The qualifications you need depend on the course you want to study. You'll be expected to have taken pre-university qualifications equivalent to A-levels or BTEC National Diplomas.

If your qualifications don't match this, you can still study in the UK, you'll just need to start at an earlier level. To find out more, check out the career-based and pre-university section at www.britishcouncil.org/hongkong-educationuk-career-based.htm.

You'll find the exact entry requirements for each course on the course profiles on the Education UK website at www.educationuk.org.hk. The following will however give you an idea of the sort of qualifications you will need:

Qualifications and equivalents

			Foundation Degree		Qualifications equivalent to one or two UK A-levels or a BTEC National Diploma; or an international foundation year. Plus IELTS 5.5-6.0
			Diploma of Higher Education		Qualifications equivalent to one or two UK A-levels or a BTEC National Diploma; or an international foundation year. Plus IELTS 5.5-6.0
			Degree		Qualifications equivalent to two or three UK A-levels or a BTEC National Diploma; or an international foundation year. Plus IELTS 6.0-6.5

Full-time undergraduate courses in the UK vary from one year to four years depending on the type of course you choose. You have the choice of studying a single honours degree where you'll focus entirely on one subject, or you can study two subjects in what's called a joint honours or combined honours degree. Many courses now offer the option of studying overseas or spending a year working in industry, so that you can apply what you are learning directly to the workplace.  Whatever, wherever and however you choose to study the choice is up to you!

Foundation Degrees (FdA, FdSc etc)

Foundation Degrees are two year career-related higher education courses, which are equivalent to the first stages of a degree. They are available in many areas, including art and design, media and communications, engineering and hospitality management, and can be used as a good foundation for a career or as a basis from which you can progress on to a degree course.

Diplomas of Higher Education

Diplomas of Higher Education are two-year courses in subject areas usually related to the social sciences, such as education, theology, communication studies and social work. They are ideal for students hoping to progress to a career in these areas and also provide a foundation for higher education courses in the same subject area.

Degrees

Degrees are the most popular undergraduate qualification in the UK. They are academic courses, usually studied over three years in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, or four years in Scotland (where the title Master's Degree may be awarded). Some degree courses may be extended for a year to enable students to spend a year in industry (such as on engineering degrees) or overseas (such as on degrees in modern languages).

University International Foundation Year

University International Foundation Year courses help to bridge any gaps between qualifications you hold already and the ones you need to begin a degree course at a UK university, whether this is because you need to develop your English language skills, improve on your academic qualifications, or both.

To apply for full-time undergraduate degree courses and Higher National Diplomas (HNDs), you simply make a single approach through the centralised application process. This service is provided by UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) and can be accessed online.

To apply online all you need to do is follow these simple steps:

Step 1  -  Choosing courses

Use Course Search at www.ucas.com to find out which courses might suit you and the universities and colleges that might offer them.

Step 2  -  Applying

You can apply for up to five courses using the online application system at www.ucas.com

You can only submit one application form visa the UCAS online application system. If you wish to apply for your maximum number of courses you will need to make sure you have the details for all five courses. However, if you do not know which other courses you wish to apply for don't panic, the UCAS system allows you to save your progress so you can come back at a later date to complete the form.

The personal statement is an important component of your application. If you would like to find out tips about how to write a good personal statement, come and attend our seminar held on 29 September at the British Council. Click here for details.