There are many universities in the UK, offering a variety of courses and given the range of courses on offer, it can be difficult to choose a course.Undergraduate degree courses in the UK are called Bachelors degrees or First degrees. They normally take three to four years of full-time study. The exceptions are degrees in medicine, dentistry and architecture, which take up to seven years.

WHAT TYPES OF COURSES ARE THERE?

Degrees can be a single subject (single honours) or in two or more subjects (joint/combined honours).

Sandwich courses involve alternating periods of study and work-related experience which usually extends the course to four years.

Many universities offer modular courses - this allows you to 'build' your own study programme from a very wide choice of different subject modules.

WHAT TITLE AND DEGREE WILL I GET?

When you have completed your degree, you will be given a title depending on your area of study. The most common titles are:

			BEng (Bachelor of Engineering)   MB (Bachelor of Medicine)
			BEd (Bachelor of Education)        LLB (Bachelor of Law)
			BEng (Bachelor of Engineering)  MB (Bachelor of Medicine)

Undergraduate degrees in Arts and Humanities at some Scottish universities (Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews) are called Master of Arts (MA).

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES OF HIGHER EDUCATION?

Universities are independent, self-governing bodies and can award their own degrees. Colleges of higher educatin do not normally have degree awarding powers and their courses will be approed by a university.

Another difference between universities and colleges is size. Colleges tend to be smaller institutions. They also tend to specialise in certain areas, such as art and design, theatrical stuies or teaching.

WHERE DO I GET STARTED?

See our SUBJECT INFORMATION pages to find out more about the subject you’re interested in. You can also search for the courses on offer on the Education UK and UCAS websites.

Visit our centre in Tirana for free internet searches or to look at university prospectuses and other reference materials including:

			UCAS The Big Guide, UCAS
			Directory of UK Universities, Colleges and Schools & Guide to UK Education
			Choosing your degree course and university, Trotman
			Student book 2005/2006, Trotman
			The Hobsons Which Degree Vol 1, Vol 2

Before you apply make sure that the award you will receive at the end of your degree studies is from a recognised UK university or college of higher eduction

Through our databases, onlineesources and face-to-face advice, we can help you choose a course that's right for you.

WILL I HAVE TO TAKE A LANGUAGE EXAM?

Yes, proably. You might be required to get a certain score in a recognised language exam. English language requirements may vary from institution to institution, so it is important that you check with the institution that you are applying to. Most UK institutions prefer one of these:

			International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
			Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)
			Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE)

You can take the IELTS exam at our Centre in Tirana.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
European Union (EU) students studying at universities and colleges in England, Wales and Northern Ireland pay the same fees as UK students, known as ‘home fees’. International students from outside the EU pay international student fees, which range from £6,250 (Arts) to £18,000 (Clinical) per year. Most students in the UK need about £600 a month to live on. This will cover where you live, your food, clothes and basic needs. Some universities offer scholarships, but there is a lot of competition for these and you should not depend on it. The majority of scholarships are for postgraduate students.

HOW CAN WE HELP?
If you need more information, or simply want to make sure you're making the right decision, please contact us or visit our centre.