ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

International students are required to demonstrate a good command of the English language as an admission requirement for all academic courses. The requirements are usually in the form of two most widely accepted qualifications – International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) or Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). These qualifications are offered by various institutions around the world. Some educational institutions in the UK accept other English Language Tests or qualifications, but these may vary. Check with an institution before you apply. Most educational institutions ask for an IELTS score of 6.0 or a TOEFL score of around 550 (or around 230 if you take the new computer-based tests).

Please note that these requirements do not apply if your first language is English, or if you can provide evidence that your education in your home country was conducted in an English medium.

Most educational institutions in the UK also have their own in-house IELTS testing centre. If you have not sat this exam, or your IELTS or TOEFL score fell below the required level, you might be asked to complete a short course of around 150–400 hours of English tuition before being formally accepted for an academic course.

APPLYING AS A SHORT-TERM VISITING STUDENT

Non-EU visiting students

In the top universities enrolment is competitive and places are limited. It is best to start your application at least one year before you are planning to start a course. The deadline for applications is usually the second week of May for the summer and autumn terms, and the second week of October for the spring term.

Once you have decided on a university, contact their study abroad programme co-ordinator for an application form and an information pack. Complete the application form and return it to the study abroad office, together with the transcripts of your current university studies and academic references. If you are selected, they will send you a letter of offer and a course catalogue. Use this catalogue to choose the course/module you would like to take. You should also discuss your course choice with your tutor at home to ensure that it meets your course requirements and transfers.

If you need further information on classes you can contact the study abroad adviser in an individual department by email or telephone. Fill in the class details and send it back to the study abroad office. You will then be sent a letter of acceptance. A few weeks before you are due to arrive the study abroad office will also send you details about your accommodation and other details about your arrival.

EU students

EU students are chosen by their home universities to participate in particular study programmes abroad and must apply through their home university. British universities have agreements with many EU universities for student exchange under the Socrates–Erasmus programme.

Usually the course is valued in terms of the ECTS (European Course Transfer System). An academic year is made up of 60 ECTS credits with a term equalling 20 ECTS credits. Check with your home university whether this meets your academic requirements.

Each student will be required to complete a learning agreement and an enrolment form. You will then receive a letter of offer.

Fees

All non-EU students have to pay higher tuition fees than UK students, because their study is no longer subsidised by the British Government. EU nationals are comparatively better-off because they pay the same fees as UK students. The rates of fees vary from institution to institution and according to the subjects studied. Science-based subjects are more expensive than arts or social science-based subjects. More specialised qualifications like medicine or dentistry are also more expensive.

The table below gives a rough idea of fees charged by educational institutions each year in the UK.

	EU students	Non-EU students
Degree (full time)	up to £3,000*	£8,000–£11,000
Postgraduate (full time)	£3,000	£9,000–£15,000
Non-degree professional courses	£2,500–£8,000	£4,500–£10,000

Scholarships

There is limited funding available for overseas students in the UK. EEA students are permitted to apply for financial assistance in order to cover tuition fees on the basis of low income from the Department of Education and Employment. You can email EUTeam@dfes.gsi.gov.uk for an application pack or contact them directly on 01325 391 199. You will need to fill in the form and supply proof of your parental income. If you are eligible for funding your fees will then be paid directly to your educational institution. Check www.dfee.gov.uk for further details. EEA students can also obtain additional funding from their government or other funding bodies in their home country. Scholarships are also available from some universities and colleges.

Very limited government scholarships are available to non-EEA students and scholarships for undergraduate courses are even rarer. Some of these are:

British Chevening Scholarships

These scholarships are funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and are given to around 2,200 overseas students planning to study a post-graduate course. This scholarship can be awarded as a full award where fees, living allowance and travel expenses are paid; a fees-only award; and a combination of both. Contact the British Council or the embassy or high commission in your home country for further details.

Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowship Plan

These are given mainly to students on postgraduate courses from a Commonwealth country only. Applications have to made in your own country through the Commonwealth Scholarship Agency or local British Council offices.

DFID Shared Scholarship Scheme

This scheme is mainly aimed at postgraduate courses and is awarded by the Department of International Development and some universities to students from a developing Commonwealth country. There are some restrictions on age, subjects and your employment status. Contact the British Council or the embassy or high commission in your home country for further details.

Overseas Research Awards Scheme

Funded by the Department of Education and Skills, this scholarship is given to postgraduate research students who demonstrate exceptional academic and research merit. Applications can be made through the university at which you study.

University scholarships

Several UK universities offer scholarships to both EEA and non-EEA students. Their details are usually listed in the prospectus and on their website. However, do bear in mind that these scholarships are limited and are based on merit.

Other scholarships

There are several private scholarships available for overseas students (both EEA and non-EEA). Hobsons’ Sponsorship and Funding Directory published annually has details about private companies offering scholarships. Prospects’ Funding Guide is another good guide with plenty of information on private and public funding bodies in the UK.

www.britishcouncil.org
The British Council site has links and further information on the main scholarship schemes offered by the British government and British colleges and universities.

www.educationuk.org/scholarships
The Education UK website has an easy-to-use search facility for scholarships, bursaries and awards. The search facility lets you choose awards relating to course, institution and charity or organisation.

www.prospects.ac.uk
This website has complete details about postgraduate opportunities in the UK including sources of funding.

GLOSSARY OF EDUCATIONAL TERMS

BA:	Bachelor of Arts
BSc:	Bachelor of Science
BSocSc:	Bachelor of Social Science
DLitt:	Doctor of Literature
FE:	Further Education
GCSE:	General Certificate of Secondary Education
GNVQ:	General National Vocational Qualification
HE:	Higher Education
HND:	Higher National Diploma
IELTS:	International English Language Testing Service
MA:	Master of Arts
MPhil:	Master of Philosophy
MSc:	Master of Science
NCVQ:	National Council for Vocational Qualifications
PGCE:	Postgraduate Certificate of Education
PhD:	Doctor of Philosophy
SCOTVEC:	Scottish Vocational Educational Council
SVQ:	Scottish Vocational Qualification
SWAS:	Social Work Admissions Systems
TEFL:	Teaching English as a Foreign Language
TOEFL:	Test of English as a Foreign Language
UCAS:	Universities and Colleges Admission System
UCLES:	University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate

USEFUL ADDRESSES AND CONTACT DETAILS

British Accreditation Council
Westminster Central Hall, Storey’s Gate
London SW1H 9NH
Tel: 020 7233 3468
www.the-bac.org

British Council
Information Centre
10 Spring Gardens
London SW1A 2BN
Tel: 020 7930 8466
Fax: 020 7839 6347
www.britishcouncil.org

Department for Education and Employment
Sanctuary Buildings
Great Smith Street
London SW1P 3BT
Tel: 020 7925 5000
Fax: 020 7925 6000
www.dfee.gov.uk

UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service)
Rosehill, New Barn Lane
Cheltenham GL52 3LZ
Tel: 01242 222 444
www.ucas.org.uk

UKCOSA (United Kingdom Council for Overseas Student Affairs)
9–17 St Albans Place
London N1 0NX
Tel: 020 7226 2762
www.ukcosa.org.uk

USEFUL WEBSITES

www.the-bac.org
The British Accreditation Council website lists all the independent colleges of further and higher education. It also has a database of all of the accredited colleges in the UK.

www.universitiesuk.ac.uk
Universities UK is an association of UK universities. The site has links to all the universities in the UK.

www.educationuk.org
A comprehensive website containing information about all aspects of studying in the UK. The site offers a search facility for individual courses, colleges and universities.

www.britishcouncil.org
The British Council website has links and further information about colleges and universities in the UK. The site also provides information and guidance on applying for courses in the UK.

www.prospects.ac.uk
This website has complete details about postgraduate opportunities in the UK including sources of funding.

www.ucas.org.uk
The UCAS website has details on applying for undergraduate courses in the UK. The site also permits you to apply online and check the status of your application.

www.ukcosa.org.uk
UKCOSA is an independent organisation that promotes the interests of overseas students in the UK. The website has information, advice and useful links for all prospective and current students in the UK.