Choosing a Course

Choosing which university or college to go to can be a life-changing decision. Do as much research as possible so that you choose the right course for the right reasons.

There are many benefits to higher education because it can give you important transferable skills that will make you successful in your chosen career. By choosing to study in the UK, you can gain important cross-cultural skills desired by many employers. UK also has world recognised qualifications, and increases the chances of you having successful career anywhere in the world.

Choosing a higher education course to study

Try to do a lot of research when deciding which courses to apply for. You will probably want to find out even more before you accept an offer of a place on a course. When you accept an offer of a place, make sure that the course admissions tutors or other representatives have answered all of your questions. Ask them if there is anything to prepare before the course starts. They may suggest that you look at certain books on the course reading list or that you improve your computer skills. Check with your admissions tutor if you can borrow the books they suggest before you buy them. It may be cheaper and easier for you to buy what you need after you arrive in the UK.

You can check the entry requirements that are required for studying in the UK. Below is a general guide of entry requirements.

Ask the institution about the course in terms of your UK Visa Application. They should be able to give you an idea of the type of Visa that will be issued in terms of duration and allowed working hours.

Questions to ask when choosing a university or college

Different places suit different people, so it depends what you’re looking for. Ask as many questions as possible to help you decide if you will be happy at your chosen university or college. For example you may want to know:

if other students from your country are studying in the same place
if the university or college has cultural or social clubs that you can join
what type of accommodation is available
what type of sports facilities are available
whether the university or college offers support for people with disabilities
The average UK Visa duration for your chosen course
The employment working hours of your UK Visa for a particular course

Entry Requirements for UK Study

You will need a good understanding of English before you can study at most further and higher education institutions in the UK.

The qualifications you need depend on the course you want to study.

For an HND:

qualifications equivalent to one or two UK A-levels, two Scottish Highers or a Higher National Certificate or BTEC National Diploma; or an international foundation year
IELTS 5.5-6.0.

For a Foundation Degree:

qualifications equivalent to one or two UK A-levels, one or two Scottish Highers or a National Diploma; or an international foundation year
IELTS 5.5-6.0.

For a Diploma of Higher Education:

qualifications equivalent to one or two UK A-levels, two or three Scottish Highers or a National Diploma; or an international foundation year
IELTS 5.5-6.0.

For a Degree:

qualifications equivalent to two or three UK A-levels, three or four Scottish Highers, a Higher National Certificate or Diploma, or BTEC National Diploma; or an international foundation year
IELTS 6.0-6.5.

Entry requirements for postgraduate or MBA study

To begin a postgraduate course in the UK, you’ll need to hold an undergraduate degree from the UK or overseas. You’ll be expected to have obtained a first or good 2:1 (or international equivalent) in a directly related subject and you’ll need to speak English to at least IELTS 6.5 level for most courses.

Here are some examples of the qualifications you will need for postgraduate or MBA study.

Pre-master’s: undergraduate degree plus IELTS 5.0-5.5
PG Cert/PG Dip: undergraduate degree plus IELTS 6.5-7.0, or a pre-master’s course
Master’s degree: first or upper second class undergraduate degree plus IELTS 7.0, or a pre-master’s course
MBA: first degree, 2-3 years’ business experience, plus IELTS 6.5-7.0
PhD: master’s degree, plus IELTS 6.5-7.0.

Entry requirements for career-based and pre-university study

The qualifications you’ll need will depend on the course you want to study. Some qualifications (such as A-levels Scottish Highers and and BTEC National Diplomas) are below university level and lead directly on to higher education. Others (such as HNDs and foundation degrees) are university-level qualifications that enable you to join a degree course in the second or third year.

Here are some examples of the qualifications you will need for entry to various courses.

BTEC National Diploma: good general high school education equivalent to four GCSEs grades A –C; plus IELTS 4.5-5.0
AS/A-levels: good general high school education equivalent to five GCSEs grades A –C, plus IELTS 4.5-5.0
Scottish Highers/Advanced Highers: good general high school equivalent to six Standard Grade qualifications grades 1-3, plus IELTS 4.5-5.0
International Foundation Year: 12 years of school education or equivalent in your own country, plus IELTS 4.5-5.0
HND: qualifications equivalent to one or two UK A-levels, two or three Scottish Highers or a BTEC National Diploma or an international foundation year, plus IELTS 5.5-6.0
Foundation Degree: qualifications equivalent to one or two UK A-levels, two or three Scottish Highers or a BTEC National Diploma or an international foundation year, plus IELTS 5.5-6.0.