Please find below the most commonly asked questions that UUK receives relating to going to a UK university together with their answers.
Why should I go to university? What are the benefits?
Higher education provides many benefits for the individual, including enhanced career prospects and often increased earning potential, as well as wider cultural, social and economic benefits. The Aimhigher website gives an overview of some of these benefits.
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What are the different qualifications awarded by a university?
The range of courses and qualifications on offer at UK universities is very broad. There are three main levels: Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral. Foundation degrees are also being introduced. The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) provides a guide to help explain the different levels of qualifications under its frameworks for higher education frameworks.
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Where can I find a list of undergraduate/postgraduate courses in the UK?
Individual universities publish their own prospectuses. For undergraduate study - the Universities & Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) publishes an annual comprehensive guide to undergraduate courses in the UK, available both in hard copy and on their website. The Education UK website also contains a complete UK undergraduate course database. ECCTIS, a private consortium, manages the UK's national courses database, owned by the Department for Children, Schools and Families. For postgraduate study - Graduate Prospects (the commercial subsidiary of the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (CSU)) publishes the Prospects postgraduate database (covering taught and research degrees) available on their website.
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How do I apply to study at university?
Applications for admission to full time
undergraduate courses are handled by the Universities & Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Currently, students can apply to up to five institutions and courses. These universities then decide whether to make an offer to the applicant, usually conditional on achieving specified grades and/or number of points in forthcoming examinations. If the offers made by universities are conditional, an applicant may accept two offers, of which one is their firm (or first) choice. The other, usually with one with lower conditions attached, is their insurance choice. Applicants who receive no offers or who choose to decline all the offers they receive can elect to enter the UCAS EXTRA system from late February. Applicants who apply after 30 June, or who hold no offers after that date can enter the clearing system. This operates once examination results are known. Similarly candidates whose results do not match their offers can enter the clearing process.
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Clearing matches appropriately qualified students with those universities and colleges who have places available.
More extensive information on how and when to apply for undergraduate courses and clearing is available on the Universities & Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) website.
If you are interested in a part-time course you will need to contact universities individually to find out how to apply.
Reforms to the undergraduate application process are underway and being implemented by the Admissions Delivery Partnership.
The Graduate Prospects website contains information about applying for postgraduate courses.
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What qualifications do I need to get into university or onto a particular course?
The requirements vary depending on the course. Most UK students will need 2 or more A levels or equivalent. The Universities & Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) provides entry profiles for the different courses, giving information about the types and grade of qualification that may be accepted.
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How can an international student find out if their qualifications are recognised and valid to study in the UK or how their qualification compares to its English equivalent?
You can check the equivalence of your country's qualifications with those in the UK by contacting The National Academic Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC), which runs an information service for international students.
In addition, the UK Council for International Student Affairs and the British Council all provide information for international students.
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Where are the universities located?
The Universities & Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) provides a map of all UK universities and colleges that provide higher education. The website also includes a breakdown of universities by region.
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Where can EU students find out more about studying in the UK?
The UCAS website has a section for non-UK students and the British Council can also provide information.
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Where can international students find out more about studying in the UK?
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) provides information and advice to international students. The British Council also provides guidance for international students.
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We hope you have found these questions and answers useful. Please note that if you do not find the answer to your question within this section or the other FAQs please contact us using our enquiry form.