Choosing a University
Make a list of what’s most important to you in a university. There are over 150 universities in the United Kingdom that offer a variety of experiences and courses. In order to make choosing the right university for you easier, rank those features of a university that are most important to you, going from most important to least important. For example, if your top priority is graduating from a prestigious school, you might consider a university’s ranking to be most important. If you care more about your university experience, you may place more emphasis on a school’s location or student life. Consider what you want to get out of your experience at university. Some schools will offer appealing study abroad options, while others might offer you the chance to gain a year’s worth of experience in the industry you plan to work in.
Look for schools that have strong departments in your desired course. If you already know what course you want to go into, this will significantly narrow your search window and help you determine where you should apply. See which universities offer your course and how they stack up next to one another. For example, if you want to study Burmese, you can only do so at the University of London. However, if you want to study a more general subject like Chemistry, there may be dozens of universities to choose from.
Narrow your search by locale if applicable. You may decide that what course you choose is less important than the type of locale you live in. If this is the case, use environment as a way of narrowing down your choice of potential universities. For example, if you’d strongly prefer to live in a city instead of the countryside, consider looking into universities in urban environments like London or Manchester. If you’d like to live near the ocean, you might apply to schools like the University of Aberdeen, Bournemouth University, or Aberystwyth University.
Visit the schools you’re interested in if possible. You may find that the best way of choosing the right university for you is simply visiting the school and getting a firsthand sense of the culture. If you’re able to travel to the UK, pay personal visits to 3 or 4 schools that you’re seriously considering and see if they are a good fit for you. While visiting the schools, talk to other students that you meet. Ask them what living and studying at the university is like, if there are other international students that attend the school, or if the university has any social clubs you might like to join.
Research universities in the UK by ranking if you can’t visit them. Other than seeing them in person, perhaps the best way to judge British universities is by their national and international rankings. Search online for different rankings of schools in the UK and see which ones are consistently high in rank, as these are generally considered the top schools in the country. For example, the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, and Imperial College London are commonly considered among the best universities in the UK and are thus consistently ranked very high as compared to other schools.
Meeting Admissions Requirements
Check the qualifications for the specific courses you’re interested in. Many university courses have specific qualifications all incoming students must meet before they can enroll at the school. Because courses vary in their qualifications, check each course provider’s website to find out what qualifications they require. For example, some courses will specify a certain degree (or equivalent level of education) you have to have earned, as well as relevant language or research skills. Note that these qualifications are stated in UK terms (e.g., A level). If you’re an international student, contact the course provider to determine how they determine equivalent qualifications from foreign countries.
Take an English language test, if English isn’t your first language. You’ll need to pass an English language test if you’re entering the UK from abroad and English isn’t your native language. Note that you’ll need to pass one English test to gain your entry visa and another, more advanced English test to enroll in a university. The UK Border Agency requires all visa applicants to demonstrate a basic working knowledge of English. This can be done by taking one of a variety of language tests. The complete list of applicable tests and minimum acceptable grades can be found on the British government’s website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-applying-for-uk-visa-approved-english-language-tests. UK universities usually list their English language requirements on their websites and will state what the minimum acceptable grade is for a variety of language tests, including TOEFL, IELTS, and Cambridge English: Advanced.
Obtain an entry visa, if necessary. If you live outside the UK and are not a national of a European Economic Area nation, you’ll need a student visa to enter the country. You can apply for a student visa from UK Visas and Immigration after you’ve been offered a spot in a particular course. When applying for a visa, in addition to submitting the requested documents and information, you’ll also need to prove you can afford to live and study in the UK. You don’t need to obtain an entry visa to study in the UK if you are a Swiss national.
Make sure you’re able to afford tuition and fees. With little exceptions, you will most likely have to pay nearly £10,000 in order to attend university in the UK, although the cost of tuition varies from course to course. Check how much students from your home country will be expected to pay in tuition for the course you plan to pursue and confirm you’ll be able to afford it. The most notable exception is for Scottish students and EU nationals studying in Scotland, who do not have to pay any tuition fees.
Completing and Submitting Your Application
Register with the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service website. All college applications in the UK are submitted through the Universities and Colleges Admissions service (UCAS). Thus, your first step should be to register with UCAS through their website and provide the requested details about yourself. The application to register with UCAS can be found on their website: https://www.ucas.com/. This is perhaps the simplest part of the application process, but make sure you don’t incorrectly input your personal information, as this may cause problems with your application down the line.
Write a personal statement explaining why you want to study in the UK. Part of the application process will involve writing a personal statement. If you’re an international student, you’ll need to specify why exactly you want to study in the UK, or, to put it another way, why you’d rather study in the UK than in your own country. For example, if you’re aiming to study a more obscure subject like Burmese, you might state that the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London is arguably the best place to pursue this course outside of Myanmar. Similarly, if you want to study a more common subject that isn’t well represented in your home country, you could emphasize that studying in the UK will give you opportunities you don’t otherwise have access to. In your personal statement, you should also mention your English skills and any English language tests you have taken.
Send the results of previous qualifications, as required. UCAS is able to forward the results of certain international qualifications, but not all. If you’re using the results of a degree program or exam in your home country to meet a course’s qualifications, find out if you need to submit those results yourself. For example, UCAS can submit your International Baccalaureate results on your behalf, but will not be able to submit most others. Other examples of international qualifications might include Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations results, the Global Assessment Certificate, the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education, and the Irish Leaving Certificate.
Fill out and submit your application before the course deadline. Different courses in the UK have different deadlines for when you should submit your application. Find out what the deadline is for your specific course and be sure to submit your application by the date specified. For example, most courses in medicine require applications to be submitted in mid-October, while most other courses give you until January to submit the application. As of August 2018, there is an application fee of £13 if you’re applying to just one course, or £24 for multiple courses and for late applications sent after 30 June.
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