The first degree in the UK, which is called Bachelor (Bachelor of Arts – BA, Bachelor of Science – BSc, etc) may take three or four years to complete, though some professional courses, such as architecture, dentistry, medicine and veterinary science, can take between five and seven years.

For Master degree you will need an undergraduate degree or equivalent in a relevant area.

Doctorates: A research degree at PhD level is the ultimate opportunity to pursue your specialist interest. You will be expected to identify and develop your topic under the supervision of one or possibly two tutors. To be successful you will need to demonstrate strong commitment and intellectual independence. For a Doctor of Philosophy programme (PhD), you will need a UK masters degree or equivalent from your home country.

Each University course has different entrance requirements and these are generally available on each University’s website. If you are in any doubt, you can contact the admissions office at your chosen university to check the entry requirements for their courses. To apply for full time degree courses and higher national diplomas, you have to submit your application through the centralised application process provided by UCAS (universities and colleges admission system). All UCAS institutions are recognised by the UK government or offer courses that are validated by UK government-recognised universities. All UK universities (except the Open University) and most colleges of higher education are UCAS members. If you are interested in postgraduate study, it is best to contact your chosen university directly. As a rough guide, the basic admission requirements are as follows;

			Application form properly filled in (Motivation letter, research proposal in case of Research, Master Degree)
			Diplomas/transcripts notary translated
			References
			English proficiency certificate (IELTS, TOEFL) and/or faculty-specific examination (optional).

When you apply through UCAS you can:

			make up to five choices at once on one application
			apply to a wide range of different courses and institutions
			apply online using UCAS Apply
			follow the progress of your applications.

All international students who apply through UCAS will be treated fairly under UCAS procedures and rules.

For undergraduate programmes:

The application process through UCAS takes place a year preceding the starting date of your study. The applications form for most subjects should reach UCAS in the period between 1 September and 15 January. However, there are the following exceptions:

			Applications to Art and Design degree programmes should be sent between 1 January and 5 March for the next academic year.
			Applications to Oxford and Cambridge apply through UCAS, as well as make a direct application to the university. Your application should reach UCAS by 15 October.
			Applicants to courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary sciences should apply through UCAS by 15 October a year preceding the year of study

For postgraduate programmes:

Details of postgraduate courses may be found on the UKPASS (UK Postgraduate Application and Statistical Service) website. If a course or an institution is not listed on the UKPASS website then you should apply direct to that university or college. To give yourself the best chance of being offered a place you should start making enquiries about the entrance requirements at least 18 months before the course begins, and apply early.

There are several types of schools and colleges in the UK.

			Preparatory Schools-Ages 7-13
			Senior Schools-Ages 11.13-18
			International Study Centers-11-17- (Curriculum is the same, but in very small groups)
			State and Independent Colleges-Ages 16-18.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the main academic qualifications offered are:

			General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSEs) –for ages 14-16 years old
			International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSEs) –for ages 14-16
			A-level
			Advanced International Certificate of Education
			International Baccalaureate Diploma
			Cambridge Pre-U

Full-time postgraduate courses in the UK vary from one year to four years, depending on the type of course you choose:

			One-year courses: Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma, Master's degrees, MBAs
			Two-year courses: Some master's degrees
			Three to four-year courses: PhDs, New Route PhDs

There is no UK Government or British Council list that ranks UK institutions. It is important to think about all your requirements including academic, accommodation, course content and location when making your choice. We can guide you through the information sources, but we cannot tell you that one university is better than another.

These unofficial rankings include:

			Sunday Times Good University Guide
			The Guardian

You can find more information about scholarships and other sources of funding for your studies on the following website.

Distance learning (pdf 143 KB)

Funding opportunities (pdf 143 KB)

Getting a degree in the UK (pdf 157 KB)

Learn English in the UK (pdf 170 KB)

Useful links (pdf 145 KB)

We organise teacher training in two formats in Armenia – face-to-face and online. Our face-to-face courses are usually run in partnership with the National Institute of Education, based largely on their needs as far as the choice of location and participants’ is concerned. The online courses are open to any English teacher who is interested; calls for applications are issued two to four times a year.  If you would like to receive announcements regarding our online courses and other public activities for English teachers, please email Lilit Bekaryan and she will add you to the mailing list.

As an English teacher, you can also access our TeachingEnglish site and access a wide range of self-development material including e-books, videos and articles as well as ready-to-use resources such as lessons plans, kits, activities and so on. Visit TeachingEnglish at www.teachingenglish.org.uk and register for free.

LearnEnglish OnePager (pdf 49 KB)

TeachingEnglish OnePager (pdf 132 KB)