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The UK Higher Education System

The UK has a well-respected higher education system, but for those new to it, it can be overwhelming and at some times confusing.

For those of you considering moving to the UK to further your education, there are many cultural differences to be aware of, and many educational options to consider. A great place to come for furthering your skills, many international students are surprised to discover the relaxed learning atmosphere UK universities offer. For example, student/teacher relationships are more informal than expected.

The educational timetable is also something to be aware of. Most UK universities follow the same scheme as the UK’s schools - with the school year beginning in September or October and finishing in June or July. Often universities also follow the idea of having three terms a year; beginning in September/October, January and May. Some universities have moved towards the American concept of two ‘semesters’ a year however, starting in September/October and January. Whatever university you chose to approach though, you will find the majority of courses begin in the autumn months.

Once these cultural differences have been considered and you have decided that the UK is the right choice for you, you then have to choose from the multitude of educational options open to you!  Below we have given you an idea of the choices available and what they involve:

Foundation courses:

In addition to the main types of qualifications stated below, some colleges and universities run special foundation courses, commonly known as Year 0 or Zero programmes, targeted at students who wish to enter specific subject areas; for example science and engineering, but who do not possess the relevant entry qualifications.

Diplomas and HNDs:

Two-year Higher National Diploma or Diploma of Higher Education courses are both popular qualifications in their own right; however, some students choose to 'top up' these qualifications into a degree often by staying on for an extra year.

Bachelor/Undergraduate degrees:

These are three-year degree courses - leading to awards such as Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BSc). These are more often than not undergraduate (or ‘first degree’) courses.

Masters/Postgraduate degrees:

Masters degrees are four-year degree courses, often sandwich courses involving one year in industry, courses with a year abroad, etc. You can also get a Masters degree by doing a one-year course after completing an undergraduate degree. These are classed as postgraduate degrees.

The MBA (Master of Business Administration) is the world's most popular postgraduate degree, and the UK, with over 10,000 graduates annually, produces the highest number of MBAs outside North America.

Doctorates:

Another type of Masters degree is the MRes, (Masters in Research) which is designed to prepare students for doctoral research. A Doctorate is the next (and highest) qualification you can reach in the UK, usually taking three to four years to complete. Intake for these courses is normally from those with a very good first degree or more commonly from those with a Masters degree.

Each course is unique

Once you have chosen what level of qualification you wish to apply for, you have to consider in what way you wish to achieve it. Universities and colleges across the UK offer a range of courses that can involve a mixture of modular, research, taught and practical elements. The bias of the style of each qualification depends solely on the institution or its course. Each course is different in its aspects, and it is worth contacting a variety of universities and colleges to find the one most suited to your needs.

In addition, you will have the option of full, part-time or distance learning to consider. These choices allow you to also work part-time in the industry – and often companies will offer day release and financial support to help you achieve your goal. Full-time is the best option if you want to concentrate solely on your qualification, but if you have family considerations to put first, for example, you can work on your qualification from home. Again, these also depend on the institution and the course, but its fair to say that whether it's a part-time, full-time, modular, distance learning, in-company or consortial qualification you have in mind, the right programme is out there. You now just need to make the time to research the courses and institutions that interest you, to find what’s best for you!