BENEFITS OF BRITISH HIGHER EDUCATION

A degree from Britain is renowned all over the world for its academic strength. British universities have been the training grounds for some of the greatest administrators, businessmen and scientists around the world. From Nehru to Lee Kuan Yew to Bill Clinton, many of those who have studied at British universities have proceeded to great careers. Employers worldwide appreciate the skills that British universities offer. Students also love British universities for their range of courses, flexibility, excellence, affordability, cosmopolitan cultural and social atmosphere. University campuses now have an international ambience as thousands of students from more than 150 countries come to Britain to study every year.

If you have looked into studying abroad, you may have considered other countries too. Studying in Britain is cheaper than studying in America. It is also easier to obtain a visa and clear immigration in Britain; anyone who goes through the American visa process in an American Consulate can attest to that. Britain offers a more cosmopolitan atmosphere than some American universities, which can be located in isolated areas. The British system also permits students to work outside the campus and also allows spouses to work, something that America doesn’t allow.

Studying in the UK is good value for money because British degree programmes are more intensive and are generally shorter. A full-time undergraduate degree usually takes only three years to complete in the UK compared to four years in the United States or Australia. A full-time postgraduate (masters) course in the UK can take only one year to complete compared to two in the United States or Australia (although some are also two years in the UK).

Britain also offers greater employment opportunities than other Commonwealth countries like Australia and New Zealand. Britain is a link to both Europe and America and you will find more companies recruiting in Britain than Australia and New Zealand.

However, to derive the maximum benefit for your career, you should look at your choice. There are thousands of subjects to choose from and an array of academic and vocational levels from school-leaving qualifications to undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. There are also many competing universities and courses, which may or may not meet your requirements. You may be able to get a place at a prestigious institution but your choice of course is also important.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION

Higher educational institutions in Britain are classified as private colleges, colleges of further education, colleges of higher education and universities.

Private colleges offer courses that prepare students for professional and technical courses as well degree courses. Their fees are usually high because they do not get any government funding. There are a lot of private colleges springing up around Britain. Before you apply, check whether they are accredited by the independent British Accreditation Council. Their website (www.the-bac.org) has a list of the accredited private colleges.

Colleges of further education (CFE) offer a vast range of professional, vocational and qualification courses including GCSEs, AS, A levels, access courses, BTEC and GNVQs. They also include sixth form colleges, technical colleges, arts and technology colleges and colleges of education in Scotland.

Colleges of higher education (CHE) usually offer courses leading to degrees, postgraduate qualifications, professional and vocational qualifications and diplomas of higher education. They include colleges of further education, institutes of higher education as well as schools and academies of music and drama.

Universities offer higher educational qualifications (diploma, degree, masters and doctoral) as well as other professional qualifications. Choosing what and where to study can be difficult. You should go through prospectuses carefully and compare the different colleges/universities before you decide on your course. You can obtain a prospectus by writing to the universities’ admissions office or to their international office. You may also be able to obtain a prospectus from the British Council office or the local recruitment office of the university. Alternatively, most educational institutions now have a downloadable prospectus on their website. The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) website has complete links to all colleges, colleges of further education and colleges of higher education (see www.ucas.ac.uk). Universities UK, an association of British universities, also has links for all the universities in the UK on their website www.universitiesuk.ac.uk. A detailed directory of universities and colleges in the UK can be found in the Appendix of this book.

Before deciding on an institution, check the environment/location, the cost of living in that area, the number of international students, the teaching methods, and the student-to-lecturer ratio. Your local British Council or an admissions officer at the college or university will be able to help you with these details. Those applying for an undergraduate degree course can also check with Universities and Colleges Admissions System (UCAS) before applying.

Although there is no official ranking of the universities or colleges in the UK, The Sunday Times and the Guardian newspaper offer a useful guide to British Universities and list different departments in order of rank. The Sunday Times and the Guardian league tables of British universities and colleges is compiled using a formula that rewards teaching excellence and the academic standard of admissions above all else. Use this guide in conjunction with individual university prospectuses.

The Sunday Times university rankings for 2005

• 1.University of Oxford
• 2.University of Cambridge
• 3.Imperial College, London
• 4.London School of Economics
• 5.University of Warwick
• 6.University College, London
• 7.University of York
• 8.University of Durham
• 9.University of St Andrews
• 10.University of Loughborough

The Guardian ranking of British universities for 2005

• 1.University of Oxford
• 2.University of Cambridge
• 3.Imperial College, London
• 4.School of Oriental and African Studies
• 5.London School of Economics
• 6.King’s College, London
• 7.University College, London
• 8.University of York
• 9.University of Warwick
• 10.University of Edinburgh

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Applying to most of the educational institutions in the UK is simple and straightforward. You can apply to some institutions online. Check the institution’s website to see whether they permit online applications. You can also request an application pack and return your application by post.

The British Council

The British Council offices around the world offer free guidance to students wishing to study in Britain. The British Council has direct contacts with academic institutions in Britain. The Council offices will have a range of prospectuses and course details of academic institutions in the UK. The counsellors at the British Council can also assist students with their enrolment and give further guidance on visa, funding and accommodation matters.

Private recruiters

Many British universities have official agents working on their behalf in many countries around the world. These agents are usually trained educational counsellors and can assist students with enrolment procedures. Most agents offer their services free of charge (they receive commission for every student enrolled) although some may charge a fee. Many of these referral agents are listed in your local Yellow Pages. You may also come across their adverts in your local newspaper.

Courses in colleges

To enrol on a college course you need to apply directly to the college admissions officer. When applying, make sure you write a covering letter giving all the necessary information and your contact details. Before applying for a course check that the institution is accredited by the British Accreditation Council (see page 3). If you are a non-EEA national, then the visa officer or immigration officer may want to know this before issuing a visa. Entry clearance officers at British missions abroad will only grant visas to prospective students of educational institutions listed in the Register of Education and Training Providers (compiled by the Department for Education and Skills). You can search for them at www.dfes.gov.uk/providersregister. Remember to verify your college before you apply for a visa.