God Save the Queen – Studying in the United Kingdom

Everyone mentions British universities h in the world’s top prestigious ranks for many years. Oxford or Cambridge universities are probably known to everyone, aren’t they? The UK, however, can boast of a much larger number of perfectly organized universities, which each year attract thousands of candidates from around the world. If you also dream about studying in England, we invite you for further reading.

The System of Higher Education in England

There are both traditional universities, art and agricultural colleges in the United Kingdom, as well as university colleges and vocational schools, or higher education colleges. No one, therefore, will have a problem finding an appropriate university, suited to their individual needs and predispositions. If we add that the offer of English universities has more than 50 thousands of majors to choose from, no one will have any doubts about the purpose of studying in the United Kingdom.

The system of organization does not differ significantly from that which operates in Poland and other European Union countries. In short, it looks like as follows:

• Bachelor’s degree course lasts three years,
• Master’s degree course lasts another two years,
• The third-degree doctoral course lasts at least three years.

The only exception is Scottish colleges that have a separate organization system. Bachelor’s course lasts four years, and a Master’s degree course lasts only a year.

The courses can take place in three modes:

• full time – equivalent to full-time studies;
• part-time – equivalent to part-time studies;
• sandwich – not to be confused with lunchtime!

The studies in the sandwich mode are dedicated to people who want to combine traditional studies with the possibility of acquiring professional experience in the chosen field. The scheme is straightforward: after two years of study, students are directed to a one-year apprenticeship, and afterward, they return for a year to their university.

Recruitment’s Formal Issues and Requirements

Could anyone be surprised by the information that a secondary school-leaving exam is required to study in England? Entrance examinations are scarce at the moment, but they can still be organized at a few universities. Admission is usually determined by the grades obtained on the secondary school-leaving certificate, but many prestigious universities also conduct interviews.

It is worth mentioning that British universities independently shape their recruitment policy and requirements for candidates who can choose a maximum of 5 fields of study at a time. Applying via the internet, involves the payment for a registration fee, the amount of which is set by the university authorities.

Recruitment takes place in three rounds:

• applications to medical faculties and all offered by the Oxford and Cambridge Universities must be submitted by October 15th.
• until January 15th, applications for artistic and design majors should be submitted,
• until March 24th, applications for all other fields of study should be submitted.

Knowledge of Language, Certificates

If you possess an IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge certificate, then the way to British universities is open to you. If you do not, you will need to get them as soon as possible, as all colleges require candidates to be fluent in English.

Study and Accommodation Costs in England

The amount of tuition fees at British universities is relatively high. The year of studying costs here from 5,000 to even 10,000 pounds. Quite expensive? Candidates, however, can benefit from the extensive student loan system, which maximum amount can reach up to 21 thousand pounds. However, if you still think that studying at an English, Welsh or Northern Irish university ruins your budget, then you can go to Scotland where higher education is entirely free.

Accommodation belongs to a smaller expense when deciding to study in the UK. The cheapest option is the dorms – you should pay about 350 pounds a month for a room, and the standard is incomparably higher than we know from most places in the world. 

Free rooms in dorms are usually quickly filled up, so when you are late, you will have to use publicly available rental offers. The prices are very diverse and depend mainly on the city where you intend to take up a course. However, we must warn you against renting an apartment in the cheapest districts of large British cities. If you run slower than Usain Bolt, you had a better look for something more expensive, but located in more hospitable areas.

Catering costs in the United Kingdom vary. While studying in London, you should be prepared to spend at least £ 500 a month. Much less (about 300 pounds per month) you will pay for food in smaller cities, where you may also save on the cost of renting a flat.

Scholarships and Allowances

The principle is straightforward: the better university, the more extensive scholarship system it has. Students are provided with housing and social grants, student loans and scholarships for various achievements on both scientific and sports grounds. If you do not know whether you can afford to study in the UK, use the help of a special calculator, which is available at www.studentcalculator.org.uk