Why choose to study in the UK
 

Education abroad is a lifetime experience and an investment. So why not choose the best?

A WORLD CLASS EDUCATION:

An international degree, by itself, is the first step to a greater tomorrow. UK educational system guarantees the international student community a lifetime opportunity, with its world-class education and employment opportunities.

UK universities provide a creative and challenging environment in which you develop your potential, excel in the area of study and ultimately have an edge over others!

RICH, DIVERSE AND MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY:

Although the UK is relatively small in size, it offers a wealth of attractions. London is one of the most exciting and cosmopolitan cities in the UK and if you look beyond London, you will find a nation that is now one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world.

UK cities and towns display a rich and varied historical and cultural heritage. For seaside splendor, you could head south to Brighton or the palm-fringed English Riviera, or west to the surfing culture of North Cornwall or Wales. Great civic centers, such as Belfast, Cardiff, Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle offer some of the best nightclub scenes in Europe. Further north, Edinburgh beckons, with its blend of old-world architecture and up-to-the-minute arts, while Glasgow and Aberdeen are one of the happening cities in the country.

It's easy to see the rest of Europe. The Channel Tunnel, cheap flights and ferries mean that you're never too far away from the other great capital cities of the European mainland. The closeness of the rest of Europe stands evidence for the many institutions that offer work placements and periods of study there.

IT IS AN AFFORDABLE OPTION.

The duration of postgraduate masters program at UK is only a year when compared to two years in most other countries like United States and Australia. Hence you can save a great deal on both tuition fees and cost of living and start working and earning money sooner. Healthcare under the National Health Services (NHS) provides free and subsidized treatment for students who have enrolled on a course lasting for 6 months or more. A wide range of scholarships are also available.

We, at Education Matters, bring an opportunity for all students who aspire to be a degree ahead and aim to take a step in the right direction. We guide you to the newer vistas of further and higher education in the UK, by means of our free of cost services that includes; Impartial counseling, Assistance in student visa application and documentation, Diagnostic profiling to enable the student to make the best choice, Pre-departure briefings etc.
 
The entry requirements TOP

The entry requirements vary according to the university and the level of the course. The following criterion helps identify whether one is eligible to pursue a degree in the UK

Undergraduate Degrees:

Most of the universities in the UK will expect students to have a first or an upper second class (or a minimum of 3 credit passes in their O and A levels) for their high school examinations. However there are some universities which will consider lower grades, provided one has done a related professional course and/or has some work experience. Also there are certain options for those students who do not have the satisfying grades to pursue a degree like :

A one year Foundation course
A two year Higher National Diploma course

Completion of the above programmes, may lead to direct entry into the second or final year of the relevant course.

Postgraduate Degrees:

Most of the universities in the UK expect students to have a first or an upper second class for the bachelor degree (2.1 or 2.2 grade average). However there are some universities which will consider lower grades, provided one has done a related professional courses and/or has work experience. Also there are certain options for students who do not have the requires grades. The students will be given entry to the final year of undergraduate degree or may have to do a pre masters course. Successful completion of these will lead the students to enter into the postgraduate degree course. An appropriate English language score is also required.

MBA:

There are two different types of MBA's available and the entry requirements vary accordingly.

MBA for fresh graduates

Here the candidates do not require practical work experience to be eligible for the programme.

MBA for people with experience

Most of the universities in the UK will expect students to have a first or an upper second class bachelor degree. Some universities will consider lower grades, provided the candidate has done some related professional course. The students must also have at least two years, full time work experience in a related field. An appropriate English language score is also required.

A few universities offer AMBA(Association of MBA's) /EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System) accredited MBAs which require a first or an upper second class bachelor degree and managerial work experience of at least 3 years or more. Candidates applying for this MBA must be 25 years of age or above. An appropriate English language score is also required.

English Language requirements:

There are two English language tests available for students who wish to study in the UK, irrespective of the level of course. They are

IELTS - International English Language Testing System
TOEFL - Test Of English as a Foreign Language.

Most of the UK universities prefer students to take up an IELTS examination rather than TOEFL.

IELTS

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a usual entrance requirement by British, Australian, New Zealand and Canadian universities and for secondary, vocational and training programs. Now increasingly American universities have started accepting valid scores in this exam.

IELTS is designed to assess the language ability of candidates who need to study or work where English is used as the language of communication. Tests are administered at accredited Test Centers throughout the world - there are currently more than 300 Centers, in over 120 countries.

ACADEMIC AND GENERAL TRAINING CANDIDATES

Candidates must select either the Academic or General Training Reading and Writing Modules depending on the stated requirement of their sponsor or receiving institution. The Academic Reading and Writing Modules assess whether a candidate is ready to study or train in the medium of English at an Undergraduate or Postgraduate level. The emphasis of General Training is on basic survival skills in a broad social and educational context. It is suitable for candidates who are going to English speaking countries to complete their Secondary Education, to undertake work experience or training programs not at degree level, or for immigration purposes

TEST FORMAT

All candidates are tested in listening, reading, writing and speaking. All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking Modules. There is a choice of Reading and Writing Modules. The first three modules- Listening, Reading and Writing must be completed in one day. The Speaking may be taken, at the discretion of the test center, on the same day or up to two days later. Candidates in some test centers are required to take additional pretest sections of up to 20 minutes. Performance on these pretests does not affect a candidate's results in any way but pre-testing is an essential part of IELTS question paper production.

IELTS Band Scales

This exam tests your ability to use English. Score in each of the subtests and an overall (average) score is recorded as levels of ability, called Bands. Highest : 9 bands for each of the four language macro skills - Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The test scores are valid for two years, i.e., most universities accept scores up to two years old.

The IELTS score for traditional universities is of 6.5 or higher.

For further information log on to www.ielts.org

TOEFL

'Test of English a Foreign Language' is a Standardized test that evaluates the English Proficiency of people whose native language is not English. Nearly 2400 education institutes in the United States and Canada require TOEFL® scores from each applicant. The test is also used by institutions in other countries where English is the language of Instruction. The TOEFL tests the ability to understand North American English

The TOEFL test is developed and administered by the US-based "Educational Testing Service" (ETS). This implies that ETS sets the questions, conducts the test, and sends each examinee the score report. For the conduct of the test, ETS has appointed Testing Agencies in various countries, which act as franchisee for ETS. In India, this agency is the "Prometric Testing Services Pvt Ltd" which administers the test at 9 centres in the country: Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, New Delhi, and Trivandrum.

Anyone and everyone are eligible for taking the TOEFL test - there are no restrictions based on age or qualifications. The test scores are valid for two years, i.e., most universities accept scores up to two years old.

The required TOEFL scores for UK universities are: 600(Paper based)/ 250(Computer based)/ 83(Internet based)

For further information please log on to www.ets.org

TOEFL and IELTS comparison
TOEFL Paper TOEFL CBT TOEFL IBT IELTS
0 - 310 0 - 310 0 - 310 0 - 310
310 - 343 310 - 343 310 - 343 310 - 343
347 - 393 347 - 393 347 - 393 347 - 393
397 - 433 397 - 433 397 - 433 397 - 433
437 - 473 437 - 473 437 - 473 437 - 473
477 - 510 477 - 510 477 - 510 477 - 510
513 - 547 513 - 547 513 - 547 513 - 547
550 - 587 550 - 587 550 - 587 550 - 587
590 - 637 590 - 637 590 - 637 590 - 637
640 - 677 640 - 677 640 - 677 640 - 677
Top Score Top Score Top Score Top Score
The application process TOP

Education Matters will help to identify the course and university of your interest. Once this is done, the candidate has to fill in the university application form and enclose the following documents along with it.
* Educational Certificates: X Standard, XII/Diploma mark sheets, Degree Certificates/ Provisional Certificates and mark lists.
* IELTS or TOEFL: Many universities expect students to have an IELTS score of 6 or higher or a TOEFL score of 213 and above (Computer Based)/ 79 and above (Internet Based)
* Personal Statement or Statement Of Purpose (SOP)
* Your SOP should contain:
 
- The reason you wish to study the subject you have applied for.
- Why you feel that you are a suitable candidate for entry into the programme?
- Your qualifications, position of responsibility held at school, college, relevant work experience etc. Highlights on any merit awards/ranks you have achieved on your education.
- The professional and personal challenges you have faced in your life and how you have dealt with them successfully.
- The reason you chose the university to study.
- The reason you wish to continue your education in the UK and not in your own country.
- Your plans on completion of the course.
* Reference Letters: Two references preferably academic and / or from work place, where available.
* CV/Resume/Bio-data
* A Synopsis of the topic you are interested in pursuing your research. (For PhD/Research Students only)
* Portfolio of your work (For the Art and Design courses only)
   
The application process TOP

Education Matters would send your applications to the respective universities. The universities will take about 2 to 5 weeks to take a decision on an application.

The candidate will receive one of the following responses from the universities he /she has applied to.
a. Unconditional offer- You have been confirmed a place for the course.
b. Conditional Offer - You will be given a seat for the course as soon as you provide the university with the proof that you have met the conditions mentioned in this offer e.g. IELTS, Degree Certificate, and Deposit (Most universities request for a deposit from the student, to guarantee a place on the programme. This can vary from GBP 1000 to 50 percent of the tuition fee.) etc.
c. Rejection-Your application has not been successful in gaining admission.
Once the student satisfies all the conditions, he /she will be issued a visa letter with which one
British Education System
An overview of the British education TOP

In an increasingly globalized world economy, people need special skills and qualities to succeed. Employers want employees who can think effectively, creatively and independently. This is the essence of the UK learning experience.

UK Scientists and Institutions have won numerous Nobel Prizes for their scientific achievements. Many inventions and discoveries that have greatly changed our lives were born in the UK. These include: Dr Francis Crick (DNA), Tim Berners-Lee (World Wide Web), Charles Babbage (computer), Sir Isaac Newton (Gravity), Frank Whittle (Jet engine), Alexander Graham Bell (Telephone), John Baird (Television), Robert Watson Watt (RADAR), Macleod (Insulin), Lister (Antiseptic) and John Mallard (MRI Scan). The largest passenger airline, the A380 and the first supersonic car, the Thrust SSC were developed in the UK.

The UK creative brains- Artists, Fashion Designers, Software Engineers, Lawyers and Entrepreneurs are regarded among the best in the world. You can choose from a wide range of courses that suits your area of interest, ability and enjoy the study process along with excellent academic spirit.
UK Qualifications TOP

UK qualifications are globally recognized and revered. A UK qualification will be a solid foundation for building your future, boosting your career and improving your prospects for a higher salary. UK universities provide a creative and challenging environment in which you develop your potential, excel in the area of study and ultimately have an edge over others.

The UK way of learning is almost 800 years old, and has inspired education systems all over the world. Some of the international alumni from UK institutions include Bill Clinton, Stephen Hawking, Hargobind Singh Khorana, J.C.Bose, Jawaharlal Nehru, Vikram Seth, Imran Khan etc.
Types of British universities TOP

TRADITIONAL OR ANCIENT UNIVERSITIES

These universities were established before the 19th century and have wide experience in the field of teaching and research.

Most of the academic staff in a traditional university take on both, the teaching and research assignments and have a PhD to their credit, when compared to the staff at newer universities.

This often, although not always, means that the traditional universities have the higher grades in the UK government's Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).

Admission requirements are often stricter in traditional universities and tuition fees are 20-30% higher here than newer universities.

Cambridge University, Oxford University, St Andrews University, University of Aberdeen, University of Dublin and University of Glasgow are traditional universities.

RED BRICK UNIVERSITIES

Originally referred to the as the "civic" British universities which were founded in the industrial cities of England in the Victorian era and which achieved university status before World War II.

Loughborough University, University of Bangor, University of Birmingham, University of Bristol, University of Brunel, University of Essex, University of Manchester, University of Leicester, University of Leeds, University of Liverpool, University of Sheffield are examples of these.

They concentrate on imparting to their students "real-world" skills, often linked to engineering and emphasize on practical knowledge over the merely academic sort.

This focus on practical components also distinguishes the "Red Brick" universities from the ancient English universities.

NEW OR MODERN UNIVERSITIES

The term has more recently been used to describe any of the former polytechnics, central institutions or colleges of higher education that were given the status of universities by John Major's government in 1992. Colleges that have been granted university status since then are also called post-1992 universities or Modern Universities.

They primarily focus on teaching, but most of them have been developing their research wing over the past 15 years. The staff at these universities have relevant work experience and they concentrate more on vocational training and development of professional skills.

A number of the new universities have two intakes a year (February/September), when compared to the traditional or the red brick universities who often only have one. (September). Unlike most traditional universities, their admissions are not as strict and are relatively less expensive.

Kingston University, Liverpool Hope University, Napier University, Nottingham Trent University, Robert Gordon University, Sheffield Hallam University, Staffordshire University and University of Huddersfield are examples of new universities.
Teaching methodologies in the UK TOP

In the UK, students are encouraged to read widely and the instructors will not always provide you with answers, instead they will show you ways to find them out yourself.

Lecturers serve to guide the students through the course materials by explaining the main points of a topic and introduce new topics for study or debate. You are taught to think about the subject matter and develop your own ideas and opinions and discuss them openly in seminars and tutorials, where the students meet the professors individually to discuss his/her concerns about the topic that they have undertaken and thus seek individual guidance.

This in turn stimulates new ideas and new directions for discussions. Students are given practical work, which may be done individually or in groups .Besides this work place training offered by select universities, provide them with the industrial exposure they require.
The British grading and ranking systems TOP

UK system is subjected to strict quality control exercises carried out by government appointed independent bodies.

This ensures that there are no poor quality institutions and so no matter where you study, you will receive a first class education.

The quality control exercises cover both the teaching standards and the quality of the research being done at postgraduate level. These exercises are carried out at a Departmental level rather than at an Institutional level. Therefore, there is no "official" government ranking for universities in the UK.

The Quality Assessment Exercise (QAE) takes place every four years and every department at every university in the country is subjected to it.

At postgraduate level, the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) checks the level of research being done in every department. Departments are rated from 1 to 5*, 5* being the highest rating. This is the most reliable way to choose an institution to undertake research. In the Teaching Quality Assessment (TQA), departments are rated out of a maximum score of 24, 24/24 being the best possible score. The ratings indicate the quality of teaching, the standard of facilities and the quality of the courses being taught by the department. This is the most reliable way for a student to choose a taught course.

Students should be aware that there is no official government league table of universities in the UK. The only official government ratings are the "Research Ratings" and the "Teaching Assessment Ratings".

General League Tables:

The well-known newspapers such as 'The Guardian' and 'The Sunday Times' in the United Kingdom prepares these. They take into account, factors such as research, teaching, employment, student services etc. These are usually based on feedback from small samples of alumni and employers and hence should not be given too much consideration.
Professional bodies in the UK TOP

The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) has compiled a register of genuine Education and Training providers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is very important that a potential international student checks whether the institutes he/she wants to attend is in the register before making an application for visa, as students will get their visas only for those educational establishments that are in the register.

Professional accreditation:

The quality of an academic department can be noted by seeing if it has received accreditation by a professional body. This is obtained when a panel of examiners visits the department from the professional body that has closely scrutinized the department to see if they can give the departments and the courses accreditation.
Living in the UK
About the UK TOP

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland is an island country in the northwest of Europe. It is made up of three countries and a province- England, Scotland, Wales and the province of Northern Ireland. The south of UK is mostly low-lying land, with hills and agricultural lands. The north of England, Wales and Scotland are mostly moorlands and mountains.

The weather in the UK is very unpredictable and one would be lucky enough to see rain, snow, thunder and lightning, hail and warm sunshine-all in one day. At times, the temperature might go below zero degrees in the depths of winter but never much above 25 degree celsius in summer. Most often it is between 10 and 20 degrees celsius. The western regions receive better rainfall and have a milder climate than the east. Similarly, the northern areas are much cooler than the southern regions; hence winters in Scotland can be colder than the rest of England by a few degrees.

Three quarters of the land in Britain is used for farming. Nine out of ten people live in towns and cities.

Though Britain has joined the European Union, their currency is the Pound Sterling.

ENGLAND

England is the largest country of the UK with around 50 million people. London, the capital of England is considered as one of the best cities to locate a business. It is one of the world's foremost Financial, Commercial and Industrial centers and has the highest per capita GDP of any European Union region .London is also the HQ for 108 out of the world's top 500 companies.

Birmingham is the second largest, both in terms of the city itself and its urban conurbation. A number of other cities, mainly in central and northern England are of substantial size and influence. These include: Bradford, Bristol, Coventry, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield.

England is a leader in the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors and in key technical industries, particularly aerospace, the arms industry and the manufacturing side of the software industry.

SCOTLAND

Scotland is much smaller than England with vast open spaces. It has a population of about 5 million. Scotland's economy is driven by global enterprises including oil and gas, microelectronics and biotechnology as well as fishing and forestry. Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is the 2nd largest city in Scotland, the biggest being Glasgow. The other major cities are Aberdeen and Dundee. The major international airports in the region are Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

In recent years, UK has taken steps to devolve powers to Scotland. This led to the formation of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh in 1999.

WALES

Wales is home to 3 million people, with mountains, lakes and coastlines to characterize its geography. Cardiff- the capital, Swansea and Newport are the 3 main cities of Wales. Key growth industries in Wales include electronics, auto components, food processing, health care, financial and professional services. The major airport in this region is the Cardiff international airport

In a step to devolve powers to Wales, the National Assembly of Wales was formed in Cardiff in 1999

NORTHERN IRELAND

About 1.7 million people live in Ireland. A province with a troubled past but a bright and prosperous future, Northern Ireland is relatively small with only 5,500 square miles. Most recently the economy has benefited from major investments by having large Multinational Corporations setting up high-tech industries. Belfast is the capital and the largest city. Northern Ireland is famous for its tourism and business travellers. Here people speak Irish Gaelic. The major airport in this region is at Belfast.
Arriving in the UK TOP

Often, students are confused about the steps they should take once they reach the UK.
To enter an unknown place, all by yourself, is something that worries everyone.

You should have the following documents ready when you arrive at the port of entry in order to pass through immigration control. Please remember not to pack them but keep them on your person:
* A valid passport endorsed with the necessary entry clearance or visa.
* College letter of acceptance.
* Evidence of sufficient funds to cover your fees and living costs for the academic year.
* Any health certificates required.

If the immigration officer refuses your entry and you have NO entry clearance you may be removed immediately. If your entry is refused and you HAD obtained entry clearance, then you cannot be removed until after your appeal has been heard. If you have any problems of this nature contact the Immigration Advisory Service (IAS) immediately. You may also contact the International Office on 01492 542315/320 (college hours) or 07740 876656.

The Immigration Advisory Service is an independent charity which gives free and confidential advice to persons applying for entry clearance in the UK.

Immigration Advisory Service
County House, 190 Great Dover Street
London SE1 4YB
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7357 6917
24 hour Helpline +44 (0)20 7378 9191
Fax: +44 (0)20 7378 0665
Web site: www.vois.org.uk/ias

Immigration Advisory Service (IAS) offices:
Heathrow Airport +44 (0)20 8814 1115
Gatwick Airport +44 (0)20 7378 9191
Manchester Airport +44 (0)161 834 9942
24 Hour Helpline +44 (0)20 7378 9191
Detention Free-phone +44 (0)800 435 427 (free to call)

After immigration control, follow signs to Baggage Reclaim to collect your luggage (check the monitors for the carousel number for your flight)

To know how simple things are once you get to the UK, click on the link below:
http://www.ukcosa.org.uk/files/pdf/info_sheets/arriving.pdf
 
Accommodation TOP

University's accommodation
In most cases, accommodation is provided by the Institution for the duration of study. The accommodations office, the welfare office or the students union at most institutions provide a lot of help in finding accommodation. This university managed accommodation may be on campus or off campus and can be with in the

Halls of Residence
Students live in study bedrooms, either alone or shared with another student, usually sharing bathroom facilities. Meals are generally provided.

Self Catering Halls
Similar to halls of residence, but students can cook their own food, sharing kitchen facilities with other students.

Private accommodation
Privately owned accommodation such as hostels, lodges, bed sits or living as a paying guest with a family in the UK, have gained popularity.

The most popular private accommodation that students opt for are shared flats or houses, where a furnished flat can be shared with friends. They will share the rent, gas and electricity bills as well. This sort of accommodation can be cheaper than others.

Apart from these, the students can opt for temporary accommodation or acquire assistance from our alumina.
Traveling in the UK TOP

The Channel Tunnel, cheap flights and ferries mean that you're never too far away from the other great capital cities of other European countries.
Distance chart TOP

To view the UK distance chart, click on the link below.

http://www.geocities.com/Axiom43/ukdistance.html
UK Life style TOP

Change is inevitable and like any other lifestyle and trend, UK lifestyles change with time.

The link below will give you an idea of the current style in the UK

www.lifestyle.co.uk
Driving in the UK TOP

Driving is one of the easiest ways to get around the UK - but as in any country, there are a fair amount of local rules and practices to get used to.

To know more about the basis of UK cars and roads, the services and navigation, click on the link below.

http://www.interaction.worldcon.org.uk/driving.htm
Climate in the UK TOP

The weather in the UK is very unpredictable and one would be lucky enough to see rain, snow, thunder and lightning, hail and warm sunshine-all in one day.

At times, the temperature might go below zero degrees in the depths of winter and never much above 25 degree Celsius in summer.

Most often it is between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius.

The northern areas are much cooler than the southern regions; hence winters in Scotland can be colder than the rest of England by a few degrees.
Public holidays TOP

To get a detailed account on the public and bank holidays in the UK from the year 2008 - 2010, visit the link below.

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/bankholidays.html

Institutions we represent
UK universities and colleges

http://www.scit.wlv.ac.uk/ukinfo/alpha.html
SUCCESS STORIES  
Education Matters really is a fantastic consultancy for educational services to the UK. I applied to UK universities through them. I was extremely happy and satisfied with their service and their approach to help me get me admissions to the universities of my interest. They gave me the best advice and helped me with my visa processing as well.
Siva Prashanth