214 best English universities in England UK

Higher education in the UK is popular among international students due to the quality of education and the value of the diploma received. Students can enroll in prestigious universities in the UK at any stage of higher education: bachelor's, master's or postgraduate programs, as well as obtain a doctorate.

Despite the rather high cost of tuition, every year England accepts more than 500,000 international students from all over the world, second only to the USA. To reduce the cost of studying, talented students can receive a scholarship for academic achievements or high results in the sports and social life of a British university.

UK universities are among the best in the world. Oxford and Cambridge trace their history back to the 11th-13th centuries and still remain at the forefront of modernity thanks to the latest techniques and technologies. Young universities adopt a wealth of experience and therefore also rise to the highest ranks of the rankings.

18 universities are included in the Top 100 educational institutions of the world. Such a reputation makes graduates of British universities extremely popular in the international labor market. To maintain high standards of education, UK universities are regularly evaluated by the independent agency The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).

• High-class infrastructure

British universities, first of all, impress with their outstanding architecture. Despite the external antiquity, inside many of them the students can find modern libraries, research laboratories. Oxford, for example, founded the world's first university museum, the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology, and the University of Manchester has its own observatory with several radio telescopes.

• Unique traditions

Universities in the UK honor long-standing traditions. So, at the beginning of the year, a freshman week is held at universities — Fresher's Week, within which various events and parties are organized on campus to initiate newcomers into students. There are also quite unique customs. For example, at St. Andrews University, each freshman is assigned to academic "parents" - students of 3-4 courses. During the Raisin Weekend in November, the student goes to "mom" for a tea party, then with "dad" to the bar. The fun ends with a kind of foam party.

• The value of the diploma

The international rankings of QS, The Times Higher Education (THE) and the Shanghai Ranking (ARWU) annually contribute up to 18 universities in the UK to the top 100 universities in the world. Largely due to this, the United Kingdom is the second most popular destination for student immigration after the United States, and a British diploma is a quality mark for an employer in any country.

• Satisfaction level

Students like to study at British universities. The first lines of the ranking, according to the National Survey of Students (NSS) 2018, are occupied by the University of St. Andrews — 94%, Buckingham University, the Conservatory of Dance and Drama, the London Institute of Banking and Finance — 91%.

The main feature of studying at universities in Britain is considered to be the creation of a special program of interaction between students and teaching staff, based on the symbiosis of the existing fundamental truths of the pillars of education and cutting-edge, innovative approaches of the XXI century, including with the participation of information technology. They teach students (bachelors, masters and doctors) according to the Bologna system.

Universities in the UK provide the opportunity for theoretical and practical preparation with the prospect of employment in companies in the last courses at the place of study. Student life is full of events – sports, cultural, tourist. On holidays, contests, concerts, creative evenings with famous people are held.

Undergraduate studies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland last for 3 years, with the exception of specialties in medicine and architecture. In Scotland, undergraduate students study for up to 4-5 years.

Most master's degree programs offer one-year study. However, there are also two-year courses, especially if the course includes conducting scientific research. Applications for Master's degree are submitted directly to universities. The foreign students are offered the MBA (Master of Business Administration) program, which is usually passed by company executives and senior managers. The studying lasts from two years and is based on the case study method. Work experience of at least two years is required for admission.

The doctoral degree is awarded after three years of scientific activity, and the training lasts 2-3 years.

In Britain, applications for bachelor's degree and preparatory programs to study English in UK are accepted by the UCAS system. Applicants for master's and doctoral studies also submit documents remotely, but using the websites of specific universities. The foreign students can participate in the competition for 5 programs in one or more universities.

The requirements are determined by each university separately. Almost always, universities independently evaluate the document of education on the basis of official translations, however, in some cases, a document on the compliance of a student's qualifications with British equivalents may be required. In the UK, such an assessment is handled by NARIC. The cost of the service is 50 USD.

The foreign applicants will have to complete one of the preparatory programs: A-Levels, IB, Foundation or International Year One. For one-year Foundation and International Year One, a certificate of full secondary education is required. The students can enter the two-year IB and A-Level after 9-10 years of school. The language requirements here are usually lower than in a bachelor's degree: IELTS 5.0-5.5.

An alternative to preparatory programs is to study for a year at a university in your native country. After that, it will be possible to enroll in the first year of bachelor's degree in Britain. Instead of a certificate, you will need to provide an extract of grades from the university.

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