Study Options
The UK academic system is typically shorter and more intense than many other regions in the world. The shorter time frame required to complete a degree is a reason why many international students may decide to pursue their studies in the UK.
Universities in the UK provide an immense array of degree subjects students can choose from. In order to make an appropriate decision, students must account for their academic background, language skills, and more. You can further explore available areas of study in the categories below, and you may also contact us to receive personalized advisory upon request.
Pre-sessional English
Pre-sessional English courses at UK universities or colleges are designed for international students coming to the UK to study at the foundation, undergraduate or postgraduate level. Students may choose to undertake this type of course as a means to improve their English level prior to starting a University programme, or to meet their University’s language requirements.
Pre-sessional English courses last from 2 to 12 weeks and focus on English for academic purposes, as well as UK history and culture.
Foundation
- Do not meet a university’s entry requirements for Bachelor’s degree, due to having completed their secondary/high school education in a curriculum that is not accepted by the university of their choice
- Students whose results fall below the entry requirements for the subject they wish to study.
Foundation courses prepare international students academically for progression onto a degree programme. Moreover, students may receive support with English language preparation if required, cultural adaptation, and general study skills. Moreover, foundation courses provide students the opportunity to study their subject of choice while at a University or college campus
Most universities who offer foundation courses within their institutions will provide conditional offers to students enrolled in foundation courses. This offer is contingent upon students achieving a pre-determined overall mark, which will be known to the student from the time of enrolment in the foundation course.
It is important to note that not all universities and subject areas accept all foundation diplomas. It is important to check entry requirements for the course you wish to study before applying. If foundation courses are not accepted students may need to apply to a college and study A-levels.
Foundation courses are usually offered for most subjects including:
- Business
- Computing
- Social Sciences
- Humanities
- Art and Design
- Medicine
- Business
- Pharmacy
- Engineering
- Sciences
Applications for foundation programmes may require some or all of the following:
- Personal statement.
- Academic Records.
- Application Fee.
- Letters of recommendation.
- Online/ Face to Face Interview.
Undergraduate
Undergraduate/Bachelor’s degrees in the UK can be broken down into the following categories for full degrees: Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Engineering (BEng), Bachelor of Education (BEd), Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Bachelor of Medicine (MBBS), and for short courses: Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE), and Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE).
Undergraduate degrees in the UK last 3 years for most courses, but can range from 2 years to 5 years depending on the course you wish to complete. Courses taking 2 years are called accelerated degrees, and are available at some of StudentQue’s university partners. You can contact us to find out more.
Courses that take 5 years to complete in the UK include medicine and dentistry. Occasionally, some courses may offer a study abroad or a year in industry option. These so-called sandwich courses typically last 4 years.
Note that degrees in Scotland typically last 4 years.
Postgraduate
A postgraduate degree in the UK is traditionally undertaken after having completed a Bachelor’s degree, and is usually a year long. Master’s degrees in the UK can be broken down into several categories: MBA, MSc, MA, MEng, and MPhil while Doctorate degrees can be broken down into PHD, DPhil, Dphil and MD.
Studying for a master’s degree in the UK can allow you to improve your career prospects and employability while gaining an internationally recognised qualification.
In the majority of cases, master’s applications must be submitted to universities directly through the university website, although UCAS does support applications for a small number of universities. Applications open around 12 months before the start of the course, and Prospects advises applying at least 6 months before your course begins as places are limited. It takes 2 weeks to 2 months to know if you have been accepted.
Applications for a master’s degree may require some or all of the following:
- A personal statement.
- CV
- Academic transcripts.
- At least 2 references.
- A research proposal or portfolio, if applicable.
Master’s degrees are typically more expensive than undergraduate degrees. However, some universities offer integrated undergraduate Master’s degree programs, combining your undergraduate degree and master’s degree into a 4-year long program. The advantage of this is that students will pay undergraduate tuition prices for their master’s year. If you are planning on studying both an undergraduate and master’s program, you can check to see if it is offered as a combined program by contacting us.