Aspects of British Higher

Education

Colin LoveColindlove@hotmail.com

andBranka Zaja

Branka.zaja@britishcouncil.hrColin Love, Branka Zaja and

the British Council cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or

conclusions by third parties derived from the data and other content in this

presentation. Errors and omissions excepted

Content of Presentation and indicative timing, Morning

Session 1 9.15 – 10.15 The framework of Higher Education in the UK 1. Country terms 2. Number of students in UK Higher Education 3. Number and status of UK universities 4. Sources of university funding 5. Types of courses/programmes 6. Quality Assurance 7. Example of a short promotional film on a UK university

Session 2 10.45 – 12.30 Legal, academic, social and financial aspects pertaining to international students

1. Cost of studying in UK 2. Student support 3. Studying 4. Plagiarism 5. Assessment 6. Working in UK 7. Registration with Police 8. Health insurance 9. Short film on typical university accommodation 10. Short film on disciplining academic plagiarism

Content of Presentation and indicative timing, Afternoon

Session 3 14.00 – 15.00 Entering UK Higher Education institutions: Requirements, deadlines, tuition fees, languages of teaching and learning

1. Entry qualifications 2. Applying for courses 3. Paying fees

Session 4 15.30 – 16.15 Online application procedure, UCAS application form

filling Session 5 16.15 - 16.30 Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Programmes

Session 6 16.30 – 17.00 UK Scholarship Opportunities for international students

Session 7 17.00 – 17.30 Open discussion/Q&A session

Session 1

The System of Higher Education

in the United Kingdom

Country terms

• Great Britain

•England

•Scotland

•Wales

• United Kingdom

•United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

UK – a country committed to Higher Education

• In UK – proportion of young people achieving 2 or more A levels (UK school leaving ‘Advanced’ exams) or equivalent has risen from 15% in 1982/3 to 35% in 1999/2000•90% of those achieving 2 A levels and 50% of

those achieving a Vocational Level 3 qualification enter higher education by the age of 21

•The Government’s objective is that 50% of UK school leavers should enter higher education

Undergraduate Students

• Approx 400,000 undergraduate students enter UK universities annually

• They enrol on to the more than 50,000 different courses on offer

• UK has one of the highest completion rates for higher education courses in the OECD countries - see

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=151645&sectioncode=26

Students – however....

• Each year about 20% of students leave before completion because:

• Unhappy with university life• Lack of commitment to the course• Lack of preparation for higher education• Poor academic progress• Financial hardship• Personal problems

• This is costly:• Financially• Emotionally• Lost time and opportunity

The following web address shows that first year non-continuation is strongly correlated with qualifications at entry and subject area of study:

http://www.hesa.ac.uk/dox/performanceIndicators/0607/sn1_0607.xls

The UK as a country of Higher Education

2006/2007 Total number of students (including Part-time)• Undergraduates

• UK students 1,636,200• Other EU 64,235• Non EU 102,990 1,803,425

• Postgraduate• UK students 375,145 • Other EU 48,025• Non-EU 136,220 559,390

Total 2,362,815

¸Source: UK HE Statistics Agency

Non-EU International Full-time students

2006/7Postgraduate Research 22,005

Postgraduate Taught 70,640 Postgraduate other 3,730 First degree 76,590 Other undergraduate 8,030 180,995Source: UK Higher Education Statistics Agencywww.hesa.ac.uk

Country numbers

What are the most popular programmes?

• Business and administrative studies

• Engineering and technology

• Social, economic and political studies

• Computer science

• Creative arts and design

• Medicine and biological sciences

• Languages

www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk

A rise in international student applications

• The UK university admissions service has reported that for 2008 entry, there has been a rise of approximately 7% in applications for full-time undergraduate courses

http://education.guardian.co.uk/universityaccess/story/0,,2256198,00.html

UK Universities

More than 130 universities in United Kingdom:

• ‘Ancient’ universities – Oxford and Cambridge

•19th century universities i.e. Birmingham Manchester

•Post 1945 i.e. Nottingham

•Post 1962 i.e. Warwick, Kent

•Post 1992 (re-designation of Polytechnics) i.e. Nottingham Trent, Leeds Metropolitan

•Post 2005 i.e. Chester, Winchester

UK Universities

• All of universities in the United Kingdom are independent and self-governing, (and thus ‘non-state’) legal entities.

• Nonetheless, a substantial amount of their funding comes from the state – mainly in support of the undergraduate programmes and capital investment

• However, universities are accelerating the percentage of their revenue from own income generation – through post-graduate and professional courses, research income, international students and the controversial ‘top-up’ fees for ‘home’ students (currently with the exception of Scottish ‘home’ students.)

An exception

• The University of Buckingham (founded in 1976) is the only Private University in UK

• It is independent of government money and relies on student fees and private research grants and endowments

• It has two-year undergraduate programmes

• It has a large proportion of international students (70%)

UK Universities cont.

• Each university is empowered (by Royal Charter or Act of Parliament) to develop its own courses and to award its own degrees.

• Each university decides

• the degrees it offers

• the conditions on which they are awarded

•what students to admit

•what staff to appoint

“League tables”

• A number of university ‘league tables’ is published every year. However, these tables should be treated with at least some caution. Not the least, the overall ranking of a university may hide differences within a university of the rankings of specific subject areas.

http://education.guardian.co.uk/universityguide http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/single.htm?ipg=6524 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/good_university_guide/http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/

For a recent cautious assessment by Universities UK of league tables, seehttp://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/mediareleases/show.asp?MR=600

UK Universities

• The ‘Russell’ Group•19 universities that met in 1994 - in the Russell

Hotel, London (now 20, including Belfast)•A common interest group drawn from pre-1992

universities focusing on high quality research – as well as teaching – ‘a culture of research excellence’

•¾ of UK Doctors and Dentists

Claims to have •56% of all Doctorates awarded in UK•30% of all non- EU students studying in UK

www.russellgroup.ac.uk

Research funding

• Universities receive their funding from a number of sources including the allocation from a range of Research Councils and also from private sources.

• A periodic Research Assessment Exercise is undertaken to determine future fund allocation. The results of the 2001 exercise can be found athttp://195.194.167.103/Results/all/all.xls

• The results of the 2008 Assessment are expected on 18th December - http://www.rae.ac.uk/

• Further details of the university research system can be found at www.hero.ac.uk/uk/research

First Degree Programme Structures

• Traditional full time first degree (BA, BSc, BEng, BEd, LLB)•3 years of full time study•But Scotland normally 4 years

•May be 4 years if a ‘Sandwich’ Programme – three years academic study plus one year integrated work experience

•Up to 5 years for Dentistry, Architecture, Veterinary •Up to 6 years for Medicine

Pattern of undergraduate study

• The academic year is usually 30 weeks divided into three terms or two semesters

• This is 24 weeks at Oxford and Cambridge

‘Compressed’ two-year degrees

• 2006 saw the piloting of a few two-year degrees (including English, Geography, Law, Product Design, Earth Sciences and Management) in five ‘conventional’ universities*• These are based on:

•more annual weeks of formal study within the university•more than one annual start date

• Supposedly market driven rather than supplier driven • There is a debate as to whether they allow for the same

‘development of academic maturity’

(*Derby, Leeds Metropolitan, Northampton, Staffordshire, Medway Partnership)

www.independent.co.uk/student/into-university/applying/are-two-year-degrees-the-future-796034.html

Undergraduate Award Classifications

• 1st Class Honours (5)

• 2:1 Upper Second (4)

• 2:2 Lower Second (3)

• 3rd Class (2)

• Pass (non-Honours)

Higher Degree (Postgraduate) Masters Programmes

• Masters’ Programmes - MA/MSc/MEd

•Taught Full-time Masters – usually one (calendar) year (includes MBA)

•Taught Part-time Masters – usually over two years

• Research-based MPhil

•Awarded after a minimum of one year of supervised research

Higher Degree (Postgraduate) Doctorate Programmes

• Research-based Doctorate (PhD/DPhil)

• Awarded after a minimum of three years of supervised research

•But it is important to recognise that only a minority are completed within this period – and all applicants must be sure of their funding to cover the often uncertain period required to complete what is, by definition, innovative research – see the report below.

http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2005/05_02/05_02.pdf)

A useful example of PhD regulations can be found athttp://www.campus.manchester.ac.uk/medialibrary/researchoffice/graduateeducation/reg-phd.pdf

Higher Degree (Postgraduate) Doctorate Programmes

• Professional, Engineering and Enterprise Doctorates• Typically

•Taught Modules to 180 Level 5 credits• Independent Research to 340 Level 5 credits•Usually more ‘career-focused’ topic•Thesis 45 -50,000 words•Does not carry PhD designation but, for example, DBA –

Doctor of Business Administration, Eng D.•Useful examples of these can be found at

http://www.campus.manchester.ac.uk/medialibrary/researchoffice/graduateeducation/reg-profengdoc.pdf

A further example, of a Doctor of Education, EdD, at Leicester

University, can be found athttp://www.le.ac.uk/se/doctoralstudies/doctorofeducation.html

‘Newroute’ PhDs

• Introduced in 2001• Usually four years• 340 Level 5 credits by research• 180 Level 5 Credits taught Modules

• For example, courses in •Leadership•Enterprise•Language

•The distinction from the ‘taught’ Doctorate is that these taught modules can be drawn from a wider range of Faculties

• However, currently there are approximately only 300 registrations, 85% overseas students

www.newroutephd.ac.uk/  

Research Opportunities

• Advertisements in academic press

• University web pages

• Applications are normally made direct to the offering university

www.hero.ac.uk

Research Assessment

• Universities are assessed as to the quality of their research activities

•The outcome of the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise can be found at

•www.hero.ac.uk/rae

This gives some indication of the research strengths of university faculties – but it must be realised that these data become increasingly historic – things move on – sometimes for the better, sometimes not.

Quality Assurance

• It is claimed that the UK Higher Education quality assurance arrangements are unrivalled in

•Coverage

•Sophistication

•Rigour

• This indicates the importance attached to protecting quality and standards in all UK universities

Quality Assurance – External Quality Assurance Agency

• The quality of the teaching and learning in each university is monitored by the Quality Assurance Agency

• It has traditionally looked to key aspects of the higher education process• curriculum design• teaching and learning• student support• assessment• programme management and review

See WWW.qaa.ac.uk where many useful publications can be downloaded.A useful recent example of the thoroughness of QAA can be found in its

appraisal of Sheffield University http://www.qaa.ac.uk/reviews/reports/institutional/Sheffield08/annex.asp

Quality Assurance - External Higher Education Academy

• Founded in 2004

•To support the enhancement of learning and teaching in Higher Education

•‘To lead, support and inform the professional development and recognition of staff in higher education.’

www.heacademy.ac.uk

Quality Assurance - External External Examiners

• There is the extensive use of External Examiners (examiners from other universities) who monitor (usually annually) the assessment processes of other universities to ensure that standards of degrees and degree awards are the same at each university

Quality Assurance - Internal

• High quality of individual Programme Management and Review

• Centres for Academic Practice

• Staff development programmes (Continual professional development)

Session 2

Social, financial and legal aspects

pertaining to international students

Cost of studying for non-EU students

• Three basic cost headings

•Cost of academic study (university fees for the course plus books and any other associated learning materials)

•Cost of living in UK – basic accommodation/subsistence

•Social life/travel

Cost of studying for non-EU students

• Cost of studying•University Full-time Undergraduate course fees

(Annual)•£9000 – £11,000 (12,000 – 15,000 euro –

depending on exchange rates)•Differences depend on whether course is

classroom or ‘lab’ based and the university•£18,000 – £20, 000 for Medicine

•University Full-time Masters courses•£9000 - £15,000

•Doctorate (PhD) •£10,000 annually (indicative)

An example from one London- based university

• www.qmul.ac.uk/international/feesfinance/index.html

Queen Mary University

This page should be used only as an

example of one university - based in London.

However, it provides a useful base on which

to make cost comparisons with other

Universities.

‘Cost of living’ for non-EU students

• Accommodation and Subsistence• University accommodation is usually about

£60.00 – £100.00 per week for term time, depending on facilities – but usually including electricity/heating

• Independent accommodation– usually students sharing rented houses (often ‘accredited’ by the university) – can work out similar, depending on type of accommodation. But watch possible add-ons like heating.

• Subsistence is based on how much food is bought, along with ‘general personal maintenance’ – hairdressers, getting shoes repaired, or whatever.

• As an example, Nottingham Trent University advises that students will require, in total, approximately £600 per month to cover living costs in Nottingham.

Cost of ‘social life’ for non-EU students

• Social life/travelDepends what the students do or want to do!BUT the important thing is that a good student has to be

a happy student. There has to be time and opportunity for relaxation and enjoyment.

So, advice must be never to go to university on an ‘absolute student poverty’ basis

Student ‘Community’

• One important aspect of UK university life is that most UK full-time students are studying away from their home city/town •This provides the basis for a much stronger development of ‘community’ and student life than is

found in some other countries. • It is a community into which international students

can readily integrate

Students' Union

• In each university there is a Students’ Union (a branch of the National Union of Students)•Responsible for looking after and representing

students’ academic and social interests and welfare•Provides an extensive range of sport and social

activities – a wonderful opportunity for international students not only to meet people but to try out new activities

•A very good indication of the activities of Students’ Unions can be found from Leeds University

www.luuonline.com

International student support services

• All universities have International Offices dedicated to providing support to international students. They provide a range of services including advice on•Application processes•Required qualifications• Immigration•Employment•Visa support•Academic, financial and personal concerns

International student support services

• special information packs to students – posted in advance of arrival in UK.

• a range of ‘meet and greet’ services at international points of arrival

• an ‘orientation week’ – often at no cost - especially designed for international students. These take place one or two weeks in advance of the official start date of the universities’ Programmes.

Students with disabilities

• All universities provide specialist support for students with disabilities. For example

• Physical disability

• Learning difficulties such as Dyslexia

• These include, for example

• Accommodation

• Access to learning facilities

• Specialist Human Support Services

• Appropriate adjustments in forms of academic assessment

• Students requiring such support should inform the university as soon as possible

Student Satisfaction

“What students think of their first year”11 May 2006Research by Higher Education Academy• Students felt stimulated by their learning• Teaching was seen as supportive• Staff generally seen as friendly• Feedback supported learning• The more students know about their institutions and courses

before enrolling, the less likely they are to consider withdrawal.

But non-EU students • Had slightly lower engagement in social side of HE• Tended to keep to themselves

Studying

• Key concepts

•Student-centred learning

• Independent learning

• Undergraduate courses

•Usually ‘in class’ about 15 hours per week – depending on Programme and year of study. But this represents only about 25% of expected ‘learning time’ – so a lot of individual and group learning - using library and other resources

Studying

• This independent learning is based on the idea that the lecturer is only one source of student learning.

• It can be suggested that this is one of the most challenging aspects for an international student, who may have come from a very different, more didactic, educational background, to understand and adapt to.

Assessment

• Student assessment takes a variety of forms• It is related to the ‘Intended Learning Outcomes’ of

each Module of study.• Intended Learning Outcomes will include much more

than the acquisition of ‘facts’ – such as abilities in•Analysis•Originality and Creativity•Group work•Communication and Presentation Skills

Plagiarism

• Plagiarism is an ever increasing problem – students ’lifting’ material from sources, including the internet and, in effect ‘copying and pasting’ as if it is their own work – without academic reference to the original source.

• This ‘academic malpractice’ is taken very seriously, and penalised, in UK Higher Education•However, it is a subject of considerable debate,

including intercultural considerations – for example, it might be more readily identified in the work of an international student, and international students might have a different understanding of what constitutes ‘plagiarism’.

See www.jiscpas.ac.uk

Working in UK – non-EU students

• First – it is important to stress that any non-EU student wishing to study in UK MUST be able to show s/he can meet the costs of studying and living in UK without relying on UK employment.

•Otherwise they will not be granted a student visa

Working in UK – non-EU students

• Currently, a non-EU student can work legally for up to 20 hours per week during academic term-time and full-time during vacations

• Usually employed in non-skilled jobs – paying minimum or just above minimum wages - £5.00 per hour approx

• BUT they must realise that any work should NOT interfere with their studies – studying in a second language is very demanding and requires more, not less, time than a native English speaker

Working in UK – non-EU students

• There is no requirement of the university to help find such part-time work for students•Sources are usually ‘word of mouth’, student

organisations, newspapers, shop windows, notice boards and so on

• In any university city there may be great competition for a limited number of part-time jobs. Nothing is guaranteed – hence the need to have full financial means regardless of possible earning opportunities.

http://www.educationuk.org/downloads/work_in_uk.pdf

Programme-related employment

• Many undergraduate programmes involve work experience that is an integrated element of the Programme - these are usually known as ‘Sandwich Programmes’•They take a variety of forms, but commonly require

the student to undertake a minimum total of 40 weeks working in an organisation

•The student is usually paid by the employer for this work – at the ‘going rate’ for the job

•There is no Work Permit restriction on such work as it is recognised as part of his/her higher education programme of study

Working in UK – post-student stage

• Students may be able to undertake full or part-time employment in UK after graduating usually only if an employer can obtain a Work Permit for that graduate - employer has to show that the specific skill offered by the graduate is in short supply.

• However, there are also some shemes:

• International Graduate Scheme – can apply for permission to stay one year and work – without need for a work permit

• Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme – for up to two years after completing their studies

• Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (including some MBA graduates) – for those with degrees and work experience and prior earnings at a certain level

• The Innovators Scheme – for entrepreneurs

Working in UK – post-student stage

•However, much of this is in the process of change – and it is essential that any non-EU student seeking employment in the UK after completing their Higher Education studies checks on the then current regulations:

www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk

http://www.ukcosa.org.uk/files/pdf/info_sheets/working_after_study.pdf

Working in UK – post-student stage – sponsored students

• If a student is sponsored by a government or other scholarship agency, normally its permission is needed before such a student can make an application to stay on in the UK.

• Look at the conditions of the award

Registration with police

• International students should check whether they are required to register with the police.

• If so, this is usually at a main Police Station in the university city and should be done within the first week of arrival in the UK

•An example of the guidance given to students on this is from the University of Leicester

http://www.le.ac.uk/ssds/welfare/International/regwithpolice.pdf

Health insurance

•Students enrolled on full-time courses of more than six months are entitled to free medical care within the terms of the National Health Service

•This includes: •Primary (doctor) care (there is a charge for

prescriptions). Students must register with a doctor as soon as possible – the university will advise on this

•Hospital treatment•Dental treatment. Students must register

with a NHS dentist.

Session 3

Entering British Higher

Education institutions:

Requirements, deadlines,

tuition fees

Age of entry into Higher Education

• The normal minimum age for entry in to British universities is 18

• An increasing number of UK students are taking a ‘gap year’ after school – during which they work or travel and then go to university

• There is an increasing number of ‘mature’ (over 21 year old) students

Undergraduate Entrance qualifications – UK students

• Traditionally, UK students entered higher education on the basis of ‘A’ (Advanced) Level school exams (In Scotland, Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers)

• Now, because of changes in examination/qualification system in UK, many enter with what are known as ‘Vocational A Levels’ and other similar ‘A’ level equivalents – Advanced GNVQs, Foundation courses and so on

• Now, only about half of the students applying through the Universities Central Admission Scheme (UCAS) have ‘A’ Levels

Entry Qualifications – English Language

• Regardless of the Programme being applied for, all non-native English speaker student applicants have to demonstrate a certified minimum level of English Language to undertake the required level of intensive academic study.•This is more usually 6.5 IELTS

560 TOEFL220 CB TOEFL

Comparative table of levels of English and standardised exams

Levels of knowledge

General Englsih Business EnglishEnglish for Lawyers

Financial Englsih General Englsih General Englsih

CommonEuropeanFrameworkand ALTE levels

Cambridge ESOLGeneral English Certificates

Cambridge ESOLBusiness English Certificates

ILEC

InternationalLegal English Certificate

ICFE

International Certificate in Financial English

IELTSInternational EnglishLanguage Testing System

YLE

Cambridge Young Learners English Tests

C2Good User

CPECertificate of Proficiency in English(950-1050 sati učenja)

7.5 +

C1Competent User

CAECertificate in Advanced English(750-800 sati učenja)

BECHigher

ILEC C1 ICFE C1 6.5 – 7.0

B2Independent User

FCEFirst Certificate in English(500-600 sati učenja)

BECVantage

ILEC B2 ICFE B2 5.0 – 6.0

B1Threshold User

PETPreliminary English Test(250 - 300 sati učenja)

BECPreliminary

3.5 – 4.5

A2Waystage User

KETKey English Test(180 - 200 sati učenja)

3.0 Flyers

A1Breakthrough 1.0 – 2.5

StartersMovers

Pre-sessional English for Academic Purposes (PEAP)

My current level is :

I need :

IELTS 6.0TOEFL 540

CBTOEFL 207iBT TOEFL 76

IELTS 6.5TOEFL 560

CBTOEFL 220iBT TOEFL 83

IELTS 4.5TOEFL 457

CBTOEFL 137iBT TOEFL 47

PEAP 15 weeks PEAP 20 weeks

IELTS 5.0TOEFL 480

CBTOEFL 157iBT TOEFL 55

PEAP 10 weeks PEAP 15 weeks

IELTS 5.5TOEFL 510

CBTOEFL 180iBT TOEFL 64

PEAP 05 weeks PEAP 10 weeks

IELTS 6.0TOEFL 540

CBTOEFL 207 iBT TOEFL 76

PEAP 05 weeks

English Language

• Student applicants •may already have obtained the level of language

proficiency prior to application •may be offered a conditional university place

subject to obtaining the required level prior to the start of the Programme

• Most universities offer a range of English language courses designed to assist students to attain the required level - English for Academic Purposes.

Process of applying – Undergraduate Programmes

• The standard way of applying for UK university places is through the Universities Central Admissions Scheme (UCAS)

www.ucas.ac.uk • This is done on-line, completing the official UCAS

application form• There is a UCAS charge of £15 that is normally paid

by credit card• Students can apply to up to FIVE universities (But only

four for Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Science.)

Process of applying – Undergraduate programmes

Qualifications

• Each university will specify which UK academic qualifications it will accept for a particular programme and the minimum grades in those qualifications

•But these may be varied – even from one student to another

•This is because universities are usually looking for more than just previous examination qualifications – also personal characteristics

Special entrance tests

•Some universities require special entrance tests for special subject areas (e.g. BMAT - medicine, LNAT - law) and interviews – including Oxford and Cambridge

•For Oxford seehttp://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/how_to_apply/interviews/index.html

For those who cannot attend Oxford for an

interviews it may be held by telephone, video or web cam

Undergraduate entry requirements – International students

• National high school leaving diplomas may be recognised as meeting the minimum entry requirements for specific courses in UK universities

• These may include the International Baccalaureate• But applicants must check with their chosen

university(ies) before making their formal applications, whether their qualifications are so recognised for the course(s) on which they want to enrol.

UK NARIC

The National Recognition Information Centre for the UK

• Is the UK national agency for providing the comparability of international qualification from over 180 countries

• All UK higher education institutions are registered with NARIC and subscribe to use its special comparability software package to assess applicants with international diplomas

• BUT individuals can, for a small fee, obtain their own Letter of Comparability from NARIC

• Details can be obtained at

• www.naric.org.uk

Undergraduate entry requirements – international students

• Sometimes non-EU students are required to take UK qualifications

•These can be the ‘A’ levels

• It may be a Foundation Programme (also referred to as Access Programmes)

•Foundation/Access Programme search available at www.ucas.ac.uk

Do not confuse....

• Foundation Programmes •Are usually of one year study•Usually taken in a College of Further Education•English Language entry level of 5.0 or 5.5. •Prepare students to the standard for entry into the

First year of an undergraduate Programme. •Some Foundation Programme providers have

special relationships with particular universities – guaranteeing entry - subject to Distinction Pass level

•This relationship also may offer a ‘discount’ on the first year undergraduate fees.

Do not confuse with...

• Foundation degrees (FdSc/FdEng/FdA)• Are higher education qualifications established in 2001 as

part of the British government’s efforts to expand access to ‘higher education’

• They are sub - Degree level, usually two years’ full-time or three years’ part-time study. Maybe designed as a progression route to an Honours Degree

• Entrance requirement usually only ONE ‘A’ Level or equivalent

• Although validated by an ‘established’ university they are sometimes studied in Colleges

• Designed in partnership with employers ‘to improve business performance’ and include, for example, Beauty Therapy Operations, Hairdressing and Salon Management, Food Manufacturing, Horticulture, Sports Horse Management and Training

See www.foundationdegree.org.uk

Selecting an Undergraduate Programme and a university for study

• This can be the most difficult task – even for UK students• It requires the review of a range of university prospectuses

• These can be supplemented by other forms of advice/opinion/evaluation•The Teaching Quality Information web site can be

useful www.tqi.ac.uk•Published university and subject ‘league tables’ – but

use with care•The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education www.qaa.ac.uk•Universities and Colleges Admission Services www.ucas.ac.uk•Contact with students who have already experienced

university education in the UK

Selecting an Undergraduate Programme and a university for study

It is important to be ‘happy’ and confident with

• The chosen subject area of study

• The location of the university

•London may be attractive – but is large and expensive and can be impersonal

•Provincial cities and towns can be easier to ‘understand’ and may provide a better student environment

Stamford Test

• The UCAS Application Form directs attention to the Stamford Test – this is intended to be an aid to students to select the types of undergraduate programmes for which they are suited

http://www.ucas.ac.uk/students/beforeyouapply/whattostudy/stamfordtest

Selecting an Undergraduate Programme and a university for study

Checking international qualifications• Before making the formal application(s) the applicant should check the

appropriateness/acceptability of his/her international qualification(s) directly with the selected university(s)

• This can normally be done through e mail contact with the relevant International Office(s)

Process of applying

• Dates•The standard dates for applications to be submitted

to UCAS are between 1st September and 15th January preceding the start of the required academic year (September/October)

•But non-EU students can apply up to 30th June – however, universities are not obliged to consider any applications after 15th January

•Exceptions – Oxford and Cambridge and Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science – by 15th October of the preceding year

Personal Statement

The UCAS application form requires standard bio and academic data BUT a critical part of the application form is the section Personal Statement – and it is with this that many international students have difficulty.

However the on-line UCAS application process gives guidelines on what should be included – and great attention should be paid to this section

http://www.ucas.com/students/startapplication/apply/personalstatement

Personal statement - plagiarism

• UCAS warns against any temptation to plagiarise in this section of the application.

• A special Similarity Detection System is used on all applications to detect more than 10% of similarity of text to the data bank of applications

http://www.ucas.com/students/startapplication/apply/plagiarism

Personal Statement

The one Personal Statement goes to all the selected universities on the application form

Should cover: • Why the student is applying- esp. for studying in UK• Why the university should want to enrol the applicant (what

the student has to offer)• Why interested in the course• Intended career path• Past work/social/sport/leisure - experience/achievement• Evidence on which the student believes s/he can complete a

higher education course taught in English

Reference

Referee – • Probably teacher or employer• Must not be family or a friend

• Must be written in English• Should include, inter alia, observations on applicant’s

•Existing achievements•Motivation and commitment to chosen course(s)•Powers of analysis and independent thought•Work experience•Ability to write and speak English

Must not make any reference to any of the specific courses/institutions to which the applicant is applying – because each institution will see the same reference

Process of offers

• UK exam results are usually available only in July/August of the entrance year

•So, in advance of July/August, universities review the applications (processed to them through UCAS) and make provisional offers (or make no offer) – the offers are subject to the student getting the grades required by the university for that student

Process of accepting

• Students may then accept up to two offers

•One as their first or ‘firm’ choice

•One as their second, ‘insurance’ choice

• The applicant advises UCAS of their choice

Process of applying – Postgraduate Programmes

• This is through direct application to the university(s) of the student’s choice•Details are found in the university prospectus• Initial contact is usually through the university’s

International Office or the specific faculty• It is advisable to discuss entry

requirements/recognition of international diplomas with the university prior to formal application •This will include certified English Language

ability•This may require the taking of GMAT (Graduate

Management Admission Test

The example of one university recruiting international students

University of Leeds

• http://www.leeds.ac.uk/international/

International students - Paying fees

• Important to check with each university.

•Some require a deposit in advance of enrolment

•Some allow for each annual payment to be paid in instalments

• What is important is that formal registration does not commence until the fee element is paid in full or in part, so payment processes must be understood and in place in good time.

Session 4

Online application procedures –

UCAS application form

UCAS Apply - sections

• Registration• Personal Details• Choices• Education • Employment• Personal Statement• Reference• Payment• Send your application

https://apply2.ucas.com/Apply09Help/guidedtour/applyguidedtour_EN_files/frame.html

UCAS Apply

UCAS application form asks for • Institution Code(s)•Course Code(s)

There is a useful ‘Help’ button that enables the identification of the Institution(s’) Code

Course codes are available from the Institution Prospectus document – usually available on-line

UCAS Form - Course search -Example

http://www.ucas.ac.uk/

Course search

2008

By subject

History of Art

All History of Art courses

University of Birmingham

History of Art and Russian Studies

UCAS application – please remember:

• Not to send any supporting documentation with your UCAS application form

• Respect the dates and apply as early as possible

• Cambridge and Oxford have their own application forms which need to be completed alongside the UCAS one.

Session Five

• Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Programmes

http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/mundus/index_en.html

• Including scholarship opportunities for international students

Erasmus Mundus masters’ programmes

• In 2002/3 the European Parliament approved the proposal to •Strengthen EU-third country cooperation in Higher

Education (‘Third country’ = neither Member State or Associate State of EU)

• January 2004 Erasmus Mundus programme came into force and has now completed its first phase•During this period more than 6000 students will

have received EM scholarships• Second phase, 2009-13, will include Joint Doctoral

programmes

Erasmus Mundus

Overall objectives

• To strengthen European co-operation and international links in Higher Education

•Supporting high-quality European Masters courses

•Enabling students and visiting scholars to study at postgraduate level at European universities

•Encouraging outgoing mobility of European students and scholars to ‘third’ countries.

• To promote, around the world, the European Union as a centre of excellence in learning

Erasmus Mundus

Four Actions

Action 1

• Masters courses

• Integrated courses offered by a consortium of at least three universities in at least three different European countries

•Study period in at least two of these

•Lead to the award of multiple or joint diploma

Action 1 continued

•Must be attended by European graduate students and a specific number of third-country high-quality graduate students or scholars•A Masters consortium must reserve 13 places

(to be increased up to 18) for third-country students and 3 or 4 for third-country scholars

•Not more than 25% of selected third-country students from the same country

Erasmus Mundus

Four Actions

Action 2

• Scholarships

•For third-country graduate students and scholars

Erasmus Mundus

Four Actions

Action 3

• Partnerships

•With third-country HE institutions engaged in Action 1

•Must allow for outgoing mobility of EU graduate students and scholars involved in the Erasmus Mundus Masters courses

Erasmus Mundus

Four ActionsAction 4• Enhancing attractiveness•Supporting projects that enhance the attractiveness

of European Higher education•Visibility and accessibility•Internationalisation•Mutual recognition of qualifications

Initial indicative scale

• To support about 100 Masters courses• Provide grants for •Some 5000 graduate students from third countries

to follow these courses•Some 4000 graduate students to study in third

countries• Provide teaching and research scholarships for• In Europe, for 1000 incoming third-country

academics and a similar number for outgoing scholars

Erasmus Mundus Scholarship values

• Students

•21,000 euro (10 months x 1600 euro) + 5000 euro

•This is adjusted (pro-rata) if the real study months are longer (up to two years)

• Scholars

•12,000 euro (3 months x 4000 euro) +

1000 euro

UK Erasmus Mundas

Some of the current UK institutions involved in Erasmus Mundus Masters Courses:• MEES – Masters in Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Seismology

Imperial College Londonwww.mees.org

• EURO-AQUAE – Euro Hydro-Informatics & Water ManagementUniversity of Newcastle-upon-Tynewww.euroaquae.org

• EuMI – European Master in InformaticsUniversity of Edinburghwww.eumi-school.org

• European Joint Master in Water and Coastal ManagementUniversity of Plymouthhttp://www.ualg.pt/EUMScWCM/

• European Master in Law and EconomicsUniversity of Manchesterwww.emle.org

• CoMundus – European Master of Arts in Media, Communication and Cultural StudiesInstitute of Education, University of Londonwww.comundus.net

Session Six

Scholarship opportunities for international students

&

Distance Learning

Scholarship opportunities for international students

Sources of funding:

• Your local government/ministry

• The British government

• UK Universities

• Companies

• Trusts/funding bodies/charities

• Partnership arrangements

Scholarship opportunities for international students

Undergraduate programmes

• Usually awarded on the basis of strong competition between international students who have already accepted an offer for a place at the university.

• They may be awarded on a University-wide, Faculty or Programme basis of competition

• Their value differs – perhaps averaging £1500 - £2000 per year, but some much lower

• Details of any scholarships are found on the web pages/prospectus of the particular university.

Scholarship opportunities for international students

Postgraduate programmes

Masters Programmes• These are usually competitive in a manner similar to

scholarships for undergraduate awards, but generally speaking, there seems to be more on offer

• The British Government provides several fully funded postgraduate scholarships, either on its own or in partnership with other organisations and universities

Scholarship opportunities for international students

Doctorates• Universities annually offer a wide variety of PhD

scholarships•These usually carry a financial award of about

£12,300 per year with free academic tuition/supervision

•They are normally related directly to the university’s established research agenda/contracts (rather than the student proposing an area of potential research)

•Thus applicants compete against each other for the research post and scholarship

British Chevening Scholarships

• Prestigious awards funded by FCO - fully or in partnership with local ministries, other organisations and universities (OSI/FCO Chevening/University of Cambridge, Oxford and York), companies (Shell Centenary Scholarships)..

• They enable overseas students to study in the United Kingdom at postgraduate level (mostly Masters degrees)

• Offered in over 150 countries – the programme currently provides around 2,300 new scholarships each year – and aimed at future leaders, decision-makers and opinion formers

• Numbers for 2005/6: Albania – 11, Belarus – 13, Bosnia and Herzegovina – 12, Croatia – 24, Kosovo – 12, Macedonia – 13, Moldova – 9, Ukraine – 26

• www.chevening.com

ORSAS

• Overseas Research Students Award Scheme

•Set up in 1979 to attract high-quality international students to UK to undertake full-time research

•Participating HEIs receive an annual grant to fund ORSAS awards

•ORSAS award holders are selected internally by the HEIs

•Provides funding to pay the difference between international student fees and the home/EU fees

•Does not cover maintenance or travel expenses

www.orsas.ac.uk

Dorothy Hodgin Postgraduate Awards (DHPAs)

• DHPA is a scheme to bring outstanding students from overseas to come and study for PhDs in top rated UK research facilities. The initiative was launched by the Prime Minister in November 2003.

• Open to top-quality science, engineering, medicine, social science and technology students.

• The 2008 tranche of awards provided funding for 92 new PhD students at 21 recipient universities

• http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/hodgkin/default.htm

Scholarship opportunities for international students

• Contact your own ministry of education or education department as they should have details of scholarship opportunities for student wishing to study abroad.

• Contact you local British Council office for details of any British Government scholarships

• Advise the student to check each university’s website or contact their International office for details of any scholaships or grants they might offer

• Point the students to search for funding at: www.educationuk.org/scholarships - enables you to search by institution, charity and organisation or by subject, level, type and/or country of residence.

Distance learning/transnational education

• An increasingly attractive option for studying in the UK - there are currently about 200,000 students studying for UK higher education qualifications outside the UK

• Flexible, wide range of programmes, overall costs lower (no living expenses)

• Various modes of delivery: fully online, travelling teacher delivery plus local support, branch campus, twinning/franchising – depending on the size of the market

• Important to check what is available in each country – many British Council offices administer exams for various UK training providers

• Search for programmes: www.educationuk.org

Distance Learning

• University of London External Programme: over 100 undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications including: business, computing, economics, environment, humanities, languages, law, managament, MBA…

• www.londonexternal.ac.uk

Distance Learning

• Open University: http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/

• Individual courses are gradually build up towards a qualification – a certificate, a diploma or a degree; with each course you take, you earn credit points towards a qualification.

• No need to have previous qualifications

• However, there is a limit to the choice of programmes avialable for countries where OU has no registered centres

• BSc (Honours) degree in Psychology: 6 years study for about £4000

Useful web pages

Undergraduate and postgraduate course search engines:

• Education UK www.educationuk.org• UCAS www.ucas.com• Prospects Graduate Careers www.prospects.ac.uk • Hobsons Postgrad www.postgrad.hobsons.com • UK Grad Programme www.grad.ac.uk • Higher Education and Research Opportunities Website

www.hero.ac.uk • Finding a Phd http://www.findaphd.com/search/search.asp• New Route PhDs www.newroutephd.ac.uk• Foundation degrees: www.foundationdegree.org.uk• MBA Guide: www.mba.hobsons.com

Useful web pages

Recognised UK degreeshttp://www.dfes.gov.uk/recognisedukdegrees/

Academic quality: • Quality Assurance Agency - www.qaa.ac.uk • Teaching Quality Information - www.tqi.ac.uk

Postgraduate research:• The 2001 RAE ratings - www.hero.ac.uk/rae • A league table of 2001 RAE ratings - http://

ukeas.com.tw/rankings.htm • Information about the next RAE in December 2008-

www.rae.ac.uk

Useful web pages

Unofficial league tables:

http://education.guardian.co.uk/universityguide

http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/single.htm?ipg=6524

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/good_university_guide/

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/

UK Universities http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/

Research Councils UK www.rcuk.ac.uk

UK NARIC http://www.naric.org.uk

UK National Europass Centre http://www.uknec.org.uk/

Distance learning:

www.educationuk.org

www.londonexternal.ac.uk

http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/

Useful web pages

• Visa information

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/

www.homeoffice.gov.uk

• Practical advice on studying and living in the UK

www.educationuk.org

http://www.ukcosa.org.uk/

• Working in the UK

www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk

• Jobs in research, science, academic and related professions

http://www.jobs.ac.uk/

• Erasmus UK

http://www.britishcouncil.org/erasmus

Useful web pages

• FUNDING STUDIES IN THE UK: • www.britishcouncil.org/learning-funding-your-studies.htm - links to

databases of scholarships for international students, including the British Council Education UK database:

• www.educationuk.org/scholarships - enables you to search by institution, charity and organisation

• www.scholarship-search.org.uk – Hotcourses sholarships database• Higher Education and Research Opportunities in the UK

http://www.hero.ac.uk/uk/research/getting_funded226.cfm• Prospects – Graduate Careers Website• http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/

Funding_my_further_study/p!edLff • For EU funding

information:http://www.eurodesk.org/edesk/Infocentre.do?go=1• Council for International Student Affairs UKCISA

http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/information_sheets.php • UK Charities:

http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/registeredcharities/first.asp

Useful web pages

Individual scholarship programmes:

•www.chevening.com

• http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/hodgkin/default.htm

•www.orsas.ac.uk

• http://www.shellscholar.org/apply/index.html

• http://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/programmes/study_programme/research_scholars