Choose the right UK undergraduate course

You must think about the following things, if you’re choosing a UK undergraduate course:

• What type of degree is it?
• How is the degree assessed?
• What are the options with the subject?
• Does it follow your chosen career path?
• What are the entry requirements?
• Are you happy with the teaching methods?
• Is it a recognized qualification in your home country?

Whether you choose to study for a foundation degree, degree, or HND, you’ll learn to think for yourself and work independently.

Applicants may choose from thousands of UK courses in computing and business, science and technology, social sciences, the humanities, art and design and many others. UK education system let you to choose exactly what you want to study from the broad range and flexible approach.

UK undergraduate study that suits your needs

Applicants can enroll on a bachelor’s degree from the beginning, or you can start by taking a two-year HND or foundation degree and then top up to a degree afterwards. You can focus entirely on one subject and study a single honours degree, or study two subjects in a joint honours or combined honours degree – it’s entirely up to applicant’s choice.

How long is a UK undergraduate course?

In the UK, full-time undergraduate courses vary from one year to four years depending on the type of course you choose:

• HND, foundation degree, Dip HE: two years; three with a year in industry/overseas
• HNC: one year
• Bachelor’s degree: three years (four in Scotland); four with a year in industry

Master’s degree (where these are awarded as a first degree): four years

What UK undergraduate courses are available?

Diploma (HND), Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher national certificates and diplomas are one- and two-year career-related higher education courses, equivalent to the first stages of a degree. These courses are available in many areas including sports studies, engineering, media and communications, art and design and music technology. Look for HNC/HND courses in the course finder. Applicants can enter a career at junior management level or can choose to ‘top-up’ to a degree by transferring to the second or third year of the degree course, on successful completion.

Foundation Degrees (FdA, FdSc, etc.)

Equivalent to the first stages of a degree, there are foundation degrees, which are two-year career-related higher education courses. They are available in areas including media and communications, art and design, hospitality management and engineering. They can be used as a basis to progress on to a degree course a good foundation or for a career. Applicants should look for foundation degrees in the course finder.

Diplomas of Higher Education

Under the diplomas of higher education, there are two-year courses in subject areas usually related to the social sciences, such as education, communication studies, social work and theology. Look for higher education diplomas in the course finder. Students can expect to hope for a progress to a career in these areas and also provide a foundation for higher education courses in the same subject area.

Degrees

Degrees 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). Look for degrees in the course finder. Some degree courses may be extended for 12 months to enable students to spend time in industry or overseas.

University International Foundation Year

A centralized application process for UK undergraduate study is the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), which makes applying for full-time undergraduate degree courses and Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) straightforward and easy to understand.

The UK government offers courses that are validated by UK government-recognized universities, when you apply through UCAS, which are recognized by:

• Apply online using UCAS Apply
• Apply to a wide range of different courses and institutions
• Track the progress of your applications
• Make up to five choices at once on one application
• All international students will be treated fairly under UCAS procedures and rules, who apply through UCAS.

Online applications with UCAS Apply

You will be taken through to the UCAS Apply website, when you choose a course and select ‘Apply online’ in the course finder. You can also use Apply independently or through a school, college or other organization registered with UCAS.

Using UCAS Apply offers many benefits:

• Corrections can be made at any time before sending the application
• ‘View all details’ lets you see how your application will look when UCAS sends it to the universities and colleges you have chosen
• You can monitor your progress, change your contact details and accept or decline offers online using ‘Track’
• Automatic checks ensure accurate applications; common mistakes, such as an invalid date of birth or an invalid course code, are eliminated
• The preferred method of application by UK institutions and can be used by any student with access to the internet is UCAS Apply.

Dates for your UCAS application

October January March, are three deadlines for course applications through UCAS:

You can apply at any time between mid-September and 30 June, if you are applying from outside the European Economic Area (EEA). You should apply by 15 October, if you are applying to the University of Cambridge or Oxford, or for courses in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and veterinary science.

Applicants may need to apply before these deadlines as the universities and colleges will need time to consider your application for. To know the start date, you can click on the ‘course details’ page in the course finder.

You are advised to send your application early, although some UK institutions will be happy to receive applications right up to the start of the course. Some popular courses may not have vacancies after 15 January and there is no guarantee that applications will be considered after this date.

Post Graduate Course

If you choose the UK, then you just to pay tuition fees for one year and you’ll be back in the workplace before you know it.

You’ll be immersed in English, the world’s most important business language, while you’re here. You’ll be part of a truly international community – you may find as many as 50 different nationalities on a single campus, at the same time.

To prove employers that you’re capable of independent thought and self-discipline, a master’s degree, PhD or MBA from a UK university is enough to prove it.

UK postgraduate study that suits your needs

It’s up to you, you can start by enrolling on a postgraduate diploma course (PG Dip), then transfer to a master’s degree, or begin by taking MRes (master of research), which could lead on to a PhD. The wide range of UK postgraduate courses on offer gives you great flexibility.

How long is a UK postgraduate course?

In the UK, full-time postgraduate courses vary from one year to four years, depending on the type of course you choose:

• One-year courses: Master’s degrees, Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma, MBAs
• Two-year courses: Some master’s degrees
• Three to four-year courses: New Route PhDs, PhDs

What UK undergraduate courses are available?

In the UK, full-time undergraduate courses vary from one year to four years depending on the type of course you choose:

• Postgraduate certificate or diploma (PG Cert/Dip): Postgraduate certificates and diplomas that don’t usually involve research and are one-year taught postgraduate courses. They will give you a fantastic head start in your chosen career and are often accepted as professional qualifications.
• Pre-master’s courses: Pre-master’s courses can last from one term to a complete academic year and cover academic cultural instruction, study, and language training. If your qualifications or English language skills don’t quite match the standard required for a UK master’s degree, you may need to take a pre-master’s course.
• Research master’s (MRes, MPhil): In the UK, on a master’s degree by research, you won’t typically attend lectures; instead you’ll devote the entire year to research. Applicant’s final mark will be determined by the quality of their dissertation.
• Taught master’s (MA, MSc, LLM, Med, etc.): These courses generally last for one year and consist of two elements. You’ll complete a number of modules (writing essays and taking examinations, attending lectures and seminars) and produce a dissertation from original research.
• Doctorate (PhD): It takes three to four years to complete a PhD, also known as a doctorate, during which time you’ll be working on a single research project. You’ll be asked to present a dissertation of approximately 100,000 words, in your final year. New Route PhDs include taught elements as well as a research project and give you the opportunity to undertake interdisciplinary study.
• Master of Business Administration (MBA): MBA is the best-known and most popular postgraduate qualification. It is a specialist business taught master’s course that will give you a real step up the managerial ladder.

You need to check whether are entitled to work and how many hours you can work each week, before taking on a job. Visit the UK Border Agency (UKBA) website, for more information.

To help connect you to the world of work, your UK place of study will have a careers service. They will provide a wide range of help and support, including:

• • Help with writing CVs and job applications
  • Information about what it’s like to work in the UK
  • Tips on preparing for job interviews
  • Access to job adverts

They will also help you consider career choices and make professional contacts and get first-hand experience of the workplace. The institutions understand that you’ll need flexibility to work around your studies as many UK institutions also have partnerships with local employers who want students to work for them.