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 University study in the UK
Miriam Liberman describes the application process to university in the United Kingdom
Every year, tens of thousands of young people from all over the world come to England to study for a university degree. The idea of applying to a university in another country can seem a bit daunting to some people, but studying in England is a great experience, so don't be put off by the sometimes complicated and bureaucratic application procedure. It really isn't all that difficult and there is plenty of help available.
The most important thing to do is to start early. It is recommended to start looking for courses and universities approximately one year before you want to start studying. The first thing to do is to decide what and where you want to study. There are hundreds of different courses available. You can study everything from art history to computer science. Once you have decided what you want to study, it is time to start looking for the right university. There are different ways of choosing a university.
One way is to look at the UCAS website or the British Council's special website for education and use their search engines to find out which universities offer the subject that you like. There will almost certainly be several universities that offer the course that you are interested in. The English system allows you to apply to five different universities, so you'll have to find a way of narrowing down the number of universities that you find interesting to just five. It is difficult to say what the best way is to decide which five universities you should choose. But a good way to find out more about a university is to go to its website and, if possible, visit the university on an open day. Most universities have so-called open days throughout the year. Another way is to look at university league tables, which are published by some of Britain's leading newspapers. They rank the universities on a number of different criteria such as quality of teaching and research, entry standards and dropout rates. You might also want to think about if you would prefer to live in a big or a small town, whether you want to be in the North, South, East or West and what type of accommodation that the university can offer. You should also be aware of the fact that tuition fees may wary between different universities and between different types of courses. Courses which require the use of laboratories tend to be more expensive. Finally, for international students in particular, proximity to an international airport may be of great importance. Whatever universities you choose, remember to always make sure that you have the right qualifications for the course that you are applying to.
When you have decided which five university courses that you want to apply to, you are ready to start filling out the application form. It is all done online. Simply go to www.ucas.com and follow the instructions. The website is easy to use and has many user guides. If you still feel a bit unsure about how to complete the form than you can always contact the British Council in your country. The British Council has offices in 109 countries worldwide and they will be able to answer any questions that you might have regarding studying in England in general or the application process in particular. To complete the application form you will have to provide full details of your educational qualifications including marks, proof of English language skills, a personal letter and a letter of reference. This may take at least a few weeks, so you should probably start working on your application form no later than mid-November to make sure that you will be able to have it finished in time for the 15 January deadline.
After you have submitted your application form there is really not much to do, but to sit back and wait for the universities to make up their mind. Good luck!
Key websites: UCAS is the central organisation that processes applications for full-time undergraduate courses at UK universities and colleges. It has a special website for international students: www.ucas.com/students/nonukstudents/
The main British Council website with links to all its offices around the world.
The British Council's website for education.
League tables: The Times
The Guardian
Important deadlines: 1 September Application processing begins.
15 October Closing date for applications to Oxford University, University of Cambridge and courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science or veterinary medicine.
15 January Closing date for applications from UK and EU students to be guaranteed equal academic consideration. (The deadline for applications from outside the UK or EU is 30 June, but if you want to increase your chances of getting a place on your chosen course, you should not wait until then to apply.)
Remember: EU citizens are regarded as home students which mean that they are treated in the same way as UK citizens. International students are citizens from outside the UK and the EU.
UCAS only handles application forms for undergraduate degrees. If you wish to apply for a postgraduate degree, you should contact the university directly.
Miriam Liberman was at the time of writing studying for an MA in European Governance at the University of Kent in Canterbury, England
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