US student wants to study in London: How does it work?

I'm a high school junior in the US and I'm fascinated by the idea of studying in London for college. What are the requirements or steps for a U.S. student to study in London, particularly for a full degree?

Studying in London can be an exciting choice and there are several steps and requirements to consider as a U.S. high school student interested in pursuing a full degree in the UK.

1. Choose your course and university: A pre-requisite to studying in London, or anywhere in the UK, is to first choose what course (major) you'd like to study. A key difference between US and UK colleges is that the UK system requires you to select your major at the time of application. You can use the UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) website to search for courses and universities.

2. Understand the requirements: Each university and course will have specific entry requirements. These often include GPA, SAT/ACT scores, AP courses and grades, and the course-specific requirements. UK universities usually specify their entry requirements in terms of US GPA and/or specific AP course grades.

3. Prepare and submit your application: Applications to UK universities are submitted through the UCAS platform. It includes your personal details, course choices, educational history and a personal statement, which is a crucial aspect of your application. You'll have to speak about your reasons for choosing the chosen course, what makes you a good fit, and any relevant experiences or skills. You can apply to up to 5 courses on one application.

4. Provide references and pay fees: A significant part of your application will be getting an academic reference, typically from a teacher or counselor who can attest to your capabilities and passion for your chosen course. You’ll also need to pay a small application fee when submitting your UCAS application.

5. Wait for offers: Universities will review your application and then provide conditional or unconditional offers, or regrettably, may decline your application. A conditional offer means that the college will accept you, provided you meet certain conditions, usually related to your upcoming exam results. An unconditional offer means you’ve secured a spot regardless of your exam results.

6. Decide on your firm and insurance choices: Once you receive your offers, you'll be asked to choose a 'firm' (first) choice and an 'insurance' (second) choice. Your ‘firm’ choice is your preferred university and course. The 'insurance' choice is a back-up, generally having lower entry requirements.

7. Visa application: Once you’ve firmly accepted an unconditional offer, and after your high school graduation, you’ll need to apply for a Tier 4 (General) student visa. This process includes proving your knowledge of English and showing you have sufficient funds to support yourself.

8. Pre-departure planning: This step includes confirming your accommodation, planning for health insurance (the UK requires that international students get the InterNational Health Service insurance), and buying your flight tickets!

Remember to start this process early. The UCAS application cycle typically starts about a year in advance of your intended start date (September for a start date of the following year). Specific deadlines can be found on the UCAS website. Good luck!