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» WHY STUDY IN UK?

You will get the skills you'll need for the global market

In an increasingly globalised world economy, people need special skills and qualities to succeed. Employers want employees who can think effectively, creatively and for themselves. This is an essential part of the UK learning experience. Institutions use a variety of teaching and assessment methods to encourage independence, as well as mastery of the subject.

At degree and postgraduate level in particular, students are encouraged to read widely, to question and analyse what they have read, and to discuss openly their own ideas in seminars and tutorials. Career based courses are designed to equip you for specific roles in the modern world of work.

English language skills will be important for your future career prospects. English is accepted as being the language of business, science, IT and the Internet around the whole world. Learning English in the UK allows you to immerse yourself in the language, to live and think in English.

Whatever your educational needs, the UK can meet them

There are more than three thousand educational institutions that welcome international students in the UK. You can choose from a variety of routes through the education and training system, combining different types of course according to your needs and abilities. Many courses can also be taken through distance learning in your home country.

The sheer variety of specialisms means you will be able to find a course that suits your real interests, your ambitions and passions. For example, in the UK, you could specialise in anything from computer games programming, ocean engineering, music technology, meteorology or underwater photography to multimedia design, anthropology, women's studies, hotel management or dance.

It has an exciting, fun culture

The UK is a cosmopolitan place to live. Many thousands of families from around the world have made the UK their home, creating a richly diverse, open-minded, multicultural society. There are also more than a quarter of a million international students in the UK at any one time.

UK people like to get together and enjoy themselves. Theatres, concerts and art galleries can be found in all large towns and cities; big sports events take place every weekend; pubs and restaurants are everywhere.

It's an ideal base for your travels

When you come to the UK, you get four countries in one: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each has its own distinctive history, landscape and modern culture. And, because they're all within easy reach of one another, they're easy to explore. The national air, rail, coach and bus networks will get you almost anywhere in the UK - so you won't need a car, as you might in some countries. Discounts or special rates are generally available for students on most forms of transport.

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 means that many institutions offer work placements and periods of study there.

It's an affordable option

UK degrees can take only three years and postgraduate Master's courses only one year - compared with four years and two years in most other countries. This means you will save a great deal on both tuition fees and living costs - and you will be able to start working and earning money sooner. UK degree courses are shorter because they are more intensive, and therefore more efficient in terms of your time and money.

Health care is often free for international students. You are likely to be able to take advantage of National Health Service (NHS) treatment, as well as reduced-cost medicines, dental treatment and eye tests. Find out whether you are entitled to NHS care in the Advice section of the website.

Thousands of scholarships and bursaries are offered by UK institutions just for international students, while more than twenty-one thousand international students receive scholarship funding from the UK Government every year. You can also get more information about these from the scholarships page.

Thanks to changes in work regulations, international students in the UK can now work up to twenty hours a week when studying and full time during vacations.

You'll get a warm welcome

The UK has been welcoming international students for generations. We have long experience of looking after your needs, and will give you special support from the moment you apply and throughout your time in the UK.

For example, your local British Council office will give you advice on choosing courses and help you with your application. The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) makes applying to a number of institutions at the same time straightforward. You can also apply via the Internet if you'd prefer.

Many institutions arrange for you to be collected from the airport and offer guaranteed accommodation for your first year. They will provide a dedicated international office, international student societies, planned social activities, academic support, counsellors and advisers. The system works: the UK has one of the lowest 'drop-out' rates (the number of students who leave before the end of their course) in the world.

UK academic and professional qualifications have won international acclaim and are highly valued all over the world. The fact that over 800,000 international students are currently enjoying the benefits of a UK education is a testimony to the effectiveness of the UK's education system.