Explore Courses

US vs UK for Master’s: A Look at Differences and Similarities

Updated on 04 March, 2024

Shivangi Mishra

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

Read More:

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. 

More Resources:

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. 

Did you find this article helpful?

Shivangi Mishra

Sr. Content Editor

She is an experienced writer and journalist who has extensively covered the education sector in India and Abroad. Now helping Indian aspirants realise their foreign education dream by providing them with relevant content and information through upGrad Abroad. Amateur traveller, loves to read Architectural Digest!

See More

Exams to Study Abroad

IELTS ExamGRE ExamGMAT ExamTOEFL ExamSAT Exam

Top Study Abroad Destinations

USAGermanyUKCanadaAustralia

Important Resources

Statement of PurposeWhat is SGPABest Education System in the WorldBest Flying School in the WorldVidya Lakshmi PortalCanada vs IndiaStem Courses in USAMBA from AbroadErasmus Mundus ScholarshipGuide to Settle in EuropeCanada Free Courses

Free Study Abroad Counselling

Verify Your Number for a Free Session with Experts !

+91

By submitting this form, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Refer Your Friend & Earn upto ₹40000

Help your friend upgrade to a Global Career and earn rewards together.

Similar Articles

upGrad
Study Abroad Important Blogs