UK - the dream destination

A high degree of sophistication, a matchless charm, and above all, educational quality that’s backed by centuries of tradition: the United Kingdom is just the right place to give your career that global edge. In addition to the hallowed Oxford and Cambridge, UK has a large number of other universities which rank among the best in the world and offer a wide range of courses. One major advantage of U.K. education is its one-year Masters Degree for almost all courses – saving you considerable time and money. Also, unlike those in other countries, most UK universities recognize the Indian education system of 3 year graduation. British Education has long attracted and welcomed high caliber students of different nationalities and backgrounds, and today builds on hundreds of years of experience in providing quality education to international students. To ensure that the quality is maintained, Britain has implemented unrivalled quality assurance and academic audit systems. The university departments are obliged to meet stringent standards by professional bodies. Standards are high not just in teaching but in other facilities as well: Libraries, computers, research equipment and living accommodation. British higher and further education provides value for money by offering shorter, more intensive courses than are available in many other countries, thereby reducing living expenses and time spent away from home. Closely supervised study in an intellectually and culturally stimulating environment, together with an emphasis on student welfare and close contact between staff and students also ensures that individual students get maximum support and, as a result, pass rates are high and the drop-out rate for international students is very low. Britain has long been a popular destination for Indian students. With more than 150 institutes of higher education to choose from, all equipped with extensive facilities, Britain is able to offer a broad spectrum of subjects from the highly academic to the purely practical in anything from architecture to zoology. Details about various Qualifications offered by UK Colleges and Universities. (top)

First Degree Courses in Arts and Sciences (Bachelor's degree) are normally of three or four years' duration and are largely taught courses, sometimes including the preparation of a short written thesis. Sandwich Courses are where the coursework is accompanied by practical work. A student could either complete 2 years of college, then a year of commercial training before returning for a final year in college. Or, he/she could do a 4-year course with 3-6 months’ training interspersed each year. The main advantage is that the student gets real experience while in the learning mode. Most universities offer this type of education. Higher National Diploma (HND) is awarded by Vocational and Technical Educational Councils. They offer a 2-year course in a vocational subject like scientific and technical business subjects. Great emphasis is placed on work experience. It is often seen as the first step towards a degree course as the credits can be transferred. Vocational Courses offer an opportunity to enter the university system slowly. Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC), General Vocational Qualifications (GNVQ), General Scottish Vocational Qualifications (GSVQ) offer recognized courses in a range of disciplines. Most students opt to take 1-2 years of, for example, BTEC courses before being transferred to a degree programme. BTEC national certificates/diplomas are usually accepted as an alternative to A-Levels. Postgraduate study may take the form of an independent piece of research under supervision or a taught course, and leads to a variety of degrees and awards. The taught courses normally last for one or sometimes two years. Completion of a doctorate normally takes a minimum of three years. Many post-experience courses are also available, either leading to a qualification or providing a refresher course for graduates wishing to update or extend their knowledge. Occasional students are admitted by some institutions in limited numbers. They attend courses or undertake research, possibly for a period of one or two years. These courses do not lead to any formal qualification or 'credit' although certificate of satisfactory attendance may be given. (top)

Choosing your course and getting your Student Visa: Of course the process has to start with choosing your course and ensuring that you can apply for, and obtain, your relevant student visa for that course. (If you are engaging a private Training Provider for a training course, please see Visa for Training and Work Experience). There has been much work done by the Government to stop misuse of courses and student visas to gain entry to the UK under false pretences. It is now mandatory that you choose your course only from Institutions that appear on the official Register of Education and Training Providers list as published by the Department for Education and Skills. You should have been accepted for a course of study at one of the above institutions which include, a publicly funded institution of further or higher education, a bona fide private education institution which maintains satisfactory records of enrolment and attendance, an independent fee paying school outside the maintained sector, Or you are able and intend to follow either, a recognised full time degree course at a publicly funded institution of further or higher education, a weekday full time course involving attendance at a single institution for a minimum of 15 hours organised daytime study per week of a single subject, or directly related subjects, a full time course of study at an independent fee paying school, Or you are under the age of 16 years and enrolled at an independent fee paying school on a full time course of studies which meets the requirements of the Education Act 1944, you must intend to leave the United Kingdom at the end of your studies, you must not intend to engage in business or to take employment, except part time or vacation work undertaken with the consent of the Secretary of State for Employment, whilst studying, you must be able to meet the costs of the course and accommodation and the maintenance of yourself and any dependants without taking employment or engaging in business or having recourse to public funds. Students are allowed to bring their family with them to the UK while they study. Although students studying here are not normally allowed to work in the UK, they can work without permission as long as they do not work for more than 20 hours per week or start a business and the work they do is not a full time job. If you have a UK graduate degree you can switch to full time work without having to leave the UK by obtaining a sponsored work permit, Obtaining an HSMP permit, Taking advantage of SEGS (The Science and Engineering Graduate scheme). (top)

Student Nurses: The term student nurse means a person accepted for training as a student nurse or midwife leading to a registered nursing qualification; or an overseas nurse or midwife who has been accepted on an adaptation course leading to registration as a nurse with the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting. You must have been accepted for a course of study in a recognised nursing educational establishment offering nursing training which meets the requirements of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting. The possession of a Department of Health bursary may be taken into account in assessing whether the student meets the maintenance requirement. (top)

Postgraduate Doctors and Dentists: You must be a graduate from a medical school and eligible for provisional or limited registration with the General Medical Council. You must intend to undertake Pre Registration House Officer employment for up to 12 months and have not spent more than 12 months in aggregate in Pre Registration House Officer employment. Or you must be a doctor or dentist eligible for full or limited registration with the General Medical Council or the General Dental Council, who intends to undertake postgraduate training in a hospital or the Community Health Services or both. (top)

Prospective Students: You must demonstrate a genuine and realistic intention of undertaking, within 6 months of his date of entry, a course of study which would meet the requirements for an extension of stay as a student. Six months is the maximum permitted leave which may be granted to a prospective student but you can extend after that. Of course, the families of Students or prospective Students are welcome under the Immigration rules. There is more information relating to your family here. (top)

Sponsored Researchers: This category is for someone who has a job overseas, for which they are still being paid, or someone who is currently on paid or unpaid sabbatical has come to the UK to undertake a period of research at an employer/host organisation where the funding for the research remains overseas, is transferred to the UK employer or host, is arranged and paid by UK employer or host. If you are looking for Private Training or Work Experience, different rules apply. (top)

If you have completed, or are nearing completion of your UK education, or wish to move away from education prior to completion, you can think about the Work Permits or HSMP. After completion of studies in UK, you are eligible to continue for another one year under Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme (SEGS) to seek full time employment. This is valid for all degree level programmes in any subject/field.

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