Studying in the UK Brochure

Where inspiration begins The UK means the United Kingdom and consists of England,

Education UK is managed by

British Council 78, Kanna Road, Kyauktada Township

Studying in the United Kingdom

Rangoon, Burma

Scotland, Wales (Great Britain) and Northern Ireland.

T +95 (0)1 254658, 256290-1 F +95 (0)1 245345 education.enquiries@mm.britishcouncil.org www.educationuk.org/burma

www.educationuk.org/burma

A UK education has all the ingredients to help you develop your thinking, your skills and to equip you for the future.

Why study in the UK? You will be part of something unique The UK’s tradition of education dates back hundreds of years and is one that is constantly evolving.

Combining great heritage with a dynamic culture, studying in the UK offers brilliant educational opportunities.

UK schools and colleges provide a vibrant, creative and challenging environment in which to learn and develop your potential and their standards are among the best in the world. UK institutions continually have to prove that their courses meet strict criteria, with many other countries now trying to follow the standards set by the UK. Many of the world’s outstanding scientists, engineers, artists, writers, thinkers, politicians and business people have benefited from a UK education, including Bill Clinton, former President of the USA; Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa; Desmond Tutu, Archbishop and human rights campaigner; Rifat Ozbek, fashion designer; Wole Soyinka, Nobel prize-winning author; Stelios

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Haji-Iaonnu, founder of the easyGroup of businesses and Imran Khan, cricket legend and politician.

You’ll get a brilliant start to your career UK qualifications are recognised and respected all over the world for their unrivalled academic quality and by studying in the UK you will be building a solid foundation for your future.

A bachelor's degree, HND or Foundation Degree from a UK college or university will give you an edge when you're competing for a job or a place on a postgraduate course while a master's degree, PhD or MBA from a UK higher education institution will prove to employers that you're capable of independent thought and self-discipline, used to conducting and analysing your own research and will demonstrate that you can make a real contribution to their company or organisation.

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You can be yourself In UK education you’ll be valued for who you are and encouraged to combine academic excellence with thinking for yourself. The UK’s approach to teaching has evolved over many hundreds of years and aims to encourage independent thinkers and to develop confident people. This approach, combined with the variety of courses and study options available enables you to learn in the best possible way for you.

You’ll have a great time learning The UK is home to the English language, a place with incredible heritage, an amazingly varied culture, and a fantastic social scene.

A great place to both live and learn in. You'll be learning more and more about the UK’s diverse culture as you go, making friends and experiencing things you may never forget.

The UK is one of the most multicultural societies in the world and at a UK school or college you’ll be mixing with people of all nationalities, gaining an insight into other customs and cultures and whose different backgrounds and new perspectives will add to your experience.

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Through your school or college you'll have access to all sorts of leisure and social activities. There will be the opportunity to join sports teams and groups with specialist interests, such as drama, music, arts or the environment. Trips to local theatres, museums, tourist and sporting attractions as well as other places of interest may also be arranged.

You’ll be putting your English language skills into practice every day, not only when you are studying, but also through your social activities. Many UK colleges combine language training with their practical courses, so even if you are new to the English language you’ll be improving your communication skills and career prospects at the same time.

Student life As a student in the UK, you will have access to a range of services and facilities. Whatever your interests, there are clubs and societies that cater for them, including cinema, music, drama and more – giving you the chance to meet like-minded people and make new friends. There are well-stocked libraries with quiet places to study, career services, sports facilities, cafes and pubs, as well as plenty of entertainment – organised by students, for students.

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Students and employment If you are a non-EEA (European Economic Area) national studying in the UK, one of the conditions of your stay is that you have enough money to support yourself and any accompanying dependants without working. However, If you come for a course lasting more than six months, you will normally be allowed to work up to 20 hours a week during term-time and full-time during vacations (you can also work longer if the work placement is an essential part of your course - e.g. the work

period of a sandwich course - or if you are on a degree course and the work placement is an internship lasting no more than three months).

For further information about working while studying go to: www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_she ets/working_during_studies.php For examples of passport stamps that allow and prohibit work go to: www.ukcisa.org.uk/files/pdf/working /work_during_stamps.pdf 4

Entry Clearance The regulations for entry into the UK are regularly updated and it is vital that you check the UK visas website at www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en and the Home Office Border Agency (UKBA) website at: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk on a regular basis.

There are two categories of visa for international students: • Adult student (also known as ‘general student’) • Child student (for children aged four to 17 years old coming to study at independent fee paying schools or studying at further education colleges) Starting 31 March 2009, international students from non-European countries, applying for general student visas (or are already in the UK and want to apply to extend their permission to stay) must pass a points-based assessment and score 40 points before they are able to travel to the United Kingdom. These 40 points include: • 30 points for a visa letter from a licensed sponsor, and • ten points for maintenance (you will need to show you have enough money to cover course fees and monthly living costs for up to 9 months; your bank statements must 5

confirm you have held the money for at least 28 days).

For further information go to: www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/ infs/inf29pbsstudent Please check the Tier 4 register of sponsors on the following website to confirm if your chosen course is run by a UK Border Agency licensed education institution at: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/siteco ntent/documents/employersandspo nsors/pointsbasedsystem/registerof sponsorseducation It is important that you choose the right course and place of study because you will have to obtain written permission to change once in the UK. It will cost £357 if you want to take up a new course of study either with an existing education provider or a new education provider and the length of the new course goes over your current permission to stay.

Please note that the requirements for coming to the UK as a child student are different. For details please refer to Tier 4 of the points-based system – Policy Guidance at: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/siteco ntent/applicationforms/pbs/Tier4mi grantguidance.pdf

You can apply for an Entry Clearance from the Visa Section of the British Embassy which is located at: 80 Strand Road Kyauktada Township Rangoon Burma Telephone +95 (0)1 370863-5 Fax +95 (0)1 370866 visa.rangoon@fco.gov.uk For more details on the opening hours, fees, documents required and application forms etc., please refer to the Visa Section of the British Embassy or visit http://ukinburma.fco.gov.uk/en/visas/

What is an ATAS Certificate?

On 1 November 2007 the UK government introduced the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS).

Having an ATAS clearance certificate is a mandatory requirement for some postgraduate students who need entry clearance to study in the UK. It will affect students who: • plan to undertake postgraduate research in science, engineering or technology disciplines • plan to apply for a postgraduate taught master’s in materials science, materials technology, aerospace engineering, mechanial engineering or physics (including nuclear physics).

If you need an ATAS certificate and you don’t have one your entry clearance application will be refused.

Current students already in the UK wishing to extend their visa also need to apply for an ATAS clearance if they are extending their visa in the subject areas listed.

For further information and a more detailed list please visit www.fco.gov.uk/atas 6

What are the entry requirements?

Undergraduate The qualifications you need depend on the course you want to study.

Before applying check the minimum entry qualifications in the prospectus of your chosen university or college. Generally, 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 A-levels or BTEC National Diplomas.

In addition, some universities also require students to take the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) or UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) for dental and medical courses and the Law National Admissions Test (LNAT) for law courses. Please visit the following websites for further details and the list of universities that require these tests: www.bmat.org.uk www.ukcat.ac.uk www.lnat.ac.uk

Postgraduate For postgraduate courses, the usual requirement is an honours degree in a relevant subject from an approved institution. Appropriate professional experience can be a bonus.

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If you would like to study accountancy, management or an MBA, you should take the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT).

Admissions tutors may base their decision regarding your application not only on your academic qualifications but also on factors including your references and experience, English language ability and motivation for study. Please visit www.educationuk.org/burma for further details.

English language requirement For all courses it is essential to have a good command of written and spoken English. Universities and colleges normally require a pass at grade C6 or above in GCE O-level English. As an alternative they will usually accept a good score (5.5 to 7.0) in the IELTS test administered by the British Council, or the TOEFL (above 213 for computer-based or above 550 for paper-based).

IELTS examinations are conducted by the British Council on a monthly basis. For more information, please contact British Council Examinations Services or visit: www.britishcouncil.org/burma

When is the UK academic year?

The academic year in the UK normally runs from late September or early October to June, with a month off at Christmas and Easter.

Some institutions offer starting dates at other times of the year.

There is much more flexibility for research students as the nature of their programmes can be highly individual, so starting dates can often be negotiated with the institution to suit the interests of the student and the supervisor.

How do I apply to UK institutions?

Pre-degree For Higher National Diploma or Certificate (HND/HNC), Diploma or Certificate of Higher Education (DipHE/CertHE) and full-time pre-registration diploma courses in nursing and midwifery), you should apply through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

But for other pre-degree and career-based programmes the applications should be made directly to the institution which offers the course.

Undergraduate Undergraduate applications to all universities and certain colleges of higher education are made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). This is an online application system (ucasapply) www.ucas.com/apply/ that allows students a maximum of five choices on their application, including: no more than four choices in any one of the following three areas(i) medicine, (ii) dentistry, (iii) veterinary medicine or veterinary science and no more than one choice for Oxford University or the University of Cambridge (students can apply to both only if they already hold a degree or expect to hold a degree before the courses start).

Some UK institutions accept applications directly from international students, so remember to check the university prospectus before you apply.

Postgraduate Postgraduate applications are made directly to the institutions, except for postgraduate degree or diploma in social work, which should be made through UCAS. Applications can be made at any time, but students should check the institution’s prospectus for the correct way to apply and the application deadlines.

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When should I apply?

Undergraduate

Postgraduate

The best advice is to apply as early as possible. For UCAS applications for 2010 entry, particularly competitive subjects, your application should reach UCAS ideally before the early closing date of 15 January 2010. You can start applying from 1 September 2009 and you are encouraged to apply before you have A-level results.

Postgraduate applications can be made at any time, but again the more popular courses, in particular the MBA, fill up quickly. You are strongly advised to apply early to avoid disappointment, especially for the more popular courses or the most sought-after institutions.

The universities will then be able to make you a conditional offer, which will depend on you achieving certain grades in your examinations.

However, even after 15 January applications can still be processed in the normal way until 30 June 2010. After that applications will be handled through the ‘Clearing’ process. But for all undergraduate courses at Oxford and Cambridge and all undergraduate courses in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or veterinary science you must apply before 15 October 2009.

Applications for art and design courses should reach UCAS between early September 2009 and either 15 January or 24 March 2010.

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How much will it cost?

Course fees vary considerably between institutions, but the figures below show approximately what International students from outside the EU (European Union) will need to pay.

Undergraduate

Postgraduate

Classroom (e.g. arts, social sciences, business)

£8,500 – £13,000

£8,500 – £13,500 £13,000 and above (for MBA)

Laboratory (e.g. sciences, engineering)

£9,500 – £17,500

£11,000 – £18,000

Clinical (e.g. dentistry, medicine, veterinary)

£20,000 – £32,000

£11,000 – £27,000

Living Expenses The cost of living varies from one part of the UK to another. The figures below provide only a guideline. They include basic living costs (accommodation, energy bills, food, and daily travel) and other necessary expenses such as books, equipment and other study expenses, clothing, leisure and incidental personal expenses for a nine-month academic year.

Expenditure for a longer period would be proportionately more.

Notes: If you bring your family, the costs will be higher. You should estimate an additional £3,000 for your spouse and £2,000 for

London, Oxford, Cambridge

£7,000 – £8,000

each dependent

Other areas

£5,800 – £7,000

child.

Tuition Fees The table on page 10 outlines some typical ranges of tuition fees at a university or university sector college for international students studying in the UK during the 2007-2008 academic year.

Students are strongly advised to refer to institutional prospectuses for details of fees charged by different institutions.

Scholarships & sources of funding An increasing number of UK institutions offer some full or partial scholarships for undergraduate courses.

For postgraduates, the situation is even better, and there are several forms of assistance for taught and research degrees.

For more information on scholarships, ranging from undergraduate to postgraduate level, please visit www.educationuk.org/scholarships/

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