Higher education
Higher education in the UK is the third level of education after school graduation and includes undergraduate and post-graduate education.
Undergraduate
the undergraduate program can be entered after graduating from secondary education, that is, after graduating from school with an A-level qualification. Upon successful completion of studies for a period of three or four years, the student receives a bachelor’s degree.
The duration of secondary education in the UK is 13 years, which is significantly different from secondary education in other countries. Therefore, international students who do not have the A-Level qualification (a mandatory element for admission to universities in Britain) must complete a 12-month course of the International Foundation Year. The program consists of three academic semesters aimed at enhancing academic knowledge and improving the level of English to facilitate adaptation at the university. However, the entry requirements of different universities are individual, so it is better to contact university directly.
Postgraduate education
It includes a master’s degree in Arts or Sciences (MSc, MA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), and PhD.
Master’s degree is the next level of higher education after obtaining a bachelor’s degree. The course in most cases lasts 12 months, at the end a MSc or MA degree is awarded, which corresponds to Level 7 qualification (RQF). Master’s degree allows to deepen the knowledge in the speciality obtained after undergraduate studies, but also to obtain additional specialization and thereby improve the employment prospects. Despite the fact that different educational institutions have individual entry requirements for Master’s program, in general it will be necessary to score: 1) a passing score of at least 2: 2 for a bachelor’s degree in Britain; 2) or any other international equivalent of the qualifications mentioned.
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is also the next stage of higher education after undergraduate education, but unlike the Master’s degree, it is intended for those who have several years of professional work experience and want to improve their qualifications at the managerial level. The academic MBA level is more complicated than a master’s program and more expensive in terms of cost, but it leads to significant career growth. The requirements of different business schools are different, but quite high. At least the candidate for the MBA must have 1) work experience of at least 2 years; 2) a bachelor’s degree or equivalent; 3) GMAT test results, an average of 600 points; 4) IELTS test results of at least 6.5 – 7.0.
The GMAT is an exam that evaluates a student’s analytical skills. It consists of 4 parts: analytical writing, integrated thinking (analysis of tables and graphical analysis), quantitative analysis (problem solving), and critical thinking. The test results are valid for 5 years and the estimated figure varies from 200 to 800 points. GMAT centers where you can take the exam are located around the world.
IELTS is an international English language exam. For admission to higher educational institutions it is required to pass the test in the Academic Module (IELTS Academic), which covers four language skills: listening, that is, listening, reading, writing and speaking. Results are evaluated on a nine-point scale and are valid for 2 years. IELTS centers are located in more than 140 countries around the world.
Enrollment process
The whole process of enrollment for international students is divided into direct enrolment for the course and the registration of a Tier 4 student visa.
Admission to the course:
In the UK, a unified application service UCAS (university and college admission service) has been created for admission to higher education institutions, which is the centralized source of information on educational institutions. The advantages of UCAS are that a single database facilitates the process of finding universities and applying. Applying to an educational institution begins with registering on the official UCAS website with personal data and the code number of your chosen course. You can simultaneously submit up to 5 applications to different universities and colleges, and you must pay a fee of £ 18 if you apply to one university, or £ 24 to 5 applications. The deadline for submitting applications to most educational institutions is no later than January 15, with the exception of admission to medical, veterinary, dental programs or Oxford and Cambridge, where the deadline is no later than October 15 of the year prior to enrolment.
If the university offers you a place, and you accept it and pay a deposit, you are assigned a CAS number (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) – confirmation of enrollment for studies, on the basis of which you will apply for a student visa.
