WHY STUDY IN THE UK?

The UK is at the forefront of scientific and creative innovation and you could learn alongside some of the world’s top intellects, providing an excellent atmosphere for study. The UK education style is personal, with a high level of student support, ensuring that you will not fall behind or feel isolated.

The possibilities of where and how you study are endless. You can choose from literally thousands of courses in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. You can be sure of their quality. You can go to a university or a higher education college. It is easy to apply through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), which lets you apply to a maximum of six institutions on one form.

WHAT ARE YOUR CHOICES?

The most popular undergraduate qualifications are the Bachelor's degrees (also called undergraduate or first degrees), which are now required for entry into a wide range of careers in the UK and other countries. UK degree programmes incorporate the most up-to-date subject developments, and are underpinned by world-class research and links with business and industry.

Courses vary considerably according to the university or college in which you study. 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 extend 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?

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

			BA (Bachelor of Arts)
			BSc (Bachelor of Science)
			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).

You will be awarded a class of degree depending on your academic performance:

			First-class honours degree (1st)
			Upper second-class honours degree (2:1)
			Lower second-class honours degree (2:2)
			Third-class honours degree (3rd)
			Ordinary / Pass degree

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 education do not normally have degree awarding powers and their courses will be approved 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 studies or teaching.

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Entrance qualifications vary according to the subject and to the competition to get on to a particular course. You should get details of the course requirements from the institution’s current prospectus or direct from the faculty. An institution would want to know that you have met both its general requirements and those of the course. Generally, the basic requirements are:

			five subject passes (two GCE A-levels and three GCSE at grade C minimum), or
			four subject passes (three GCE A-levels and one GCSE at grade C minimum), or
			equivalent UK qualifications (such as Scottish Standards and Highers, and vocational A-levels ), or
			equivalent overseas qualifications (you can check equivalencies through your local British Council centre or the United Kingdom National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC).

You should be able to speak and write English well. You may be asked to provide formal proof of your standard. It is worth checking this early to make sure you have enough time to take an English language test. Most universities and colleges will accept one of the following:

			International English Language Testing System (IELTS) band 6 or above
			Cambridge Proficiency of English or Cambridge Advanced English grade C
			Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score 550 or higher

FEES

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 £6250 (Arts) to £18,000 (Clinical) per year. Most students will need around £800 a month (£1000 a month in London and the South East of England) to cover accommodation, food, clothes and basic needs. This will cover the costs of your accommodation, your food, clothes and basic needs.

Some universities do offer scholarships, but there is a lot of competition for these and you should not depend on them. The majority of scholarships are for postgraduate students.