A diploma course in UK is one of the most popular degrees among overseas students. This is because it allows students to enter the workforce quickly while still earning a globally recognized degree.
Furthermore, individuals have the option of selecting from a variety of disciplines. A diploma in UK can be of various types, such as on-campus, online, short-term, and full-time. Students and aspiring professionals can select any curriculum that meets their requirements and expect to reap significant career benefits.
Moreover, most of the diploma courses in the UK after 12th are far more affordable, and in some cases, free. Hence, diplomas are a cost-effective alternative to a full-fledged degree.
Several universities offer diploma courses in the UK after 12th. Thus, there are hundreds of options that students can choose from. Some of the most reputed universities that offer cheap diploma courses in UK for international students include:
University Name
Course Name
Course Duration
Tuition Fees**
QS World University Ranking 2023*
Leeds University
Sustainability in Transport
Part-time: 24 months
Full-time: 9 months
GBP 27,750
86
University of Oxford
Creative Writing
Part-time: 24 months
GBP 5,650
4
History of Art
Part-time: 24 months
GBP 5,650
4
Royal College of Art
Art & Design Graduate Diploma
30 weeks
GBP 20,200
1 (for Art & Design)
London Film Academy
Filmmaking Diploma
12 months
GBP 23,000
N/A
International Career Institute
Hospital Management
Diploma: 24 weeks
Advanced Diploma: 31 weeks
Diploma: USD 1199
Advanced Diploma: USD 1599
N/A
National Design Academy
Professional Interior Design Diploma
8 – 10 months
USD 1850 (GBP 1534)
N/A
Professional Soft Furnishings & Curtain Making
9 -12 months
USD 1850 (GBP 1534)
N/A
General Admission Requirements for Diploma Courses
Admission requirements for a diploma course in UK vary between institutions and courses. However, some of the basic prerequisites remain consistent across all universities. These requirements are:
Most diploma degrees in the UK require 3 to 4-year undergraduate degrees with a minimum of 60 to 75%.
Anyone applying to management or science diploma courses needs to take the GRE examination.
Students need to prove English-language proficiency in the form of PTE, TOEFL or IELTS scores.
Application deadline
Owing to the flexibility of diploma courses in the UK after 12th for international students, there are no blanket application deadlines. Most deadlines differ according to the institution and the course that one has opted for.
However, applicants can check the official university website for the application deadlines associated with the course of their liking and plan accordingly.
Scholarships to pursue Diploma courses from the UK
Scholarships are usually quite rare for diploma courses in the UK, given that they are already quite inexpensive. Nevertheless, many institutions offer grants and financial aid that individuals can use to fund their education.
Some of these scholarships are:
Executive Diploma Scholarships For Women
Race To Zero Youth Fellowship
Commonwealth Scholarships
GREAT Scholarships
In addition to this, many diplomas are also completely free of cost so the student only has to cover their living expenses. This makes pursuing a diploma even more inexpensive while offering the advantages of upskilling.
Career Prospects with Salary
There are various career prospects after acquiring a diploma in the UK. One may have to start with smaller roles, but the prospects are endless. Moreover, they allow an individual to climb up the ladder into more substantial decision-making roles.
Software Developer: GBP 31,786
Journalist: GBP 25,701
Aircraft Pilot: GBP 37,982
Health Services: GBP 24,925
Public Health Managers: GBP 53,416
Marketing and Sales Director: GBP 30,287
Financial Managers: GBP 58,727
IT and Telecommunication Directors: GBP 33,573
Advertising manager: GBP 40,757
PR Directors: GBP 82,877
Real Estate Agent: GBP 26,612
Source: Payscale
Disclaimer! All course fees and salaries are approximate amounts subject to change depending on various conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the minimum percentage that an individual should score to receive admission into a diploma course in UK?
Applicants must have a minimum of 60 to 75% of the total score to secure admission into a diploma course in UK.
What is the average cost of pursuing a diploma course in UK?
Most courses are paid with few scholarship opportunities. However, there are a few diploma courses in UK available at no tuition fee. On average, a student can expect to spend between EUR 2000 and EUR 25000 for a 12 to the 24-month diploma course.
What are some of the journalism diploma courses offered by universities in the UK?
The International Career Institute and the Birkbeck, University of London are the only two institutes in the UK that offer diploma courses in Journalism.
Neha Uppal is a passionate content creator and editor. She carries 7.5+ years of experience working with leading edutech companies where she worked as a Faculty, Community Manager, and Content Marketeer. At upGrad, she is helping out people keep informed about the scopes and opportunities of studying abroad via informational articles/blogs.