|
UK EDUCATION
SYSTEM
UK Education has long
attracted and welcomed high caliber students of different
nationalities and backgrounds, and today builds on hundreds of
years of experience in providing quality education to
international students. To ensure that the quality is
maintained, UK has implemented unrivalled quality assurance and
academic audit systems. Standards are high not just in
teaching but in other facilities as well : Libraries, computers,
research equipment and living accommodation.
UK higher and
further education provides value for money by offering shorter,
more intensive courses than are available in many other
countries, thereby reducing living expenses and time spent away
from home. Closely supervised study in an intellectually and
culturally stimulating environment, together with an emphasis on
student welfare and close contact between staff and students
also ensures that individual students get maximum support and,
as a result, pass rates are high and the drop-out rate for
international students is very low.
With more than 150
institutes of higher education to choose from, all equipped with
extensive facilities, UK is able to offer a broad spectrum of
subjects from the highly academic to the purely practical in
anything from architecture to zoology.
Information about
various Qualifications offered by UK Colleges and Universities:
Vocational Courses
These courses offer an opportunity to enter the university system slowly.
Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC), General
Vocational Qualifications (GNVQ), General Scottish Vocational
Qualifications (GSVQ) offer recognized courses in a range of
disciplines. Most students opt to take 1-2 years of, for
example, BTEC courses before being transferred to a degree
programme.
Higher National Diploma (HND)
It is awarded by Vocational and Technical Educational Councils.
They offer a 2-year course in a vocational subject like
scientific and technical business subjects. Great emphasis is
placed on work experience. It is often seen as the first step
towards a degree course as the credits can be transferred.
Sandwich Courses
These courses are where the coursework is accompanied by
practical work. A student could either complete 2 years of
college, then a year of commercial training before returning for
a final year in college. Or, he/she could do a 4-year
course with 3-6 months’ training interspersed each year. The
main advantage is that the student gets real experience while in
the learning mode. Most universities offer this type of
education.
First Degree Courses (Bachelor's degree)
These are normally of three or four years' duration and are
largely taught courses, sometimes including the preparation of a
short written thesis.
Postgraduate study
This may take the form of an independent piece of research under
supervision or a taught course, and leads to a variety of
degrees and awards. The taught courses normally last for one or
sometimes two years. Completion of a doctorate normally takes a
minimum of three years. Many post-experience courses are also
available, either leading to a qualification or providing a
refresher course for graduates wishing to update or extend their
knowledge. |
