What types of undergraduate study are available in the UK?   

Bachelor degrees (BA, BSc, BEng) are the most popular type of undergraduate education. These are academic courses, studied over 3 years everywhere in the UK except Scotland where it takes 4 years. Bachelor courses with one year of work placement are called “sandwich" and can take 4-5 years to complete.

Other types of undergraduate study include Higher National Certificate (1 year) or Diploma (2 years), Foundation degrees and Diplomas of Higher Education (2 years), which can allow you to start a career at an earlier stage.

What is the best way to search for an undergraduate course?   

• Education UK www.educationuk.org
• Universities and Colleges Admissions Service www.ucas.com

What are minimum entry requirements?   

To apply for an undergraduate study in the UK you would normally need to meet:

1. Academic requirements – completed secondary education and A-levels and equivalents, or University International Foundation Year, or 1-2 years at a local recognized university in the same specialization as intended course in the UK.
2. Language proficiency – minimum 6.5 IELTS score.

How and when do I apply?   

You cannot apply directly to a UK university and should use a centralized application service called UCAS www.ucas.com. UCAS allows you to submit one on-line application per calendar year and apply for up to 5 universities. You do not need to send documents. The cost of the application is 17 pounds. It is recommended to submit an application by January 15, but international students are allowed turn in their application as late as 30 June.   

How will I know that that an institution I chose is accredited? Are there any official rankings?   

All recognized UK institutions with degree awarding powers are listed on the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills website. There is no official ranking in the UK, you may however check The Times Good University Guide to get an idea what institutions are ranked high in your subject.