A good command of the English language is almost essential in international trade and research nowadays and it is not surprising that so many students choose an English-speaking country for their university education. The most popular are the United Kingdom, the USA, Canada and Australia.
Of these, universities in the UK have several specific advantages, in that they offer degrees which are:
- Intensive - most degree courses take three years to complete, making the overall cost of university education relatively low.
- Specialised - so students can concentrate on their chosen subject are rather than having to take a wide range of subjects.
- Highly respected - courses are generally well-structured and up-to-date, giving graduates an excellent start in the job market.
Applying for university is relatively simple. Because all British university applications are organised by a body called UCAS, students have a single form to fill in rather than a separate one for each university.
Admission is usually decided entirely by the information on the form, so completing it clearly and neatly is really important, especially when it comes to the part of the form which asks for details of a student’s achievements, interests and plans. Another section asks for information about qualifications, and the next part of this article describes university entrance requirements in more detail.
All universities require a recognised qualification in English language. There are several which are acceptable: GCSE, IGCSE, the NEAB Test, the Cambridge Proficiency exam, IELTS etc. In the case of IELTS, in which students are awarded a mark out of 10, different courses ask for different minimum marks and it is important to check university prospectuses carefully to find out what mark the admissions tutor wants. Other English-language exams, such as TOEFL may be accepted by individual universities - again, check the prospectus.
Universities also require evidence that a student has studied in sufficient depth to cope with the starting point of a degree course. The main qualification universities are familiar with is the ‘A level’ examination, which students take at the end of secondary education in England, and it is the standard against which overseas qualifications are measured. Because students generally take only three A-level subjects in the final two years of English secondary schooling, the level they reach in their chosen subjects is higher than is possible in most other countries’ secondary systems, where students must study many more subjects throughout.
For this reason, there are relatively few overseas secondary school qualifications which British universities accept as being fully equivalent to A levels, and although some of the less popular universities may take a student solely on the basis of an overseas qualification, most will not. The better universities have many applicants to choose from, and naturally give preference to those with higher level qualifications. Universities are always happy to give advice on the acceptability of qualifications, and the British Council will also be able to help.
What are the alternatives for the student who wants to go to university in Britain but who does not have the right qualifications?
There are three main possibilities: A-levels; a Foundation course; or to take a GNVQ. Of these GNVQ is not popular with overseas students because courses cannot be completed in less than two years, and they require a high level of language skill.
A-levels and Foundation courses each have their own advantages and drawbacks!, as follows:
A-levels:
Advantages:
- many colleges provide A-level courses, so students have plenty of choice for how and where they study;
- all UK universities accept A-level qualifications, so students can apply to whichever universities they want. It is difficult to get into most of the best UK universities without A levels.
- Although most UK students take two years to do A-levels, they can be completed in one year if a student has done well in secondary education in their own country.
- there are over 40 different subjects from which to choose, from which universities generally expect students to take three. This allows students to concentrate on the areas they are most interested in. However universities do not like programmes which are too narrow (such as the combination of Business, Accounting, and Economics A levels).
Drawbacks:
- A levels are designed for English-speaking students so the language demands can be high, even in technical subjects
- Although some colleges provide good language training as part of the course, many do not
- The failure rate is higher than in Foundation Courses.
Foundation Courses
Advantages:
- The Course is usually designed specifically for overseas students, and includes language and study-skills support
- The failure rate is generally very low
- Take one year.
Drawbacks:
- Courses are available at fewer colleges (and it can be quite difficult to find out which places offer them). Some places offering Foundation Courses are private colleges, others are universities themselves.
- The qualification is not accepted by all universities. Foundation courses generally give entry to the limited range of universities which the college has a relationship with. It is vital to ask about this when choosing a college which provides Foundation Courses!
So, which is the better qualification?
It is impossible to generalise - the answer depends on the individual student’s academic background, language skills and ambitions. It is essential to get advice from as many sources as possible: the British Council, students who have studied in the UK, universities and colleges (who welcome enquiries), etc.
Next comes the question of where to study.
There is considerable variety to choose from! The two main types of institution are state-owned FE (Further Education) colleges, or privately-owned Sixth-form Colleges. A level and Foundation courses are available in both types of college (though relatively few colleges offer foundation and A-levels) and both types charge fees.
State FE colleges tend to be large places - some have several thousand students - offering a very wide range of courses mainly to British Students. Some provide special courses for students from overseas, some do not. Fees are a lot lower than in the independent colleges, but calls sizes are generally larger, and they are not as able to help with accommodation and student support.
Fees are higher at independent sixth form colleges, but classes are much smaller, there is more individual attention and in consequence, success rates are generally better. Most can arrange good accommodation.
The British Council can help with lists of State FE colleges. It can also supply details of the Independent Sixth-form colleges but the most useful source of information on this type of institution is CIFE, the Conference for Independent Further Education. CIFE represents almost all the reputable independent colleges and publishes a hand-book of member colleges, which can be obtained (free of charge) from Mr Myles Glover (UK Tel/Fax 01233 820797).
Colleges in full membership of CIFE all undergo regular inspection (by the British Accreditation Council or the Independent Schools Joint Council), and abide by Codes of Practice which include strict regulations to ensure that published results information is accurate. CIFE colleges get excellent results not just because their classes are small and their teaching is examination focused, but also because they are committed to giving students individual attention and support.
This all means that students can be confident of receiving a good education from member colleges.
Most CIFE colleges are located in cities (London, Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Brighton), but there are others in smaller towns and a couple in the country-side. Size ranges from fewer than 50 students to over 500 - most have between 100 & 200. Some have a high proportion of students from abroad, some are mainly UK-based. Most colleges offer a full range of subjects, some specialise in sciences. Over half provide supervised hostel accommodation, and the rest can arrange ‘homestay’ accommodation with approved families.
Although choosing the best course and the right college needs careful thought, there are plenty of sources of advice: British Council, university admissions officers, college admissions advisors, students who have studied in the UK etc. The main thing is to allow time to carry out enquiries, to speak to as many people as possible, and to keep an open mind.
Students who come to the UK for a pre-university year usually find not only that they gain the qualifications they need, but also that the experience of living and studying in Britain makes it much easier to adapt to university of life afterwards.
