Education in UK
The United Kingdom has always been globally distinguished as a hub of education.The country is one of the most sought after destinations for studies by international students.
Undergraduate courses mostly taught in the UK have duration of normally three or four years. Successful completion of the undergraduate study leads to the awarding of a bachelor’s degree.
Admission Requirements:
In the UK students undergo thirteen years of pre-university education.The first year of an Indian degree programme is usually required for direct entry into an undergraduate programme in UK. Outstanding marks from one of the two Central Boards (CBSE or ICSE) or their equivalent, can, however also guarantees a place in the colleges of the UK.
A student can complete 2 years of college, then a year of commercial training before returning for a final year in college, or, he/she can do a 4-year course with 3-6 months training interspersed each year.
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 for these vocational courses before transferring to a degree program.
Higher National Diploma (HND) is awarded by Vocational and Technical Educational Councils. They offer a 2-year course in vocational subjects where stress is placed on work experience.
Postgraduate Study in the UK
Postgraduate study in the UK includes both teaching and research-based courses. Completion of a doctorate normally takes a minimum of three years.
Admission Requirements
Most UK universities accept the Indian graduation system of three years for entry into most postgraduate courses. An Indian bachelor’s 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.
Apart from these general requirements for undergraduate and postgraduate courses, there are some specific course requirements, which can be obtained from prospectuses of institutions, available at the Education Counselling Service, located in the British Council Offices or Libraries.
Documents Required for Application
Academic Transcripts : Applicants are required to submit an official transcript from each college or university that they have attended after secondary school with complete details of the subjects, marks obtained and other details like correspondence courses, diplomas etc.
If the originals are not in English, a copy translated in English must be enclosed.
Entrance Tests International students are required to take IELTS (International English Language Test), which is regularly administered by the British Council. Some universities may accept TOEFL score as an alternative.
GMAT : For most management courses, International students are required to take GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test).
Most British Universities do not require the GRE for admission to post graduate courses.
Letters of reference or recommendation letters play a very important part in your admission. A recommendation letter is a signed statement from a person who knows you well professionally or has taught you in a subject that is related to the course you are applying to. It should list your positive and negative qualities, strengths and other such information.
Even if not mentioned, it is advisable to include at least two letters of recommendation in your applications as they increase your chances of getting admissions.
Personal essay : The personal essays, and/or statement of purpose, play a very important role in the process of evaluating your application for both admission as well as financial aid because it gives the faculty, assessing your application their most significant impression of you as an individual. A personal statement should include your reasons for choosing a particular course, the suitability of your education and experience for the chosen course, your personal interests and career goals.
