Image source: http://d1pe6f90ru47yo.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/09013757/Screen-Shot-2015-12-09-at-01.37.34-1024x642.png
U.K. University Rankings
Ranking Institution
(1.) Cambridge university.
(2.) Oxford university.
(3.) London School of Economics.
(5.) University College, London .
(6.) University of York.
(7.) Imperial College.
(8.) Nottingham University.
(9.) Warwick University.
(10.) King's College, London.
(11.) Manchester University.
Undergraduate Entry
Types of degrees offered
1.) Bachelor degrees: these degree courses last for 3 - 4 years. These are equivalent to the Bachelor degrees in India.
2.) Higher National Diplomas (HND): these courses are more vocational in nature and take about 2 yrs to complete.
3.) Foundation degrees: these last for upto 2 yrs and provide a more flexible option for the career-minded students to gain practical and academic skills.
UCAS
All colleges require applicants to submit their applications through UCAS (University and Colleges Application Service). UCAS forms are available in schools, colleges, the British Council and at various education fairs where the representatives from UCAS are present. Applications can also be requested from the website.
Applications are generally available from August 1. The submission of the form begins on September 1 onwards till June 30. Exceptional deadlines are provided for Oxford and Cambridge courses as well as those in Medicine, Veterinary sciences. It is advisable for students to nonetheless apply well before June 30 specially if they are looking for financial aid and scholarships. Applications can be submitted online as well.
Important Application Dates
1 September >> Opening date for receiving Applications
15 October >> Closing date for applications to Oxford, Cambridge, medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine/ science
15 January >> Advisory closing date for all applications
1 January >> First date for receiving Art and Design Route B applications.
8 March >> Advisory closing date for A and D route B applications
24 March >> Final closing date for A and D route B courses
30 June >> Last date for receiving all other applications.
English Language Requirements
The universities and colleges tell the applicant of the standard of written and spoken English they need to understand in order to take part in lectures, seminars, tutorials and exams. As English is not the first language, most universities and colleges will want require the applicant to have a qualification in English, or to take a specified test in English.
1.) TOEFL - American test of English as a Foreign Language. In the paper based test, a score of 550 or above (600 is recommended for a course with literary content). Comparable figures for the computer based test are 213 or above and 250 or above.
2.) IELTS - International English Language Testing System. Most UK Universities require an overall band score of 5.0 - 7.0 depending on the literary content of the course. The IELTS test report form is recommended as valid for two years. Candidates receive a band score for each of the following skill areas: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Applicants offering IELTS should offer academic rather than general reading and writing modules.
The forms for these tests are also available online, from respective schools and colleges and through the education fairs held every year.
To know More about UK Scholarships, Universities and Cost for Higher Studies in UK, read the Second Part (2) of this article.
