US vs UK for Master’s: A Look at Differences and Similarities
Updated on 04 March, 2024
Shivangi Mishra
Sr. Content Editor
)Pursuing a master's degree can improve your knowledge & skills, get high-paying job opportunities, and help you make great connections while upskilling your career. The US and UK are leading destinations for people who want to pursue higher education. Are you contemplating the US vs UK for a master’s? Let's learn more about top universities in the US and UK, eligibility criteria, cost of living, and more.
US vs UK: Higher Education Highlights
| US | UK | |
| Total number of universities | 3982 | 166 |
| Number of universities in QS ranking | 350+ | 90 |
| Popular intake | September Intake/Fall Intake | September Intake/Fall Intake and January Intake/Winter Intake |
| Best student cities | Boston, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, San Diego, and Baltimore. | London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Coventry, Brighton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Nottingham, and Aberdeen. |
| Biggest sectors by revenue | Drug, cosmetic & toiletry wholesaling, health & medical insurance, commercial banking, pharmaceuticals wholesaling, hospitals, public schools, new car dealers, life insurance & annuities, retirement & pension plans, and gasoline & petroleum wholesaling. | Supermarkets, construction contractors, banks, pension funding, hospitals, residential building construction, fuel wholesaling, new car and light motor vehicle dealers, general insurance, and management consultants. |
| Part-time working hours | 20 hours a week | 20 hours a week |
| Post-study work visa hours | 40 hours a week | 48 hours a week |
MS in UK vs MS in US: Top Universities
Here is the list of the top universities for MS in UK vs MS in US. We have picked the top 5 universities from the US and UK based on the 2024 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Ranking.
| University | Location | 2024 QS World University rank | Academic score |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | Cambridge, United States | 1 | 100 |
| University of Cambridge | Cambridge, United Kingdom | 2 | 99.2 |
| University of Oxford | Oxford, United Kingdom | 3 | 98.9 |
| Harvard University | Cambridge, United States | 4 | 98.3 |
| Stanford University | Stanford, United States | 5 | 98.1 |
| Imperial College London | London, United Kingdom | 6 | 97.8 |
| UCL | London, United Kingdom | 9 | 92.4 |
| University of California, Berkeley (UCB) | Berkeley, United States | 10 | 90.4 |
| University of Chicago | Chicago, United States | 11 | 90.3 |
| The University of Edinburgh | Edinburgh, United Kingdom | 22 | 86.1 |
Eligibility Criteria for MS in US and UK
If you want to study MS in the US, you need to satisfy the following eligibility criteria. The requirements include:
- You should possess a relevant bachelor's degree with at least 3-4 years of academic courses.
- You must secure an average GPA of 3.0 (or 65 to 70% and above) in a bachelor's degree
- You must show proof of your English-language Proficiency test (IELTS score should be above 6.5)
- You should have 290 or above GRE score
- You should submit 2 or 3 letters of recommendation
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
Planning to study MS in the UK? Then, the first thing you need to check is the eligibility criteria, which are listed below:
- You should hold a 2:1 or 2:2 bachelor’s degree that is relevant to the MS course you want to apply for
- Your grade must be around 75% for 2:1 course and about 60% for 2:2 course
- You need to pass English language proficiency tests like IELTS and TOEFL
- You should acquire good GMAT and GRE scores.
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
Post-Study Requirements: US vs UK
International students studying in the US have an F1 visa, which can be used to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows students to work for 12 months after completing their master's degree. If you have already received a job with a US-based company, you can apply for an H-1B visa. The H-1B visa is valid for 3 years, and you can renew it for 6 years.
After completing your studies, you need to apply for a post-study or graduate visa to work in the UK legally. The graduate visa is valid for 2 years and can not be renewed. However, you can apply for a skilled worker visa after the time period of the graduate visa is over.
Jobs
When considering US vs UK for masters, it is important to think about the job prospects and potential salaries. Below is a brief overview of the career opportunities and average annual salaries in the US and UK.
| Job role | Average annual salary in US | Average annual salary in UK |
| Data scientist | USD 99,842 | GBP 41,482 |
| Software developer | USD 77,913 | GBP 32,666 |
| Business analyst | USD 74,153 | GBP 39,225 |
| Psychotherapist | USD 63,389 | GBP 35,045 |
| Cyber security engineer | USD 101,584 | GBP 42,173 |
| Design architect | USD 69,000 | GBP 37,075 |
| Stockbroker | USD 70,016 | GBP 39,306 |
| Financial analyst | USD 66,486 | GBP 34,444 |
| Biotechnologist | USD 62,410 | GBP 28,000 |
| HR manager | USD 73,540 | GBP 37,997 |
| Curriculum developer | USD 71,395 | GBP 31,447 |
| Social media manager | USD 57,126 | GBP 26,162 |
*As per Payscale
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Cost Of Living: UK vs US
Comparing the cost of living in the UK and the US can help you determine whether you should study master's in the US or the UK. This is because understanding the cost of living can break down the budget you need for accommodation, food, transportation, internet, and other expenses.
| Parameter | Average Cost in the US | Average Cost in the UK |
| Accommodation | USD 1054 | GBP 613 to 1799 |
| Groceries | USD 438 | GBP 206 |
| Utility bills | USD 328 | GBP 155 to 247 |
London, Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Milton Keynes, Reading, Bath, and Portsmouth are some of the cities in the UK with a higher cost of living. Whereas, cities like Derby, Liverpool, Newcastle, Birmingham, Exeter, Sheffield, Belfast, Southampton, and Cardiff have a relatively lower cost of living.
Cities with the highest cost of living in the US are San Francisco, Honolulu, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Seattle, Boston, Los Angeles, San Jose, Santa Rosa, Miami, Salinas, San Juan, New York, and Fairfield. In the US, Hickory, Youngstown, Fort Wayne, Huntington, Green Bay, Beaumont, Huntsville, and Peoria are the cities with a lower cost of living.
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FAQs
How long is the course in the US vs UK for masters?
In the UK, the duration of a master’s degree is usually 9 months to 1 year. In the US, the duration of a master's degree is 1.5 to 2 years. However, some courses are 3 to 5 years long.
What is the tuition fee for masters in US vs UK?
The tuition fees for a master's degree in the UK and US vary depending on the course and university. For example, the tuition fee for the Master of Finance course offered by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is USD 87,600, while the tuition fee for the Master of Finance course offered by the University of Cambridge is GBP 55,080.
Which is more expensive: a master’s in US vs UK?
In general, a master’s degree in the US is relatively more expensive than in the UK because of the higher cost of living and the high tuition fees. Though the US and the UK have standard visa processes, the visa application and requirements are more strict in the US, making the UK a better choice for many students.
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