One-year programs are sought after in the UK because of their smart and flexible design, which is ideal for a fast-paced career. The UK has a variety of postgraduate and undergraduate one-year program options. 1 year masters program in UK is an advanced qualification with global prospects.
After China, India is the second non-EU country for most international students in the UK, according to UK government data (Source).
This blog is a complete guide for exploring one-year programs in the UK and enrolling in the right 1-year program for you in the UK.
Highlights
| Eligibility | Bachelors, GMAT, LNAT, UKCAT, IELTS, work experience |
| Average Tuition Fee | 13 lakhs INR |
| Career Prospects | Mechanical engineer, data scientist, lawyer, programmer, IT manager |
| Specialisations | Arts, Research, Science, Engineering, MBA, Biotechnology, Law |
| Average Salary | 48 lakhs INR |
| Scholarships / Internships | Offered by university |
| Monthly Living Cost | 1 lakh INR |
Advantages of a 1 year masters program in UK
- Faster Study Curriculum: In recent times, 1-year programs provide the perfect design for securing jobs earlier or starting a new course of study. This is an accelerated program to complete an advanced course of study in 12 months. Most international students prefer the 1-year program for a fast-track career and earning opportunities.
- Cost Effective: As international study destinations are expensive and top schools cost around 50 lakhs to 1 Crore INR over two years, the one-year program is sustainable for cost management.
- High-Quality Universities: The academic quality of these courses is high and provides an opportunity to receive qualifications from high-ranking universities.
- Global Career Scope: The one-year program provides multicultural and multinational exposure both during and after the course of study. Students are employed in multinational companies.
Types of One-Year Masters Program in the UK
International Masters programs are generally full-time, lasting 2 to 4 years. However, unlike the USA and Australia, the United Kingdom has 1-year postgraduate degrees. The 1-year program is smartly designed to fit the requirements of international students and finish the academic curriculum of two years within 12 months. The 1 year MS programs in UK are:
- Masters of Arts: MA in the UK has vast options for subjects, not just humanities but also Human Resources, Management, Education, Political Science, and Music.
- Master of Science: The United Kingdom is famous for its science, technology, and business education. One-year technology offers programs in applied Biotechnology, Project Management, Cyber Security, Engineering, Operations Management, Banking Finance, and more.
- Master of Research: An MRes degree in the UK is a quality doctoral program, as prestigious UK schools provide the best research opportunities. The various research programs in the UK are History, Philosophy, Science and Health, Business Economics, etc.
- Masters in Business Analytics: UK 1-year business analytics degrees are globally accepted, have career scope, and prepare students for the real-world business environment.
- Specialized Master’s Degree: Many popular 1-year master’s programs in the UK are 1 year Computer Science, Management, International Business, 1 year Marketing degree, Business Administration, Biotechnology, and 1 year online masters in education programs UK.
Eligibility Criteria for the One Year Masters Course in the UK
The below requirements are variable with each UK College. Students must check the exact score requirements and criteria on the official University Website.
- A bachelor’s degree or relevant qualification from a well-known university with 60 to 70% marks.
- Standardised Test Scores like GMAT
- English Language Proficiency like IELTS (6-7), TOEFL (90-100) and the Oxford Test of English for some colleges
- Work experience of 2 to 5 years for some professional courses.
- Personal Interview or essay questions are required in some UK universities
- Resume or CV
- Letters of Recommendation and Statement of Purpose
- Academic Transcripts
Application Process
The steps for the application process for your chosen intake are as follows:
- Select a course and shortlist universities of your interest.
- Research carefully for program details, semester dates, universities, and facilities in official websites.
- Prepare the required documents and test results according to the eligibility criteria of your chosen institution.
- When the applications are open, complete your application form with application fees and full details as soon as you can.
- Wait for notifications after the processing time and respond to offer letters by mail, by paying the deposit.
Explore more: Upcoming Intakes in UK for Indian Students
Cost of Study in 1 Year Masters Program in the UK
The below data is variable and depends on individual courses of study, living accommodation, university, expenses, etc.
Tuition Fee
The average tuition fee for a 1 year Master’s program in the United Kingdom is 7000 to 36000 pounds (7 lakhs INR to 39 lakhs INR)
Cost of Living
The average cost of living is 14,000 pounds to 16,800 pounds (15 lakhs INR to 18 lakhs INR). The cost of living in each city is different. The cheapest cities for student living costs are Manchester, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Cambridge, and Leicester.
| Cost | Annual Amount in INR |
| Rent Off Campus | 7 to 9 Lakhs INR |
| Rent On Campus | 4 lakhs to 7 lakhs INR |
| Food | 2 lakhs INR |
| Transport | 1 lakh INR |
| Utilities | 71000 to 87000 INR |
Read more in detail: How Much Money Is Required to Study in UK?
UK Scholarships for 1 Year Master’s Program for Indian Students
| Scholarship | Value | Selection Criteria |
| Rhodes Scholarship | Tuition fee at Oxford, annual stipend of 20 lakhs INR | Academic Excellence, active participation, Courage, Kindness |
| Cambridge Trust Scholarship | Annual stipend of 13 lakhs INR | Financial need, academic excellence |
| LSE Masters Awards | 5 lakhs INR to full award | Financial need, work experience, interview |
| Manchester International Excellence Scholarships | 3.8 lakhs INR annually | Academic Excellence |
| WMG Excellence Scholarship | 10 to 50% tuition fee discount | Academic excellence, work experience |
Read more in detail: UK Scholarships for Indian Students
Top 1 Year Masters Programs in the UK
The UK has some prestigious schools and ranking Masters courses. Here are the best 1 year MBA programs in UK are:
1) MBA: 1-year MBA programs in UK specialisations like Human Resources, Marketing, Project Management, Health, Operation Management, International Business, Finance, and Business Analytics.
Relevant Profiles: Marketing Manager, IT Manager
2) Computer Science: This program equips students with in-demand skills in technology, software, IT, and engineering in companies. The specialisations for the computer science program are Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Advanced Computing, Visual Computing and Robotics, Data Architecture, and UX/UI Design.
Relevant Profiles: Programmer, Software Developer, Data Analyst
3) Engineering and Technology: The United Kingdom has top engineering education and is known for technical excellence around the world. The fields of engineering include Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Computer Engineering.
Relevant Profiles: Broadcast Engineer, Chemical Engineer
4) Biotechnology: The UK has advanced biotechnology courses with a lot of scope. The specialisations are Biodefense, Biomedical Engineering, Bioinformatics, and Drug Research.
Relevant Profiles: Biotechnology Specialist, Medical Scientist
5) Law: This program is for those who have pursued LLB previously. The specialisations are Corporate Law, European Law, Criminal Law, Patents and Intellectual Property Rights, and Healthcare Law.
Relevant Profiles: Corporate Lawyer, Legal Advisor
6) Architecture: This program puts together the fundamentals of architectural design, urban planning, and market demands. The specialisations are commercial architecture, architectural technology, Urban planning, Bio integrated design, and Architectural History and Theory.
Relevant Profiles: Interior Designer, Architectural Technologist
7) Data Science: This is one of the advancing fields of study that involves data analysis and decision-making.Data analysis is done in every organisation like finance, government, and Information Technology. The specialisations are Data Analysis, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science with Machine Learning, and Data Mining.
Relevant Profiles: Data Scientist, Data Analyst
UK Universities for 1 Year Masters Programs
The UK one-year programs are offered by prestigious colleges at affordable fees. The top UK universities offering one-year master’s programs are:
- University of Cambridge
- Oxford University
- Imperial College London
- University College London
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Manchester
- King’s College London
- London School of Economics
- University of Bristol
- University of Warwick
Source: https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings-articles/world-university-rankings/top-universities-uk
1. University of Cambridge
Cambridge has a recruiter reputation and the students come from diverse regions of the world. Cambridge has 121 Nobel Laureates and 210 Olympic Medallists.
| Address | The old school, Trinity ln, Cambridge, UK |
| Year Founded | 1209 |
| 1-Year Tuition Fees | 63 lakhs INR |
| QS Global Ranking | 2 |
| 1-year Programs offered | Biotechnology, MRes, MPhil, Finance |
| Phone number | +441223337733 |
| Official Site | https://www.cam.ac.uk/ |
2. Oxford University
Teaching practices in Oxford are the oldest in the world, back to 1096. It has 22,000 students and quality research.
| Address | Wellington Square, Oxford, United Kingdom |
| Year Founded | 1096 |
| Tuition Fees for 1 year | 39 lakhs INR |
| QS Global Ranking | 3 |
| Programs offered | MSc, Criminal Justice, Social History |
| Phone number | +441865270000 |
| Official Site | https://www.ox.ac.uk/ |
3. Imperial College London
The college ranks first in London and specialises in subjects like science, engineering, medicine, and research. The college is awarded for working towards the careers of women.
| Address | Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London, United Kingdom |
| Year Founded | 1907 |
| Tuition Fees | 44 lakh INR |
| QS Global Ranking | 6 |
| Programs offered | Biotechnology, Advanced Computing, Mechanical Engineering |
| Phone number | +442075895111 |
| Official Site | https://www.imperial.ac.uk/ |
4. University College, London
It is one of the UK colleges with excellent research facilities. The college has produced 28 Nobel Laureates. The admission and degrees at UCL are very competitive.
| Address | Gower St, London, United Kingdom |
| Year Founded | 1826 |
| Year Tuition Fees | 16 lakh INR |
| QS Global Ranking | 9 |
| 1-year Programs offered | MRes, MA archaeology, MSc Economics |
| Phone number | +442076792000 |
| Official Site | https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ |
5. University of Edinburgh
The college is known for its international network and academic reputation. The university specialises in science, medicine, and discoveries, and the department of English literature.
| Address | Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, United Kingdom |
| Year Founded | 1583 |
| Tuition Fees | 30 lakhs |
| QS Global Ranking | 27 |
| Programs offered | MSc in Mathematical economics, Mathematical Physics |
| Phone number | +441316501000 |
| Official Site | https://www.ed.ac.uk/ |
Job Opportunities after Completing One Year Master’s Degree in the UK
1 year Master’s programs in the UK for international students have excellent job prospects. The professional careers in one-year programs are diverse.
| Position | Average MBA salary | Job Description |
| Software Developer | 45 lakhs INR | Managing, building, designing, and researching computer application software |
| Finance Analyst | 39 lakhs INR | Finance Analysts study profit-gaining methods, stocks, and bonds. They work in banks or insurance companies. |
| Civil engineer | 49 lakhs INR | Designing public works projects of infrastructure like buildings, roads, and airports. |
| Biomedical engineer | 38 lakhs INR | Solves healthcare problems and applies engineering principles to healthcare and medical applications. |
| Mechanical Engineer | 40 lakhs INR | Manufacturing and designing different mechanical items using principles of physics and mathematics |
| Lawyer | 58 lakhs INR | A lawyer handles legal jurisdictions and client court cases. |
Conclusion
One-year programs are most popular among international students due to their flexibility and design. One-year programs are advantageous for international students as they can cover the costs in one year instead of two years. These are advanced courses that have professional as well as academic excellence. The job opportunities and one-year master’s programs are diverse and sought after.
FAQs
Which is more valuable, two-year or one year master’s programs in the UK?
One-year programs are good for those who have a definite goal planned. It is good for starting work sooner in an intensive program. It is also helpful for paying the fees of one year instead of two.
Two programs are designed for concentrated studies. Two-year programs are more time-consuming. Both one-year and two-year programs are sought after and have great opportunities.
One-year programs have an advanced and high-quality design. So students can plan and decide according to their preferences and goals. Some students decide to study full-time for in-depth specialised knowledge. Generally, year programs have the same academic quality as the two-year programs.
Is one year masters recognized in India?
In August 2024, The UK and India signed a Memorandum of Understanding to recognize the one-year master’s programs in the UK as equivalent to master’s programs in India.
What are the Part-time work options for international students in the UK?
Students can work online, off-campus, and on-campus in libraries, as office assistants, as accountants, in healthcare, administration, customer service, tutor, receptionist, event planner, etc. International students can expect to earn 8 to 12 pounds (800 to 1300 rupees) per hour in part-time jobs.
