TASA ASIA | UK – United Kingdom

The UK offers a very diverse range of higher education options. Listed below are a few features that make the UK, the preferred study abroad destination.

A mix of diversity and variety

The structure of the education system in the UK allows the flexibility to combine courses or choose courses that suit the students well. There are various courses designed for working professionals with industry experience wanting to upgrade their skills, formal education for younger students in their chosen field and so on. UK universities offer full-time three-year bachelor’s degrees, one-year master’s degrees, four-year integrated degrees, sandwich courses, and doctorate degrees. For working professionals, there are options like one-year courses, foundation degrees, combined degrees, top-up degrees, part-time courses or conversion courses.

Varied alternate options

In the UK, students get an opportunity to experience different avenues. The rich culture of the UK gives a glimpse of live music, arts, sports, theatre, fashion and literature, interwoven with a fascinating history. The transport facilities make traveling and learning very easy and interesting in the UK.

Quality at affordable cost

The students who choose to study in the UK can rest assured that they are getting quality education at affordable costs as compared to the USA and Australia, which are considered as expensive destinations for study abroad. The students can graduate sooner, can apply for scholarships and financial aid. There are many scholarships and fellowships offered by many councils to facilitate students in their study and research in their chosen fields. Students can also work while they study in the UK.

State of art research facilities

UK is known for its excellent research facilities. The students who want to pursue further studies and research get to learn at the state of art research facilities. The quality of the research centers is par excellence which makes the UK a preferred destination for further studies and research.

The education system in the UK is divided into four main parts, primary education, secondary education, further education, and higher education. The UK has a variety of higher education opportunities. With over 100 universities offering various degree programs for students from the UK, there is no shortage of options. In the UK about one-third of all students go for some form of higher education and this number is more for their counterparts from Scotland. The competition for schools is fierce due to this reason and so it is advisable to apply early for courses.
In the UK most undergraduate degree programs have a duration of three years. However, the sandwich course is gaining popularity since it is a four year course and involves one year in the workplace (normally in the third year). The undergraduate programs in Scotland comprise of four years of study.
Graduate or masters programs are generally shorter in length and are undertaken after completion of an undergraduate program. Some professional degrees like medicine, veterinary, law, etc., have longer programs that can take five years or more for completion.

Higher education in UK

Many universities in the UK are made up of colleges that are dedicated to a specific subject matter. While the colleges are still governed by the university, each college has autonomy from each other as well as the university itself. Rather than applying to the central university admissions department, like in the US, the students either need to apply directly to the college of the subject they want to study in or in the case of undergraduate programs, they apply through a centralized system which allows them to apply to several colleges at once. This system is called the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, or UCAS. This means that the students have to decide on what they want to study before they even apply. In the UK, the emphasis is more on the depth of the subject, which enables the students to have a thorough understanding of the chosen subject.
The top universities in the UK are the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, the London School of Economics, the Imperial College London, the University of Durham and so on. Some of the best colleges in the country are situated in London, followed by Cambridge, Oxford, and Manchester.

The qualifying exams vary between study programs and levels. For each course, Indian students will need to meet a minimum English language requirement. Besides, there will be a minimum academic performance record as stipulated by the universities to qualify for admission.

General Exams

GMAT - The Graduate Management Admission Test is given by those who want to pursue an MBA or business or management-related courses. The aspirants are measured on English, mathematical and reasoning skills.
GRE - The Graduate Record Examination is taken by students applying to graduate schools to pursue an MA or MS. Also, many business schools accept GRE scores for granting admission for pursuing MBA or business or management courses.

Students need to check on the qualifying exams as stipulated by the universities and accordingly apply for the same.

Language Exam

TOEFL – It is the most popular English proficiency exam accepted by a majority of the universities. The TOEFL tests the students’ usage and understanding of the English language as it is used in communicating in college and university settings. Students can appear for this exam any number of times. This test is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which conducts the test and sets the test paper.
IELTS – International English Language Testing System is a standardized language test that needs to be cleared for admission in different universities in the UK.

Students are advised to thoroughly check the entry requirements of the university/college they are applying to and then take up the exams accordingly. Many educational institutes accept some specific exams whereas some institutes allow students to give the exams of their choice. Therefore, before preparing for the exams, students should check the university requirements.

Application Requirements

Apart from the above-mentioned tests, there are other requirements for applying to educational institutes in the UK.
Letter of recommendation – (LOR) is a reference letter written by a third-party describing the qualities, characteristics, and capabilities of the prospective student for recommendation to the college in terms of that individual’s ability to perform a particular task or function. The third-party could be a professor, direct manager, etc.
Statement of Purpose – A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is the introduction of the student to the college and admission officers. It is always written in the first person and describes the reason for applying to a particular college. It needs to highlight why the college should accept you. The style of writing could differ from formal to casual, but it is important to remember that it should reflect the student’s personality as well.
Essay: Essays are also required to be submitted by a prospective student. Essays are an important part of the university admissions process. Students may be required to write one or two essays, along with a few optional essays too. Common topics include career aspirations, strengths and weaknesses, skills, experiences, and reasons for considering a particular school.
Apart from the above-mentioned requirements, students applying to undergraduate courses should have completed 10+2. Also, those who are applying to graduate courses must have completed 16 years of education. In addition to all these, students also need to show proof of the finances to the universities to secure admission.

Cut-off for Exams

All the major universities and colleges also set cut-off for various exams which students need to obtain for securing admission. Before applying to their preferred universities, aspirants should check the cut-off marks for GMAT, GRE, TOEFL and then start preparing for the exams accordingly.

International students in the UK have to pay more tuition fees in comparison to the students from the UK or EU. The tuition fee varies according to different universities, courses, and the city that the students choose to live in. Living expenses like accommodation, food, travel, etc are as per the choice of the student. Costs will vary depending on the lifestyle, place of residence and socializing of the students. But compared to studying in the US or Australia, UK can work out to be a much reasonable study abroad destination with the best quality education.
Medicine, Business Management, Computer Science, Finance and Accounting, Economics, Communications/Media are popular courses that Indian students pursue in the UK. The location of the accommodation plays an important role in the costing for the students similar to the US. A student residing in the metropolitan city will be spending more on accommodation as compared to a student who resides in the suburban part of the city.

Scholarships and Education Loan

In the UK, meritorious and need-based fee waivers are awarded to international students. Students with strong academics and excellence in extracurricular activities would be eligible for scholarship awards and financial assistance. To avail the benefits of these scholarships and financial assistance, the students should firstly check on the details as these are university-specific and have to submit all the relevant documents before the specified deadlines. Most importantly, the applicants are judged on how well the students present their projects. All students are not eligible for these scholarships. Hence the eligibility criteria need to be checked before applying for the same. Loans are provided by the banks for higher education. Certain parameters are to be met by the applicant. The candidates should be an Indian national with a strong academic record. The applicant should be seeking admission to a professional, technical or other courses as prescribed by the bank. The application is considered only if the admission is confirmed. All relevant documents need to be submitted along with the application. The approval of loans is at the discretion of the bank.

Student visas are issued to applicants whose primary purpose of visit to a country is to pursue education. Although getting admission in the university is extremely important, these legal documents for obtaining visas are of utmost importance. Every country has its own immigration rules. The documents can range from education-related ones to different proof of funds acceptable and so on to enable the students to study in that country. These are specified on the official website. Students can check on the same and accordingly apply for their visa. There are some common factors in all student visa applications.
The students need to know the entire process of applying and obtaining the student visas to study abroad. Studying abroad requires meticulous planning. Students are advised to plan their admission/ application process as per the university deadlines and should accordingly work backward. Students are required to appear for English eligibility tests as per the university policies and also have required documents in place for the smooth processing of their application. Hence, students are always advised to apply 3-4 months in advance to avoid any last-minute delays. Candidates seeking financial aid, scholarships and education loans should start a couple of months earlier than the regular applicants for the process of application and approval of the same.

UK – United Kingdom

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