Education in UK

University or college education in the UK

Higher or tertiary education

Undergraduate and post-degree courses are considered as 'higher education qualifications'. These are the highest levels of study in the UK.

The various qualifications that can be obtained through higher education (HE) in the UK are:

Bachelor Degree: Bachelor degree requires three or more years of full-time study. It involves formal lectures and seminar programs and the assessment is usually through examinations. Students who do not have minimal entry requirements usually undergo a foundation year.
Bachelor Degree with Honours: Bachelor degree with Honours can be achieved following outstanding results during a degree course or by doing one extra year of study.
Master Degree: Masters can be earned either by taught or research mode. Taught Masters can be completed in one year to 18 months of full-time study while Masters through Research takes 2 years of full-time work.
PhD: PhD can be achieved by three years of full time study. A PhD is the highest award conferred by the university. It is a research degree and the candidates have to submit a thesis of their work. The final thesis should satisfy the length, depth, originality and significance as required for their field and/or by the institution involved. Minimum duration for this award is 3 years though a relaxed timeframe is possible in some extraordinary cases.

colleges in the UK. About 3,000 private colleges also offer higher and further education. Then about another 340 further education colleges also offer higher education courses. See the Scottish Further Education Unit on this website: www.sfeu.ac.uk

Universities and most other higher education institutions enjoy complete academic freedom, deciding what and how to teach and which degrees to award.

What do you need to study in the UK?

Whatever qualification you may have, primarily what the UK institutions look for from an international student is grades that are considered as 'Good' in your country.

The three most common requirements for admission into an educational institution in the UK are:
1) A strong academic background
2) Good command over English Language
3) Adequate financial resources

Choosing a course

Unless you are a postgraduate applicant or already in employment or have done some part time study, choosing a course can be very difficult. It is important to make sure of what you will study and what skills you will develop after completion of your course.

Choosing an undergraduate course:
Basically all degree courses are classified into:
(i) Arts stream
(ii) Science stream
(iii) Social science stream &
(iv) Education

Choosing a postgraduate course:
Since postgraduate courses are mostly a specialisation of your undergraduate program, you would have already selected the area you are specialising in. But remember, not all postgraduate courses are specialisation's, since some are conversion courses that help people to change careers.

Choosing an Institution:
Choosing a place to study is one of the most important decisions you have to ever make. Once you have selected the course of study, you should search for the institutions offering it and shortlist them.
There are several factors you need to consider while selecting an institution, such as:

• Reputation
  
• Location and size
  
• Cost of studying and living
  
• Entry requirements
  
• Facilities available
  
• Accommodation
  

Vocational institutions (Further education colleges, specialist colleges):
In this competitive trade world, there is always a need for high-quality workforce, and vocational institutions cater for the same. They train students for a particular career.

Common questions answered

What will it cost?
For calculating the tuition fees, students are classified as Home and Overseas. If you are not a British citizen or from European Economic Area (Norway and Iceland students need to pay full international student fees, but do not need entry clearance/visa), you will have to pay full cost of your course.

In addition, you will need about £6500 per year to cover your living expenses. This cost includes accommodation rent, food, books, reference materials, paper, notebooks, printing, photocopying, membership fees, work related travel, library, laboratory, sports facilities fee, etc. It does not include: any visa fees, airfare, health insurance (if required), other insurance (travel, property), deposits, police registration fee (for certain Third World countries, if applicable), taxes (road, council) etc.

What will classes be like?
In schools and further education courses, usually you need to follow a fixed curriculum. Higher education courses are flexible and offer freedom and you will be required to undertake a lot of independent study.
Many further education, foundation, undergraduate, and postgraduate courses include:
1) Lectures:.
2) Tutorials:.
3) Seminars:
4) Practical classes:

Can I work while studying?
This depends on the length and type of program you will be attending. Your eligibility to work will be shown on the immigration stamp in your passport. International students are normally allowed to work for 20 hours per week during term days and full time during holidays. You may need a letter from your institution that you have commenced your course or your show your passport to a prospective employer to begin working.

Can I claim Welfare Benefits given by the UK Government?
Welfare benefits (such as child benefit, housing benefit) are given by the UK government to low income group people. Being an International student you cannot claim these benefits by Immigration rules. If you do claim these benefits, it will have negative effects on your future applications to the Home office.

What family members can join me in the UK?
You can bring your spouse and children with you, if you can prove to the authorities that
- you are married to each other
- you have been living with your spouse and your children
- you have sufficient funds to support them
- they (and you) intend to leave Britain at the end of your studies.

Can my dependants and I claim free medical and dental treatment?
If your course duration is six months or more, you are entitled to get free medical treatment by a scheme called the National Health Service (NHS). Your spouse and children (under the age of 16, or under the age of 19, if they are sill at school) are also entitled to this.

Can my spouse and children work?
This depends on what the immigration stamp on your passport says. If your course lasts more than 12 months and you have obtained permission to work or enter employment, then your dependants are also allowed to work. They will also get the immigration stamp in their passport that allows them to work. Be sure to have the correct stamp in each person's passport before leaving for the UK.

A glossary of terms

Accredited:
Recognition or approval of an educational institution by an official agency, association, or ministry of education as maintaining satisfactory standards. Accreditation affects the transferability of the institution's qualifications into further study or employment.

Academic year:
The period of learning either theoretical through formal instruction or specialised training. The Academic year in the UK usually extends from June to April. It may be divided into semesters (higher education courses),
tri-semesters (specialised courses such as MBA), or quarters (schools).

Admitted student:
A student who has joined the institution after being offered a place by the institution after a valuation of his/her completed qualifications as set for a specific course by the institution.

Award:
A qualification given as the student has successfully completed his/her modules (e.g.. B.Eng., B.Sc., M.A., M.Sc.)

Distance learning:
A way of following a study package at desired time, place, and pace. Students need to submit course-based works such as essay, case study, report etc. Short intensive training classes are usually conducted at fixed intervals where tutors and students can meet in a same place and discuss.

Dissertation writing:
Lengthy treatment of a subject submitted towards an academic degree.

Educational adviser:
Member of a faculty or an independent person hired by the institution that freely helps and advises the students on academic matters.

Electives:
Subjects chosen freely to take credits towards their intended degree

Graduate Management admission test (GMAT):
An examination used by the institutions to assist in determining the eligibility of a student for admission to graduate business programs.

International student:
Any registered student in an institution in the UK who is not a permanent resident of United Kingdom.

Open days:
Specific days during the academic year which offer an opportunity to have a chat with staff and students, explore the facilities available in the institution through guided campus and accommodation tours. Anyone can attend an institution's open days irrespective of whether you have applied or holding an offer or not.

Project work:
A piece of work where a candidate alone or in a group prepares a report based on analysis of the topic assigned or chosen.

Prerequisite:
Required as a precondition prior to taking a course in an institution. It's a way of ensuring the student possess suitable grounding on the subject that they wish to undertake.

Reference:
A letter detailing an applicant's qualification, written by a professor or employer who knows the applicant's character and work.