🇺🇸 USA vs UK 🇬🇧 for Indian Students
USA or UK for an Indian student? Funds to show in rupees, visa fees, work hours, post-study work after a 1-year or 2-year master's, and the route to PR, side by side.
The short answer
The USA offers the strongest STEM careers, with up to 3 years of OPT, but H-1B is a wage-weighted lottery and green card queues for Indians run to decades; the UK is quicker and cheaper overall, with 18 months of post-study work from 2027.
Side by side
| 🇺🇸 USA | 🇬🇧 UK | |
|---|---|---|
| First-year money needed: tuition + living + travel funds (example) | $53,000 ≈ ₹50.5 lakh | £36,539 ≈ ₹46.3 lakh |
| Example tuition | $35,000 a year (example: a public university for out-of-state students) | £26,000 a year (example: a one-year taught master's) |
| Visa fee | $185 + $350 SEVIS (+$250 integrity fee where collected) | £558 + £776 a year health surcharge |
| Work while studying | 20 hours a week in term; full-time in breaks | 20 hours a week in term; full-time in breaks |
| Typical pay | $15 an hour (example on-campus wage; the federal minimum is $7.25 and many states and universities pay more) | £12.71 an hour (National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over from 1 April 2026) |
| Post-study work after a 1-year master's | 1 year | 1 year 6 months |
| Post-study work after a 2-year master's | 1 year | 1 year 6 months |
| English test | Many accept Duolingo or waivers; no test for the visa | Some universities accept Class 12 English or their own assessment |
| Medical | None for the visa | TB test certificate |
| Route to permanent residence | OPT → wage-weighted H-1B lottery → green card (decades-long EB-2/EB-3 queue for Indians) | Graduate route → Skilled Worker → settlement (10-year baseline from 2027 under Earned Settlement; 5 years above £50,270) |
First-year money is example tuition plus the official living-cost funds (and travel money where required); the UK uses the outside-London rate, which rises to £1,203 a month for applications from 30 November 2026. Rupee values at approximate 29 October 2026 rates. Post-study work assumes an Indian graduate of a coursework master's applying in 2027.
Choose the USA if…
- You are in a STEM field and want up to 3 years of OPT
- You aim for top global tech and research employers
- You can fund a 2-year master's
Choose the UK if…
- You want a 1-year master's and lower total cost
- You want a simpler post-study route without a lottery
- You are not in STEM
Work out your own numbers
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the USA or the UK better for Indian students?
The USA offers the strongest STEM careers, with up to 3 years of OPT, but H-1B is a wage-weighted lottery and green card queues for Indians run to decades; the UK is quicker and cheaper overall, with 18 months of post-study work from 2027.
Which is cheaper, the USA or the UK?
On our example courses, the UK needs less money in the first year (tuition plus the living-cost funds you must show): USA about ₹50.5 lakh and UK about ₹46.3 lakh at 29 October 2026 rates. Your own tuition changes this.
How long can I stay to find a job after a master's in the USA or the UK?
After a 1-year master's: USA 1 year, UK 1 year 6 months. After a 2-year master's: USA 1 year, UK 1 year 6 months (Indian graduate, applying in 2027).
How many hours can students work in the USA and the UK?
USA: 20 hours a week in term; full-time in breaks. UK: 20 hours a week in term; full-time in breaks.
Sources
Figures on this page were checked against these sources on 3 November 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official site before you apply.