Masters in the UK | IDP Vietnam

Studying for a Master's degree in the UK is becoming a strategic choice for many Vietnamese students due to its short one-year duration, optimizing costs and shortening the path to an international career. Besides its long-standing and globally renowned education system, the UK also allows students to stay and work for up to two years after graduation under the Graduate Route, providing a significant advantage in terms of experience and income.

So, how long does it take to complete a Master's degree in the UK? What are the actual costs? What are some notable scholarships? This article from IDP Study Abroad will provide all the updated information and important notes to help you prepare your application effectively.

When it comes to countries to study abroad, the UK is always considered an ideal destination for students studying for a Master's degree in the UK. Here are 5 reasons why studying in the UK for a Master's degree is the first choice for those who wish to improve their qualifications and expand their international career opportunities.

1.1 Short study period

When studying for a Master's degree in the UK, you only need about 1 year to complete the program, much shorter than the time of 2 years or more in countries such as the US, Australia or Canada. This saves costs and quickly returns to the labor market

1.2 High-quality training programs

Universities in the UK always focus on updating new trends in teaching methods, so the quality of training is always highly appreciated. A special feature is that schools regularly cross-accredit to jointly improve the quality of training, ensuring that students receive the best education.

1.3 Globally recognized qualifications

The UK is home to some of the world's oldest and most prestigious universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol, Edinburgh, Southampton,... Therefore, the degree received when studying a Master's degree in the UK is highly valuable, widely recognized globally and opens up many attractive career opportunities after graduation.

1 .4 Opportunities to study while working and stay after graduation

Master's students in the UK are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during their studies and full-time on holidays. This helps you both cover part of your living expenses and gain practical experience.

After graduation, international students can stay in the UK for 2 years under the Graduate Route (3 years for PhD). This is an important opportunity for you to gain international work experience, expand your professional network and increase your global competitive advantage.

1.5 Most programs do not require work experience

Unlike some countries that require applicants to have work experience before postgraduate study, the majority of MSc or MA Master's programmes in the UK do not require this requirement.

However, programs such as MBA or some specialized management and finance disciplines may still require 2–3 years of experience. Therefore, you should double-check the entry requirements of each school before applying.

Each university will have different entry requirements but in general there will be certain similarities. More specifically, you can refer to the following 5 conditions for studying a Master's degree in the UK:

2.1. Educational requirements

To study a Master's degree in the UK, students need to meet some of the following basic requirements:

• English language proficiency: minimum IELTS 6.5 (some subjects may require 7.0).

• Bachelor's degree: Graduated with good – good, equivalent to UK Honours 2:1 or GPA of 7.0 or higher.

• Work experience: Most industries are not required, but programs such as MBA, Management, Engineering may give preference to applicants with 2–3 years of experience.

• Pre-Master's Course: For students who are not eligible for direct entry, requiring a GPA of 6.5 and IELTS 5.5 or higher

2.2 Financial conditions

When applying for a UK Master's student visa, students need to prove that they can afford tuition fees and living expenses for the first year of study according to UKVI regulations.

Living expenses to be proven (up to 9 months):

• London Area: £1,529/month

• Outside London: £1,171/month

The passbook must be maintained for a minimum of 28 days prior to the visa application. If the finances are in the name of the parents, it is necessary to supplement the letter of sponsorship and documents proving the relationship.

(Note: Financial regulations may change from year to year, so check for the latest updates before submitting your application.)

2.3. Conditions for studying abroad for a British Master's degree

To apply for a Master's degree in the UK, you need to prepare all the following documents:

1. Application for admission to a Master's program in the UK.

2. Transcripts and University diplomas (originals and notarized translations).

3. IELTS International English Certificate (most schools require a minimum IELTS 6.0–6.5).

4. Two letters of recommendation from a lecturer or employer, commenting on your academic capacity and work experience.

5. Statement of Purpose (SOP): presents your academic goals, reasons for choosing a major, school, and career orientation.

6. Research Proposal: if you are studying a Master of Studies program.

7. Proof of finances to prove your ability to pay tuition fees and living expenses during your studies.

2.4. Conditions for applying for a UK student visa

To be considered for a UK Master's student visa, you need to meet the following 3 mandatory conditions:

1. Have an offer letter (CAS) from an eligible course, sponsored by an educational institution that has a UK student sponsorship licence.

2. Meet the English language requirements set by the school and the UK government (usually IELTS 6.0 or higher).

3. Demonstrate financial ability to pay tuition fees and living expenses during your time in the UK.

Visa Submission and Processing Time

• It is recommended that you apply for a visa 3–6 months before the start date of your course.

• The average review time is about 3–4 weeks.

He has a lot of high and quality scholarship policies. What are the requirements to apply for a Master's scholarship in the UK? What are the common types of Master's scholarships? Let's refer to the article below!

3.1. Conditions for applying for a scholarship to study in the UK

To be able to apply for a scholarship to study in the UK, international students need to meet the requirements set by the Consulate as well as some specific requirements of the University:

1 - Your field of study is on the scholarship list

Not all majors are supported by scholarships from universities. Some strategic industries will be more invested and developed by the British government. You can find more information about scholarships on the university's website.

2 - Conditions for studying abroad for a Master's degree in the UK in terms of academic ability

In order to study a Master's degree at a UK university, you must have a minimum GPA of 7.0 and depending on the school, there will be different requirements for the IELTS score you need to achieve in order to enter there.

3 - Essay

In your essay, you need to show your abilities, skills, and your desire to learn. A good essay will help you increase your competitiveness, have the opportunity to take a step forward to the future Master's path. You can refer to the essays of your predecessors or participate in seminars and ask for opinions and advice from teachers.

4 - Letters of recommendation

Creating relationships and making a good impression on teachers is one of the easiest ways to get a letter of recommendation to study abroad for a Master's degree in the UK. These teachers will be the ones who write your letters of recommendation, so they need to better understand your desire and purpose for studying abroad. In addition, always keep contact information with the teacher so that you can immediately confirm the information when necessary.

3.2. Latest UK Masters Scholarships

In addition to scholarships from each university, Vietnamese students can refer to prestigious government scholarship programs such as:

Chevening Scholarship – full scholarship for candidates with leadership potential

Commonwealth Scholarship – supports students from Commonwealth countries

In addition, many universities in the UK offer scholarships automatically or based on academic merit, such as:

Hurry up and apply to hunt for the best scholarships!

In addition, you can refer to other scholarships to study Masters in the UK through the following article: Scholarships to study in the UK.

Students are free to choose their major when studying abroad for a Master's degree in the UK. So what majors do you have? or how is the Master's training program here? Let's find out!

4.1. Master's degrees in the UK

Master's degrees in the UK are diverse, specifically as follows:

• Tourism and Restaurant and Hotel Services: Learn how to manage and organize the operation of tourist and hotel accommodation establishments

• Education and Training: Develop and learn more knowledge for yourself as well as know how to convey that knowledge to learners.

• Computer Science and Information Technology: Learn and be exposed to technological creations and innovations.

• Social Sciences and Communication: Understand more about human interaction in society through film and mass media.

• Applied Science and Science: Develop scientific thinking ability, mathematical skills and problem-solving approaches and methods.

• Business and Management: Understand the implementation of business process management behaviors to maintain and develop the business of the enterprise.

• Engineering: Application, bringing science disciplines into practical work.

• Creative Arts and Design: Develop your own capacity and creativity through practical exercises.

• Medical and health: Cultivate knowledge and skills for the treatment, diagnosis and assessment of patients' health.

4.2. 2 Master's programs in the UK

Currently, students studying abroad for a Master's degree in the UK can choose to study 1 of the following 2 Master's training programs:

1 - Academic Master:

• Degrees include: Master of Art (MA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Engineering (MEng), and Master of Science (MSc).

• Study time: about 1 – 2 years.

• Students will be assessed through tests, essays or projects.

2 - Master of Research:

• Degrees include: Master of Research (Mres) and Master of Philosophy (MPhil)

• Duration: 2 years.

Students complete and defend their graduation thesis.

The fee to pay for a Master's degree in the UK per student is estimated to range from £29,000 to £45,000 per year. You can follow the article below for more information about the fees to be paid.

5.1. Tuition Fees for Master's Studies in the UK

1 - Tuition fees for Master of Science

2 - Tuition fees for Master of Arts

3 - Tuition fees for a UK Master's degree in Economics

5.2. Living expenses when studying abroad in the UK

You can refer to the following article: How much money does it cost to study in the UK?

The UK is one of the largest and developed economies in Europe, with a high demand for high-quality human resources in fields such as technology, finance, engineering and healthcare.

Thanks to the Graduate Route policy, international students can stay and work for 2 years after completing their Master's degree. This helps you gain international experience and improve your income level before returning to Vietnam or continuing your career development in the UK.

The average salary of some of the following industries after you complete a Master's degree in the UK:

When considering studying abroad for a master's degree in the UK, besides the question of how long does it take to study a master's degree in the UK or how much money is needed to study a master's degree in the UK, the prospect of income after graduation is also an important factor to help students make appropriate investment decisions.

The British education system has long been known for its top-quality teaching, modern learning environment, and globally recognized degrees. The UK is also an ideal destination for Vietnamese students wishing to pursue a Master's degree in just one year, with attractive job and settlement opportunities. Below are the top universities offering Master's programs that are popular choices among Vietnamese students.

Perhaps you are wondering and have many questions about your upcoming trip to study abroad for a Master's degree in the UK. Understanding your worries, here are some useful experiences of studying for a Master's degree in the UK that you can refer to before you go:

• Don't carry too much cash; Instead, you can bring some hometown food and spices to ease homesickness.

• Bring just enough clothes, because the UK is one of the world's leading fashion capitals, you can buy a lot of beautiful clothes here.

• Double-check your luggage and remove items that are not allowed to be brought while studying abroad.

• Find a home as soon as possible, as soon as you have chosen a school to have a good place to live, close to the school and save money.

• Get to know the Vietnamese student association or the Vietnamese association in the UK, as they will help you a lot in the beginning of your study abroad.

Accompanying IDP on your journey to study for a Master's degree in the UK

Above is all the important information about studying for a Master's degree in the UK – from study time, cost, entry conditions to job opportunities after graduation. Hopefully, the article has helped you have a clearer view before making an investment decision for your study journey in the UK.

To stay up to date with the latest information on scholarships, visa routes, and admissions policies 2026, you can attend IDP study abroad events and seminars organized by IDP Education . Here, you will have the opportunity to:

• Face-to-face meeting with representatives of universities in the UK

• Apply and study path advice on the spot

• Updated scholarships to study in the UK(up to 100% of tuition fees depending on the school and merit)

• Get a free 1:1 consultation with an experienced specialist

In addition, IDP also provides comprehensive support throughout the preparation process of studying abroad for a master's degree, including:

• Consulting on choosing a major – choosing a school that suits your capacity and budget

• Instructions for preparing documents, writing Personal Statements

• Assistance in applying for an offer letter

• Visa Process Guide and Pre-Flight Preparation

If you are still wondering how much money is needed to study for a master's degree in the UK, which major or school to choose that suits your career goals, don't hesitate to contact the hotline 1900 6955 for free advice and quick support.