I want to study in the UK. Where do I start?

For the most current information, check out Education UK website. It has comprehensive information on undergraduate and graduate study, searchable databases of taught, research, and study abroad programs, and information on funding and student life.

Do I need a visa?

US citizens entering the UK as students or work permit holders who wish to stay for six months or longer must apply for an Entry Clearance. This is a document issued to travelers who have been granted leave to enter the UK. It is in the form of a vignette or sticker placed in a passport.

The British Consulate offices in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago process all Entry Clearance applications: http://www.britainusa.com/visas/visas.asp.

How do I defer entry?

If you want to start your studies next year rather than the year for which you originally applied, make sure to check the "Defer" box when listing your courses in the "Courses" section. Otherwise leave the box unchecked.

Can my earnings be taken into account when making immigration applications?

As part of the Government's recent initiative to attract more international students to the UK, earnings from part-time and vacation work can only be taken into account when assessing whether you can meet your expenses in the UK if:

•You are/will be studying at a publicly funded institution of further or higher education;

•Your institution is providing and guaranteeing employment; and

•It has provided details of how much you will earn.

A letter from your institution will be required confirming the above to assist your application for entry clearance to the UK, or permission to enter/remain in the UK.

Will I be taxed?

International students and their spouses will automatically be subject to taxation rules. Most international students who take up part time and vacation employment are subject to the same rules as UK residents.

Everyone can earn or receive a certain amount of income in each tax year (April 6 to April 5 the following year) before paying tax. This personal allowance is currently £6,475 for a single person in the 2010-2011 tax year. If your income is below this figure in any one tax year you will not have to pay tax. Remember to mention this to your employer when you start work. Ask for a form P38(S) and fill in and sign the form before handing it back to your employer.

Should you require any further information regarding tax, contact your local tax office or Tax Enquiry Centre in your local telephone book under "Inland Revenue". Separate rules apply to exchange students under BUNAC and SWAP schemes.

How do I apply for courses in Art and Design?

In previous years, there were two routes into art and design. For courses starting in 2010, you apply through the normal route. UCAS will send your application to each of your chosen universities and colleges, and you can wait until you have received a decision for each choice before replying to any offers.

There are two application deadlines for art and design courses. Universities and colleges decide which deadline to use for each course - it will be either 15 January or 24 March.

Can I apply for an internship with a company in the UK?

Non-EEA nationals will have to find an employer who is willing to offer you an internship placement. The prospective employer will need to obtain a permit from the DfES Overseas Labour Service for you before you apply for entry clearance. The employer needs to complete and submit the form WPSI.

The following requirements need to be satisfied before a permit is issued:

•You must be on a first or higher degree level course at a college or university overseas;

•The employer must be considering recruiting you, normally as a trainee, following completion of your course;

•The company must have a significant trading presence in the UK and other countries;

•Permission will only be given for one internship with an employer; and

•Payment should reflect the normal trainee rates applicable to the profession or sector in which the internship is offered.

What is the Work Permit Scheme?

Unless you are a national of an EEA country, it is very difficult to stay in the UK to work. This requires a work permit, which can only be issued to people when a prospective employer obtains approval from the DfES.

There are certain exceptional circumstances when the DfES and the Home Office might consider allowing you to remain in the UK for employment. If you are highly qualified and experienced in an area of work where there is a skills shortage in the UK, or if you have specialist knowledge and experience of languages and culture not readily available in the UK or EEA, then you might be given permission to work.

The employer, giving full reasons for wishing to employ you, using the form WP1, must make the application. You will need to be outside the UK whilst the application is made and it is very rare for a student in the UK to be granted a work permit.

How can I transfer my studies to the UK?

You should contact both the admissions officer and the head of department at your chosen UK university. Include full information on the degree program you wish to follow, along with details of your studies so far (transcript).

It is not always possible to transfer directly into the second or third year of a UK course from the first or second year of US study due to the differences in curriculum. The UK institution will carry out an assessment of your academic level and place within the UK system. You may be asked to apply through the UCAS system.

I am a British citizen living in the USA. Do I qualify for "home" fees?

UK citizens are not automatically entitled to home student status. Home fees generally apply to European Union (EU) nationals who have lived within the EU for the three years immediately before the start of their course in the UK.

Overseas fees will be applied to any student coming from outside the EU, including UK citizens who have not been resident in the UK for the past three year.

Can I use a Federal Loan?

Students can use their federal (Stafford) loans at UK institutions as long as the UK institution is registered with the US Department of Education as an eligible, participating institution.

The DoE's website allows you to check to see if your chosen institution(s) are eligible. Or you can call the Foreign Schools Team at (202) 708 8820.

Federal student loan application packs can be obtained by calling 1-800-4 FEDAID (1-800-433-3243) or from overseas + 319 337 5665. General information is available from the US Department of Education website. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can be downloaded from that site.

How can I contact the British Council USA for further advice?

British Council USA

The British Embassy

3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20008-3600

Email: info-us@britishcouncil.org

What advice is offered to "non-traditional" students (students over 21)?

Read the UCAS guide for mature students.

What scholarships are available for the UK?

A large number of scholarships are available either through government, private or non-profit organizations. For example, you can use a Stafford Loan to study at all levels in the UK at most UK universities.

Scholarship funding is competitive and usually must be applied for at least a year in advance of the proposed study period. In general, a minimum GPA, extra-curricular activities, and a strong statement of purpose justifying the course of study in the UK are essential elements in applications.

Some smaller organizations offer funding for students from a particular background or heritage. Personal research into funding opportunities may be time-consuming but can be hugely beneficial.

View our Funding Your Studies guide for full information on funding available for study in the UK.

Can I transfer from a US university to a UK university?

Transfers are not impossible, but they can be complicated! This is because the two education systems are very different, and the UK does not offer a general credit transfer system. The best thing to do is contact the institutions that interest you direct in order to discuss your particular situation and whether or not a transfer is possible.

Which is the best university for my subject?

There is no official list ranking universities in the UK because there is no such ranking exercise. As all universities (except the University of Buckingham) are publicly funded, institutions are subject to a number of rigorous external quality assurance mechanisms in addition to their own internal quality systems.

UK universities take the quality of their courses and of their overall institutions very seriously, and as the funding they receive is linked closely to quality, they are constantly striving to improve. There are several external quality assurance mechanisms you can use as a guide to the quality of an institution, namely the subject reviews and institutional reviews carried out by the Quality Assurance Agency and the Research Assessment Exercise carried out by the Funding Councils. However, even these should never be read simply as an exercise to find the Top 10 - the "best" university will differ according to the needs of individual students. The UK press also conducts "unofficial" surveys.

How can I find out the entry requirements and other information about courses that interest me?

You should contact the International Office(s) at the institution(s) that interest you to discuss specific entry requirements. For course information please visit the UCAS website where you can also link to institutional websites where you will find prospecti on line.

Useful Addresses

Department for Education and Skills

Overseas Labour Section

Moorfoot Sheffield S1 4PQ

Tel: + 44 114 275 3275

DfEE Enquiry Lines General enquiries: + 44 114 259 3658

TWES enquiries (employers' line): + 44 114 259 4071

Sandwich course enquiries (colleges' line): + 44 114 259 3807

Work permit application forms and guidance notes: (UK only number 0990 210224)

Home Office Immigration and Nationality Department

Lunar House

40 Wellesley Road

Croydon CR9 2BY

Tel: + 44 20 8686 0688

Royal College of Nursing

Immigration Service

20 Cavendish Square

London W1M 6AB

Tel: + 44 20 7 629 3870

Will my US qualifications be accepted?

The quick answer is Yes! UK institutions are accustomed to reviewing US applications and will make offers to candidates based on those qualifications. For example, an undergraduate candidate may be made a conditional offer of a place if the student gains a combined SAT score in the region of 1200 (600 Verbal and 600 Math) and two or three AP tests with a minimum score of 3 (4 or 5 for more competitive universities).

There is no standard entry requirement for UK institutions as each will set their own. Detailed questions on admission requirements vary and can be answered by the Admissions Officer, who will be familiar with US qualifications, at your chosen institution(s). Students are not expected to hold A-levels (or "Highers" in Scotland).

Depending on the subject, there is the possibility of following an Access Course (sometimes called Foundation or Bridging Course) at a British university to reach the required level of knowledge before beginning a degree program