Qualification Offered

Institutions in the UK offer a wide range of qualification types depending on the awarding bodies. Qualifications differ in the number of years and orientation, i.e. they can be academic or professional. All universities and many higher education colleges have legal power to develop their own courses and award their own degrees, as well as determine the conditions on which they are awarded. You can study at any of the following levels to earn the following degrees.

Undergraduate Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree with honours
• Graduate Certificate
• Graduate Diploma
• Bachelor's Degree without honours

Post - Graduate Qualifications:

• Postgraduate certificate
• postgraduate Diploma
• Integrated Master's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Master of Philosophy [M.Phil. ]
• Doctorate [ PhD or DPhil ]

When and how to apply

Under - Graduate Courses:

All applications to UK universities are made thorough Universities and Colleges Admission Service [UCAS], a centralised body for admissions and placements, a year before the start date of the course. After you get your acceptance from the UCAS, you can apply for 5 different courses in universities specified by the UCAS. You have the freedom to exercise your choice here. for example you can apply to 5 different universities for the same course or 5 different courses at same university. Indian students can apply any time between 1st September and 30th June in the year preceding the academic year you wish to take admission. For some courses, applications need to be submitted by as early as mid-October of the preceding year.

Post - Graduate Courses:

Unlike undergraduate programs, there is no centralized application system for master's degrees. This means that you will have to apply to each university separately. You can get admission forms from the respective university's website. Most post-graduate courses start in September. However, some UK universities may offer multiple start dates. Remember that the deadlines for applications are typically earlier for Indian students than for UK/EU/EEA [European Economic Area] Students.

Eligibility Criteria

The general criterion for applying to UK universities are:”:

Under-Graduate

The UK system has 13 years of pre-university academics as compared to 12 years in India. Therefore, you need to either perform exceptionally well in class XII exams or undergo a 1-year foundation course to become eligible. If you have 13 years of education you needn't take this course. However, if you don't wish to study for an additional year, you can appear for the Advanced Level examination, held twice a year

• Minimum required IELTS/PTE Academic/TOFEL score
• Transcript/mark sheets/other related documents
• Letter of recommendation [LOR]
• statement of purpose [SOP]

Post-Graduate

Most universities accept a 3-year graduate degree equivalent to the UK's bachelor's [ordinary] degree. However, some universities may require a qualification equivalent to the British bachelor's [Honours] degree, which requires 16 years of formal education. It would mean another year of education after graduation or a four-year degree course like B.E., B.Tech., etc.

• Minimum required IELTS/PTE Academic/TOFEL score
• Transcript/mark sheets/other related documents
• Letter of recommendation [LOR]
• statement of purpose [SOP]

For MBA [apart from other requirements]:

• GMAT scores are necessary for post-graduate management courses
• Work experience: All AMBA [the Association of MBA's] accredited universities demand a minimum of 3 years of work experience. However, a lot of universities also offer a fresher's MBA [no work experience required]

Visa Requirements

To study in the UK, you must have a Tier 4 student visa. To apply, you need to duly fill and submit your visa application along with the visa fees, evidence of a minimum level of funding, and an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed Tier 4 sponsor. An unconditional offer from your institution is evidenced by a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies [CAS]. The institution providing the CAS must be a licensed Tier 4 sponsor. It means that the university or college you wish to study must have HTS status [highly trusted sponsor] to act as your Tier 4 visa sponsor. In addition, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) may ask you to prove your English language skills through prescribed tests. For a comprehensive guide on supporting documents, you can always refer to the UKVI guidelines on their website. Finally, you will have to appear for an interview. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before the start of your course. You will usually get a decision on your visa within 2 weeks.