Transcript Slide 1

Aspects of
British Higher
Education
Colin Love
[email protected]
and
Branka Zaja
[email protected]
Colin Love, Branka Zaja and
the British Council cannot accept
responsibility for any inferences or
conclusions by third parties derived from
the data and other content in this
presentation.
Errors and omissions excepted
Content of Presentation and indicative timing, Morning
Session 1 9.15 – 10.15 The framework of Higher Education in the UK
1. Country terms
2. Number of students in UK Higher Education
3. Number and status of UK universities
4. Sources of university funding
5. Types of courses/programmes
6. Quality Assurance
7. Example of a short promotional film on a UK university
Session 2 10.45 – 12.30 Legal, academic, social and financial
aspects pertaining to international students
1. Cost of studying in UK
2. Student support
3. Studying
4. Plagiarism
5. Assessment
6. Working in UK
7. Registration with Police
8. Health insurance
9. Short film on typical university accommodation
10. Short film on disciplining academic plagiarism
Content of Presentation and indicative timing, Afternoon
Session 3 14.00 – 15.00 Entering UK Higher Education institutions:
Requirements, deadlines, tuition fees, languages of teaching and learning
1. Entry qualifications
2. Applying for courses
3. Paying fees
Session 4 15.30 – 16.15 Online application procedure, UCAS application form
filling
Session 5 16.15 - 16.30 Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Programmes
Session 6 16.30 – 17.00 UK Scholarship Opportunities for international
students
Session 7 17.00 – 17.30 Open discussion/Q&A session
Session 1
The System of Higher Education
in the United Kingdom
Country terms
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Great Britain
• England
• Scotland
• Wales
United Kingdom
• United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland
UK – a country committed to Higher Education
•
In UK – proportion of young people achieving 2 or
more A levels (UK school leaving ‘Advanced’ exams)
or equivalent has risen from 15% in 1982/3 to 35% in
1999/2000
• 90% of those achieving 2 A levels and 50% of those
achieving a Vocational Level 3 qualification enter
higher education by the age of 21
• The Government’s objective is that 50% of UK
school leavers should enter higher education
Undergraduate Students
•
Approx 400,000 undergraduate students enter UK
universities annually
• They enrol on to the more than 50,000 different
courses on offer
• UK has one of the highest completion rates for
higher education courses in the OECD countries see
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sto
ryCode=151645&sectioncode=26
Students – however....
•
Each year about 20% of students leave before completion because:
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Unhappy with university life
Lack of commitment to the course
Lack of preparation for higher education
Poor academic progress
Financial hardship
Personal problems
This is costly:
• Financially
• Emotionally
• Lost time and opportunity
The following web address shows that first year non-continuation is strongly
correlated with qualifications at entry and subject area of study:
http://www.hesa.ac.uk/dox/performanceIndicators/0607/sn1_0607.xls
The UK as a country of Higher Education
2006/2007 Total number of students (including Part-time)
• Undergraduates
• UK students
1,636,200
• Other EU
64,235
• Non EU
102,990
1,803,425
• Postgraduate
• UK students
375,145
• Other EU
48,025
• Non-EU
136,220
559,390
Total 2,362,815
¸Source: UK HE Statistics Agency
Non-EU International Full-time students
2006/7
Postgraduate Research 22,005
Postgraduate Taught
70,640
Postgraduate other
3,730
First degree
76,590
Other undergraduate
8,030
180,995
Source: UK Higher Education Statistics Agency
www.hesa.ac.uk
Country numbers
What are the most popular programmes?
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Business and administrative studies
Engineering and technology
Social, economic and political studies
Computer science
Creative arts and design
Medicine and biological sciences
Languages
www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk
A rise in international student applications
•
The UK university admissions service has reported
that for 2008 entry, there has been a rise of
approximately 7% in applications for full-time
undergraduate courses
http://education.guardian.co.uk/universityaccess/story/0,,
2256198,00.html
UK Universities
More than 130 universities in United Kingdom:
• ‘Ancient’ universities – Oxford and Cambridge
• 19th century universities i.e. Birmingham
Manchester
• Post 1945 i.e. Nottingham
• Post 1962 i.e. Warwick, Kent
• Post 1992 (re-designation of Polytechnics) i.e.
Nottingham Trent, Leeds Metropolitan
• Post 2005 i.e. Chester, Winchester
UK Universities
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All of universities in the United Kingdom are
independent and self-governing, (and thus ‘non-state’)
legal entities.
Nonetheless, a substantial amount of their funding
comes from the state – mainly in support of the
undergraduate programmes and capital investment
However, universities are accelerating the percentage
of their revenue from own income generation –
through post-graduate and professional courses,
research income, international students and the
controversial ‘top-up’ fees for ‘home’ students
(currently with the exception of Scottish ‘home’
students.)
An exception
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The University of Buckingham (founded in 1976) is the
only Private University in UK
It is independent of government money and relies on
student fees and private research grants and
endowments
It has two-year undergraduate programmes
It has a large proportion of international students
(70%)
UK Universities cont.
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Each university is empowered (by Royal Charter or
Act of Parliament) to develop its own courses and to
award its own degrees.
Each university decides
• the degrees it offers
• the conditions on which they are awarded
• what students to admit
• what staff to appoint
“League tables”
•
A number of university ‘league tables’ is published every year.
However, these tables should be treated with at least some caution.
Not the least, the overall ranking of a university may hide
differences within a university of the rankings of specific subject
areas.
http://education.guardian.co.uk/universityguide
http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/single.htm?ipg=6524
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/good_university_g
uide/
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/
For a recent cautious assessment by Universities UK of league tables, see
http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/mediareleases/show.asp?MR=600
UK Universities
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The ‘Russell’ Group
• 19 universities that met in 1994 - in the Russell
Hotel, London (now 20, including Belfast)
• A common interest group drawn from pre-1992
universities focusing on high quality research – as
well as teaching – ‘a culture of research excellence’
• ¾ of UK Doctors and Dentists
Claims to have
• 56% of all Doctorates awarded in UK
• 30% of all non- EU students studying in UK
www.russellgroup.ac.uk
Research funding
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Universities receive their funding from a number of
sources including the allocation from a range of
Research Councils and also from private sources.
A periodic Research Assessment Exercise is
undertaken to determine future fund allocation. The
results of the 2001 exercise can be found at
http://195.194.167.103/Results/all/all.xls
The results of the 2008 Assessment are expected on
18th December - http://www.rae.ac.uk/
Further details of the university research system can
be found at www.hero.ac.uk/uk/research
First Degree Programme Structures
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Traditional full time first degree (BA, BSc, BEng, BEd,
LLB)
• 3 years of full time study
• But Scotland normally 4 years
• May be 4 years if a ‘Sandwich’ Programme – three
years academic study plus one year integrated
work experience
• Up to 5 years for Dentistry, Architecture, Veterinary
• Up to 6 years for Medicine
Pattern of undergraduate study
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The academic year is usually 30 weeks divided into
three terms or two semesters
•
This is 24 weeks at Oxford and Cambridge
‘Compressed’ two-year degrees
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2006 saw the piloting of a few two-year degrees (including
English, Geography, Law, Product Design, Earth Sciences and
Management) in five ‘conventional’ universities*
• These are based on:
• more annual weeks of formal study within the university
• more than one annual start date
• Supposedly market driven rather than supplier driven
• There is a debate as to whether they allow for the same
‘development of academic maturity’
(*Derby, Leeds Metropolitan, Northampton, Staffordshire, Medway
Partnership)
www.independent.co.uk/student/into-university/applying/are-twoyear-degrees-the-future-796034.html
Undergraduate Award Classifications
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1st Class Honours
2:1 Upper Second
2:2 Lower Second
3rd Class
Pass (non-Honours)
(5)
(4)
(3)
(2)
Higher Degree (Postgraduate) Masters Programmes
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Masters’ Programmes - MA/MSc/MEd
• Taught Full-time Masters – usually one (calendar)
year (includes MBA)
• Taught Part-time Masters – usually over two years
•
Research-based MPhil
• Awarded after a minimum of one year of supervised
research
Higher Degree (Postgraduate) Doctorate Programmes
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Research-based Doctorate (PhD/DPhil)
• Awarded after a minimum of three years of supervised
research
• But it is important to recognise that only a minority
are completed within this period – and all applicants
must be sure of their funding to cover the often
uncertain period required to complete what is, by
definition, innovative research – see the report below.
http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2005/05_02/05_02.pdf)
A useful example of PhD regulations can be found at
http://www.campus.manchester.ac.uk/medialibrary/researchoffice/gr
aduateeducation/reg-phd.pdf
Higher Degree (Postgraduate) Doctorate Programmes
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Professional, Engineering and Enterprise Doctorates
• Typically
• Taught Modules to 180 Level 5 credits
• Independent Research to 340 Level 5 credits
• Usually more ‘career-focused’ topic
• Thesis 45 -50,000 words
• Does not carry PhD designation but, for example, DBA –
Doctor of Business Administration, Eng D.
• Useful examples of these can be found at
http://www.campus.manchester.ac.uk/medialibrary/researchoffic
e/graduateeducation/reg-profengdoc.pdf
A further example, of a Doctor of Education, EdD, at Leicester
University, can be found at
http://www.le.ac.uk/se/doctoralstudies/doctorofeducation.html
‘Newroute’ PhDs
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Introduced in 2001
Usually four years
340 Level 5 credits by research
180 Level 5 Credits taught Modules
• For example, courses in
• Leadership
• Enterprise
• Language
• The distinction from the ‘taught’ Doctorate is that these
taught modules can be drawn from a wider range of
Faculties
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However, currently there are approximately only 300
registrations, 85% overseas students
www.newroutephd.ac.uk/
Research Opportunities
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Advertisements in academic press
University web pages
Applications are normally made direct to the offering
university
www.hero.ac.uk
Research Assessment
•
Universities are assessed as to the quality of their
research activities
• The outcome of the 2001 Research Assessment
Exercise can be found at
• www.hero.ac.uk/rae
This gives some indication of the research strengths
of university faculties – but it must be realised that
these data become increasingly historic – things
move on – sometimes for the better, sometimes
not.
Quality Assurance
•
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It is claimed that the UK Higher Education quality
assurance arrangements are unrivalled in
• Coverage
• Sophistication
• Rigour
This indicates the importance attached to protecting
quality and standards in all UK universities
Quality Assurance – External
Quality Assurance Agency
•
The quality of the teaching and learning in each university is
monitored by the Quality Assurance Agency
• It has traditionally looked to key aspects of the higher education
process
• curriculum design
• teaching and learning
• student support
• assessment
• programme management and review
See WWW.qaa.ac.uk where many useful publications can be
downloaded.
A useful recent example of the thoroughness of QAA can be found in
its appraisal of Sheffield University
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/reviews/reports/institutional/Sheffield08/ann
ex.asp
Quality Assurance - External Higher Education Academy
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Founded in 2004
• To support the enhancement of learning and
teaching in Higher Education
• ‘To lead, support and inform the professional
development and recognition of staff in higher
education.’
www.heacademy.ac.uk
Quality Assurance - External External Examiners
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There is the extensive use of External Examiners
(examiners from other universities) who monitor
(usually annually) the assessment processes of other
universities to ensure that standards of degrees and
degree awards are the same at each university
Quality Assurance - Internal
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High quality of individual Programme Management
and Review
Centres for Academic Practice
Staff development programmes (Continual
professional development)
Session 2
Social, financial and legal aspects
pertaining to international students
Cost of studying for non-EU students
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Three basic cost headings
• Cost of academic study (university fees for the
course plus books and any other associated
learning materials)
• Cost of living in UK – basic
accommodation/subsistence
• Social life/travel
Cost of studying for non-EU students
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Cost of studying
• University Full-time Undergraduate course fees
(Annual)
• £9000 – £11,000 (12,000 – 15,000 euro –
depending on exchange rates)
• Differences depend on whether course is
classroom or ‘lab’ based and the university
• £18,000 – £20, 000 for Medicine
• University Full-time Masters courses
• £9000 - £15,000
• Doctorate (PhD)
• £10,000 annually (indicative)
An example from one London- based university
•
www.qmul.ac.uk/international/feesfinance/index.html
Queen Mary University
This page should be used only as an
example of one university - based in London.
However, it provides a useful base on which
to make cost comparisons with other
Universities.
‘Cost of living’ for non-EU students
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Accommodation and Subsistence
• University accommodation is usually about
£60.00 – £100.00 per week for term time, depending on
facilities – but usually including electricity/heating
• Independent accommodation– usually students sharing
rented houses (often ‘accredited’ by the university) – can work
out similar, depending on type of accommodation. But watch
possible add-ons like heating.
• Subsistence is based on how much food is bought, along with
‘general personal maintenance’ – hairdressers, getting shoes
repaired, or whatever.
• As an example, Nottingham Trent University advises that
students will require, in total, approximately £600 per month to
cover living costs in Nottingham.
Cost of ‘social life’ for non-EU students
•
Social life/travel
Depends what the students do or want to do!
BUT the important thing is that a good student has to be
a happy student. There has to be time and opportunity
for relaxation and enjoyment.
So, advice must be never to go to university on an
‘absolute student poverty’ basis
Student ‘Community’
•
One important aspect of UK university life is that most
UK full-time students are studying away from their
home city/town
• This provides the basis for a much stronger
development of ‘community’ and student life than is
found in some other countries.
• It is a community into which international students
can readily integrate
Students' Union
•
In each university there is a Students’ Union (a branch
of the National Union of Students)
• Responsible for looking after and representing
students’ academic and social interests and welfare
• Provides an extensive range of sport and social
activities – a wonderful opportunity for international
students not only to meet people but to try out new
activities
• A very good indication of the activities of Students’
Unions can be found from Leeds University
www.luuonline.com
International student support services
•
All universities have International Offices dedicated to
providing support to international students. They
provide a range of services including advice on
• Application processes
• Required qualifications
• Immigration
• Employment
• Visa support
• Academic, financial and personal concerns
International student support services
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special information packs to students – posted in
advance of arrival in UK.
a range of ‘meet and greet’ services at international
points of arrival
an ‘orientation week’ – often at no cost - especially
designed for international students. These take place
one or two weeks in advance of the official start date
of the universities’ Programmes.
Students with disabilities
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All universities provide specialist support for students with
disabilities. For example
• Physical disability
• Learning difficulties such as Dyslexia
These include, for example
• Accommodation
• Access to learning facilities
• Specialist Human Support Services
• Appropriate adjustments in forms of academic assessment
Students requiring such support should inform the university as
soon as possible
Student Satisfaction
“What students think of their first year”
11 May 2006
Research by Higher Education Academy
• Students felt stimulated by their learning
• Teaching was seen as supportive
• Staff generally seen as friendly
• Feedback supported learning
• The more students know about their institutions and courses
before enrolling, the less likely they are to consider withdrawal.
But non-EU students
• Had slightly lower engagement in social side of HE
• Tended to keep to themselves
Studying
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Key concepts
• Student-centred learning
• Independent learning
Undergraduate courses
• Usually ‘in class’ about 15 hours per week –
depending on Programme and year of study. But
this represents only about 25% of expected
‘learning time’ – so a lot of individual and group
learning - using library and other resources
Studying
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This independent learning is based on the idea that
the lecturer is only one source of student learning.
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It can be suggested that this is one of the most
challenging aspects for an international student, who
may have come from a very different, more didactic,
educational background, to understand and adapt to.
Assessment
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Student assessment takes a variety of forms
• It is related to the ‘Intended Learning Outcomes’ of
each Module of study.
Intended Learning Outcomes will include much more
than the acquisition of ‘facts’ – such as abilities in
• Analysis
• Originality and Creativity
• Group work
• Communication and Presentation Skills
Plagiarism
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Plagiarism is an ever increasing problem – students
’lifting’ material from sources, including the internet
and, in effect ‘copying and pasting’ as if it is their own
work – without academic reference to the original
source.
This ‘academic malpractice’ is taken very seriously,
and penalised, in UK Higher Education
• However, it is a subject of considerable debate,
including intercultural considerations – for example,
it might be more readily identified in the work of an
international student, and international students
might have a different understanding of what
constitutes ‘plagiarism’.
See www.jiscpas.ac.uk
Working in UK – non-EU students
•
First – it is important to stress that any non-EU student
wishing to study in UK MUST be able to show s/he
can meet the costs of studying and living in UK without
relying on UK employment.
• Otherwise they will not be granted a student visa
Working in UK – non-EU students
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•
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Currently, a non-EU student can work legally for up to
20 hours per week during academic term-time and fulltime during vacations
Usually employed in non-skilled jobs – paying
minimum or just above minimum wages - £5.00 per
hour approx
BUT they must realise that any work should NOT
interfere with their studies – studying in a second
language is very demanding and requires more, not
less, time than a native English speaker
Working in UK – non-EU students
•
There is no requirement of the university to help find
such part-time work for students
• Sources are usually ‘word of mouth’, student
organisations, newspapers, shop windows, notice
boards and so on
• In any university city there may be great competition
for a limited number of part-time jobs. Nothing is
guaranteed – hence the need to have full financial
means regardless of possible earning opportunities.
http://www.educationuk.org/downloads/work_in_uk.pdf
Programme-related employment
•
Many undergraduate programmes involve work
experience that is an integrated element of the
Programme - these are usually known as ‘Sandwich
Programmes’
• They take a variety of forms, but commonly require
the student to undertake a minimum total of 40
weeks working in an organisation
• The student is usually paid by the employer for this
work – at the ‘going rate’ for the job
• There is no Work Permit restriction on such work as
it is recognised as part of his/her higher education
programme of study
Working in UK – post-student stage
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•
Students may be able to undertake full or part-time employment
in UK after graduating usually only if an employer can obtain a
Work Permit for that graduate - employer has to show that the
specific skill offered by the graduate is in short supply.
However, there are also some shemes:
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International Graduate Scheme – can apply for permission
to stay one year and work – without need for a work permit
Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme – for up to two
years after completing their studies
Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (including some MBA
graduates) – for those with degrees and work experience and
prior earnings at a certain level
The Innovators Scheme – for entrepreneurs
Working in UK – post-student stage
•
However, much of this is in the process of
change – and it is essential that any non-EU
student seeking employment in the UK after
completing their Higher Education studies
checks on the then current regulations:
www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk
http://www.ukcosa.org.uk/files/pdf/info_sheets/w
orking_after_study.pdf
Working in UK – post-student stage – sponsored
students
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•
If a student is sponsored by a government or other
scholarship agency, normally its permission is needed
before such a student can make an application to stay
on in the UK.
Look at the conditions of the award
Registration with police
•
International students should check whether they are
required to register with the police.
• If so, this is usually at a main Police Station in the
university city and should be done within the first
week of arrival in the UK
• An example of the guidance given to students
on this is from the University of Leicester
http://www.le.ac.uk/ssds/welfare/International/regwith
police.pdf
Health insurance
•
•
Students enrolled on full-time courses of more
than six months are entitled to free medical
care within the terms of the National Health
Service
This includes:
• Primary (doctor) care (there is a charge for
prescriptions). Students must register with a
doctor as soon as possible – the university
will advise on this
• Hospital treatment
• Dental treatment. Students must register
with a NHS dentist.
Session 3
Entering British Higher
Education institutions:
Requirements, deadlines,
tuition fees
Age of entry into Higher Education
•
•
•
The normal minimum age for entry in to British
universities is 18
An increasing number of UK students are taking a
‘gap year’ after school – during which they work or
travel and then go to university
There is an increasing number of ‘mature’ (over 21
year old) students
Undergraduate Entrance qualifications – UK students
•
•
•
Traditionally, UK students entered higher education
on the basis of ‘A’ (Advanced) Level school exams (In
Scotland, Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers)
Now, because of changes in examination/qualification
system in UK, many enter with what are known as
‘Vocational A Levels’ and other similar ‘A’ level
equivalents – Advanced GNVQs, Foundation courses
and so on
Now, only about half of the students applying through
the Universities Central Admission Scheme (UCAS)
have ‘A’ Levels
Entry Qualifications –
English Language
•
Regardless of the Programme being applied for, all
non-native English speaker student applicants have to
demonstrate a certified minimum level of English
Language to undertake the required level of intensive
academic study.
• This is more usually 6.5 IELTS
560 TOEFL
220 CB TOEFL
Comparative table of levels of English and standardised exams
Levels of
knowledge
General Englsih
Business English
Common
European
Framework
and ALTE levels
Cambridge ESOL
General English Certificates
Cambridge ESOL
Business English Certificates
C2
Good User
C1
Competent User
B2
Independent User
B1
Threshold User
A2
Waystage User
English for
Lawyers
Financial Englsih
ILEC
General Englsih
ICFE
International
Legal English
Certificate
General Englsih
YLE
International
Certificate in
Financial English
IELTS
International English
Language Testing System
Cambridge
Young Learners
English Tests
CPE
7.5 +
Certificate of Proficiency in English
(950-1050 sati učenja)
CAE
Certificate in Advanced English
(750-800 sati učenja)
FCE
First Certificate in English
(500-600 sati učenja)
PET
Preliminary English Test
(250 - 300 sati učenja)
BEC
Higher
ILEC C1
ICFE C1
6.5 – 7.0
BEC
Vantage
ILEC B2
ICFE B2
5.0 – 6.0
BEC
Preliminary
3.5 – 4.5
KET
Key English Test
(180 - 200 sati učenja)
3.0
Flyers
1.0 – 2.5
Starters
Movers
A1
Breakthrough
Pre-sessional English for Academic Purposes (PEAP)
I need :
IELTS 6.0
TOEFL 540
CBTOEFL 207
iBT TOEFL 76
IELTS 6.5
TOEFL 560
CBTOEFL 220
iBT TOEFL 83
IELTS 4.5
TOEFL 457
CBTOEFL 137
iBT TOEFL 47
PEAP 15 weeks
PEAP 20 weeks
IELTS 5.0
TOEFL 480
CBTOEFL 157
iBT TOEFL 55
PEAP 10 weeks
PEAP 15 weeks
IELTS 5.5
TOEFL 510
CBTOEFL 180
iBT TOEFL 64
PEAP 05 weeks
PEAP 10 weeks
My current
level is :
IELTS 6.0
TOEFL 540
CBTOEFL 207 iBT
TOEFL 76
PEAP 05 weeks
English Language
•
•
Student applicants
• may already have obtained the level of language
proficiency prior to application
• may be offered a conditional university place
subject to obtaining the required level prior to the
start of the Programme
Most universities offer a range of English language
courses designed to assist students to attain the
required level - English for Academic Purposes.
Process of applying – Undergraduate Programmes
•
The standard way of applying for UK university places
is through the Universities Central Admissions
Scheme (UCAS)
www.ucas.ac.uk
• This is done on-line, completing the official UCAS
application form
• There is a UCAS charge of £15 that is normally paid
by credit card
• Students can apply to up to FIVE universities (But only
four for Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Science.)
Process of applying – Undergraduate programmes
Qualifications
• Each university will specify which UK academic
qualifications it will accept for a particular programme
and the minimum grades in those qualifications
• But these may be varied – even from one student
to another
• This is because universities are usually looking
for more than just previous examination
qualifications – also personal characteristics
Special entrance tests
•
Some universities require special entrance
tests for special subject areas (e.g. BMAT medicine, LNAT - law) and interviews –
including Oxford and Cambridge
• For Oxford see
http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_
courses/how_to_apply/interviews/index.html
For those who cannot attend Oxford for an
interviews it may be held by telephone, video
or web cam
Undergraduate entry requirements – International students
•
•
•
National high school leaving diplomas may be
recognised as meeting the minimum entry
requirements for specific courses in UK universities
These may include the International Baccalaureate
But applicants must check with their chosen
university(ies) before making their formal
applications, whether their qualifications are so
recognised for the course(s) on which they want to
enrol.
UK NARIC
The National Recognition Information Centre for the UK
•
•
Is the UK national agency for providing the comparability of
international qualification from over 180 countries
•
All UK higher education institutions are registered with
NARIC and subscribe to use its special comparability
software package to assess applicants with international
diplomas
•
BUT individuals can, for a small fee, obtain their own
Letter of Comparability from NARIC
Details can be obtained at
• www.naric.org.uk
Undergraduate entry requirements – international students
•
Sometimes non-EU students are required to take UK
qualifications
• These can be the ‘A’ levels
• It may be a Foundation Programme (also referred
to as Access Programmes)
• Foundation/Access Programme search available at
www.ucas.ac.uk
Do not confuse....
•
Foundation Programmes
• Are usually of one year study
• Usually taken in a College of Further Education
• English Language entry level of 5.0 or 5.5.
• Prepare students to the standard for entry into the
First year of an undergraduate Programme.
• Some Foundation Programme providers have
special relationships with particular universities –
guaranteeing entry - subject to Distinction Pass
level
• This relationship also may offer a ‘discount’ on the
first year undergraduate fees.
Do not confuse with...
•
Foundation degrees (FdSc/FdEng/FdA)
• Are higher education qualifications established in 2001 as part
of the British government’s efforts to expand access to
‘higher education’
• They are sub - Degree level, usually two years’ full-time or
three years’ part-time study. Maybe designed as a
progression route to an Honours Degree
• Entrance requirement usually only ONE ‘A’ Level or equivalent
• Although validated by an ‘established’ university they are
sometimes studied in Colleges
• Designed in partnership with employers ‘to improve business
performance’ and include, for example, Beauty Therapy
Operations, Hairdressing and Salon Management, Food
Manufacturing, Horticulture, Sports Horse Management and
Training
See www.foundationdegree.org.uk
Selecting an Undergraduate Programme and a university for study
•
•
This can be the most difficult task – even for UK students
It requires the review of a range of university prospectuses
• These can be supplemented by other forms of
advice/opinion/evaluation
• The Teaching Quality Information web site can be
useful www.tqi.ac.uk
• Published university and subject ‘league tables’ – but
use with care
• The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education
www.qaa.ac.uk
• Universities and Colleges Admission Services
www.ucas.ac.uk
• Contact with students who have already experienced
university education in the UK
Selecting an Undergraduate Programme and a university for study
It is important to be ‘happy’ and confident with
• The chosen subject area of study
• The location of the university
• London may be attractive – but is large and
expensive and can be impersonal
• Provincial cities and towns can be easier to
‘understand’ and may provide a better student
environment
Stamford Test
•
The UCAS Application Form directs attention to the
Stamford Test – this is intended to be an aid to
students to select the types of undergraduate
programmes for which they are suited
http://www.ucas.ac.uk/students/beforeyouapply/whattost
udy/stamfordtest
Selecting an Undergraduate Programme and a university for study
Checking international qualifications
• Before making the formal application(s)
the applicant should check the
appropriateness/acceptability of his/her international
qualification(s) directly with the selected university(s)
• This can normally be done through e mail contact with
the relevant International Office(s)
Process of applying
•
Dates
• The standard dates for applications to be submitted
to UCAS are between 1st September and 15th
January preceding the start of the required
academic year (September/October)
• But non-EU students can apply up to 30th June –
however, universities are not obliged to consider
any applications after 15th January
• Exceptions – Oxford and Cambridge and Medicine,
Dentistry and Veterinary Science – by 15th October
of the preceding year
Personal Statement
The UCAS application form requires standard bio and
academic data BUT a critical part of the application
form is the section Personal Statement – and it is with
this that many international students have difficulty.
However the on-line UCAS application process gives
guidelines on what should be included – and great
attention should be paid to this section
http://www.ucas.com/students/startapplication/apply/pers
onalstatement
Personal statement - plagiarism
•
UCAS warns against any temptation to plagiarise in
this section of the application.
• A special Similarity Detection System is used on all
applications to detect more than 10% of similarity of
text to the data bank of applications
http://www.ucas.com/students/startapplication/apply/plagi
arism
Personal Statement
The one Personal Statement goes to all the selected universities on
the application form
Should cover:
•
Why the student is applying- esp. for studying in UK
•
Why the university should want to enrol the applicant (what
the student has to offer)
•
Why interested in the course
•
Intended career path
•
Past work/social/sport/leisure - experience/achievement
•
Evidence on which the student believes s/he can complete a
higher education course taught in English
Reference
Referee –
• Probably teacher or employer
• Must not be family or a friend
•
•
Must be written in English
Should include, inter alia, observations on applicant’s
• Existing achievements
• Motivation and commitment to chosen course(s)
• Powers of analysis and independent thought
• Work experience
• Ability to write and speak English
Must not make any reference to any of the specific
courses/institutions to which the applicant is applying – because
each institution will see the same reference
Process of offers
•
UK exam results are usually available only in
July/August of the entrance year
• So, in advance of July/August, universities review
the applications (processed to them through UCAS)
and make provisional offers (or make no offer) – the
offers are subject to the student getting the grades
required by the university for that student
Process of accepting
•
Students may then accept up to two offers
• One as their first or ‘firm’ choice
• One as their second, ‘insurance’ choice
•
The applicant advises UCAS of their choice
Process of applying – Postgraduate Programmes
•
This is through direct application to the university(s) of
the student’s choice
• Details are found in the university prospectus
• Initial contact is usually through the university’s
International Office or the specific faculty
• It is advisable to discuss entry
requirements/recognition of international diplomas
with the university prior to formal application
• This will include certified English Language
ability
• This may require the taking of GMAT (Graduate
Management Admission Test
The example of one university recruiting international students
University of Leeds
•
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/international/
International students - Paying fees
•
•
Important to check with each university.
• Some require a deposit in advance of enrolment
• Some allow for each annual payment to be paid in
instalments
What is important is that formal registration does not
commence until the fee element is paid in full or in
part, so payment processes must be understood and
in place in good time.
Session 4
Online application procedures –
UCAS application form
UCAS Apply - sections
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Registration
Personal Details
Choices
Education
Employment
Personal Statement
Reference
Payment
Send your application
https://apply2.ucas.com/Apply09Help/guidedtour/applygu
idedtour_EN_files/frame.html
UCAS Apply
UCAS application form asks for
• Institution Code(s)
• Course Code(s)
There is a useful ‘Help’ button that enables the
identification of the Institution(s’) Code
Course codes are available from the Institution
Prospectus document – usually available on-line
UCAS Form - Course search -Example
http://www.ucas.ac.uk/
Course search
2008
By subject
History of Art
All History of Art courses
University of Birmingham
History of Art and Russian Studies
UCAS application – please remember:
•
•
•
Not to send any supporting documentation with your
UCAS application form
Respect the dates and apply as early as possible
Cambridge and Oxford have their own application
forms which need to be completed alongside the
UCAS one.
Session Five
•
•
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Programmes
http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/mundu
s/index_en.html
Including scholarship opportunities for
international students
Erasmus Mundus masters’ programmes
•
•
•
In 2002/3 the European Parliament approved the
proposal to
• Strengthen EU-third country cooperation in Higher
Education (‘Third country’ = neither Member State
or Associate State of EU)
January 2004 Erasmus Mundus programme came into
force and has now completed its first phase
• During this period more than 6000 students will
have received EM scholarships
Second phase, 2009-13, will include Joint Doctoral
programmes
Erasmus Mundus
Overall objectives
• To strengthen European co-operation and international
links in Higher Education
• Supporting high-quality European Masters
courses
• Enabling students and visiting scholars to study
at postgraduate level at European universities
• Encouraging outgoing mobility of European
students and scholars to ‘third’ countries.
• To promote, around the world, the European Union as
a centre of excellence in learning
Erasmus Mundus
Four Actions
Action 1
• Masters courses
• Integrated courses offered by a consortium of at
least three universities in at least three different
European countries
• Study period in at least two of these
• Lead to the award of multiple or joint diploma
Action 1 continued
•
•
Must be attended by European graduate students
and a specific number of third-country high-quality
graduate students or scholars
• A Masters consortium must reserve 13 places
(to be increased up to 18) for third-country
students and 3 or 4 for third-country scholars
Not more than 25% of selected third-country
students from the same country
Erasmus Mundus
Four Actions
Action 2
• Scholarships
• For third-country graduate students and scholars
Erasmus Mundus
Four Actions
Action 3
• Partnerships
• With third-country HE institutions engaged in Action
1
• Must allow for outgoing mobility of EU graduate
students and scholars involved in the Erasmus
Mundus Masters courses
Erasmus Mundus
Four Actions
Action 4
• Enhancing attractiveness
• Supporting projects that enhance the attractiveness
of European Higher education
• Visibility and accessibility
• Internationalisation
• Mutual recognition of qualifications
Initial indicative scale
•
•
•
To support about 100 Masters courses
Provide grants for
• Some 5000 graduate students from third countries
to follow these courses
• Some 4000 graduate students to study in third
countries
Provide teaching and research scholarships for
• In Europe, for 1000 incoming third-country
academics and a similar number for outgoing
scholars
Erasmus Mundus Scholarship values
•
•
Students
• 21,000 euro (10 months x 1600 euro) + 5000 euro
• This is adjusted (pro-rata) if the real study
months are longer (up to two years)
Scholars
• 12,000 euro (3 months x 4000 euro) +
1000 euro
UK Erasmus Mundas
Some of the current UK institutions involved in Erasmus Mundus Masters Courses:
• MEES – Masters in Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Seismology
Imperial College London
www.mees.org
• EURO-AQUAE – Euro Hydro-Informatics & Water Management
University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
www.euroaquae.org
• EuMI – European Master in Informatics
University of Edinburgh
www.eumi-school.org
• European Joint Master in Water and Coastal Management
University of Plymouth
http://www.ualg.pt/EUMScWCM/
• European Master in Law and Economics
University of Manchester
www.emle.org
• CoMundus – European Master of Arts in Media, Communication and Cultural Studies
Institute of Education, University of London
www.comundus.net
Session Six
Scholarship opportunities for international students
&
Distance Learning
Scholarship opportunities for international students
Sources of funding:
• Your local government/ministry
• The British government
• UK Universities
• Companies
• Trusts/funding bodies/charities
• Partnership arrangements
Scholarship opportunities for international students
Undergraduate programmes
•
•
•
•
Usually awarded on the basis of strong competition
between international students who have already
accepted an offer for a place at the university.
They may be awarded on a University-wide, Faculty or
Programme basis of competition
Their value differs – perhaps averaging £1500 - £2000
per year, but some much lower
Details of any scholarships are found on the web
pages/prospectus of the particular university.
Scholarship opportunities for international students
Postgraduate programmes
Masters Programmes
• These are usually competitive in a manner similar to
scholarships for undergraduate awards, but generally
speaking, there seems to be more on offer
• The British Government provides several fully funded
postgraduate scholarships, either on its own or in
partnership with other organisations and universities
Scholarship opportunities for international students
Doctorates
• Universities annually offer a wide variety of PhD
scholarships
• These usually carry a financial award of about
£12,300 per year with free academic
tuition/supervision
• They are normally related directly to the university’s
established research agenda/contracts (rather than
the student proposing an area of potential
research)
• Thus applicants compete against each other for the
research post and scholarship
British Chevening Scholarships
•
Prestigious awards funded by FCO - fully or in partnership with local
ministries, other organisations and universities (OSI/FCO
Chevening/University of Cambridge, Oxford and York), companies (Shell
Centenary Scholarships)..
•
They enable overseas students to study in the United Kingdom at
postgraduate level (mostly Masters degrees)
•
Offered in over 150 countries – the programme currently provides around
2,300 new scholarships each year – and aimed at future leaders,
decision-makers and opinion formers
•
Numbers for 2005/6: Albania – 11, Belarus – 13, Bosnia and
Herzegovina – 12, Croatia – 24, Kosovo – 12, Macedonia – 13, Moldova
– 9, Ukraine – 26
•
www.chevening.com
ORSAS
•
Overseas Research Students Award Scheme
• Set up in 1979 to attract high-quality international
students to UK to undertake full-time research
• Participating HEIs receive an annual grant to fund
ORSAS awards
• ORSAS award holders are selected internally by
the HEIs
• Provides funding to pay the difference between
international student fees and the home/EU fees
• Does not cover maintenance or travel expenses
www.orsas.ac.uk
Dorothy Hodgin Postgraduate Awards (DHPAs)
•
•
•
•
DHPA is a scheme to bring outstanding students from
overseas to come and study for PhDs in top rated UK
research facilities. The initiative was launched by the
Prime Minister in November 2003.
Open to top-quality science, engineering, medicine,
social science and technology students.
The 2008 tranche of awards provided funding for 92
new PhD students at 21 recipient universities
http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/hodgkin/default.htm
Scholarship opportunities for international students
•
Contact your own ministry of education or education department
as they should have details of scholarship opportunities for
student wishing to study abroad.
•
Contact you local British Council office for details of any British
Government scholarships
•
Advise the student to check each university’s website or contact
their International office for details of any scholaships or grants
they might offer
•
Point the students to search for funding at:
www.educationuk.org/scholarships - enables you to search by
institution, charity and organisation or by subject, level, type
and/or country of residence.
Distance learning/
transnational education
•
An increasingly attractive option for studying in the UK - there are
currently about 200,000 students studying for UK higher
education qualifications outside the UK
•
Flexible, wide range of programmes, overall costs lower (no living
expenses)
•
Various modes of delivery: fully online, travelling teacher delivery
plus local support, branch campus, twinning/franchising –
depending on the size of the market
•
Important to check what is available in each country – many
British Council offices administer exams for various UK training
providers
•
Search for programmes: www.educationuk.org
Distance Learning
•
•
University of London External Programme: over
100 undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications
including: business, computing, economics,
environment, humanities, languages, law,
managament, MBA…
www.londonexternal.ac.uk
Distance Learning
•
Open University: http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/
•
Individual courses are gradually build up towards a qualification –
a certificate, a diploma or a degree; with each course you take,
you earn credit points towards a qualification.
•
No need to have previous qualifications
•
However, there is a limit to the choice of programmes avialable
for countries where OU has no registered centres
•
BSc (Honours) degree in Psychology: 6 years study for about
£4000
Useful web pages
Undergraduate and postgraduate course search engines:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Education UK www.educationuk.org
UCAS www.ucas.com
Prospects Graduate Careers www.prospects.ac.uk
Hobsons Postgrad www.postgrad.hobsons.com
UK Grad Programme www.grad.ac.uk
Higher Education and Research Opportunities Website
www.hero.ac.uk
Finding a Phd http://www.findaphd.com/search/search.asp
New Route PhDs www.newroutephd.ac.uk
Foundation degrees: www.foundationdegree.org.uk
MBA Guide: www.mba.hobsons.com
Useful web pages
Recognised UK degrees
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/recognisedukdegrees/
Academic quality:
• Quality Assurance Agency - www.qaa.ac.uk
• Teaching Quality Information - www.tqi.ac.uk
Postgraduate research:
• The 2001 RAE ratings - www.hero.ac.uk/rae
• A league table of 2001 RAE ratings http://ukeas.com.tw/rankings.htm
• Information about the next RAE in December 2008www.rae.ac.uk
Useful web pages
Unofficial league tables:
http://education.guardian.co.uk/universityguide
http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/single.htm?ipg=6524
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/good_university_g
uide/
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/
UK Universities http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/
Research Councils UK www.rcuk.ac.uk
UK NARIC http://www.naric.org.uk
UK National Europass Centre http://www.uknec.org.uk/
Distance learning:
www.educationuk.org
www.londonexternal.ac.uk
http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/
Useful web pages
•
Visa information
http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/
www.homeoffice.gov.uk
• Practical advice on studying and living in the UK
www.educationuk.org
http://www.ukcosa.org.uk/
• Working in the UK
www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk
• Jobs in research, science, academic and related professions
http://www.jobs.ac.uk/
• Erasmus UK
http://www.britishcouncil.org/erasmus
Useful web pages
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
FUNDING STUDIES IN THE UK:
www.britishcouncil.org/learning-funding-your-studies.htm - links to
databases of scholarships for international students, including the British
Council Education UK database:
www.educationuk.org/scholarships - enables you to search by
institution, charity and organisation
www.scholarship-search.org.uk – Hotcourses sholarships database
Higher Education and Research Opportunities in the UK
http://www.hero.ac.uk/uk/research/getting_funded226.cfm
Prospects – Graduate Careers Website
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Funding_my_fu
rther_study/p!edLff
For EU funding
information:http://www.eurodesk.org/edesk/Infocentre.do?go=1
Council for International Student Affairs UKCISA
http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/information_sheets.php
UK Charities: http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/registeredcharities/first.asp
Useful web pages
Individual scholarship programmes:
• www.chevening.com
• http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/hodgkin/default.htm
• www.orsas.ac.uk
• http://www.shellscholar.org/apply/index.html
• http://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/programmes
/study_programme/research_scholars