Country comparison
🇬🇧 United Kingdom vs 🇺🇸 USA
The facts below come from each country's verified guide, cited to the government or university body that sets them, and from our catalogue of programmes read directly from official university websites. No ranking, no commissions: the right answer depends on your subject, budget and marks, and the two guides carry the full detail.
United Kingdom
Post-study work visa
- Visa type
- Student visa (points-based)
- Visa fee
- £558 (from outside the UK, 2026)
- Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
- £776 per year of the visa, paid upfront
- Proof of funds (maintenance)
- £1,529/month London · £1,171/month outside London
- English requirement
- CEFR B2 (degree level) via an approved SELT, or university assessment
- University admission (typical), separate & usually HIGHER
- IELTS Academic ~6.0 to 6.5 undergrad, ~6.5 to 7.0 postgrad (per program, up to 7.5 at Oxbridge/Imperial-tier)
- TB test certificate
- Mandatory for applicants from India on courses of 6+ months
- Work while studying
- Up to 20 hrs/week in term (degree-level, most sponsors)
- Graduate Route (post-study work)
- 2 years (Bachelors/Masters) if you apply by 31 Dec 2026 → 18 months from 1 Jan 2027
- ID document
- Digital eVisa (no physical BRP for new applicants)
In our catalogue: 9,567 programmes at 169 universities, at least 9,544 taught in English. Facts last verified 2026-07-04.
USA
World's largest job market
- Tuition (typical range)
- US$20,000 to 60,000/year (2026)
- Proof of funds
- Bank/sponsor evidence covering 1 year of the I-20 cost of attendance
- Main intakes
- Fall (Aug/Sep) & Spring (Jan)
- Work while studying
- On-campus only, ≤20 hrs/week in term
- After graduation
- OPT (12 months) → STEM OPT +24 months (STEM degrees only) → H-1B
- Visa type
- F-1 student visa (non-immigrant)
In our catalogue: 56,708 programmes at 791 universities, at least 56,691 taught in English. Facts last verified 2026-07-04.
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Common questions
How many study programmes do United Kingdom and USA offer?
Our verified catalogue holds 9,567 programmes at 169 universities in United Kingdom, and 56,708 programmes at 791 universities in USA, every one linked to its official university page.
Which has more English-taught programmes, United Kingdom or USA?
USA, on our data: at least 56,691 English-taught programmes versus 9,544 in United Kingdom, per the language each university publishes. Coverage differs by country, so treat these as floors.
Where do I see the full requirements for each?
Each country has a full guide covering admission, tests, application, visa, money, arrival and stay-back, with every figure cited to the official source that sets it: see the Study in United Kingdom and Study in USA guides.
Let your numbers decide
A free eligibility check scores United Kingdom, USA and 11 more countries against your marks, budget and test scores, and shows the programmes actually open to you in each.
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Bramica is independent and takes no commission from any university, recruiter or agency. Figures change; confirm anything you act on at the official source linked from each guide.