Duration, cost, job market, visa pathways, and ROI — a 100% unbiased comparison to help Indian CS students choose the right destination. 0% Commission Charged.
Get Personalised Destination Advice| Factor | USA | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Program Duration | 18–24 months (2 years typical) | 12 months (1 year) |
| Tuition (total) | $40,000–$120,000 | £20,000–£38,000 |
| Top Universities | CMU, Stanford, MIT, Cornell, UIUC, Georgia Tech | Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, Edinburgh, UCL, Warwick |
| Post-Study Work | 12-month OPT + 24-month STEM OPT extension = 36 months | Graduate Route: 2 years (any grad) / 3 years (PhD) |
| Starting Salary | $120,000–$200,000 TC (FAANG/startups) | £45,000–£80,000 (London tech) |
| H-1B Lottery Risk (US) | Yes — 3 attempts max per year; 35% selection rate | N/A — Skilled Worker visa no annual cap |
| Cost of Living | $1,200–$2,500/month (city-dependent) | £1,000–£2,000/month (London most expensive) |
| PR / Citizenship Path | Long (Green Card — EB-2/3 for Indian nationals: 10–100+ year backlog) | Skilled Worker → ILR after 5 years → British citizen after 6 years |
| Internship Opportunities | Abundant (summer internship culture at FAANG, startups) | Limited (1-year program has no formal internship semester) |
| Research Focus | Research-heavy MS possible; thesis track available | Dissertation-based; strong research culture at Oxford/Cambridge |
Choose the US if: you want maximum career optionality (FAANG salaries), you have a strong GRE score, you want a 2-year program with internship exposure, you're targeting Silicon Valley or NYC tech hubs, or you plan to do a PhD and want a funded research track.
Choose the UK if: you want a faster (1-year) and cheaper overall program, you prefer European culture and time zones, you want a clearer PR pathway without lottery-based visa uncertainty, you're targeting fintech (London is the global fintech capital), or you want to work across Europe post-graduation.
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