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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS |
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Are there any publications for information on studying in the UK? |
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Yes, here are some.
International Awards 2001+
Publisher: Association of Commonwealth Universities
Description: If you're looking to study abroad in a country other than your own, this is a
guide of funding opportunities. It has over 950 detailed entries to help you match your
requirements with international, US and European and Commonwealth sponsors.
Commonwealth Universities Yearbook
Publisher: Association of Commonwealth Universities
Description: A detailed guide to 500 universities in the Commonwealth. Appendices include
a short description of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan and addresses of
Commonwealth Scholarship agencies worldwide.
Education Authorised Directory and Annual
Publisher: The School Government Publishing Company
Description: Lists educational authorities and associations.
Education Yearbook
Publisher: Longman
Description: Provides addresses of UK education organisations, schools and tertiary
institutions school associations, publishers etc.
Grants Register
Publisher: Macmillan
Description: Includes information on a variety of scholarships, fellowships and research
grants, exchange and vacation study opportunities, professional and vocational grants.
Guide to the Major Grant-Making Trusts
Publisher: Directory for Social Change
Description: Provides information on over 200 of the largest grant-making organisations in
Britain.
Student Grants and loans: a Brief Guide
Publisher: Department for Education and Skills
Description: Gives general information on British local education authority grants and UK
student loans.
Study Abroad
Publisher: UNESCO
Description: Country-by-country list of grants for studying in over 100
countries worldwide, including Britain.
Tuition Fees and the Cost of Living (information sheet)
Available from British Council offices
UKCOSA Guidance Notes for Students: Fees and Student Support; EEA Students
Available from British Council offices
Scholarships Guide
Publisher: The British Council
Description: A comprehensive guide to scholarships and fellowships in the UK.
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Are there any useful websites on studying in the UK? |
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I want to study in the UK. How can I find out more? |
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For general information about studying in the UK, including undergraduate and postgraduate
courses, visit Education UK.
You can also pop into your nearest British Council office and one of our friendly advisers can help find the information you're looking. |
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How can I book my university accommodation in the UK? |
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If you'd like to organise your university accommodation before you go (and we think it's
always a good idea), simply contact the accommodation officer at your university.
You can also pop into your nearest local British Council office and ask a Scholarships Officer for a name and number of a Regional Support Officer in the
UK, so you can contact to organise your accommodation. |
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What should I do if I don't have the minimum entry qualifications? |
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If you don't have the minimum entry qualifications to get into the course you'd like to,
then you should seek from Registrar of your chosen university. If you have any relevant
practical experience, this can help your entry application even if you don't have any
formal qualifications.
Undergraduates
If you do not have the formal qualification, you can complete a Foundation course, which
usually lasts one academic year. A number of colleges and universities run
these types of courses.
Postgraduates
If you don't neither a formal degree or relevant work experience, but you can justify to
the course tutor that they have a flair for the particular course, you may be admitted to
a Postgraduate Certificate programme.
A Postgraduate Certificate is usually the first semester of a Master's degree and if you
perform well you may be able to register for a Master's degree.
For more information, simply contact your nearest Education UK Centre at a British Council office/ British Library.
Alternatively, you can email your query to:
- delhi.educationuk@in.britishcouncil.org
- chennai.educationuk@in.britishcouncil.org
- kolkata.educationuk@in.britishcouncil.org
- mumbai.educationuk@in.britishcouncil.org.
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Do I need my own computer? |
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No. Most UK institutions have computer facilities so you won't need to bring your own
computer. |
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How should I choose my course and institution? |
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There are simply lots of ways you can choose a course and institution in the UK.
Here are a few.
Pop in
You can visit your nearest Education UK Centre at British Council offices/British Library for relevant information
Click
On any of our websites, you can use a course search facility to help you find the course
that's right for you. You can search by the subject you want to study, a related subject
or the type of course you're looking for (e.g. Master's).
Try it now.
When you're looking for a course to suit you, take a look at conversion courses too. These
types of courses help you graduate in areas that aren't related to what you're studying.
For example, if you are a student with a background in science or mathematics moving to
computer science Master's course, your conversion course would allow you to graduate from
something like history.
The Teaching Assessment Exercise is also worth looking at when you're trying to find a
course. It grades the quality of teaching by subject, so you know whether you it's a good
quality course. |
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What types of postgraduate degrees are available? |
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There are generally three types of postgraduate degrees you can choose from. Postgraduate
degrees tend to be organised around small group discussions and practical work, which are
both distinguishing features of UK higher education. They also tend to differ by subject,
coursework, and the types of assessment.
Master's
Master's degree courses normally consist of lectures, seminars and classes. Students are
usually required to submit a dissertation of 15,000 or more words at the end of the course
to receive a Master's degree.
Master of Business Administration (MBA) (either general or specialist)
MBA courses normally consist of lectures, seminars and classes. Generally students choose
whether they want to study by coursework (generalist) or by research (specialist).
Certificates and diplomas
There is a whole range of postgraduate degrees that you can study in the UK. For example,
take the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). These are usually for graduates who
want to become teachers in UK primary or secondary schools. They are normally one year in
length, and combine practical and theoretical training.
Then there's the Postgraduate Diploma (Pg Dip). This is usually a nine-month course
lasting from October to the following June. It can serve different purposes: preparation
for further study; an alternative to a Master's degree; and a qualification in its own
right.
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How long will it take to finish a postgraduate course in the UK? |
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Postgraduate courses are extremely intensive and usually take one calendar year to
complete.
As a result, although the number of teaching hours and amount of material covered are the
same as in other countries, course lengths are usually considerably shorter.
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What is the difference between a Master's degree and a Postgraduate Certificate or
Diploma? |
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The difference between all these types of degrees is the type of lectures, seminars and
classes.
For example, most Master's courses require you to write a dissertation of 15,000 - 20,000
words at the end of their course. Diplomas on the other hand are often the same course as
the Master's but without the dissertation. They also act as a bridging course between the Diploma and the Master's. |
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Can I progress from a Diploma or Certificate to a Master's? |
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Yes. They will be listed in course directories as MSc/Diploma or MA/Diploma. |
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What is the difference between the types of MBAs? |
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The general MBA covers all aspects of business administration and the different aspects
(finance, accounting, marketing, organisational behaviour, strategic management).
Specialist MBAs are designed for particular industries (such as finance or retailing), or
sectors (such as the public sector). |
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Are there any formal English language qualifications? |
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Most universities and colleges require you to have reached a certain level of English.
This could be:
- 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.
- NEAB University Entrance Test in English for speakers of other languages,
grade 3.
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Where can I find information about postgraduate courses? |
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There are lots of good websites about postgraduate courses. [Postgraduate Directory] and
[Postgrad: The Directory of Graduate Studies] are good starting points. |
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When should I start applying for a postgraduate course? |
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Application timetables tend to vary on the postgraduate or research degree you're applying
for.
Generally speaking, for a research degree you can start your course at any time. There are
advantages to starting in September. For example, if you're an international student you
can attend an induction and get help in finding accommodation.
If you're applying for a degree with coursework, you'll start no later than April (if the
course starts in September). |
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How can I compare universities and colleges? |
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There are lots of ways to compare universities, but here are some handy ways that can help
you work out if the course is right for you.
Teaching Quality Assessment Reports
Teaching Quality Assessments Reports are written by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). These reports can
help you compare by subjects and institutions.
The subject review looks at:
- the quality of the teaching of that subject by institution
- other student's experiences in that subject (including progression, achievement, support
and guidance).
There are slightly different systems for England and Northern Ireland, Wales, and
Scotland. In England and Northern Ireland. Scores from one to four are given on each of
the six areas for judgment (the maximum total is therefore twenty four) and you can see
how each institution scores under each heading.
You'll also notice that the standards in these areas may differ. In Wales, there are three
standards: excellent, satisfactory and unsatisfactory. In Scotland, there are four
standards: excellent, highly satisfactory, satisfactory and unsatisfactory.
Unofficial rankings are compiled by various publications
Unofficial rankings are compiled by averaging information from various official sources.
This type of information averages rankings to reveal quality of a university or course.
For unofficial rankings, take a look at The Times, it ranks by institution and subject. The Guardian newspaper also ranks institutions, but it does it only by subject. These are less
authoritative, but can be used to see an institution's strength in a particular subject,
rather than assessing the overall standard of education from the student's point-of-view.
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What are the entry requirements for an MBA? |
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To get into a MBA you need:
- a first degree (it doesn't have to be in business studies)
- at least two years managerial work experience;
- a GMAT score at least 500
- IELTS 6.0 /TOEFL 550.
For details of MBA entry requirement of some UK universities, check the British Education
Guide available from the British Council offices.
I've been asked by the UK institution to submit a certain amount as a deposit in order to
secure the place. Should I give the money? Is it a common practice among UK institutions?
Yes, it is a common practice. But, try not to give out money easily at this stage if you
haven't got a visa yet. Try to explain to the institution that it is difficult to exchange
foreign currency in India because of the foreign exchange restriction, and it is not easy
to get a visa either. Normally the institution will agree to collect the fee after your
arrival in the UK. |
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