS in USA: Top Universities
Following are the top specializations offered at some of the top universities in USA for all domestic and international students:
QS World University Rankings 2024 | Top University | Top Program | Tuition Fees (INR) |
---|---|---|---|
#1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | MS in Computer Science | MS in Engineering | 43- 67 Lakh |
#4 | Harvard University | MS in Computer Science | MS in Engineering | MS in Data Science | 18- 49 Lakh |
#5 | Stanford University | MS in Computer Science | MS in Engineering | MS in Data Science | 35- 53 Lakh |
#10 | University of California- Berkeley | MS in Computer Science | MS in Engineering | MS in Finance | 31- 42 Lakh |
-- | MIT Sloan | MS in Finance | MS in Business Analytics | 43- 47 Lakh |
#16 | Yale University | MS in Business Analytics | MS in Data Science | 37- 61 Lakh |
Why study MS in USA?
- USA has over 2 million masters programs to choose from, giving international students plenty of options in terms of field of study.
- Some advantages that overseas students in USA can take advantage of while pursuing a graduate degree include the opportunity to earn money through a work-study programme, the ability to stay in the country after receiving a master's degree, research possibilities, and merit-based scholarships to help pay for school.
- For each MS in USA course, the curriculum is broken down into prerequisites, core subjects, and electives. Thus, it expands the possibility of earning a research-based MS in USA by almost 30%.
- US government invests 2.7% of its GDP on research and development, making it easier for you to get financing for your research after MS in USA.
- BLS predicts that employment of workers with a Master's degree in US will increase by nearly 9% between 2020 and 2030.
MS in UK: Top Universities
Following are the top specializations offered at some of the top universities in UK for all domestic and international students:
QS World University Rankings 2024 | Top University | Top Program | Tuition Fees (INR) |
---|---|---|---|
#2 | University of Cambridge | MS in Computer Science | MS in Engineering | MS in Architecture | 43- 62 Lakh |
#3 | University of Oxford | MS in Engineering | MS in Psychological Research | 29- 68 Lakh |
#9 | University College London | MS in Computer Science | MS in Psychology | MS in Architecture | 27- 46 Lakh |
#6 | Imperial College London | MS in Computer Science | MS in Engineering | MS in Marketing | MS in Management | 39- 64 Lakh |
#22 | University of Edinburgh | MS in Computer Science | MS in Marketing | 27-36.70 Lakh |
#32 | University of Manchester | MS in Engineering | MS in Marketing | MS in Management | 24- 35.60 Lakh |
Why Study MS in UK?
- According to the QS World University Rankings 2024, some of the top universities offering Masters programs are located in UK. Such as, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge and Imperial College London.
- 14 UK cities were listed among the 120 cities from other nations in the QS News Ranking of 2024 for Best Student Cities. Of those, seven were among the top 50, with London taking the top spot.
- MS graduates in the UK can make up to 35,000 GBP (35 Lakh INR) annually. This is 29% more than what graduates with bachelor's degrees in this country make.
- The abundance of student grants and scholarships available to pick from is a benefit of deciding to pursue a master's degree in UK. The amount of awards you can receive can pay for all of your tuition and living expenses in UK.
Cost of living in US vs UK for Masters
One of the main factors while considering which country to choose from while applying for masters in US or UK is the cost of living there. The average annual cost of living in USA is 21,600 USD (17.70 Lakh INR) and the average annual cost of living in UK is 14,000 GBP (14.69 Lakh INR).
Expense Type | Average Annual Cost of Living in USA (in USD) | Average Annual Cost of Living in UK (in GBP) |
---|---|---|
Accommodation | 1300-3000 | 6,200 |
Meals | 1,200 | 2,400 |
Transportation | 792 | 780 |
Utilities | 2,900 | 2,220 |
Personal Expenses | 1,440 | 1,500 |
US vs UK for Masters
Which is better for MS US or UK? The following tables draws a comparison between MS in USA vs MS in UK on the basis of course duration, top specializations, tuition fees, cost of living among other parameters:
Parameter | Masters in USA | Masters in UK |
---|---|---|
Course Duration | 2 Years | 1-2 Years |
Average tuition fees | 25,000 USD- 63,000 USD (2-0-51 Lakh INR) | 15,000 GBP- 30,000 GBP (15-31 Lakh INR) |
Cost of living | 21,600 USD (17.70 Lakh INR) | 14,000 GBP (14.69 Lakh INR) |
Visa | F-1 Student Visa | Tier 4 General student visa |
Average Salary | 80,000 USD- 130,000 USD (65 Lakh- 1.06 Cr. INR) | 50,000 GBP- 86,000 GBP (52-90 Lakh INR) |
Top Specialisations | Computer Science | IT Engineering | Finance | Business Analytics | Marketing | Data Science | Data Analytics | Computer Science | Psychology | Marketing | Management | Architecture |
English Language Proficiency | IELTS: 6.5-7.5 | TOEFL: 100+ | IELTS: 6.0-7.0 | TOEFL: 60-100 |
US or UK which is better for Masters? MS in US primarily involves STEM programs such as, MS in Business Management, MS in IT, MS in Computer Science among others. On the other hand MS in UK popular programs includes MS in Finance, MS in Data Science and MS in Business Analytics. Even though it is a big question that arrives while applying for masters in an international country, looking at the tuition fees, cost of living and admission requirements might make it easy for you decide whether to do your Masters in UK or Masters in USA. US and UK both have universities in the top 10 universities in the world according to the QS World University Rankigs 2024 giving international students plenty of opoortunities to apply at top universities.
FAQs
Ques. Is it better to study in the US or UK?
Ans. MS in US primarily involves STEM programs such as, MS in Business Management, MS in IT, MS in Computer Science among others. On the other hand MS in UK popular programs includes MS in Finance, MS in Data Science and MS in Business Analytics. While drawing a difference between US vs UK for Masters the main factor would be the tuition fees. The tuition fees for MS in USA is 25,000 USD to 63,000 USD (~20.52- 51.74 lakhs INR), while the tuition fees for Masters in UK is 15,000 GBP to 35,00 GBP (15-30 lakh INR). The UK may be better in some aspects, such as shorter program durations and lower tuition fees
Ques. Is a masters in UK equivalent to a masters in the US?
Ans. A masters degree from USA is usually accepted as the same level masters degree from UK for academic and business purposes in the UK. But be aware, as, in USA, certain professions in UK will require a specific local certification or professional membership, such as medicine or teaching.
Ques. Is it worth going to UK for masters?
Ans. According to the QS World University Rankings 2024, some of the top universities offering Masters programs are located in UK. Such as, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge and Imperial College London. 14 UK cities were listed among the 120 cities from other nations in the QS News Ranking of 2024 for Best Student Cities. Of those, seven were among the top 50, with London taking the top spot. MS graduates in the UK can make up to 35,000 GBP (35 Lakh INR) annually. This is 29% more than what graduates with bachelor's degrees in this country make.
Ques. Can I move to USA after masters in UK?
Ans. Professionals, new graduates, and students may apply for the J-1 visa, which permits short-term employment in the United States. his includes an internship programme that can last up to 12 months and a trainee programme that can last up to 18 months in some industries.
Ques. Is UK cheaper than US for Masters?
Ans. In terms of living cost, it is well established that living in USA can be more expensive than the living cost in UK. On the other hand, the tuition fees for MS in USA is 25,000 USD to 63,000 USD (~20.52- 51.74 lakhs INR), while the tuition fees for Masters in UK is 15,000 GBP to 35,00 GBP (15-30 lakh INR).
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