education uk undergraduate brochure
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UK undergraduate qualifications are respected and valued all over the world. Whether you choose to study for a degree, Foundation Degree or HND, you'll learn to think for yourself and work independently, learning research skills and presentation methods you'll continue to use long after you leave university.TRANSCRIPT
Studying in the UK for undergraduate qualifications
www.educationuk.org/burma
Painting your futureEducation UK is managed byThe UK means the
United Kingdom and
consists of England,
Scotland, Wales
(Great Britain) and
Northern Ireland.
British Council
78, Kanna Road, Kyautada Township, Rangoon,
Burma
T + 95 1 254658, 256290, 256291F + 95 1 245345
[email protected]/burma
UK undergraduate qualifications are respected and valued all over the world.
Whether you choose to study for a degree, Foundation Degree or HND, you'll learn
to think for yourself and work independently, learning research skills and
presentation methods you'll continue to use long after you leave university.
Courses from accountancy to zoology are delivered at more than 3,000
educational institutions and there are a variety of routes, allowing you to combine
different types of courses according to your needs and abilities. The sheer variety
of specialist subjects means that you can find a course that best suits your
interests, ambitions and passions. For example, you could specialise in computer
games programming, ocean engineering, satellite positioning technology, sound
engineering, multimedia design, anthropology, cross-cultural psychology, hotel
management or dance.
A UK degree will equip you with the kind of proactive, problem-solving skills sought by today’s top compa-nies.
A degree will be invaluable for a current or future career or equip students for postgraduate study.
The UK’s degree programmes are underpinned by world-class research and links with business and industry.
Why study undergraduate degree courses in the UK?
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What can I study?
BTEC Higher National Certificate
(HNC) or Diploma (HND)
HNDs are two-year, full-time
career-related higher education
qualifications that combine career
preparation with opportunities for
further study. They are available in
many areas including engineering,
sports studies, art and design, media
and communications and music
technology and can be taken at further
education colleges, or higher education
colleges or universities in England,
Northern Ireland and Wales. HNDs are
awarded by the national awarding body
Edexcel, the most popular subject areas
are art, business, engineering and
information technology. HNCs are a
similar qualification, usually taken part
time. HNCs and HNDs are widely
recognised by employers in the UK and
may also enable you to join the second
or third year of some degree
programmes.
Higher National Certificate (HNC) and
Higher National Diploma (HND) in
Scotland
In Scotland, an HNC is awarded at the
end of the first year of a two-year HND
programme. It is a qualification in its
own right. Unlike in the rest of the UK,
however, HNCs in Scotland are full-time,
one-year courses. The HNC is aligned
with the first year of a degree course,
the HND with the second year; in many
cases, there are opportunities for
holders of HNCs progress to the second
year of a degree programme and for
holders of HNDs to the third year.
Foundation Degrees (FdA, FdSc etc)
They are two-year career-related higher
education courses, which combine work
experience with the academic structure
of a degree programme and can lead
on to a full honours degree (following
an additional year of study), or provide
opportunities to enter relevant
employment. They are available in
many areas, including art and design,
media and communications,
engineering and hospitality
management and successful students
are able to cite the letters FdA (for arts
subjects), FdSc (for science subjects) or
FdEng (for engineering) after their
name. Foundation degrees are offered
by several higher education institutions
in England, Northern Ireland and Wales,
with degree-awarding powers and BTEC
foundation degrees are offered through
many further education colleges.
Foundation degrees are not available in
Scotland. See www.fdf.ac.uk for more
information on foundation degrees.
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Diplomas of
Higher Education (Dip HE)
Diplomas of Higher Education are
university–level two-year courses
available in many humanities and social
science subjects, such as education,
theology, communication studies and
social work. They are ideal for students
hoping to progress to a career in these
areas and also provide a foundation for
higher education courses in the same
subject area. Though aimed at
preparing students for particular
careers, the teaching methods tend to
be more academic than on HNDs or
Foundation Degree programmes.
See www.ucas.com for a list of courses
available.
Degrees
Degrees are the most popular
undergraduate qualifications in the UK.
They 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).
Some degree courses may be extended
for a year to enable students to spend a
year in industry (such as on engineering
degrees) or overseas (such as on
degrees in modern languages). Degree
courses in professional subjects, such
as architecture, medicine, dentistry and
veterinary sciences, can take between
five and seven years to complete.
Qualifications vary in title from one
institution to another and there are
some exceptions to the general rules.
In Scotland, the first degree in arts in
the four ancient universities – St
Andrews, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling
and also in the University of Dundee is
an MA or Master of Arts. A Master’s
degree in all other faculties, and in the
other universities, is a postgraduate
qualification. For accurate information
on the qualifications offered by a
particular institution you should always
check the relevant prospects.
In the UK, many universities now offer
integrated masters programmes which
are four year undergraduate Master’s
awards and are increasingly becoming
the standard for those who want
careers as professional engineers or
scientists. In the first year students
follow a Bachelor degree syllabus but if
they attain high grades they may get
the opportunity to follow an integrated
Bachelor/Masters level syllabus in their
third and fourth year. On completion of
the course, students are awarded MEng
(engineering), MSci (science), MPhys
(Physics) and MMath (Mathematics).
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University International Foundation
Year (IFY)
University International Foundation Year
courses help to bridge any gaps
between qualifications you hold already
and the ones you need to begin a
degree course at a UK university,
whether this is because you need to
develop your English language skills,
improve on your academic
qualifications, or both. Many
universities run their own International
Foundation Year programmes. If you
choose one of these you may not
receive a formal qualifications but it
could lead to a particular degree course
at that institution. The IFY programme
might have different entry points
throughout the year, enabling you to
complete one, two or three academic
terms depending on your existing
academic qualifications and language
skills.
At both further education colleges and
universities, International Foundation
Year programmes often consist of
‘pathways’. These allow a student on a
particular pathway to choose one of a
number of several end results. For
example, if you area on a business
pathway, you might be able to progress
to a degree in economics, business
studies, accounting, IT or mathematics.
Other pathways include humanities, arts
and social sciences, science,
technology and medical.
You can find more information about
International Foundation Year
programmes, including how to apply on
the UCAS website www.ucas.com
Foundation year programmes
These programmes allow you to gain
skills in specific subjects such as
engineering, nursing, medicine, art and
business, and usually lead directly to
specific degree programmes.
They are aimed at students who have
never studied the subject before or
whose grades aren’t high enough for a
degree course.
For example, entry requirements for a
foundation year in engineering can be
up to 100 UCAS points lower than the
entry into the first year of a degree
programme in the same subject at the
same institution.
If you successfully complete your
course, it might allow you to enter the
degree programme linked to it in a
four-year programme of continuous
study. Application to join these courses
is generally through UCAS
www.ucas.com
Types of degree courses Typical content Usual length
The table below will give you types of degree courses you can study in the UK.
Honours degree One subject studied in depth Usually three years but can be four,
especially in Scotland. Architecture,
medicine, dentistry and veterinary
sciences degrees are five to seven
years.
Joint Honours degree Two subjects studied in Three to four years
less depth (more often four in Scotland)
Combined Honours degree Two or more subjects studied Three to four years
in less depth (more often four in Scotland)
Ordinary/General degree One or more subjects studied Three years
at less advanced level
5 6
You'll find the exact entry requirements for each course on the course profiles on
www.educationuk.org/burma The following will give you an idea of the sort of
qualifications you will need:
8
HND Qualifications equivalent to one or two UK A-levels, two Scottish
Highers or a Higher National Certificate or BTEC National Diploma;
or an international foundation year. Plus IELTS 5.5-6.0
Foundation Degree Qualifications equivalent to one or two UK A-levels, one or two
Scottish Highers or a National Diploma; or an international
foundation year. Plus IELTS 5.5-6.0
Diploma of Higher Education Qualifications equivalent to one or two UK A-levels, two or three
Scottish Highers or a National Diploma; or an international
foundation year. Plus IELTS 5.5-6.0
Degree Qualifications equivalent to two or three UK A-levels, three or four
Scottish Highers, a Higher National Certificate or Diploma, or BTEC
National Diploma; or an international foundation year.
Plus IELTS 6.0-6.5
The qualifications you need depend on the course you want to study. You'll be
expected to have completed at least 13 years of education in your own country or
the UK, and to have taken pre-university qualifications equivalent to UK A-levels,
Scottish Highers or National Diplomas.
If your qualifications don't match this, you can still study in the UK. You just have to
start at an earlier level. Many international students take an access, foundation or
bridging course, which are designed to bridge the gap between the qualifications
you already have and those required by the college or university of your choice.
These courses last one year and can be taken at the same university or college as
you intend to take the degree, or one close by. It’s important for you to choose
your access or foundation course carefully.
It is important for you to choose your access or foundation course carefully. Be clear about whether your choice offers an established route into a particular degree course. And if you need English language tuition, make sure yourcourse includes this.
What qualifications will I need?
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© Education UK
How will I know if I've chosen a good course?
UK higher education is quality assured
by government-supported agencies and
stringent assessment mechanisms,
which means UK degree programmes
are of a very high standard and are
respected as such internationally. Many
of the checks and reports are available
online, so you will never be left in any
doubt about the validity and quality of
the course you choose.
The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) is
responsible for regulating standards
and quality for UK higher education. It
produces a Code of Practice which
provides the institutions with guidelines
on how they manage academic
standards and quality. As well as setting
standard guidelines the QAA also carries
out inspections of institutions to see if
they are reaching these targets. These
QAA inspections are called ‘Institutional
Audits’ and the reports are published on
their website at www.qaa.ac.uk/reviews/
The higher education funding councils
also assess the quality of research
through the Research Assessment
Exercise (RAE). Every few years, the
RAE takes place to judge the quality of
research being carried out in UK
colleges and universities. The most
recent assessment took place in 2001
and the results can be downloaded
from www.hero.ac.uk/rae.index.htm
You can also find information about the
quality of higher education in the UK
universities and colleges at
www.unistats.ac.uk. Unistats brings
together key sources of official
information about the provision of
higher education in the UK, including
the results of the National Student
Survey (NSS). This survey is the result
of final year students rating the
institution at which they are studying on
a number of different criteria, such as
the level of academic support they
received and the learning resources
available to them.
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How much will it cost?
The figures below show approximately what you'll need to pay, but it's worth
bearing in mind that course fees can vary considerably between institutions. Costs
for individual courses are given in the course profiles on this website.
Foundation courses £4,000 to £12,000 per year
Arts courses £7,000 to £9,000 per year
Science courses £7,500 to £12,000 per year
Clinical courses £10,000 to £21,000 per year
How and when do I apply?
Once you have shortlisted your
preferred courses and colleges, you
should get the college prospectuses –
these are also available on the Internet
and can be accessed at
www.educationuk.org/burma.
Apply for a full-time undergraduate
course through UCAS
1. Check the minimum entry
requirements for each course you want
to apply for. There is no point making
an application if you do not have them.
(Bear in mind that the institution could
ask for more than these minimum
requirements if there is competition to
join the course).
2. Apply in one of two ways:
• Online using ‘Apply online’, a
web-based application system for
international and UK applicants
www.ucas.com/students/apply
• By post, using the printed application
form available from UCAS or from
your local British Council office. (Only
if the online version is not possible)
There is a charge for all applications
through UCAS – see
http://www.ucas.com/ or contact your
local British Council office for details of
current charges and how to pay.
Points to remember:
• You may apply for up to five courses
on one application form. If you are
applying for medicine, dentistry or
veterinary sciences/ medicine you
may only apply for four courses.
• You can only make one application
per academic year through the UCAS
system.
• Start thinking about this early – over a
year before you want to start your
course
Key dates:
• 1 September (the year before the
course starts) – all applications open
• 15 October – closing date for
applications to courses in medicine,
dentistry or veterinary
sciences/medicine and to Oxford and
Cambridge Universities
• 15 January – closing date for UK & EU
students
• 15 January – closing date for route A
art and design applications
• 1 September – 5 March – application
period for route B art and design
applications
• 30 June – closing date for
international students (unless you are
applying to Oxford or Cambridge or
for medicine, dentistry, veterinary
science/medicine or route B art and
design courses). Please note:
popular courses will have been filled
by this date so UCAS advise you to
apply earlier if you can.
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How do I choose the right course and institution?
There are so many undergraduate
courses and so many places to study
that choosing a course and institution
can be difficult. You may have a
personal preference, for your own
reasons, but if you are starting with only
a vague idea, the following checklists
will help you come up with your
decision-making factors.
Checklist: Choosing the right course
* Is the subject right for you? What
type of qualification is it? What are the
options with the subject?
* Does it improve your chances of
following your chosen career?
* Will it be recognised by employers or
educational organisations in your
own country?
* What are the teaching methods? Are
you happy with them?
* How did the department fare in the
most recent QAA where education
institutions define academic standards
and quality for external review?
* How is the programme assessed?
Would you prefer continuous
assessment or a more exam-based
programme?
Checklist: Choosing the right
institution
* Is the higher education institute large
enough (or small enough) to have the
facilities you would like? What does it
do about student support?
* Is it in a city or the countryside?
Where in the UK is it? Does this
matter to you?
* Is it on a campus or not? Does that
matter to you?
* Is it close to any relatives or friends
you have in the UK?
* Is it close to an airport that you could
use to get home?
* Do you like the way it assesses
work – by coursework, written exams
or both?
* Is its most recent review by the
Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)
generally satisfactory?
* Can you afford the course fees?
* How much university accommodation
is on offer, and what is its range? Are
you given any guarantees about
accommodation in the first and final
years as an overseas students?
* Can you afford to live in this town or
city?
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Universities UK
Universities UK's mission is to be the essential voice of UK
universities by promoting and supporting their work.
www.universitiesuk.ac.uk
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)
UCAS is the central organisation that processes applications
for full-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses at UK
universities and colleges. www.ucas.com
HERO
HERO (Higher Education and Research Opportunities in the
United Kingdom) contains information on all aspects of higher
education. www.hero.ac.uk
Unistats
Unistats is the official website for information about the quality
of higher education in UK universities and colleges. For further
information go online to www.unistats.com
International Foundation Programme – Scotland
www.ifps.ac
Access Course Database
Database of Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) recognised
Access courses
www.ucas.com/students/beforeyouapply/access_programmes/
Foundation degrees
www.foundationdegree.org.uk
Access to higher education (HE) programmes
www.accesstohe.ac.uk
Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)
www.qaa.ac.uk
Where can I find more information?