Education UK undergraduate 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.

Painting your future Studying in the UK for undergraduate qualifications

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

www.educationuk.org/burma

Why study undergraduate degree courses in the UK?

A UK degree will equip you with the kind of proactive, problem-solving skills sought by today’s top companies.

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 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.

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What can I study?

Higher National Certificate (HNC) and

Diplomas of

Higher National Diploma (HND) in

Higher Education (Dip HE)

Scotland

Diplomas of Higher Education are

BTEC Higher National Certificate

In Scotland, an HNC is awarded at the

university–level two-year courses

(HNC) or Diploma (HND)

end of the first year of a two-year HND

available in many humanities and social

HNDs are two-year, full-time

programme. It is a qualification in its

science subjects, such as education,

career-related higher education

own right. Unlike in the rest of the UK,

theology, communication studies and

qualifications that combine career

however, HNCs in Scotland are full-time,

social work. They are ideal for students

preparation with opportunities for

one-year courses. The HNC is aligned

hoping to progress to a career in these

further study. They are available in

with the first year of a degree course,

areas and also provide a foundation for

many areas including engineering,

the HND with the second year; in many

higher education courses in the same

sports studies, art and design, media

cases, there are opportunities for

subject area. Though aimed at

and communications and music

holders of HNCs progress to the second

preparing students for particular

technology and can be taken at further

year of a degree programme and for

careers, the teaching methods tend to

education colleges, or higher education

In Scotland, the first degree in arts in

holders of HNDs to the third year.

be more academic than on HNDs or

the four ancient universities – St

Foundation Degree programmes.

Andrews, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling

See www.ucas.com for a list of courses

and also in the University of Dundee is

available.

an MA or Master of Arts. A Master’s

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

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Robert Pogsan / www.scotlandistheplace.com

Photographer

programmes.

Foundation Degrees (FdA, FdSc etc) They are two-year career-related higher

degree in all other faculties, and in the

education courses, which combine work experience with the academic structure

Degrees

other universities, is a postgraduate

of a degree programme and can lead

Degrees are the most popular

qualification. For accurate information

on to a full honours degree (following

undergraduate qualifications in the UK.

on the qualifications offered by a

an additional year of study), or provide

They are academic courses, usually

particular institution you should always

opportunities to enter relevant

studied over three years in England,

check the relevant prospects.

employment. They are available in

Northern Ireland and Wales, or four

many areas, including art and design,

years in Scotland (where the title

In the UK, many universities now offer

media and communications,

master's degree may be awarded).

integrated masters programmes which

engineering and hospitality

Some degree courses may be extended

are four year undergraduate Master’s

management and successful students

for a year to enable students to spend a

awards and are increasingly becoming

are able to cite the letters FdA (for arts

year in industry (such as on engineering

the standard for those who want

subjects), FdSc (for science subjects) or

degrees) or overseas (such as on

careers as professional engineers or

FdEng (for engineering) after their

degrees in modern languages). Degree

scientists. In the first year students

name. Foundation degrees are offered

courses in professional subjects, such

follow a Bachelor degree syllabus but if

by several higher education institutions

as architecture, medicine, dentistry and

they attain high grades they may get

in England, Northern Ireland and Wales,

veterinary sciences, can take between

the opportunity to follow an integrated

with degree-awarding powers and BTEC

five and seven years to complete.

Bachelor/Masters level syllabus in their third and fourth year. On completion of

foundation degrees are offered through many further education colleges.

Qualifications vary in title from one

the course, students are awarded MEng

Foundation degrees are not available in

institution to another and there are

(engineering), MSci (science), MPhys

Scotland. See www.fdf.ac.uk for more

some exceptions to the general rules.

(Physics) and MMath (Mathematics).

information on foundation degrees.

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University International Foundation Year (IFY) University International Foundation Year

At both further education colleges and

courses help to bridge any gaps

universities, International Foundation

between qualifications you hold already

Year programmes often consist of

and the ones you need to begin a

‘pathways’. These allow a student on a

degree course at a UK university,

particular pathway to choose one of a

whether this is because you need to

number of several end results. For

develop your English language skills,

example, if you area on a business

improve on your academic

pathway, you might be able to progress

qualifications, or both. Many

to a degree in economics, business

universities run their own International

studies, accounting, IT or mathematics.

Foundation Year programmes. If you

Other pathways include humanities, arts

choose one of these you may not

and social sciences, science,

receive a formal qualifications but it

technology and medical.

could lead to a particular degree course at that institution. The IFY programme

You can find more information about

might have different entry points

International Foundation Year

throughout the year, enabling you to

programmes, including how to apply on

complete one, two or three academic

the UCAS website www.ucas.com

terms depending on your existing The table below will give you types of degree courses you can study in the UK.

academic qualifications and language skills.

Types of degree courses

Typical content

Usual length

Foundation year programmes

Honours degree

One subject studied in depth

Usually three years but can be four,

These programmes allow you to gain

For example, entry requirements for a

especially in Scotland. Architecture,

skills in specific subjects such as

foundation year in engineering can be

engineering, nursing, medicine, art and

up to 100 UCAS points lower than the

business, and usually lead directly to

entry into the first year of a degree

specific degree programmes.

programme in the same subject at the

medicine, dentistry and veterinary sciences degrees are five to seven years.

Joint Honours degree

Combined Honours degree

Ordinary/General degree

Two subjects studied in

Three to four years

less depth

(more often four in Scotland)

Two or more subjects studied

Three to four years

in less depth

(more often four in Scotland)

One or more subjects studied

Three years

same institution.

They are aimed at students who have

If you successfully complete your

never studied the subject before or

course, it might allow you to enter the

whose grades aren’t high enough for a

degree programme linked to it in a

degree course.

four-year programme of continuous study. Application to join these courses is generally through UCAS www.ucas.com

at less advanced level

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What qualifications will I need?

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 your course includes this.

Š Education UK

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:

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

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How will I know if I've chosen a good course?

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.

UK higher education is quality assured

The higher education funding councils

by government-supported agencies and

also assess the quality of research

stringent assessment mechanisms,

through the Research Assessment

which means UK degree programmes

Exercise (RAE). Every few years, the

are of a very high standard and are

RAE takes place to judge the quality of

respected as such internationally. Many

research being carried out in UK

of the checks and reports are available

colleges and universities. The most

online, so you will never be left in any

recent assessment took place in 2001

doubt about the validity and quality of

and the results can be downloaded

the course you choose.

from www.hero.ac.uk/rae.index.htm

The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) is

You can also find information about the

responsible for regulating standards

quality of higher education in the UK

and quality for UK higher education. It

universities and colleges at

produces a Code of Practice which

www.unistats.ac.uk. Unistats brings

provides the institutions with guidelines

together key sources of official

on how they manage academic

information about the provision of

standards and quality. As well as setting

higher education in the UK, including

standard guidelines the QAA also carries

the results of the National Student

out inspections of institutions to see if

Survey (NSS). This survey is the result

they are reaching these targets. These

of final year students rating the

QAA inspections are called ‘Institutional

institution at which they are studying on

Audits’ and the reports are published on

a number of different criteria, such as

their website at www.qaa.ac.uk/reviews/

the level of academic support they received and the learning resources

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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

available to them.

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How do I choose the right course and institution?

There are so many undergraduate

Checklist: Choosing the right

courses and so many places to study

institution

that choosing a course and institution

* Is the higher education institute large

can be difficult. You may have a

enough (or small enough) to have the

personal preference, for your own

facilities you would like? What does it

reasons, but if you are starting with only a vague idea, the following checklists will help you come up with your decision-making factors.

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

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

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

institutions define academic standards

is on offer, and what is its range? Are

and quality for external review?

you given any guarantees about

* How is the programme assessed?

Would you prefer continuous assessment or a more exam-based programme?

accommodation in the first and final years as an overseas students? * Can you afford to live in this town or city?

How and when do I apply?

Once you have shortlisted your

Points to remember:

preferred courses and colleges, you

• You may apply for up to five courses

should get the college prospectuses –

on one application form. If you are

these are also available on the Internet

applying for medicine, dentistry or

and can be accessed at

veterinary sciences/ medicine you

www.educationuk.org/burma.

may only apply for four courses.

• You can only make one application

Apply for a full-time undergraduate course through UCAS 1. Check the minimum entry

per academic year through the UCAS system.

• Start thinking about this early – over a

requirements for each course you want

year before you want to start your

to apply for. There is no point making

course

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.

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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Where can I find more information?

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

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