Courses Guide

Starting out

The first step is deciding what you want from your course. Why do you want to come to the UK? Is it to learn English? Do you want a prestigious qualification? Or do you simply want an exciting experience? You should think about what is most important and then look for a course that matches your criteria. Remember that as an international student you may have to pay much higher tuition fees than regular students. You should read our finance section to assess whether you can afford it.

If you want to use the qualification in your own country, you should think about which UK courses would be recognised there. Ask potential employers or a careers advisor in your home country whether a qualification from the UK would be a career asset. You should also ask around to find out which UK courses employers in your country particularly respect.

It’s also very important to check which institutions are allowed to take international students. These are listed on the Register of Education and Training Providers. Note that inclusion on this register does not guarantee the quality of the institution.

You should find out whether or not your previous qualifications will be recognised by a British institution. Some institutions will only allow you to enrol if you meet their pre-requisites. You can contact UK NARIC, which provides information on international qualifications. You can also contact the admissions tutor at the institution at which you plan to study.

You should also ask the institution about English language requirements. Many degree programmes require students to take an English language exam if English is not their first language. There are many different exams you can take, so find out which one is required.

Finally, remember that visas other immigration documentation take a very long time to process, and you should allow enough time for this. If possible, plan how you will get your travel documents before you even apply for your course. Remember that flights are usually cheaper when booked in advance.

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Undergraduate degree programmes

If you want to take an undergraduate degree in the UK, you should investigate which courses are highly regarded here. A good way is to consult the league tables published by British newspapers every year. Universities are listed from best to worst and are judged on criteria such as research quality and student satisfaction. The Times’ league table, or The Guardian’s league table
Some universities are better than others in certain subjects, so you should look at the individual subject league tables on these websites. Note also that some universities specialising in vocational subjects may have good courses but do not score highly on the league tables. This could be because they do not focus on research, or because the entry standards are low.

However, there may be a difference between the universities that are most respected here and those respected internationally. If you hope to use your British undergraduate degree to get a job in your home country, find out which British universities and courses are most revered by employers at home. You can do this by asking a careers advisor or by approaching employers directly.

You can find course listings by going to websites like Education UK and Hotcourses. Most universities have an online prospectus on their websites. If not, you can request one by telephone or email. Many British Council offices also have prospectuses.

You should try to find out as much as possible about an institution before applying. If possible, it’s good to attend one of their open days so that you can ask questions and visit student accommodation. In particular, you might want to find out what resources there are for international students, whether there is language assistance, what the accommodation is like and whether or not there are other students from your country there. You may also want to check what clubs and sports facilities there are and whether there is disability support. Above all, you should check the course content and make sure you’ll be studying things that are interesting or will be useful to you in the future.

You can list several different courses on your application form. It’s best to chose courses at different universities in the same subject, so you can talk about that one subject in your personal statement.

Once you have chosen your courses, you should apply for them through the UCAS website. UCAS is the official body administrating all university admissions. Note that you can only send them one application per application cycle. Most applications can be made using the UCAS online application system. You can complete it online, and you do not need to fill it all in at once.

If you are applying through a school, college or centre, you may be given a buzzword which helps with the referencing process. When you have finished your application, you should submit your completed application to your referee. Otherwise, submit it straight to UCAS.

Make sure you get your application in on time. The deadlines may change slightly from year to year and you should check UCAS for the exact date. However, here is a rough guide:

Applying from the UK or EU

It is usually the case that if you are applying from the UK or EU (regardless of nationality), you must submit your application between mid-September and mid-January during the academic year before you start your course. However, there are special deadlines for certain courses. You must apply by mid-October the year before you want to start your course for:

• Oxford University;
• University of Cambridge;
• medicine courses (course codes A100, A101, A103, A104, A105, A106 or A300);
• dentistry courses (course codes A200, A201, A202, A203, A204, A205, A206 or A400);
• veterinary medicine or veterinary science courses (course codes D100 or D101).
For Route B art and design courses, the deadline is mid-March. If you want to study art, you should find out if your preferred institutions allow you to take Route B. This later deadline allows you to build up your portfolio.
Universities and colleges guarantee to consider your application if it is received by mid-January (or mid-March for Route B courses). If UCAS receive it after the deadline (end of June, they may consider it, but they do not have to. If the application is received after the start of July, UCAS will send you details about Clearing. This is a process whereby universities fill up their spare places, and late applicants are eligible. Many students also gain a place during Clearing if they did not get the exam grades their preferred institution asked for.

Applying from outside of the UK or EU

If you are applying from outside the UK or EU (regardless of nationality), you can usually apply any time between mid-September and late June in the academic year before you want to begin your course. This applies to you unless you are applying for Oxford University or University of Cambridge, courses in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or veterinary science, or Route B art and design courses, in which case you should apply by the dates listed above.

However, you should probably apply before mid-January, because universities do not guarantee to consider applications they receive after this. Some courses may not even have vacancies after that date. Ask the admissions tutors at individual universities for advice.
If you think you may be assessed as a ‘home’ student (UK or EU) for tuition fees, you should apply by mid-January. See our finance page to see if you qualify.

Once you have submitted your application, UCAS will process it, and contact you with further information. The application will get passed on to the institutions you have listed. However, they will not be able to see which other institutions you have applied for. Sometimes universities will contact you for more information. Typically, they may ask you to meet the academic tutors for an interview. In the case of Oxford and Cambridge, this may involve attending an open day and staying overnight.

Then you will hopefully receive offers from some of your institutions. Sometimes these offers are conditional on you passing certain exams. You should follow UCAS instructions about replying to them.

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Postgraduate programmes

Postgraduate programmes vary widely. Some programmes, such as law and journalism, are vocational, whilst others are more based on academic study. Some vocational diplomas can take just a few months, while a PhD can take several years.
Before you undertake postgraduate study, you should think about what you want to gain from it. If it is a job, you should find out how good the employment rates are for different courses, and what past graduates are doing now. You should also find out from a careers advisor which courses would be accepted by employers back home.
If you’re considering a postgraduate qualification in a subject, you should already have some experience in it- either through extra-curricular work or through an undergraduate degree. Ask your contacts in the field which courses and institutions in the UK are respected. If you are looking at vocational courses, you can also ask prospective employers.
You should especially make sure that the institution will allow you to study what you want, and you should also check there are adequate resources such as a computer room and a well-stocked library. If you want to do a research-based programme, you will want to investigate what the faculty have published recently, and the quality of the research they produce. You will also want to find out about your future supervisor, and whether they have the special knowledge to support your particular field of study. Having similar interests can help when they are guiding you through your studies. If your programme is teaching-based, you should find out how small the classes are. You should be wary of programmes which rely on undergraduate teaching modules, as these can devalue your qualification.
For most postgraduate programmes, you should apply directly to the institution. Contact the institutions you are interested in to find out how to apply. For more information on postgraduate study, you can go to the Prospects website. You can use the search page on this site to find postgraduate programmes in your chosen field. You can also search the Hotcourses website or contact your local British Council office.
Postgraduate study tends to cost more than undergraduate, and you may have to pay the high international fees. Read our finance page to find out your status.

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Exchange programmes

Exchange programmes usually last for one semester or one year, and many universities take part in them. Typically, exchange programmes allow you to take classes at a British university while earning credits to go towards your degree at your home university. Your university may have a private arrangement set up with a university in the UK. Alternatively, you may need to apply independently to universities in the UK offering study abroad programmes. Ask your university’s study abroad office or your department to find out your options. You may even be able to get a grant to pay for your flights.

If you live in the EU, an EEA country or an EU candidate country, you could be eligible for the Erasmus programme. This is a programme which allows students to study in other European countries. However, you will probably only be allowed to go to a British university if your home university has a formal arrangement with it. Contact your local Erasmus department for more information.

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Short courses

Many universities offer short courses, particularly in the summer holidays. For example, many art colleges offer courses in things like sculpture. These usually cost a lot, as they are often a way of bringing in more money to the institution. However, they can be a good way of gaining knowledge from a prestigious institution in a short space of time, and may boost your CV (or resume). You can search for sho rt courses and part-time courses at Hot Courses.

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English language courses

If you’re learning English, taking a course in the UK is a good way to improve. However, it’s important to ensure you enrol on a quality course, as it is possible to be conned. A good way is to choose a course which is provided by an accredited body. All of the courses listed on the Education UK website have been inspected by the British Council.

You can choose to study at many different types of institution. If you are 16 or under, you can learn English in a language centre or take a summer course at an independent school. If you are over 16, you have many more options. The first is a private language school, where full-time, part-time, long-term and short-term courses are offered at all levels. The second option is a language centre, which can be either private or state-run. These only offer short-term courses, normally in the summer, and may include social activities and trips. Your third option is to attend an independent school or tutorial college, where you can study English alongside other subjects.

Further education institutions are another option, and these can offer full-time and part-time courses for all levels. At these institutions, you can often take vocational training and academic classes alongside your English classes. Note that in these other classes, many students may speak English as their first language. Finally, higher education institutions also offer full-time and part-time courses. However, students may be of intermediate level or better, and the English is often studied in order to improve other academic work.

There are many different types of courses. If you are a beginner, there are lots of good beginners’ courses in general English. Summer courses can be fun for both teenagers and adults, as many include cultural activities and visits.

However, if you’re more advanced and plan to study in the UK, you may want to take special classes to provide the English you need for academic study. Once you begin your studies, you may be entitled to free English classes provided by the university. Many universities ask for pre-requisite examinations in English, and you can take pre-university English courses to help you prepare for these. Find out from your preferred university which exams you need to take, and then look on the Education UK website for an accredited course.

You can also take a course for a specific purpose- typically, to further a career. There are many courses in business English which can help you to communicate more effectively with your clients. Some English courses can be combined with vocational or academic study (sometimes called EnglishPlus).

There are many different English language qualifications, and if you need to take an exam for a specific reason, you should find out which one is required. You can see a list of popular qualifications on the British Council

Once you have chosen your institution and your course, you can contact the institution directly and ask for a prospectus or an information pack. You should find out all about the course and make sure it sounds right for you. Then you can submit an application form, and if you are accepted, you are normally expected to pay a deposit.

For more information, you can go to the Education UK website.

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