Study in the UK: inconveniences and other aspects

In the previous article, I tried to explain why studying in the UK can be a very powerful experience academically, professionally, and personally. My idea was not to sell the experience as perfect, but rather to organise the factors that usually make many people consider studying there: academic autonomy, professional opportunities, societies, international life, the university ecosystem, and the ambition that can be felt in many environments.

But precisely because of that, I think it is also necessary to talk about the other side. Studying in the UK can be a very good decision, but it is not an obvious one. It has high costs, important problems, and certain characteristics of the system that may not suit everyone. Many people say they want to study in the United Kingdom, but they are not always clear about what it actually involves: not only in terms of money, but also in terms of lifestyle, assessment, pressure, social inequality, distance from family, and professional expectations.

This article is about that: the bad, uncomfortable, or less idealised aspects of studying in the UK. Not to say that it is not worth it, but so that someone considering this option can have a more complete view.

Cost, scholarships, and expected return

The first problem is obvious: studying in the UK is expensive. University fees, accommodation, food, transport, visas, health insurance, materials, flights, and daily life make studying there a very serious financial decision. This is even more important if you are an international student, because tuition fees are usually much higher than for local students. Therefore, one has to decide whether to pay the price only if it is worth the cost, that is, if the return on investment is positive.

The problem is that the return is not guaranteed. Studying at a good British university can open doors, but it does not guarantee you a job, an excellent career, or a comfortable life. Some people make great use of the ecosystem, do internships, build contacts, improve academically, and leave with very good opportunities. But some people pay a huge amount of money and then feel that they have not obtained as much value as they expected. There are many of these, unfortunately, even among international students who only study there because their parents sent them.

This is where scholarships, internships, and job opportunities come in. If you get a scholarship, even a partial one, the decision can change a lot. If, in addition, you are at a university with good connections to companies, strong alumni, and internship opportunities, the cost can become more justifiable. But if you are going to pay a huge amount for a university that does not give you a clear advantage, then the decision becomes more doubtful, and that should be taken into account. This is why people almost always decide to go ahead if the university is in the country’s Top 10, although I have seen Spanish people and people from other countries going to other universities in order to later make the jump back to their own country or to better universities.

The problem is not studying in the UK. The problem is studying in the UK without being clear about what exactly you are buying: reputation, employability, international experience, academic specialisation, access to London, a network of contacts, or simply a university brand. Nothing is black or white, but grey, and therefore you have to break down each element according to your own objectives. For me, it was worth it, but I think many of my acquaintances would not be interested.

Studying “in the UK” is not the same as studying in London

One thing that is often oversimplified is talking about “studying in the UK” as if all experiences were similar. They are not. Studying in London is not the same as studying on a more isolated university campus. London has an enormous concentration of companies, events, networking, culture, conferences, professional opportunities, and social life. It is probably one of the best places in Europe to be if your goal is to get closer to sectors such as finance, consulting, technology, politics, applied research, or start-ups.

But London is also much more expensive, more competitive, more spread out, and, sometimes, more lonely. Living there can mean spending a huge amount on rent, transport, and leisure. It can also make the university experience feel less like a “campus” experience and more like living in a big city while studying. We are talking about the fact that a “standard” year of living in London could cost you €25,000. Transport can cost €150 per month. Leisure is also quite expensive.

By contrast, studying on a campus or in a smaller university city can have clear advantages: more community, lower cost of living, more ease in making friends, more academic concentration, and a more intense student experience. But it can also have disadvantages: fewer events, fewer companies nearby, less direct professional exposure, and more dependence on the university having a good reputation or a good connection with London. In Coventry, the cost of living for me was less than €10,000 because I organised myself very well, and I spent more on other aspects that not everyone necessarily has to spend on; that was especially true in my case.

That is why the question should not only be “do I want to study in the UK?”, but “what kind of experience do I want?”. There is a huge difference between studying in London, studying near London, studying in a strong university city, or studying on a more disconnected campus. Universities such as Bristol, Manchester, or Edinburgh are in cities that are less international and less connected than London, but they offer a good trade-off. Others, such as Warwick or Durham, are more remote but have a very good reputation.

Studying at a top university or another one

Another problem is the obsession with university reputation. It is normal for it to matter, because if you are going to pay a lot of money, you want to go to a recognised university. In addition, in the UK, reputation can carry quite a lot of weight, especially in certain competitive sectors. It is not the same to be at a target or semi-target university for finance and consulting as it is to be at a university that the most selective employers barely know.

But you also have to be careful. Reputation is not everything. A university may have a good overall name, but may not be especially good in your field. Or it may be very good academically, but not have that much professional connection. Or it may be very well positioned in rankings, but not give you the environment you need. The opposite can also happen: a university may not be so internationally famous, but it may have a very strong department, good professors, good connections with companies, or a structure that fits you better. However, there are indeed universities that are not recognised as good either in the UK or in other countries, and those should be avoided because they are usually not worth it.

For example, Warwick is considered a target for STEM and for finance and economics, and Bristol is considered a target for certain areas as well, such as law or computer science. Oxbridge and Imperial are clear targets for STEM, while UAL can be a target for the world of art, fashion, etc. Many good universities are in London, but different universities are good in different areas, and there are universities that are very good in several things elsewhere in the UK. You have to do a bit of research to know which universities suit you and which do not.

The problem is that many people make decisions too quickly using only rankings, well-known names, or general prestige. And that can be dangerous. Reputation matters, but you have to ask: reputation for what? For research, for employability, for your sector, for your home country, for London, for doing a master’s, for doing a PhD, or for getting internships? A university that is “better” in the abstract is not always better for your specific case, although it can be a good decision.

The grading system can be frustrating

One of the hardest aspects to understand in the UK is the grading system. In theory, marks go from 0 to 100. In practice, they are not used as they are in Spain. Getting above 70 is usually a very good mark; getting above 80 can be excellent; and getting above 85 is quite rare in many fields and universities. However, your university degree only shows the classification: First Class/Distinction, Upper Second Class, etc. This means that, once you reach the threshold for a classification, there is less incentive to go further.

Although a good average can clearly always be used, it is true that many companies only require the classification, and it does not make as much sense to optimise the average mark further if with 71% you have the First Class/Distinction and you can use your time to do other activities. This, in turn, discourages students with a lower classification: if I am not such a good student and I get an Upper Second Class, there will not be that much difference for me between 66% and 68%, so I will not make as much effort to get more. And clearly, a student with a lower mark will only want to optimise the classification and not the mark itself.

Another aspect I mentioned before is that exams can be especially frustrating because of the time. They are not always difficult only because the exercises are difficult, but because there is too much to do in too little time. Sometimes it seems that the exam is not only measuring whether you know the material, but whether you can execute quickly, without freezing, without thinking too much, and without making mistakes under pressure. This does not suit everyone. There are students who prefer harder problems but with more time to think. Others adapt well to the pressure and to the British structure. But if you come from a system where longer development, slower problem-solving, or depth in specific problems is valued more, the British system can feel unfair or, at the very least, uncomfortable.

As an example, I have only finished one single exam in all my time in the UK. And that does not mean that I did not get more than 70 in the others, but clearly I could have got a higher mark if I had completed the exams.

Social life among students can be more complicated than it seems

From the outside, university life in the UK can seem very attractive: societies, events, campus, pubs, international people, activities, sports, associations, and many opportunities to meet people. And all of that exists. But social life can also be difficult.

First, because there are many differences between students. Differences in country, culture, religion, language, social class, personality, money, expectations, and way of living. Sharing a flat or residence can make these differences much more noticeable. What is normal for one person may be uncomfortable for another. What for one person is a logical way of living together may be disrespectful for another. And when you are far from home, that can be quite draining.

Second, the British social system is not always easy to understand. There are codes, ways of speaking, humour, accents, already-formed groups, and class differences that can be quite visible. Sometimes you can be surrounded by people and still feel out of place. That is why many students tend to stick to their own community, because it is easier that way. Although I do not recommend it, one can indeed get tired of having to avoid certain jokes, topics of conversation, or gestures when being with others. Or of having to adapt to certain ways of doing things that do not make much sense to you. Therefore, it is good to have your own community too, so you can be more “yourself”. But let nobody be mistaken: I think it is necessary to adapt to the ways of the country where you live, so you have to speak in English and try to adapt to how English people relate to each other. This helps more than one might think.

Third, because an international university can generate very intense but also very temporary relationships. Many people move, return to their country, change cities, do internships, graduate, or simply disappear from your life. This is part of the experience, but it can also make emotional stability more difficult.

Social differences are more noticeable

One of the things that can be most surprising is that social differences are quite visible.

Not necessarily because people talk about money directly, but because it can be seen in clothing, trips, plans, ways of speaking, personal confidence, schools attended, previous experiences, family connections, or the ease with which some people move through certain spaces.

This can be uncomfortable if you come from an environment where university feels, at least apparently, more equal. In the UK, you can meet people who have had enormous opportunities from a very young age: private schools, expensive extracurricular activities, international travel, family contacts, interview preparation, internships obtained through previous networks, or a social confidence that cannot be learned overnight.

That does not mean there are no brilliant or hard-working students. But it does make you see that merit does not operate in a vacuum. Many people arrive at university with a lot of accumulated advantage.

This can be negative if you experience it as constant comparison. You may feel that you are late, that you know less, that you do not understand the codes, or that others have an ease that you do not have. But it can also be useful if you interpret it differently: as an opportunity to understand how elites, networks, and certain social structures work, structures that perhaps you used to see only from afar.

Figure 1. Problematic or less visible aspects of studying in the UK: location, social life, university reputation, grading system, and professional opportunities.

Networking

Another thing that needs to be qualified is networking. In the UK there are many events, talks, societies, company visits, careers fairs, and opportunities to speak with professionals. This is very positive. But you also have to understand that, in many large companies, speaking to someone does not mean that you are going to have a real advantage in the process.

The processes are usually highly standardised: application form, online tests, CV screening, interviews, assessment centres, etc. In large companies, especially in competitive sectors, there may be thousands of candidates. That is why, even if you go to events, speak to employees, or ask interesting questions, very often this does not translate directly into an offer.

This can disappoint those who imagine that networking means “I know someone and they open the door for me”. In the UK, at least in large companies, it does not usually work like that. It helps you understand the sector better, prepare applications, know what they are looking for, learn the right language, and discover opportunities. But it does not always give you a direct advantage.

Where it can work much better is in small companies, start-ups, specific projects, research groups, or less formalised environments. There, a conversation can have more impact. Therefore, the problem is not that networking does not work. It does, but you have to know what it is useful for and not idealise it.

Internships and graduate jobs

One of the great promises of studying in the UK is employability. And there are indeed many opportunities. But there is also a huge amount of competition. Internships and graduate jobs in good companies are long, demanding, and sometimes quite impersonal processes. You may go through psychometric tests, numerical tests, recorded interviews, technical interviews, group exercises, and assessment centres. And even then, you may be rejected without knowing exactly why.

In addition, where you are studying and where you are applying from matters quite a lot. It is not the same to be physically in the UK, understanding the application calendar, going to events, speaking with students in higher years, and having access to career services, as applying from abroad without really knowing how the system works. Living in the UK gives you a certain advantage simply because you are inside the ecosystem: you hear about things earlier, understand the processes better, and can react more quickly.

The reputation of the university also matters. In some sectors, especially finance, consulting, technology, or certain competitive graduate schemes, it is not the same to be at a target or semi-target university as it is not to be. This does not mean that it is impossible to get good opportunities from a less well-known university, but the path can be more difficult. Large companies receive thousands of applications, and very often they use quite strong filters: university, grades, previous experience, tests, fit, visa, etc. Being at a university with a good reputation or with good connections to companies does not guarantee you anything, but it can mean that they look at you earlier, that you have more events on campus, more alumni inside those companies, and more information about how to apply.

For international students, this can be even more complicated because of the visa issue. Some companies do not sponsor. Others sponsor, but only for certain roles. Others do sponsor, but the competition is enormous. Also, if you do not understand the British calendar, you can be late: many applications open very early, sometimes almost at the beginning of the academic year.

This is one of the most important things someone should know before studying in the UK: it is not enough to arrive, get good grades, and wait. You have to move early. You have to understand the processes. You have to prepare CVs, cover letters, tests, interviews, and networking from the beginning. And if you are at a university that is not a target for your sector, even more so: you will have to compensate with experience, projects, good grades, real networking, and much more strategic applications.

Conclusion

Studying in the UK can be a very good experience, but it is not a simple decision. It has clear advantages, but also real problems: high cost, academic pressure, a strange grading system, labour-market competition, social differences, complicated social life, bureaucracy, distance from family, and a constant expectation that you have to make the most of everything.

For some people, all of this is worth it. For others, perhaps not. I think the key is not to romanticise the experience. It depends on the university, the city, the area of study, your objectives, your financial situation, your tolerance for uncertainty, and what you expect to achieve.

If you want a cheaper, more stable, more guided, or more academically focused experience, there may be better options. If you want international exposure, professional opportunities, autonomy, pressure, ambition, and a highly connected ecosystem, the UK can be a great option.

But you have to go in knowing what there is. Because studying in the UK is not just about studying at a good university: it is about paying a lot, competing a lot, adapting a lot, and quickly learning how a system works that can give you many opportunities, but that gives you almost nothing for free.