Coming to study in the UK is your opportunity to gain the skills, outlook and confidence you need to fulfil your potential.  To ensure you choose the course that is right for you and for what you want to achieve it is best to read as much as you can about the range of courses, colleges and universities available and compare them. It is also important to check the course entry requirements. You can do this using the course profiles on the institutions’ websites. If you have any questions, you can contact the university directly, who will be very happy to help you find the information you need

Undergraduate degree in the  UK

A bachelor’s degree is a common first-year degree. It gives you a thorough understanding of a subject. Bachelor’s degrees usually have a set programme of academic study. Some incorporate practical elements and placements.

There are different titles of degree, such as Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Education (BEd) and Bachelor of Engineering (BEng). If you complete all years of the degree successfully with at least a third class pass, you’ll get an ‘honours’ degree.

A full-time bachelor’s degree normally takes three years to complete (four in some cases). Part-time options are also available at some universities and colleges. Note that some Scottish universities offer an undergraduate degree called a Scottish Masters of Arts. This shouldn’t be confused with a postgraduate master’s.

Masters degree in the UK

The UK is home to some of the leading universities in the world, renowned for their quality of teaching and research. A UK postgraduate degree is held in high esteem by employers, and for international students studying in the UK it is a fantastic opportunity to improve your English and immerse yourself in a multicultural and exciting community of academics and students. You will:

• Improve your career prospects
• Gain an internationally recognised qualification
• Earn more over the course of your career because of the weight a UK Masters carries
• Be able to shape study around your schedule

A study carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency showed that 86 per cent of students who completed a Postgraduate Masters in the UK were in full-time employment following graduation, compared to just 75 per cent of undergraduate leavers.

Your university or college will contact you (usually via email) to tell you whether or not you have received an offer to study. If you applied via UCAS it’s easy to track the status of your application at any time. If you are accepted with an unconditional offer, then congratulations! You have a place and you can accept straightaway.

If you are accepted with a conditional offer, the place is yours as long as you meet a few extra requirements. This could be achieving certain exam grades or English language test scores. For some courses you may be asked to come for an interview before you receive your offer, either on the phone or sometimes in person. Check the course information before you apply to find out whether this is required.

Now is the time to arrange funding. You may be eligible for one of the many scholarships available to help with the cost of your studies.

As an international student, you are likely to need a visa to take up your study place in the UK.

Once you have your offer and your visa, it’s time to get packing! You can now begin to look at things like flights, accommodation and anything else you will need to help you make the most of your time in the UK.