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UK universities

Most undergraduate qualifications in the UK are Bachelor's degrees (also called undergraduate or first degrees). They usually last for 3 years and are awarded with Honours.

The UK Honours degree falls somewhere between the Australian Pass degree and the Australian Honours degree.  It is not possible for Australian students to do their Honours year in the UK.

British degrees incorporate the most up-to-date subject developments and give you a qualification recognised throughout the world.

You can find out which universities offer courses in your area of interest by using our course search database.

Entry requirements

Entrance requirements vary in the UK from institution to institution so you should check with individual UK universities and colleges.

If you don't currently meet the standard entrance requirements for a degree programme, you can begin with an access or foundation course instead and then move on into degree work.  Details can be found from individual universities.

Most universities have special entrance arrangements for mature-age candidates (age 21 or over) that are unable to meet the usual academic entry requirements. Before applying you should contact the Registrar of the university you're interested in for advice.

UK universities list either A-level results or the new A-level tariff as their academic entry requirements.  See our table equating Australian school qualifications to A-level results

How to apply

All applications for undergraduate study must be made online through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, UCAS.

You can apply for up to six courses at different universities in your application (except for Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Science courses, for which you can only make four choices).

There is also a separate application form for Oxford and Cambridge which must be completed as well as the UCAS application. You cannot apply to both Oxford and Cambridge unless you already have a degree.

You do not need to have your Year 12 results before applying; these can be sent to universities once available.

Application dates

Application deadlines for entry in October 2007 are as follows:

• Applications open on 01 September 2006 and close on 30 June 2007
• Applications for Oxford and Cambridge and for courses in Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Science courses open on 01 September 2006 and close on 15 October 2006
• Applications for UK and EU students close on 15 January 2007 but it is a good idea to submit your application before this date

Fees information

Fees vary for undergraduate degrees, depending on the university you want to study at and the course you want to study.

Check with the institutions you are interested in for their fee structure.

Approximate international student tuition fees are:

UK Fee paying status

To be eligible for the 'home' or UK fee-paying status, you must have a 'relevant connection' to the UK. Normally this means:

• you have to be an EU passport holder
• you have to be resident in the UK for the three years immediately prior to starting your course
• studying for an undergraduate degree does not count towards the three-year residency rule if you are planning to go on to study for a postgraduate degree.

Download our relevant connections pdf for more information.

Fees information

Fees vary for undergraduate degrees, depending on the university you want to study at and the course you want to study.

You should check with the institutions you are interested in for their fee structure (this information should be available on university websites).

As a guide, approximate international student tuition fees are:

In order to be eligible for the 'home' or UK fee-paying status, you must have a 'relevant connection' to the UK. Normally this means:

• You have to be an EU passport holder
• You have to be resident in the UK for the three years immediately prior to starting your course
• Studying for an undergraduate degree does not count towards the three-year residency rule if you are planning to go on to study for a postgraduate degree

You can read more on fee-paying status  and 'relevant connections' on our pdf.

Where can I find a scholarship?

Scholarship applications should generally be made at least a year to eighteen months before the start of the proposed studies. This means you should make enquiries about possible sources of financial assistance at the same time you start applying for admission.

Please note that although reference is made in some international handbooks to "British Council scholarships", these do NOT apply to students in Australia. They are for students in developing countries only.

There is a search facility for undergraduate and postgraduate students at http://www.scholarship-search.org.uk. 

British Council UK is also currently developing a British Council database where you can find information on all scholarships available to study in the UK. This is a great way to begin your search.

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