Duration
UK Master's: 1 year. US Master's: 2 years. UK Bachelor's: 3 years. US Bachelor's: 4 years. The UK saves you 1-2 years, meaning lower total cost and earlier entry to the workforce.
Cost
UK: £12,000-38,000/year tuition. US: $20,000-70,000/year tuition. UK living: £12,000-15,000/year. US living: $15,000-25,000/year. Total for a Master's: UK £24,000-53,000 (1 year). US $70,000-190,000 (2 years). The UK is significantly cheaper overall.
Work After Graduation
UK: 2-year Graduate Route visa (no job offer needed). US: OPT (1 year, 3 years for STEM) then H-1B lottery (30% approval rate). Canada's PGWP may be worth considering as a third option — 3 years with a clear PR path.
Quality
Both have world-class universities. The US has more universities in global rankings, but the UK has a higher concentration of top universities relative to population. For specific fields: US leads in technology and business; UK leads in law, humanities, and 1-year Master's programs.
Verdict
Choose the UK if you want to save time and money, or if you want a European base. Choose the US if you want a specific program, broader campus experience, or target STEM OPT. Consider Canada if immigration is your primary goal.