The UK offers a world-renowned education system with qualifications that can make a real difference to your future. It attracts over 600,000 international students each year to a variety of programs, ranging from English language courses to PhDs.The education system gives students the freedom to combine courses and subjects from different areas of studies, so you can tailor your degree to your own needs and interest.
Public universities dominate the higher education system in the UK, where each university is an autonomous body and has its own unique entry requirements for its students. The structure of each university is not ruled by any government but an independent entity from the university that looks after the financial and strategic health of the university. UK colleges, irrespective of being autonomous bodies, expect you to adhere to your choice of subject. Hence, you either apply at each college of the subject that you are interested in or you apply through a centralized (common) system that allows you to apply at various colleges at the same point in time. In addition to universities and colleges, which are recognized institutional bodies conferring degrees in both undergraduate and postgraduate levels to its students, there are some institutions that fall into the category of ‘listed bodies’.Listed bodies do not have any authority to award degrees, but they do offer some vocational and pathways programs that may lead to direct employment or transition to a degree program. The UK has been a favorite destination amongst students for many years. The UK Institutions like the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge have stood the test of time and have continued to inspire students to become outstanding individuals and responsible citizens. The UK has a strong Asian community with people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.Each year, the UK draws a high number of students from all over the world. Going by recent trends, many Indian students study at institutions like the Bangor University, University of Edinburgh, University of Dundee and the University of Glasgow. This trend is also linked to the fact that these cities are less expensive when compared with living in London, Birmingham or Leeds.
In the UK, degrees usually take one year lesser to complete than what it takes in the USA, i.e., undergraduate programs (full-time study) usually last for 3 years and postgraduate programs for 1 year. The academic calendar varies from institution to institution. Some universities that follow quarter or trimester terms may have an extended academic period – starting from September or October till May or June.
Most universities follow a semester academic pattern, and a few other universities follow quarter or trimester patterns. The universities and colleges give importance to the content of the curriculum and intrigue the students to perform in-depth research. Typical degrees that are offered by UK universities and colleges include Higher National Diploma, Diploma of Higher Education, Undergraduate, Postgraduate (both taught and research), Ph.D. and a number of vocational courses. The cost of studying in the UK for international students varies from institution to institution. Undergraduate programs could cost somewhere around £10,000–35,000 and postgraduate programs could cost somewhere around £9,000–42,000, depending on a classroom-based or laboratory-based program.
Some of the popular scholarships to apply for include Chevening scholarships, Marshall scholarships, and Commonwealth scholarships and fellowships. University scholarships that are on offer include Rhodes scholarship at the University of Oxford, Edinburgh global research scholarship, University of Sussex chancellor’s international scholarship, Bristol University international office scholarships, University of Westminster international scholarships and many more.
Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England all have their specific traits. Depending on which city you live in, the way of life could differ. For example, you might find that life in London is hectic and busy while life in Dundee and Bangor is more relaxed and simple. Punctuality and the queue system are hallmarks of British life – one is expected to be on time for an appointment, and it is considered impolite to be late without informing your host or the person whom you are scheduled to meet. Queues are commonplace in Great Britain. Whether it is a bank, a railway station or an airport, one has to wait for one's turn in queues.
There is no shouting and jostling or shoving of people in queues, and this is a good part of the British culture. The UK offers a treasure-trove of places to visit for an intrepid traveler. Some of the popular places to visit in London are Windsor Castle, London Zoo, London Bridge, The Tower of London, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, Saint Paul's Cathedral and many more.The best thing to do would be to get a London Pass – a pre-paid card that allows you access to more than 60 popular tourist destinations in and around London. The card comes with various validity periods and is extremely useful for people who would love to travel in London.The UK still holds the helm of being one of the most outstanding and charming European countries. With a population of 65.6 million (Worldbank), the country has its doors open for you, to experience its education quality and everything that comes along with it.