The UK means the
Education UK is managed by
British Council
United Kingdom and
78, Kanna Road, Kyautada Township, Rangoon,
consists of England,
Burma
Scotland, Wales (Great Britain) and Northern Ireland.
Painting your future Studying in the UK for undergraduate qualifications
T + 95 1 254658, 256290, 256291 F + 95 1 245345 education.enquiries@mm.britishcouncil.org www.educationuk.org/burma
www.educationuk.org/burma
Why study undergraduate degree courses in the UK?
A UK degree will equip you with the kind of proactive, problem-solving skills sought by today’s top companies. UK undergraduate qualifications are respected and valued all over the world. Whether you choose to study for a degree, Foundation Degree or HND, you'll learn to think for yourself and work independently, learning research skills and presentation methods you'll continue to use long after you leave university. Courses from accountancy to zoology are delivered at more than 3,000 educational institutions and there are a variety of routes, allowing you to combine different types of courses according to your needs and abilities. The sheer variety of specialist subjects means that you can find a course that best suits your interests, ambitions and passions. For example, you could specialise in computer games programming, ocean engineering, satellite positioning technology, sound engineering, multimedia design, anthropology, cross-cultural psychology, hotel management or dance.
A degree will be invaluable for a current or future career or equip students for postgraduate study. The UK’s degree programmes are underpinned by world-class research and links with business and industry.
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What can I study?
Higher National Certificate (HNC) and
Diplomas of
Higher National Diploma (HND) in
Higher Education (Dip HE)
Scotland
Diplomas of Higher Education are
BTEC Higher National Certificate
In Scotland, an HNC is awarded at the
university–level two-year courses
(HNC) or Diploma (HND)
end of the first year of a two-year HND
available in many humanities and social
HNDs are two-year, full-time
programme. It is a qualification in its
science subjects, such as education,
career-related higher education
own right. Unlike in the rest of the UK,
theology, communication studies and
qualifications that combine career
however, HNCs in Scotland are full-time,
social work. They are ideal for students
preparation with opportunities for
one-year courses. The HNC is aligned
hoping to progress to a career in these
further study. They are available in
with the first year of a degree course,
areas and also provide a foundation for
many areas including engineering,
the HND with the second year; in many
higher education courses in the same
sports studies, art and design, media
cases, there are opportunities for
subject area. Though aimed at
and communications and music
holders of HNCs progress to the second
preparing students for particular
technology and can be taken at further
year of a degree programme and for
careers, the teaching methods tend to
education colleges, or higher education
In Scotland, the first degree in arts in
holders of HNDs to the third year.
be more academic than on HNDs or
the four ancient universities – St
Foundation Degree programmes.
Andrews, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling
See www.ucas.com for a list of courses
and also in the University of Dundee is
available.
an MA or Master of Arts. A Master’s
colleges or universities in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. HNDs are awarded by the national awarding body Edexcel, the most popular subject areas are art, business, engineering and information technology. HNCs are a similar qualification, usually taken part time. HNCs and HNDs are widely recognised by employers in the UK and may also enable you to join the second or third year of some degree
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Robert Pogsan / www.scotlandistheplace.com
Photographer
programmes.
Foundation Degrees (FdA, FdSc etc) They are two-year career-related higher
degree in all other faculties, and in the
education courses, which combine work experience with the academic structure
Degrees
other universities, is a postgraduate
of a degree programme and can lead
Degrees are the most popular
qualification. For accurate information
on to a full honours degree (following
undergraduate qualifications in the UK.
on the qualifications offered by a
an additional year of study), or provide
They are academic courses, usually
particular institution you should always
opportunities to enter relevant
studied over three years in England,
check the relevant prospects.
employment. They are available in
Northern Ireland and Wales, or four
many areas, including art and design,
years in Scotland (where the title
In the UK, many universities now offer
media and communications,
master's degree may be awarded).
integrated masters programmes which
engineering and hospitality
Some degree courses may be extended
are four year undergraduate Master’s
management and successful students
for a year to enable students to spend a
awards and are increasingly becoming
are able to cite the letters FdA (for arts
year in industry (such as on engineering
the standard for those who want
subjects), FdSc (for science subjects) or
degrees) or overseas (such as on
careers as professional engineers or
FdEng (for engineering) after their
degrees in modern languages). Degree
scientists. In the first year students
name. Foundation degrees are offered
courses in professional subjects, such
follow a Bachelor degree syllabus but if
by several higher education institutions
as architecture, medicine, dentistry and
they attain high grades they may get
in England, Northern Ireland and Wales,
veterinary sciences, can take between
the opportunity to follow an integrated
with degree-awarding powers and BTEC
five and seven years to complete.
Bachelor/Masters level syllabus in their third and fourth year. On completion of
foundation degrees are offered through many further education colleges.
Qualifications vary in title from one
the course, students are awarded MEng
Foundation degrees are not available in
institution to another and there are
(engineering), MSci (science), MPhys
Scotland. See www.fdf.ac.uk for more
some exceptions to the general rules.
(Physics) and MMath (Mathematics).
information on foundation degrees.
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University International Foundation Year (IFY) University International Foundation Year
At both further education colleges and
courses help to bridge any gaps
universities, International Foundation
between qualifications you hold already
Year programmes often consist of
and the ones you need to begin a
‘pathways’. These allow a student on a
degree course at a UK university,
particular pathway to choose one of a
whether this is because you need to
number of several end results. For
develop your English language skills,
example, if you area on a business
improve on your academic
pathway, you might be able to progress
qualifications, or both. Many
to a degree in economics, business
universities run their own International
studies, accounting, IT or mathematics.
Foundation Year programmes. If you
Other pathways include humanities, arts
choose one of these you may not
and social sciences, science,
receive a formal qualifications but it
technology and medical.
could lead to a particular degree course at that institution. The IFY programme
You can find more information about
might have different entry points
International Foundation Year
throughout the year, enabling you to
programmes, including how to apply on
complete one, two or three academic
the UCAS website www.ucas.com
terms depending on your existing The table below will give you types of degree courses you can study in the UK.
academic qualifications and language skills.
Types of degree courses
Typical content
Usual length
Foundation year programmes
Honours degree
One subject studied in depth
Usually three years but can be four,
These programmes allow you to gain
For example, entry requirements for a
especially in Scotland. Architecture,
skills in specific subjects such as
foundation year in engineering can be
engineering, nursing, medicine, art and
up to 100 UCAS points lower than the
business, and usually lead directly to
entry into the first year of a degree
specific degree programmes.
programme in the same subject at the
medicine, dentistry and veterinary sciences degrees are five to seven years. Joint Honours degree
Combined Honours degree
Ordinary/General degree
Two subjects studied in
Three to four years
less depth
(more often four in Scotland)
Two or more subjects studied
Three to four years
in less depth
(more often four in Scotland)
One or more subjects studied
Three years
same institution. They are aimed at students who have
If you successfully complete your
never studied the subject before or
course, it might allow you to enter the
whose grades aren’t high enough for a
degree programme linked to it in a
degree course.
four-year programme of continuous study. Application to join these courses is generally through UCAS www.ucas.com
at less advanced level
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What qualifications will I need? The qualifications you need depend on the course you want to study. You'll be expected to have completed at least 13 years of education in your own country or the UK, and to have taken pre-university qualifications equivalent to UK A-levels, Scottish Highers or National Diplomas. If your qualifications don't match this, you can still study in the UK. You just have to start at an earlier level. Many international students take an access, foundation or bridging course, which are designed to bridge the gap between the qualifications you already have and those required by the college or university of your choice. These courses last one year and can be taken at the same university or college as you intend to take the degree, or one close by. It’s important for you to choose your access or foundation course carefully.
It is important for you to choose your access or foundation course carefully. Be clear about whether your choice offers an established route into a particular degree course. And if you need English language tuition, make sure your course includes this.
Š Education UK
You'll find the exact entry requirements for each course on the course profiles on www.educationuk.org/burma The following will give you an idea of the sort of qualifications you will need:
HND
Qualifications equivalent to one or two UK A-levels, two Scottish Highers or a Higher National Certificate or BTEC National Diploma; or an international foundation year. Plus IELTS 5.5-6.0
Foundation Degree
Qualifications equivalent to one or two UK A-levels, one or two Scottish Highers or a National Diploma; or an international foundation year. Plus IELTS 5.5-6.0
Diploma of Higher Education
Qualifications equivalent to one or two UK A-levels, two or three Scottish Highers or a National Diploma; or an international foundation year. Plus IELTS 5.5-6.0
Degree
Qualifications equivalent to two or three UK A-levels, three or four Scottish Highers, a Higher National Certificate or Diploma, or BTEC National Diploma; or an international foundation year. Plus IELTS 6.0-6.5
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How will I know if I've chosen a good course?
How much will it cost? The figures below show approximately what you'll need to pay, but it's worth bearing in mind that course fees can vary considerably between institutions. Costs for individual courses are given in the course profiles on this website.
UK higher education is quality assured
The higher education funding councils
by government-supported agencies and
also assess the quality of research
stringent assessment mechanisms,
through the Research Assessment
which means UK degree programmes
Exercise (RAE). Every few years, the
are of a very high standard and are
RAE takes place to judge the quality of
respected as such internationally. Many
research being carried out in UK
of the checks and reports are available
colleges and universities. The most
online, so you will never be left in any
recent assessment took place in 2001
doubt about the validity and quality of
and the results can be downloaded
the course you choose.
from www.hero.ac.uk/rae.index.htm
The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) is
You can also find information about the
responsible for regulating standards
quality of higher education in the UK
and quality for UK higher education. It
universities and colleges at
produces a Code of Practice which
www.unistats.ac.uk. Unistats brings
provides the institutions with guidelines
together key sources of official
on how they manage academic
information about the provision of
standards and quality. As well as setting
higher education in the UK, including
standard guidelines the QAA also carries
the results of the National Student
out inspections of institutions to see if
Survey (NSS). This survey is the result
they are reaching these targets. These
of final year students rating the
QAA inspections are called ‘Institutional
institution at which they are studying on
Audits’ and the reports are published on
a number of different criteria, such as
their website at www.qaa.ac.uk/reviews/
the level of academic support they received and the learning resources
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Foundation courses
£4,000 to £12,000 per year
Arts courses
£7,000 to £9,000 per year
Science courses
£7,500 to £12,000 per year
Clinical courses
£10,000 to £21,000 per year
available to them.
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How do I choose the right course and institution? There are so many undergraduate
Checklist: Choosing the right
courses and so many places to study
institution
that choosing a course and institution
* Is the higher education institute large
can be difficult. You may have a
enough (or small enough) to have the
personal preference, for your own
facilities you would like? What does it
reasons, but if you are starting with only a vague idea, the following checklists will help you come up with your decision-making factors.
do about student support? * Is it in a city or the countryside? Where in the UK is it? Does this matter to you? * Is it on a campus or not? Does that
Checklist: Choosing the right course * Is the subject right for you? What type of qualification is it? What are the options with the subject? * Does it improve your chances of following your chosen career? * Will it be recognised by employers or educational organisations in your own country? * What are the teaching methods? Are you happy with them? * How did the department fare in the most recent QAA where education
matter to you? * Is it close to any relatives or friends you have in the UK? * Is it close to an airport that you could use to get home? * Do you like the way it assesses work – by coursework, written exams or both? * Is its most recent review by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) generally satisfactory? * Can you afford the course fees? * How much university accommodation
institutions define academic standards
is on offer, and what is its range? Are
and quality for external review?
you given any guarantees about
* How is the programme assessed? Would you prefer continuous assessment or a more exam-based programme?
accommodation in the first and final years as an overseas students? * Can you afford to live in this town or city?
How and when do I apply? Once you have shortlisted your
Points to remember:
preferred courses and colleges, you
• You may apply for up to five courses
should get the college prospectuses –
on one application form. If you are
these are also available on the Internet
applying for medicine, dentistry or
and can be accessed at
veterinary sciences/ medicine you
www.educationuk.org/burma.
may only apply for four courses. • You can only make one application
Apply for a full-time undergraduate course through UCAS 1. Check the minimum entry
per academic year through the UCAS system. • Start thinking about this early – over a
requirements for each course you want
year before you want to start your
to apply for. There is no point making
course
an application if you do not have them. (Bear in mind that the institution could ask for more than these minimum requirements if there is competition to join the course). 2. Apply in one of two ways: • Online using ‘Apply online’, a web-based application system for international and UK applicants www.ucas.com/students/apply • By post, using the printed application form available from UCAS or from your local British Council office. (Only if the online version is not possible) There is a charge for all applications through UCAS – see http://www.ucas.com/ or contact your local British Council office for details of current charges and how to pay.
Key dates: • 1 September (the year before the course starts) – all applications open • 15 October – closing date for applications to courses in medicine, dentistry or veterinary sciences/medicine and to Oxford and Cambridge Universities • 15 January – closing date for UK & EU students • 15 January – closing date for route A art and design applications • 1 September – 5 March – application period for route B art and design applications • 30 June – closing date for international students (unless you are applying to Oxford or Cambridge or for medicine, dentistry, veterinary science/medicine or route B art and design courses). Please note: popular courses will have been filled by this date so UCAS advise you to apply earlier if you can.
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Where can I find more information? Universities UK Universities UK's mission is to be the essential voice of UK universities by promoting and supporting their work. www.universitiesuk.ac.uk Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) UCAS is the central organisation that processes applications for full-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses at UK universities and colleges. www.ucas.com HERO HERO (Higher Education and Research Opportunities in the United Kingdom) contains information on all aspects of higher education. www.hero.ac.uk Unistats Unistats is the official website for information about the quality of higher education in UK universities and colleges. For further information go online to www.unistats.com International Foundation Programme – Scotland www.ifps.ac Access Course Database Database of Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) recognised Access courses www.ucas.com/students/beforeyouapply/access_programmes/ Foundation degrees www.foundationdegree.org.uk Access to higher education (HE) programmes www.accesstohe.ac.uk Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) www.qaa.ac.uk
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