UK Qualifications
When pupils reach the age of 16, they sit GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education) in six to 10 subjects. These are graded from A* to G. There is also an International GCSE (IGCSE) which has the same grading system, and is an internationally recognised qualification. Following these, students can do one further year of study before taking Advanced Supplementary examinations (AS levels). After another year of study, they can take Advanced level examinations (A levels). An alternative to AS levels and A levels is the International Baccalaureate (IB).
A levels and the IB are the qualifications that students normally provide for entry to university, if they have undertaken their schooling in the UK. The exception to this is in Scotland where students sit for Standard Grades rather than GCSEs and Highers and Advanced Highers rather than AS levels and A levels.
Vocational A Levels
Vocational A levels are more concerned with skills needed for an occupation, trade or profession compared with GCSE's and A levels. The Vocational A level has been designed to meet progression needs in different vocational areas, and to offer choice and flexibility to schools and colleges. Students studying Vocational A Levels at post-16 qualification level can apply to universities and colleges of higher education.
Higher National Diploma (HND) and Higher National Certificate (HNC)
HNDs and HNCs are taken at further education colleges or universities and are available in subjects related to work. An HNC is roughly equivalent to the first year of an undergraduate degree programme and an HND is roughly equivalent to the first two years of an undergraduate degree programme.Students with an HND are often admitted into the second or third year of a related course at universities in the UK.
International Foundation Courses
One year foundation courses are generally tailored for international students and they are a way of gaining entrance to university or college degree courses. Although you may have completed your secondary education in your home country, your qualifications may not be recognised by admissions tutors, and you may need to bring your qualifications up to the standard required for degree-level courses. Foundation courses serve as an alternative route into British universities or colleges as a bridge between your own qualifications and entry onto a degree course.
Undergraduate Degrees
With the exclusion of Degrees in Medicine, Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Medicine and Dentistry which are of 5 years duration, all other Degree courses in the UK are of 3 or 4 years duration.
Combined and Joint honours degrees
Many universities and colleges offer students the chance to combine two or more subjects in a combined or a joint honours degree. A combined degree will involve different subjects which will not necessarily have equal weighting. A joint honours degree will have two subject areas with equal weighting. It may involve two closely related subjects such as economics and mathematics or more distant, but still connected, subjects such as computing and psychology.
Sandwich Courses
Sandwich courses are made up of a combination ofperiods of study and time spent in industry, commerce or administration relating to your course. This usually means that the course extends to four years instead of the usual three. Work experience can be carried out in a single block, lasting a year, or two blocks, each lasting about six months. In either case, you return to university or college in your final year to complete your studies. Sandwich courses are often seen as a good way for students to gain valuable experience during their degree so that they graduate not only with academic qualifications but also with relevant work experience. As an international student, you may or may not get the right to work in the UK. This is stamped into your passport when you apply for the student's visa or when you arrive at the Immigration control in the UK. For more information on these lines, you are requested to check with your local Study Overseas office or the British High Commission or British Embassy for more information. Rules introduced in the UK government make it much easier for the International students to get permission to work on a sandwich course.
Pre-masters program
The Pre-Masters programme has been recognised by various universities to provide an effective route into education at postgraduate level. The full-time programme lasts for one academic year and consists of specialist subjects, study skills and English for Academic Purposes. On successful completion of the pre-masters course, the programme leads to a masters degree in a specialist area.
General Aims
Postgraduate Degrees
The majority of taught masters degrees (MA, MSc, LLM) in the UK are of 12 months duration with research degrees (MPhil/ Phd) being of 12 to 36 months full time.
Types of Postgraduate Degrees
There are three kinds of postgraduate degrees in the UK :
Specialist
These courses will usually require you to have completed basic education in first degree or bachelor's program in the related stream. These programs are advanced education degrees and often build on the knowledge that students will have been expected to gain in their Bachelors degree
Conversion
These courses are designed for graduates who wish to change their stream in the masters. These are specially designed for students coming from an unrelated stream but would like to change their specialisation and can often be found in areas such as business and computing
Research
These courses are research-based programs and are designed for students who wish to conduct research in a particular field. These programs are not designed to be class room based lectures. The students are required to do research and self learn under the guidance of a course mentor and participate in workshops
A levels and the IB are the qualifications that students normally provide for entry to university, if they have undertaken their schooling in the UK. The exception to this is in Scotland where students sit for Standard Grades rather than GCSEs and Highers and Advanced Highers rather than AS levels and A levels.
Vocational A Levels
Vocational A levels are more concerned with skills needed for an occupation, trade or profession compared with GCSE's and A levels. The Vocational A level has been designed to meet progression needs in different vocational areas, and to offer choice and flexibility to schools and colleges. Students studying Vocational A Levels at post-16 qualification level can apply to universities and colleges of higher education.
Higher National Diploma (HND) and Higher National Certificate (HNC)
HNDs and HNCs are taken at further education colleges or universities and are available in subjects related to work. An HNC is roughly equivalent to the first year of an undergraduate degree programme and an HND is roughly equivalent to the first two years of an undergraduate degree programme.Students with an HND are often admitted into the second or third year of a related course at universities in the UK.
International Foundation Courses
One year foundation courses are generally tailored for international students and they are a way of gaining entrance to university or college degree courses. Although you may have completed your secondary education in your home country, your qualifications may not be recognised by admissions tutors, and you may need to bring your qualifications up to the standard required for degree-level courses. Foundation courses serve as an alternative route into British universities or colleges as a bridge between your own qualifications and entry onto a degree course.
Undergraduate Degrees
With the exclusion of Degrees in Medicine, Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Medicine and Dentistry which are of 5 years duration, all other Degree courses in the UK are of 3 or 4 years duration.
Combined and Joint honours degrees
Many universities and colleges offer students the chance to combine two or more subjects in a combined or a joint honours degree. A combined degree will involve different subjects which will not necessarily have equal weighting. A joint honours degree will have two subject areas with equal weighting. It may involve two closely related subjects such as economics and mathematics or more distant, but still connected, subjects such as computing and psychology.
Sandwich Courses
Sandwich courses are made up of a combination ofperiods of study and time spent in industry, commerce or administration relating to your course. This usually means that the course extends to four years instead of the usual three. Work experience can be carried out in a single block, lasting a year, or two blocks, each lasting about six months. In either case, you return to university or college in your final year to complete your studies. Sandwich courses are often seen as a good way for students to gain valuable experience during their degree so that they graduate not only with academic qualifications but also with relevant work experience. As an international student, you may or may not get the right to work in the UK. This is stamped into your passport when you apply for the student's visa or when you arrive at the Immigration control in the UK. For more information on these lines, you are requested to check with your local Study Overseas office or the British High Commission or British Embassy for more information. Rules introduced in the UK government make it much easier for the International students to get permission to work on a sandwich course.
Pre-masters program
The Pre-Masters programme has been recognised by various universities to provide an effective route into education at postgraduate level. The full-time programme lasts for one academic year and consists of specialist subjects, study skills and English for Academic Purposes. On successful completion of the pre-masters course, the programme leads to a masters degree in a specialist area.
General Aims
- To develop language competence to a level suitable for postgraduate study
- To develop the kind of study skills required by postgraduate programs in the UK
- To develop research, problem-solving and analytical skills in different contexts
- To improve students knowledge and understanding of their specialist subjects
- To enable students to adapt to UK life and culture.
Postgraduate Degrees
The majority of taught masters degrees (MA, MSc, LLM) in the UK are of 12 months duration with research degrees (MPhil/ Phd) being of 12 to 36 months full time.
Types of Postgraduate Degrees
There are three kinds of postgraduate degrees in the UK :
Specialist
These courses will usually require you to have completed basic education in first degree or bachelor's program in the related stream. These programs are advanced education degrees and often build on the knowledge that students will have been expected to gain in their Bachelors degree
Conversion
These courses are designed for graduates who wish to change their stream in the masters. These are specially designed for students coming from an unrelated stream but would like to change their specialisation and can often be found in areas such as business and computing
Research
These courses are research-based programs and are designed for students who wish to conduct research in a particular field. These programs are not designed to be class room based lectures. The students are required to do research and self learn under the guidance of a course mentor and participate in workshops
