Education UK Further Education Brochure

The UK means the

Education UK is managed by

British Council

United Kingdom and

78, Kanna Road, Kyautada Township, Rangoon,

consists of England,

Burma

Scotland, Wales (Great Britain) and Northern Ireland.

Map out your future Studying in the UK for further education qualifications

T + 95 1 254658, 256290, 256291 F + 95 1 245345 education.enquiries@mm.britishcouncil.org www.educationuk.org/burma

www.educationuk.org/burma

No matter what qualifications you currently have, you canfind a course that will allow you to get a foot on the educational ladder.

Why study further education qualifications in the UK? The UK’s long standing tradition of excellence is recognised throughout the world. Further education qualifications are accredited by internationally recognised awarding bodies regulated by the UK government. Therefore, qualifications gained in the UK are regarded as a passport to success for the many overseas students who pass though the country’s further education colleges every year.

Further education can provide a step up, giving access to higher education. For examples, A-levels, BTEC National Diplomas and NVQs are recognised and respected all over the world – If you’d like to progress to higher education in the UK, you’ll be able to apply with qualifications that will give you the best possible chance of being accepted onto your first choice of course and institution. If you plan to go straight into the workplace, you’ll be doing so with respected qualifications that will give you an edge over the competition.

Courses in further education colleges are inspected by government inspection agencies, which means that the high quality of the course customers choose can be guaranteed.

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The style of UK further education is unique, involving high levels of personal contact and support from tutors, and plenty of scope for independent learning – high success rates and low drop-out rates among international students stem directly from programmes of closely supervised study in an intellectually and culturally stimulating environment.

Many career-based qualifications mean

UK education system is very flexible

that you don’t have to take professional

enabling you to study academic and

exams, so you’ll be making a real start

vocational courses side-by-side (such

in your career before you even

as a vocational computer qualification

graduate. Many vocational courses also

alongside an AS- or A-level in

include work placements, giving you an

mathematics or economics), learn a

insight into working practices and

vocational skill alongside English

experience that will get you off to a

language classes, or prepare for

running start.

university whilst also improving your

What can I study?

The further education system in the UK is geared to satisfying a diverse range of needs. Students are able to take general academic courses or vocational, work-based courses, or a combination of both. The academic and the work-based training route can both lead to qualifications that meet the entry requirements for degrees and other higher education courses.

Courses can last for up to two years (three with a sandwich placement in industry), and you can choose from thousands of opportunities in science and technology, computing and business, art and design, social sciences, the humanities and many others.

Students who want to develop skills and knowledge and also gain a qualification in a specific work area can do so with work-based courses.

The broad range and flexible approach of the UK education system allows students to choose the course and qualifications that will suit them best.

IELTS score. This way you can be sure Career-based and pre-university

that your time is being used in the most

qualifications are available in many

effective way for you..

subject areas, including Engineering, Health and Social Care, Travel and Tourism, Science, Computing and Art and Design, so you can start to build a foundation for your future from the moment you arrive in the UK. 3

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BTEC National Award, Certificate or

of your first year and A level

Higher National Certificate (HNC) or

Diploma

qualifications at the end of your second.

Diploma (HND)

BTEC Nationals are one or two-year

An AS level qualification is the

Higher National Certificates and

courses in career-related subjects such

equivalent of 50 per cent of an A level.

Diplomas are one- and two- year

as e-business, engineering, art and

In both AS and A level course work

career-related higher education

design, media, performing arts,

accounts for between 20 and 30 per

courses, which are equivalent to the

agriculture, applied science, computing

cent of the marks, with the remainder

first stages of a degree. They are

and health and social care. They are

being assessed by examination. For

available in many areas including

ideal for students hoping to progress to

further information on these courses

engineering, sports studies, art and

a career at supervisory or technician

see www.dfes.gov.uk/qualifications

design, media and communications and music technology. Successful

level, and also provide a foundation for higher education courses in the same

Foundation Degrees (FdA, FdSc etc)

subject area. For more details see

Foundation Degrees are two-year

www.edexcel.org.uk

career-related higher education courses, which are equivalent to the

AS and A levels

first stages of a degree. They are

AS and A levels are the UK qualifications

available in many areas, including art

most widely accepted for entry to

and design, media and communications,

university. They are available in subjects

engineering and hospitality

from the humanities, arts, sciences and

management, and can be used as a

social sciences as well as in practical

good foundation for a career or as a

subjects such as engineering, leisure

basis from which to progress on to a

and tourism. You will study up to four

degree course. For more information

subjects simultaneously over two years,

see www.foundationdegree.org.uk

taking AS level examinations at the end

completion will allow you to enter a career at junior management level and from many courses you can ‘top-up’ to a degree by transferring into the second or third year of the degree course. For more information see www.educationuk.org/burma/ Your study options/Career-based and pre-university study University International Foundation Year 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 improve your English language skills,

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Photographer: Paul Dodds / www.scotlandistheplace.com

your academic qualifications, or both.

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What qualifications will I need?

Qualifications and equivalents BTEC National Diploma

Good general high school education equivalent to four GCSEs

AS/A-levels

Good general high school education equivalent to five GCSEs

grades A-C, plus IELTS 4.5-5.0

grades A-C, plus IELTS 4.5-5.0 International Foundation Year

Twelve years of school education or equivalent in your own country, plus IELTS 4.5-5.0

HND

Qualifications equivalent to one or two UK A-levels or a 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 or a BTEC National Diploma or an international foundation year.

Plus IELTS 5.5-6.0

How much will it cost?

UK career-based and pre-university course fees can vary considerably between institutions, but the figures below show approximately what you’ll need to pay.

Average course fees The qualifications you’ll need will

The course profiles on

depend on the course you want to

www.educationuk.org/burma will give

study. Some qualifications such as

you the exact entry requirements for

A-levels and BTEC National Diplomas are

each course. To give you a rough idea,

below university level and lead directly

the sort of qualifications you’ll need are

onto higher education while others such

as follows:

as HNDs and Foundation Degrees, are

AS- and A-levels:

£4,000-£8,000 per year

BTECs and other vocational:

£4,000-£6,000 per year

HNC/HNDs:

£5,000-£10,000 per year

Foundation Degrees:

£7,000-£12,000 per year

International Foundation Courses:

£4,000 to £12,000 per year

university-level qualifications that will enable you to join a degree course in the second or third year.

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You can find more details on individual education institutions’ fees on www.educationuk.org/burma by checking out their profiles.

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How will I know if I’ve chosen a good college?

Part of the reason that UK career-based

You can find a list of all UK

and pre-university qualifications are so

qualifications accredited by the QCA on

highly valued across the world is the

the Open Qualifications website at

strict measures of quality imposed on

www.openquals.org.uk

them. Many of the checks and reports are available online, so you’ll never be

The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)

left in any doubt about the validity and

ensures that UK higher education is of a

quality of the course you choose.

standard that’s respected and admired across the world. Further details can be

The Qualification and Curriculum

found at www.qaa.ac.uk

Authority (QCA) maintains and develops the National Curriculum and associated

Where can I find more information?

British Council Education Information www.educationuk.org/burma Foundation Degrees www.foundationdegree.org.uk City and Guilds www.city-and-guilds.co.uk International Foundation Programme Scotland

assessments, tests and examinations,

www.studyinscotland.co.uk

and accredits and monitors qualifications in colleges and at work.

Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)

Further details can be found at

www.sqa.org.uk

www.qca.org.uk

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)

How and when do I apply?

For course at further education level,

Many colleges offer some flexibility on

contact the institution of your choice

start dates, with a choice of September

and ask for an application form. For

or January entry. However, it depends

HNDs/HNCs and Foundation Degrees,

on the course and you should always

contact the institution and ask if you

contact the institution of your choice

need to apply through the Universities

for details.

www.ucas.com London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCIEB) www.lccieb.com Edexcel Foundation www.edexcel.org.uk

and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

In making a decision, the college will consider your background, interests

With the exception of applications via

and abilities and will treat your

UCAS there are no national closing

application on its individual merits.

dates for applications to career-based

Once you have accepted a place, the

courses but you will need to leave

college will send you a letter confirming

yourself enough time to apply for a visa,

this.

make travel arrangements and arrange accommodation.

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