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| UNITED
KINGDOM : OVERVIEW |
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STUDY IN UK
UK qualifications are recognized and respected throughout
the world. Your UK qualification will be a solid foundation
for building your future, boosting your career and prospects
for a higher salary. UK universities, colleges and schools
will provide a vibrant, creative and challenging environment
in which to develop your potential. Quality standards
for UK institutions are among the best in the world. Universities,
colleges and schools continually have to prove that their
courses meet strict criteria. Many other countries are
now trying to follow the example of the UK.
In an increasingly globalize world economy, people need
special skills and qualities to succeed. Employers want
employees who can think effectively, creatively and for
themselves. This is an essential part of the UK learning
experience. Institutions use a variety of teaching and
assessment methods to encourage independence, as well
as mastery of the subject. You will get the skills you'll
need for the global market.
At degree and postgraduate level in particular, students
are encouraged to read widely, to question and analyze
what they have read, and to discuss openly their own ideas
in seminars and tutorials. Career based courses are designed
to equip you for specific roles in the modern world of
work.
Whatever the level, the UK has the right course for you,
delivered through centre of excellence in every field.
UK’s wide choice of study options means you will
get an education tailored to your individual needs.UK
is an exciting combination of four distinctive countries,
each with their own cultures, living traditions, breathtaking
architecture and incredibly beautiful landscapes. And
if you like, you can immerse yourself in them all by choosing
to study in and explore the fascinating mix of history
and innovation that is England, Wales, Northern Ireland
and Scotland. The diverse, multi-cultural population of
the UK means that in no time at all you can feel a part
of UK life and experience the real English language, whichever
of its countries you choose to discover.
British Education has long attracted and welcomed high
caliber students of different nationalities and backgrounds,
and today builds on hundreds of years of experience in
providing quality education to international students.
To ensure that the quality is maintained, Britain has
implemented unrivalled quality assurance and academic
audit systems. The university departments are obliged
to meet stringent standards by professional bodies. Standards
are high not just in teaching but in other facilities
as well: Libraries, computers, research equipment and
living accommodation.
British higher and further education provides value for
money by offering shorter, more intensive courses than
are available in many other countries, thereby reducing
living expenses and time spent away from home. Closely
supervised study in an intellectually and culturally stimulating
environment, together with an emphasis on student welfare
and close contact between staff and students also ensures
that individual students get maximum support and, as a
result, pass rates are high and the drop-out rate for
international students is very low.
Britain has long been a popular destination for Indian
students. With more than 150 institutes of higher education
to choose from, all equipped with extensive facilities,
Britain is able to offer a broad spectrum of subjects
from the highly academic to the purely practical in anything
from architecture to zoology.
About Universities in U.K.
Higher Education institutions are the centers of high-level
teaching and research activity, and most courses at this
level lead to a degree or equivalent qualification. The
degrees and postgraduate qualifications offered by these
institutions are among the most prestigious academic qualifications
available. HE institutions include universities, HE colleges
and institutes. The first universities were founded some
eight hundred years ago, so HE institutions in the UK
draw upon an exceptional depth of educational experience.
Academic Programs Offered :
There are two main types of postgraduate courses: Master's
programs, which normally consist of classes and seminars
plus a dissertation; and diploma or certificate courses,
which consist of classes and seminars (sometimes the same
taught elements as a Master's course), but with no dissertation.
Some diploma courses enable you to transfer to a Master's
when you have successfully completed them.
A research degree is the ultimate opportunity if you want
to pursue your own specialist interests. You'll be expected
to initiate and develop your topic under the supervision
of one or possibly two academics. To be successful, you
will need to demonstrate intellectual independence.
Business studies are increasingly popular with students
from all countries and the MBA (Master of Business Administration)
is the most popular business qualification. MBA programs
are designed to develop management skills, knowledge,
the ability to analyze complex problems and the ability
to make strategic decisions. There are literally hundreds
of MBA programs to choose from in the UK, from those that
teach principles of general management to highly specialized
programs tailored to careers like agribusiness, banking
and finance, construction, oil and gas, health care, hospitality,
transport, and technology. Many have links to relevant
industries to ensure their direct relevance to the working
world.
Usually institutions in the UK have their own individual
requirements. There are no universal guidelines to assess
whether a student's qualification will admit him/her to
a particular course.
Postgraduate courses, which follow at the completion of
a Bachelor's degree, are available at Universities, Polytechnics,
and the Royal Colleges of Art and at the Cranfield Institute
of Technology.
No specific qualification automatically secures a place
for a postgraduate study program. Every applicant's suitability
for admission is considered individually. Indian master’s
degree is normally the minimum requirement but further
qualification or relevant experience may also be necessary.
Various Qualifications offered by UK Colleges and Universities
:
First Degree Courses in Arts and Sciences (Bachelor's
degree) are normally of three or four years' duration
and are largely taught courses, sometimes
including the preparation of a short written thesis.
Sandwich Courses are where the coursework is accompanied
by practical work. A student could either
complete 2 years of college, then a
year of commercial training before returning for a final
year in college.
Or, he/she could do a 4-year course
with 3-6 months’ training interspersed each year.
The main advantage
is that the student gets real experience
while in the learning mode. Most universities offer this
type of
education.
Higher National Diploma (HND) is awarded by Vocational
and Technical Educational Councils. They offer a
2-year course in a vocational subject
like scientific and technical business subjects. Great
emphasis is
placed on work experience. It is often
seen as the first step towards a degree course as the
credits can be
transferred.
Vocational Courses offer an opportunity to enter the university
system slowly. Business and Technology
Education Council (BTEC), General Vocational
Qualifications (GNVQ), General Scottish Vocational
Qualifications (GSVQ) offer recognized
courses in a range of disciplines. Most students opt to
take 1-2
years of, for example, BTEC courses
before being transferred to a degree programme. BTEC national
certificates/diplomas are usually accepted
as an alternative to alternative to A-Levels.
Postgraduate study may take the form of an independent
piece of research under supervision or a taught
course, and leads to a variety of degrees
and awards. The taught courses normally last for one or
sometimes two years. Completion
of a doctorate normally takes a minimum
of three years. Many post-
experience courses are also available,
either leading to a qualification or providing a refresher
course for
graduates wishing to update or extend
their knowledge. Occasional students are admitted by some
institutions in limited numbers. They
attend courses or undertake research, possibly for a period
of one or
two years. These courses do not lead
to any formal qualification or 'credit' although certificate
of
satisfactory attendance may be given.
Undergraduate (Bachelor Level)
British students undergo thirteen years of pre-university
education as compared to twelve years in India. Outstanding
marks from one of the two Central Boards (CBSE or ICSE)
or their equivalent, or the first year of an Indian degree
programme are therefore usually required for direct entry
into an undergraduate programme in UK.
For those who do not, as yet, have these qualifications,
there is a range of access or foundation courses available.
Foundation courses range from four months to a year.
Applicants must satisfy both general and course requirements
for admissions :
General Requirements
A specified number of subject passes at both GCE "A"
Levels and GCSE at grade C minimum is required for admissions
in UK educational system. An equivalent Indian qualification
such as a good score in the CBSE and ICSE etc.
Course Requirements
Course requirement details can be obtained from prospectuses
of institutions which are available at the Education Counseling
Service located in the British Council offices or Libraries.
Post Graduate (Master's & Doctorate level)
Most UK universities accept the Indian graduation system
of three years for entry into most postgraduate courses.
An Indian bachelor degree like B.A., B.Com. Or B.Sc. is
equivalent to a British Bachelor (Ordinary) Degree.
However, some courses and universities may require a qualification
equivalent to British Bachelor (Honours) Degree, which
requires 16 years of formal education, which would mean
another year after graduation or a four year degree course
like B.E., B.Tech or other such courses.
For most Universities, a good first degree from a leading
university in India or its equivalent is essential.
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