United Kingdom sources
The official sources and calculation rules behind the United Kingdom country page. Values remain in pounds sterling and are removed from display when published evidence cannot be read or is no longer verified.
Salary range
Office for National Statistics and CampCareer
- Method
- The country card calculates the first quartile, median and third quartile across 363 occupation-level median annual pay values in the United Kingdom occupation dataset. The displayed range is GBP 27,609–41,869 and the ranking value is GBP 34,250.
- Coverage and limits
- A distribution of occupation medians, not a distribution of individual workers. The underlying ASHE estimates are provisional and occupation-level annual pay can reflect occupation-specific working patterns.
National annual earnings benchmark
Office for National Statistics
- Method
- The calculation dataset stores GBP 39,039 as the national median gross annual earnings for full-time employees who had been in their jobs for at least one year.
- Coverage and limits
- This is a national employee benchmark, not graduate starting pay or a mean salary. Self-employed workers are outside the ASHE employee sample.
Student living-cost requirement
UK Visas and Immigration
- Method
- The monthly range uses the current Student visa maintenance requirements: GBP 1,171 outside London and GBP 1,529 in London. The midpoint is used only for country comparison.
- Coverage and limits
- One student for up to nine months. Course fees are excluded. These are immigration financial-evidence thresholds, not market-price averages or a guarantee that the amount will cover every student’s actual costs.
International undergraduate tuition
British Council — Study UK
- Method
- The calculation dataset stores the published international undergraduate tuition range of GBP 11,400–38,000 per year.
- Coverage and limits
- A broad national planning range. Medicine, laboratory-intensive courses and individual institutions may charge outside the typical range, and the provider’s current course page remains the final source.
Minimum hourly wage
UK Government and Low Pay Commission
- Method
- The calculation dataset stores GBP 12.71 per hour, the National Living Wage rate for workers aged 21 and over from 1 April 2026.
- Coverage and limits
- Younger workers and eligible apprentices have separate statutory rates. A student’s actual wage can be higher and depends on the role and employer.
Academic year
British Council — Study UK
- Method
- The country page summarises the standard September or October to June or July academic year and notes that selected courses offer January or other flexible starts.
- Coverage and limits
- National overview only. Institution and course pages remain the final source for exact term and intake dates.
Strong fields and work opportunities
Skills England
- Method
- Broad study fields are shown where related occupations carry critical or elevated demand signals, or appear in priority sectors with substantial projected workforce growth.
- Coverage and limits
- Demand classifications measure recruitment demand, not guaranteed shortages, salaries, visa eligibility or individual employment outcomes.
Student visa fee and work limit
UK Home Office
- Method
- The calculation dataset stores a GBP 558 Student visa application fee and a 20-hour weekly term-time work limit for eligible full-time degree-level students at qualifying providers.
- Coverage and limits
- Work permission depends on course level, sponsor type and visa conditions. Below-degree study can have a lower limit, and some students have no work permission.
Universities and colleges
Universities UK and Association of Colleges
- Method
- The country page shows a concise representative set across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is not a ranking or a complete provider directory.
- Coverage and limits
- Representative national list used for country exploration.
Last reviewed 5 August 2026. A national range describes its source population or stated planning scenario; it does not predict an individual's salary, expenses or visa outcome.