Education UK: innovative, individual
and inspirational
With its educational qualifications respected and valued the world over, choosing to study in the UK can really reap rewards, as the British Council explains
If you choose to follow a course of study in the UK, you become part of a tradition dedicated to excellence and innovation that has produced over 40 Nobel Prize winners within the last 50 years in the field of science alone. A tradition that:
- Invented the principle of the worldwide web
- Developed the world’s first programmable computer
- Produces 9% of the world’s scientific papers and 13% of the most highly cited – not bad for a country with only 1% of the world’s population
In addition:
- UK research productivity is superior to that of the US: in the UK, academics produce 16 research papers for every £1m invested, compared to 10 in the US and four in Japan
- There are more than 468,000 international students studying at UK universities, colleges and schools, not counting the estimated 600,000 that come here each year to learn English
There are many reasons why you should study in the UK and an even greater number of subjects to choose from. Courses from accountancy to zoology are delivered at hundreds of universities and colleges and a UK qualification will allow you to specialize in the subject that interests you, in a country renowned across the world for the quality of its research and the reputation of its academics.
While you’re here, you’ll be immersed in English, the international language of business. At the same time, you’ll be part of a truly global community: students from more than 200 different countries are currently studying for undergraduate qualifications in the UK. With such fantastic experience behind you, you’ll be ready to take on the world by the time you finish your course. UK undergraduate qualifications are respected and valued all over the world. 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.
It will prove to employers that you’re capable of independent thought and self-discipline, used to conducting and analyzing your own research, and will let them know that you can make a real contribution to their company or organization. If you’ve got your sights set on academia for a while yet, the research skills you’ll gain provide the perfect introduction to future postgraduate study.
Most master’s degrees and MBAs at UK universities last one year compared to two in most other countries, including the US and Australia. Choosing the UK means that you only have to pay tuition fees for one year and you’ll be back in the workplace before you know it. UK qualifications let employers know at a glance that you’ve got the skills they’re looking for, putting you on the right track for a great job and a great salary.
A year after graduating, less than 6% of UK undergraduates are unemployed. If you want to be a doctor or lawyer, you obviously have to have the appropriate qualifications, but a degree is just as necessary for many other careers, such as government service, publishing, public relations and marketing. A degree will let employers know that you’re capable of independent thought, able to undertake research and analysis and that you’re prepared to work hard.
It’s estimated that female postgraduates earn as much as 34% more than female colleagues who have only a first degree, and male postgraduates earn as much as 20% more than male first degree graduates. The latest figures available show that one year after finishing their course, less than 3% of UK postgraduate qualifiers are unemployed.
Part of the reason that UK qualifications
are so highly valued across the world is the
strict measures of quality imposed on them.
The UK is world-renowned for operating
a unique quality assurance system that
ensures accountability in all areas. From
student support services to their teaching
staff, every school, further education and
higher education establishment is subject
to rigorous scrutiny in respect of their
quality standards.
The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) ensures that UK higher education is of a standard that’s respected and admired across the world. Every few years, the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) takes place to judge the quality of research being carried out in UK colleges and universities. It is through quality assurance systems such as this that the UK maintains its reputation as a world leader in respect of the quality of its education and continues to provide a valued educational experience to a growing number of international students.
UK study offers fantastic value for money and the sort of experience you can’t put a price on: you’ll learn to think for yourself and to make your own decisions. You’re not just paying for lectures and practicals: throughout your course you’ll have access to fantastic libraries, state-of-the art laboratories, ultramodern computer facilities and extensive research resources that will blow you and your future employers away.
While you’re studying for a qualification in the UK, you’ll be able to practice your English language skills every day, in shops and cafés and while you’re out with English-speaking friends, as well as in seminars and discussion groups on your course. Many UK universities offer in-sessional language support and, if you need more help before you begin, there are international foundation years that will help to bring your communication skills up to scratch. The wide range of courses on offer gives you a huge amount of flexibility. You can enrol, on a bachelor’s degree from the beginning, or you can start by taking a two-year HND or Foundation Degree and then top up to a degree afterwards if you want. You can study a single honours degree where you’ll focus entirely on one subject, or study two subjects in a joint honours or combined honours degree.
At postgraduate level, you can start by enrolling on a postgraduate diploma course (PG Dip), then transfer to a master’s degree, or start by taking an MRes master of research – which could lead on to a PhD. It’s entirely up to you! At a UK university you’ll be mixing with people from all over the world, whose different backgrounds and new perspectives will add to your experience. International students form 20% of the full-time student population in the UK and over 40% at research postgraduate level.
No matter where you study, you’ll meet students from Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Australasia. University cultural societies will give you the chance to understand their culture and to introduce them to your own, giving you social experiences that will shape your view of the international community in which you’ll soon be looking to make your career. You can obtain further information about studying in the UK from your nearest British Council office. Many have a wide range of books, directories, brochures, guides, prospectuses and CD-ROMs for you to browse, with specialist staff available to assist you and provide you with additional information and advice.
For more information, visit the British Council’s Education UK website at: www.educationuk.org
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