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Costs, intakes and work rights side by side. Pick up to three countries.
| Germany | France | UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universities on Gradwalk | 19 | 54 | 36 |
| Programs | 455 | 739 | 13,873 |
| Main intakes | October (winter), April (summer) | September, January | September, January (May at selected universities) |
| Tuition per year | Ask your guide | Ask your guide | £11,400–£38,000 |
| Living costs per year | €11,904 a year (blocked account) | €7,380 a year (funds to show) | £10,800–£14,100 |
| Working while you study | Work up to 140 full days or 280 half days a year. Student assistant jobs at the university don't count towards this. | Work up to 964 hours a year (about 20 hours a week). No separate work permit is needed. | Up to 20 hours a week during term time and full-time during official holidays for degree-level students (10 hours a week below degree level). The limit covers all jobs combined and is counted Monday to Sunday. |
| After you graduate | 18-month job-search permit After graduating, you can get a residence permit of up to 18 months to look for a job matching your qualification. You can work in any job during this time. | 12 months; up to 24 for Indian Master's graduates The APS / RÉCE residence permit gives Master's graduates 12 months to look for work or start a business, with full-time work rights. Indian Master's graduates can get up to 24 months under the France–India agreement. Indian alumni of French Master's degrees can also get a 5-year short-stay Schengen visa. | Graduate Route: 2 years after a Bachelor's or Master's (18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027), 3 years after a PhD. No job offer or sponsor needed: work in any job, change jobs or start a business. Apply from inside the UK before your Student visa expires. Fee £880 plus the health surcharge (£1,035 a year). To stay longer, switch to a Skilled Worker visa with a sponsored job offer. |
| Settling long term | EU Blue Card: for graduate jobs above the salary threshold (lower for shortage jobs and new graduates). Skilled worker residence permit: for qualified jobs below the Blue Card salary. Settlement permit (permanent residence): possible after about 21–27 months on a Blue Card, or 2 years of skilled work for German graduates. Citizenship: possible after 5 years of residence. | Employee work permit (salarié): when you find a job related to your studies. Talent Passport: a renewable residence permit of up to 4 years, for skilled jobs above the salary threshold. Long-term residence: possible after 5 years of legal residence. | The usual path is Student visa → Graduate visa → Skilled Worker visa → Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) → British citizenship. The UK is moving to an "earned settlement" system, which raises the standard wait for ILR from 5 years to a 10-year baseline for most migrants, including Skilled Workers. High earners and Global Talent visa holders may qualify sooner. Since January 2026, Skilled Worker applicants need English at B2 level. The settlement rules are still being finalised, so check GOV.UK before planning. |
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