Think twice before coming to the UK, you might end up wasting your money, time, and energy, says PhD student

LONDON March 18: An Indian student pursuing a PhD in Computer Science in the UK has shared a cautionary tale for prospective international students, highlighting the financial, physical, and mental challenges faced by many who come to the UK for higher education. In a detailed Reddit post, the student urged students to think twice before deciding to study in the UK, citing potential risks and downsides.

“If you’re considering coming here, please think twice—you might end up wasting your money, time, and energy,” the student wrote. They described the difficulties of securing stable employment, maintaining a decent quality of life, and addressing the return on investment of a UK Master’s degree.

According to the student, many international students are forced into part-time jobs that barely cover living expenses, leading to immense stress. They shared instances of friends who completed their Master’s degrees, extended their post-study visas, but ultimately returned to India due to an inability to cope with the challenges.

The student also mentioned various factors impacting well-being, such as high housing costs, unpredictable work hours, poor food quality, and even racism. The recent tragic stabbing of an Indian student in the 2024 Southport Incident was cited as an example of the risks faced by international students.

The Redditor questioned the value of a UK Master’s degree compared to equivalent degrees in India or the US. They criticized the academic structure of UK Master’s programs, claiming they rely heavily on take-home assignments rather than rigorous coursework.

The student further alleged that universities turn a blind eye to widespread assignment outsourcing to prioritize fee collection over academic integrity. “Everyone knows—students, immigration officers, universities, employers—but no one says it out loud,” they asserted.

UK Is a Trap for International Students – My Personal Experience
byu/Due-Somewhere-1608 inIndians_StudyAbroad

The post concluded with a statistic claiming that 99% of the student’s friends returned to India after completing their Master’s degrees or after their post-study work visas.

The candid warning has sparked discussions among international students, with many sharing their experiences and opinions on the matter. Some users agreed that a UK education may be worth it for those who receive scholarships or pursue PhD programs but acknowledged the difficulties faced by others in the job market.

The student concluded their warning with a sobering statistic: “99% of my friends have returned to India after completing their MSc or after MSc + PSW (post-study work visa).”

Their post has sparked widespread discussion, with many international students sharing similar experiences. “All students who come to UK or US work as restaurant/shop/stores / petrol pump labourers to survive. They have very little time to upskill or do projects that can get them job if their resume is seen at all among 1,000 other applicants,” a user shared.

“A UK education is worth it if you get a scholarship (as is the case for many PhD students) and don’t need to spend your own money. UK PhDs are time limited (unlike the US where they can go on forever) which is a definite plus. In depth, the UK PhD system is better than the US but it lacks in breadth (as there is no “quals”). The job market on the other hand is quite bad. But a good PhD (unlike a masters) is globally transferable, so you can take it to another country. I actually know many people with high quality PhDs from INDIA who now have tenured positions in Ivy League institutions in the US,” another user explained.