United Kingdom

Basic Information about United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is a country and sovereign state situated off the northwest coast of Europe.

The United Kingdom is a political union made up of four constituent countries: England, Scotland, Wales (Great Britain) and Northern Ireland. The capital city is London. The two official languages in Britain are English and Welsh, English being the most widely spoken. Scottish Gaelic is also spoken in some parts of Scotland. The United Kingdom has a highly industrialized economy and the seventh-largest gross domestic product in the world. It is the third most populous state in the European Union.

The Higher Education System

Undergraduate study

Degrees are the most popular undergraduate qualification in the UK. They are academic courses, usually studied over three years in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, or four years in Scotland (where the title master's degree may be awarded).

University International Foundation Year courses help to bridge any gaps between qualifications already held and the ones needed to begin a degree course at a UK university.

Postgraduate study

Pre-master's courses can last from one term to a complete academic year and cover academic study, cultural instruction and language training. Many courses will guarantee progression onto a master's course at a particular university.

Postgraduate certificate or diplomas (PG Cert/Dip) are one-year taught postgraduate courses that don't usually involve research. They're often accepted as professional qualifications in the relevant field, such as education or management, giving you a fantastic head start in your chosen career.

Taught master's (MA, MSc, LLM, MEd etc) courses generally last for one year and consist of two elements: you'll complete a number of modules and produce a dissertation from original research.

Research master's (MRes, MPhil) is a master's degree by research. You will devote the entire year to research. Your final mark will be determined by the quality of your dissertation.

Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a specialist business taught master's course. It's the best-known and most popular postgraduate qualification.

Doctorate (PhD) will take you three to four years to complete, during which you'll be working on a single research project.

New Route PhDs include taught elements as well as a research project and give you the opportunity to undertake interdisciplinary study.

Scholarships

There is a wide range of scholarships available for international students to study in the UK, ranging from school education to PhD study. Key scholarships and sources of information follow.

British Chevening Scholarships administered by the British Council for students studying for a Postgraduate Diploma or a Master’s degree. Further information can be obtained from the British Council.

Other scholarships can be found at the Education UK page at www.educationuk.org.sg