Index
There are no national level tests that students take to gain admission to higher education. Admissions therefore are based primarily on past performance.
The academic year is divided into three terms, namely Autumn (October - December), Spring (January - March), and Summer (April - July). Fresh admissions are processed mainly for the autumn term.
UNIVERSITIES REPRESENTED BY CAREER TRACK
UNIVERSITY OF:
* BRISTOL
* EAST ANGLIA
* HUDDERSFIELD
* KENT
* SHEFFIELD
MERA DEGREE INGLISTHANI?
(Article appeared in Education Times - Times of India on 6.4.98)
This is a simple one; what do Rajiv Gandhi, Jayant Narlikar, Dom Moraes, Ved Mehta, Russi Mody and MK Gandhi have in common?
All of them studied in England. That country that gave us the two oldest and hallowed universities of the world: Cambridge and Oxford (established in 12th century). And later universities like London School of Economics, London School of Business, University of London, Sheffield, Birmingham, York, Warwick and Manchester were established. These of course are just some of the excellent universities in UK and there are lots more. UK is a place where several illustrious citizens of the world have taken their education. Including the supposedly most powerful man in the world - Bill Clinton!
For the last three decades America has been the most preferred destination in India. In India till the sixties England was probably the most prestigious destination for studies abroad. And in recent years interest in British education has been escalating. So much so that there are over twenty percent more Indian students going to Britain every year!
Save Your Time - Duration Of Degrees:
One of the main advantages of studying in UK is that the duration of degrees is shorter than in the USA and sometimes even shorter than in India. Thus you can save the extra time and money to get valuable work experience or even goof off! A UK Bachelor's degree in almost any subject including engineering is only for three years. And a Masters in most of the subjects can be done in one year.
Kunal Mukherjee, a graduate of Warwick University comments that "getting a BEngg degree (equivalent to a BE) in three years right after class 12th was a steal". Keshav who is currently doing a four year MEngg degree in University of York is equally happy for in these four years he will get a degree that is almost equal to a Masters in Engineering, with substantial exposure in management studies and six months of industrial training.
A few years ago the British universities were very conservative they did not accept a student directly after class 12th. The students were required to do their `A Levels'. "But with increasing familiarity with the Indian education system many of the universities are now willing to accept students with 75% marks and above directly into their undergraduate degree" remarks Dr Medury CMD of Educational Consultants India (a public sector organisation which is currently handling a consortium of British Universities In India).
The education system in UK is a very focused and intensive. Thus the unis are looking for students who are equally committed. And if you are still groping in the dark with your antenna and totally undecided about what you want to do in life then UK may not be the place for you.
In UK a student specializing in one subject will mainly take courses in the same subject area. Hence a student is able to complete the course faster. But these days some flexibility has been brought into the system and students can take subjects 2 units of their choice out of 8 units'. Comments a mom whose daughter is currently doing Economics and also a few papers in Spanish at Queen Mary & Westfield College, University of London.
You sure will get enough opportunity to exercise your grey cells for all unis are looking for students capable of independent study, and analytical thinking (So no notes that you can mug at the last minute!) remarks Ms Elizabeth Grindord, International Admissions Officer at University of Sheffield on her recent tour to India.
The tutorial system (where one Professor is attached to a group of students) in UK ensures that students get enough personal attention. "The moment I got a gamma minus (which is as close to the floor as you can get) - the only gamma minus I ever got at Oxford - in one subject my tutor was hauling me up" reminisces a student who did both his Bachelor's and Ph.D at Oxford. Mrs Dave agrees, she says "the Professors take so much time to explain a problem to my son that he is a straight `A' student in his university".
If the Indian Student community is divided in two unequal halves with the larger segment heading straight for America then why are so many people going against the tide? "The British culture is a lot more structured and the people there have values similar to ours. I would rather my children get good solid education in their undergraduate years and then build their future." responds Yasmin Mody thoughtfully.
An aspiring student Kanan Munshi exclaims "UK has the best possible advertising agencies and if I got to study there I will get that additional exposure". Another aspiring student Salman is happy 'coz he will get admission just on the basis of academics and will not have to take the SAT exam.
The international exposure, the conservative culture and the shortness of degrees worked for the Dave family as well. Mrs Dave exclaims "I have both my son and daughter studying in UK. My son has also been selected for a year's exchange programme in the US. This exposure of two countries will really help him in the future. Even though for the summer vacation he had got a job in Ford as a trainee we prefer that he go to another country for the exposure".
Unfortunately countries all over the world (including India, America, Australia) charge the international students a fee much higher than what they charge the local students. The cost of education abroad is about the same in almost all countries.
In America the total bill could average ten lakhs a year depending on which uni you choose. And since the duration is for 4 years (UG) and 2 years (PG) the total cost reaches about forty to twenty lakhs a year. In UK average cost is nine lakhs a year and since the degree is shorter the average cost can be twenty seven lakhs (UG) to nine lakhs (PG).
Thus if you are a self financing student, to the US or UK, then you are looking at a realistic budget of nine to ten lakhs a year. But if you get partial financial assistance (that is all you will get for UG studies and absolutely none for MBA) then the budget may come to six or seven lakhs per year.
The schols that we all dream of are more forthcoming for doctoral studies than Bachelor's or Master's studies. The British unis will give you aid only if you are a student par excellence student. So if you are only a schol student with great marks then US is more likely to be your to be your best bet. However if you are a self financing student then you sure should give the UK a second look.
So put on your thinking cap, practice a superior smirk and send your application to some of the best unis in Britain!
A LIST OF UNIVERSITIES REPRESENTED BY CAREER TRACK
UNIVERSITY OF:
* BRISTOL
* EAST ANGLIA
* HUDDERSFIELD
* KENT
* SHEFFIELD
UCAS COMMON APPLICATION FORM FOR UK UNIVERSITIES (UCAS)
(UNDERGRADUATE)
The Universities and College Admissions Service (UCAS) in Cheltenham UK offer you the advantage of filling one common application form for undergraduate admissions to all Universities in United Kingdom. So lets take a closer look at how this form can be completed to the best of your advantage.
Role of UCAS Form In Undergraduate Admissions: Before beginning the journey of how best to complete the UCAS form, let us get our fundas right about this cheez called UCAS. The UCAS acts as the central processing unit for all undergraduate admissions in UK. Thus the UCAS form is the one & only application form that you are required to submit if you are headed towards the land of Spice Girls. By law (British of course) you are entitled to fill only one UCAS form, through which you can apply for six courses/universities. For the price of fourteen pounds (that you enclose with your application) UCAS will send your application to all the universities of your choice. Once you mail the UCAS form to Cheltenham UK, all your subsequent correspondence is both with the Universities of your choice and UCAS. But in all correspondence it is important that you must quote your UCAS number that is allotted to you by UCAS
Common Mistakes In Filling The UCAS Form: Considering the importance of the UCAS form lets take a microscopic look at the common errors students make in completing the application form.
1. Hard as it may be to believe students often make spelling mistakes in their application. Typos or spelling errors indicate to the admission committee that you have careless work habits. Or worse, as an international student, it may indicate that your command of English language is limited.
2. Students while filling the application form make mistakes and then scratch out the information or do some overwriting. This may indicate to the committee that you are incapable of planning and executing your work to perfection.
3. The incorrectly filled in course code or university code deters the smooth and fast processing of your application. Since the competitive courses tend to fill out fast - the delay may also mean that you may not get admission in the university/course of your choice.
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