WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT UNDERGRAD COLLEGE EDUCATION IN UK?
As an English speaking country, the UK is a prime go-to country for kids aspiring to study abroad. The education system is fairly flexible, offering you a wide variety of choices and opportunities. It is also a significant global hub for education and you will find kids from many nations come to the UK for getting an undergraduate degree.
The UK offers leading programs in engineering, sciences, arts, design, business/management, finance & law. The UK has a strong reputation for its excellence in education and research. Over 250,000 international students come for undergraduate studies (over 600,000 international students overall including PG & Ph.D.) every year to the UK1.
Key benefits4 of an undergrad degree from the UK
Admissions Approach
The admissions process is fairly linear & focusses more on your academic story & related areas. Very unlike some other countries which follow the “holistic admissions approach” which takes into strong consideration other aspects of your application – extracurricular activities, projects undertaken, social work, sports, etc. For UK universities, the focus is mostly on your academic achievements and interests – they would love to know more about your subject choices, why the particular course interests you, etc. When they evaluate your application, your grades (from Grade 9/10 onwards) and the courses you have taken will be of prime importance to the admissions committee.
There is typically no testing requirement (SAT/ACT), but hey, taking the test and scoring well of it will in no way hurt your chances, may only enhance it even if it is not a mandatory requirement. A Personal Statement/Essay is mostly a must for all universities. Some universities will call for an interview and/or recommendations/references from your academic or other outside sources.
Unlike most places, in the UK the students have to declare their majors upfront. Thus, you apply not just to a university, but also to a particular program or course within the University.
Application Procedure
To apply, you have to send your application through the central application system – the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, also commonly known as the UCAS5. Every single university in the UK uses this application, and you can only apply to up to five universities. You can start your application process when the UCAS opens in September, and your deadline is January for admission to the fall class. One of the caveats is that you can only apply one of their two most famous Universities – Oxford & Cambridge in the same year – you have to choose either or.
Sources:
- UK Council for International Student Affairs
- British Council of India
- Study in the UK – List of Universities in the UK
- British Council of India
- Universities and Colleges Admissions Service – UCAS
Created by Sandeep Lakhina, Chief Dreams Enabler, UUNDERGRAD
