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International students from outside the EU (European Union) pay international student fees given below:
In 2009, the average annual fee at independent boarding schools was £23,000 but fees can vary from £16,000 to £28,000 a year depending on the school.
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| AS and A-levels and other equivalents |
£4,000 - £17,000 per year |
| HNC/HNDs |
£5,000 - £10,000 per year |
| Foundation Degrees (FdA, FdSc) |
£7,000 - £12,000 per year |
| Foundation Courses |
£4,000 - £17,000 per year |
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| Arts courses |
£7,000 - £9,000 per year |
| Science courses |
£7,500 – £22,000 per year |
| Clinical courses |
£10,000 - £25,000 per year |
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| Arts and humanities courses |
£7,000-£12,000 per year |
| Science courses |
£7,500-£25,000 per year |
| Clinical courses |
£10,000-£33,000 per year |
| MBA |
£4,000 to more than £30,000 per year |
Fees vary greatly but, expect to pay anything from £200 to over £1,000, depending on the nature of the course you choose. You can find out what your course will cost by checking on your course providers’ site.
As a rough guide, for a nine-month academic year, you should allow (on average):
•£7,500 if you will be living in London (or £800 per month)
•£5,500 if you will be living elsewhere in the UK (or £600 per month).
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There are several types of schools and colleges, catering for students of different ages and with different needs.
• Preparatory Schools– Between the ages of seven and 13
• Senior Schools – From the age of 11 or 13 to 18
• International Study Centres – From the age of 11 to 17
• State and independent colleges – From the ages of 16 to 18 and specialise in A-levels and foundation courses
Some schools in the UK are either only for boys or just for girls; while others have both boys and girls.
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the main academic qualifications offered are:
• General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSEs)
• International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSEs)
• A-level
• Advanced International Certificate of Education
• International Baccalaureate Diploma
• Cambridge Pre-U
In Scotland, instead of GCSE and A-levels, they offer different levels of national qualifications – Scottish Standard Grades, Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers.
For all courses it is essential to have a good command of written and spoken English. Universities and colleges normally require a pass at grade C6 or above in GCE 'O' level English. Alternatively they will usually accept a good score (5.5 to 7.00) in the IELTS test administered by the British Council. Back to top
This is possible but not encouraged. Overseas students whose first language is not English and who are not used to the British Education system should not attempt this. Students should at least pass their GCE 'O' level if they intend to go for further education in the UK. Back to top
It is possible. But when you apply to universities, we suggest you make sure that you provide as much information as you can about your academic qualifications (Transcript or Grading) if relevant, enclosing detailed syllabuses to enable them to make a judgement.
Each university determines its own policy in the light of their admission standards and the compatibility of the content of your academic achievements with the content of their degree programmes. Therefore, where there is greater compatibility, there is a better chance of being accepted.
If you want to know how your locally gained current qualifications compare with similiar qualification in the UK, please visit NARIC (National Academic Recognition Information Centre). This is the official source of information on the comparability of international qualifications. Back to top
A degree is an acceptable qualification for entry to many UK degree courses in a similar subject. Any decision to offer you a place will be taken on an individual basis. It depends on your O-level grades, your A-level results (if any) and academic results gained from your degree.
Special attention will be paid to the grades in your proposed degree subject and for example, entry to courses in engineering and computing, the institutions will definitely want to know your maths and science grades.
Please also note that your working experience since graduating and your academic reference may also influence the decision of the institution. Back to top
AS- level is a UK qualification. It is in-between an O and an A-level and it is not AO-level.
A-level courses usually last two years. In the first year of study, a student is able to take up to four, or five subjects at Advanced Subsidiary (AS) level; receiving a qualification for each subject they pass. In the second year of study, the student can continue to study three of those subjects in greater depth and if they successfully complete the course, the AS-level will contribute to the final A-level pass for that subject. The second year unit cannot alone result in a qualification.
AS-level is half an A-level. Back to top
In most cases, three GCE A-levels are the normal entry requirement by the UK medical schools. Chemistry is essential, some medical schools will accept only two science A-levels with the third being another academic subject. Candidates are strongly advised to consult the medical schools they are considering of applying to. Back to top
No. Foundation courses also known as bridging or access courses usually last one year and these are designed to bridge the gap between the qualifications you already have and those required by the college or university of your choice. For example, pre-master's courses are specialised access courses that allow you to join at postgraduate level.
Foundation degrees, on the other hand, are two-year career-related higher education qualifications. They combine work experience with the academic structure of a degree programme and can lead on to a full honours degree (following an additional year of study), or provide opportunities to enter relevant employment. Successful students are able to cite the letters FdA(for arts subjects), FdSc(for science subjects) or FdEng (for engineering) after their name. For more information on foundation degrees please visit www.findfoundationdegree.co.uk.
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No. Students will always need to meet the universities' entrance requirements, whether it is access/foundation course or a degree programme. It is advisable that before choosing an access or foundation course, students should always obtain specific details as to whether it provides an established route into a particular university. Back to top
The acceptability of foundation programmes varies considerably, and students should check with their intended university before signing up for any particular foundation course. Back to top
www.educationuk.org
www.accesstohe.ac.uk (Access to Higher Education)
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A sandwich course generally includes an additional year’s work experience in industry. The industrial training periods in sandwich courses mean that you should be better able to relate theoretical concepts to industrial practice, and you will have a much better feel for the social and cultural aspects of working in industry. Hopefully, you will also have proved that you can work productively in an industrial environment and you may have made some contacts which will be valuable when you are looking for a job.
There are two types of sandwich courses: ‘thick’ or ‘thin’. Thick sandwich courses have one or two industrial periods lasting about a year between the second and final years of the academic course; thin sandwich courses have shorter periods, often of about six months, spent alternatively in industry and university. Thin sandwich courses can offer the advantage of greater integration of academic work and industrial training.
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According to the announcement by the UK Government, starting 6 April 2010; further changes will take place which will affect you if your course is below degree level and includes work placements. Only Tier-4 sponsor education providers which are Highly Trusted Sponsors will be able to offer these courses. All publicly funded Tier-4 sponsor education providers will automatically be Highly Trusted Sponsors when this new scheme is launched. Tier-4 sponsor private education providers will have to apply to be Highly Trusted Sponsors. There are no details yet about Highly Trusted Sponsors, so you should talk to your education provider to see if this proposed change applies to you.
For detailed and updated information please see UK Council for International Student Affairs
www.ukcisa.org.uk
Undergraduate (Hons) degrees in England, Wales and Northern Ireland can take three years to complete. In Scotland, undergraduate honours degree takes four years to complete. Some undergraduate courses such as architecture, medicine, dentistry, and veterinary sciences degrees take five to seven years. Back to top
It is not the norm, and in some cases it will not be possbile. However, many students frequently select a different subject for their postgraduate studies. Many Master's conversion courses are available allowing a complete change in subject. For example, Law for undergraduate and Business Management for postgraduate, or Engineering for undergraduate and MSc/MA International Law for postgraduate.
However, some postgraduate degrees would require an undergraduate degree in the similar field as a prerequisite. For example, LLB at undergraduate in order to complete LLM at Masters. Consult the university concerned for the entry criteria. Back to top
Most institutions require you to have an honours degree. However, if you do not have an honours degree, the institutions may recommend you to do a postgraduate diploma (usually nine months) initially. Upon successful completion of the postgraduate diploma, you will then go on to the Masters programme. Back to top
Sometimes, yes, though normally relevant work experience will be required. This will depend on the MBA programme itself, and entry requirements vary from one institution to another. Students should check directly with their chosen university for required prerequisite for MBA course. Back to top
Applications usually need to be made one year in advance. Schools will also consider applications throughout the year. Some schools have online application processes. Some schools have open days in autumn with interviews and entry examinations taking place in spring.
Entrance exams can usually be taken in the country in which the student currently lives – often in the local British Council office.
Contact the Institution of your choice and ask for an application form. For HNDs/HNCs and Foundation Degrees, contact the institution and ask if you need to apply through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS).
With the exception of applications via UCAS there are no national closing dates for applications to career-based courses. Many colleges offer some flexibility on start dates, with a choice of September or January entry. However, it depends on the course and you should always contact the institution of your choice for details.
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For undergraduate courses, including first degree, foundation degree, Higher National Diploma (HND), Higher National Certificate (HNC), Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE), Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE), postgraduate degree or diploma in Social Work, or full-time pre-registration diploma courses in nursing and midwifery, applications to the institutions must be made through a central admissions system called the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS). UCAS is a very effective one-stop-shop undergraduate application service and all UK universities (except the Open University) and most colleges offering higher education are members of UCAS.
By using UCAS you will be able to apply for up to five different UK colleges or universities on one application, four if you are applying for medicine, dentistry or veterinary science.
You can apply use either a web-based online application system or paper-based application method. For online application, details of payment method and how to apply can be found at www.ucas.com/apply. If you would like to use paper-based application, forms are available free of charge at our Education UK Services.
UCAS also provides advice on the application process and how to complete your form. Please visit www.ucas.com for more information.
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There is no centralised admission system for postgraduate courses in the UK so you should apply directly to the institutions. Each institution will have different application procedure so you need to check with them directly. Unlike undergraduate courses, there is no restriction on the number of different courses you can apply for in any one year, but student advisers recommend that you draw up to a shortlist of six to eight universities. If you are applying for a teacher training course, you should do it through the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR). You can also apply for some social work courses through the UCAS site at UKPASS, introduced by UCAS in 2007, handles the direct applications to postgraduate study for some institutions
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With the exception of applications via UCAS there are no national closing dates for applications to career-based courses. Many colleges offer some flexibility on start dates, with a choice of September or January entry. However, it depends on the course and you should always contact the institution of your choice for details.
All applications open on 1 September (the year before the course starts) and application deadline for non-European students is 30 June unless you are applying for medicine, dentistry or veterinary science, for which the deadline is 15 October. However, universities and colleges do not guarantee to consider applications received after 15 January and some popular courses may not have vacancies after that date. You should check with individual institutions if you are not sure.
£7 for a student who uses just one of the five choices allowed and £17 for students making two or more choices.
You can either submit completed form to UCAS through the British Council or self-submit directly to UCAS. We charge a fee of USD 50, which includes £17 for UCAS application fee for two or more choices and USD 25, which includes £7 for one choice.
There are various parameters that you need to keep in mind when choosing a college or a university.
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Course contents |
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Does it suit your requirements? |
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Faculty |
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Teaching methodology |
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this is important particularly for the MBA |
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design related or practical courses |
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Facilities |
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library, computers, recreation, social welfare |
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accommodation, etc. |
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International links |
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Location |
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Size and cost |
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Followings are the accreditation schemes available for English language providers:
• Accreditation UK is internationally recognised accreditation scheme for English language Providers
• English UK includes members from private language schools and English language teaching centres in universities and colleges throughout the UK
• British Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes provides quality assurance of courses in English for Academic Purposes Back to top
For state-funded further education colleges, quality assurance is under government control. You can find inspection reports for all UK further education colleges as follow:
• England: You can check out inspection reports from Ofsted.
• Wales: You can check inspection reports from Estyn.
• Scotland: Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education for Scotland
• Northern Ireland: Inspection reports from Department of Education Northern Ireland
For private FE colleges, they may choose to be accredited by the British Accreditation Council for Independent Further & Higher Education or by the Council for Independent Further Education . Back to top
You can check the list of accredited HE education and their teaching quality assessment on the Quality Assurance Agency. You can find out about the quality of research projects, by visiting Research Assessment Exercise. Back to top
Unistats is the essential website for information anout the quality of higher education in UK universities and colleges. Unistats brings together key sources of official information about the provision of higher education in the UK, including the results of the National Student Survey (NSS), which shares the views of more than 158,000 igher eucation students on what they thought of the quality of their higher education experience. Unistats is desighed to allow you to choose up to six subjects/institutions combinations to compare at a time. Back to top
Burmese students need to apply for a visa to study in the UK. Visa application form VAF3 can also be downloaded from here. Enquiries on UK Visa issues should be sent directly to visa.rangoon@fco.gov.uk..
Alternatively, you can visit UK Visa Section, British Embassy (Consular Section), 80, Kanna Road, Kyauktada Township, Rangoon.
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The new system was introduced starting from 31 March 2009. The change to Tier-4 Points Based System provides new students who choose to study in the UK to check whether they are eligible for a visa before they even apply, making the whole system straightforward. Anyone considering studying in the UK should visit the UKBA website
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Students must meet the full requirements of the Immigration rules and have 40 points in total as shown in the table below:
| Points required: 40 |
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Having a valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (in country applications only) or a valid
visa letter from a Tier-4 sponsor |
30 points |
| Having enough money to cover course fees and monthly living costs (also known as maintenance or funds) |
10 points |
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To get a visa to enter the UK as a student, you will need to show that you have been accepted by an institution or organisation which is included on the DIUS (Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills) - The Register of Education and Training Providers
For more information please refer to Student Visa Guidance for Burmese students produced by the Visa Section of the British Embassy. It is available in both English and Burmese versions and can be downloaded here.
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Please refer to Tier-4 visa guidelines here.
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From 1 November 2007, all postgraduate students except nationals of European Economic Area (including Switzerland) seeking qualifications in science, technology or engineering based courses in the UK will need to obtain an ATAS Clearance Certificate prior to making a Student Entry Clearance. Back to top
If you make a Tier-4 (General) immigration application on or after 3 March 2010, in order to study a course which is not at degree level or above and which is not a foundation degree, or if you apply as a Tier-4 (Child) Student to take a course at any level, you will be allowed to take employment for up to 10 hours a week in term-time and full-time in the holidays. If you make or made your most recent immigration application before 3 March 2010, the maximum number of hours you can work in term-time is 20 hours a week.
For more details on work after your studies, please refer to UKCISA:
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There are several schemes which will allow graduates to take on full-time employment in the UK depending on whether you meet the requirements for any of the schemes that the UK Government operates.
The schemes that are most significant for students who have finished their studies are:
Tier-1 (Post-Study Work) for those who have obtained a UK degree or postgraduate certificate or diploma (or HND from a Scottish institution). This replaces the International Graduates Scheme and the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme starting from 30 June 2008.
Work Permit scheme (for jobs where no one in the resident labour market can be recruited, and occupations where there is a shortage of qualified workers)
Tier-1 (General) for those with degrees and work experience and prior earnings at a certain level. This replaces the Highly Skilled Migrants Programme.
For more details on work after your studies, please click here.
If you make your Tier-4 (General) immigration application on or after 3 March 2010 in order to study a course which is longer than six months but which is below degree level and is not a foundation degree course, your family members can come with you or stay with you in the UK. However, they are not allowed to work, even if your course lasts 12 months or longer.
Please refer to:
www.bbc.co.uk/weather/
www.metoffice.gov.uk/
Please visit the following websites:
www.visitbritain.com
www.visitscotland.com
www.visitwales.com
www.discovernorthernireland.com
www.enjoyengland.com
Under the current Regulations, anyone who goes to the UK to pursue a full-time course of more than six months’ duration will be fully entitled to free National Health Services hospital treatment in the UK. This also applies to your spouse and children (under the age of 16, or 19 if they are in further education) if they are living permanently with you in the UK for the duration of your course. Please note, however that you will have to pay the prescription or any dental treatment charges.
If your course of study is less than six months, you will be charged for any treatment you receive. It is therefore advisable to take up a private medical insurance to cover the cost of any treatment. More information can be obtained from the Department of Health Website.
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British Council Burma does not have its own scholarship schemes. However, British Council has an online scholarship database where you can download Sources of funding for international students.. Back to top
Education enquiries are handled from Monday to Friday: 10.00 hrs – 12.00 hrs by appointment basis with maximum two appointments per day. Appointment can be made with our Programme staff (Education UK) either at our Customer Services Assistants’ Desk or by phoning 254658, 256290-1 extension: 3317-8. E-mail enquiries can also be made by sending your queries to education.enquiries@mm.britishcouncil.org
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Our staff can:
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provide a comprehensive and unbiased information on courses and UK institutions |
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give you guidance on UCAS application process |
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give you an on-line view of education by visiting www.educationuk.org |
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provide verification of academic certificates and transcripts for those who would like to register for UK programmes of study. |
Frequently asked questions are also available in electronic version and accessible by simply sending a request to:
education.enquiries@mm.britishcouncil.org
Programme (Education UK)
British Council
78, Kanna Road, Kyauktada Township
Yangon 11182
Myanmar
T: 256290-1, 254658 extension: 3333
F: 245345
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