The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain, is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning Great Britain, the northeast part of Ireland, and many small islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK with a land border, sharing it with the Republic of Ireland. Apart from this land border, the UK is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel and the Irish Sea. The largest island, Great Britain, is linked to France by the Channel Tunnel.

The United Kingdom is a unitary state consisting of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It is governed by a parliamentary system with its seat of government in London, the capital, but with three devolved national administrations in Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh, the capitals of Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland respectively. The UK is a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state. The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are Crown Dependencies and not part of the UK, but form a federacy with it.

The UK has fourteen overseas territories, all remnants of the British Empire, which at its height in 1922 encompassed almost a quarter of the world's land surface, the largest empire in history. British influence can continue to be observed in the language, culture and legal systems of many of its former colonies. Queen Elizabeth II remains the head of the Commonwealth of Nations and head of state of each of the Commonwealth realms.

The UK is a developed country, with the fifth (nominal GDP) or sixth (PPP) largest economy in the world. It was the world's first industrialised country and the world's foremost power during the 19th and early 20th centuries, but the economic cost of two world wars and the decline of its empire in the latter half of the 20th century diminished its leading role in global affairs. The UK nevertheless remains a major power with strong economic, cultural, military and political influence worldwide. It is a nuclear power and has the second or third highest defense spending in the world. It is a Member State of the European Union, holds a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, and is a member of the G8, NATO, OECD, World Trade Organisation and the Commonwealth of Nations.

Education System
Education system of UK has long been an admired destination for Indian students. It is much alike to the education system in India. UK education implements unique quality assurance and academic audit system for ensuring its educational eminence.

The basic steps for applying are: -

1. Choosing your required programme
2. Identifying universities
3. Taking various required tests like IELTS, TOEFL, GMAT, etc.
4. Arranging and preparing essays and recommendation letters
5. Completing and sending application forms along with required documents

Incase of postgraduate programmes, applications can be made directly to the respective universities and colleges. There is no cut-off date to receive applications, but students are advised to apply in advance as some of the popular courses will get filled up fast.

Master's Degree:-
A Master's Degree is conferred after one or two years' study following the Bachelor's Degree. Study is in a specialized field. In some cases, the degree is awarded solely after a written examination but candidates must usually submit a dissertation. At Oxford and Cambridge, the Master of Arts is conferred automatically after a certain period of time on all holders of Bachelor's Degrees. In other fields, it is awarded under the same conditions as in other universities.

Master of Philosophy, Doctor of Philosophy:-
The third stage is that of pure research. At a university, it leads, after two years of additional study and the successful presentation of a thesis, to the Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) Degree. After usually three years' further study beyond the Master's Degree, the candidate may present a thesis for the Doctorate of Philosophy (D.Phil. or Ph.D.).

Higher Doctorate:-

Students wishing to apply for an undergraduate programme should apply through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Its functions are to organize and regulate the process of entry to full-time and sandwich bachelor's degree courses in all the UK universities (except the Open University) and most other colleges.

The UCAS application allows the students to indicate a maximum of 6 institutions of their choice. The deadline to receive applications at UCAS is 15th January for the following academic year. However, late applications received between 15 January and 30th June will also be considered. If Cambridge or Oxford University is included, the deadline will be 15th October of the previous year and they should apply simultaneously to these universities.

Bachelor's Degree:-
This stage lasts for three or four years and leads to the award of a Bachelor's Degree in Arts, Science or other fields (Technology, Law, Engineering, etc.). In some Scottish universities the first degree is a Master's Degree. The Bachelor's Degree is conferred as a Pass Degree or an Honours Degree where studies are more specialized. The Bachelor's Honours Degree is classified as a First Class Honours, a Second Class Honours or a Third Class Honours.

Studying for your first degree can take three years for an honor degree. Some degree courses take four years to complete and some even longer than that. A course that includes study overseas (e.g. a language course) is likely to take more than three years. A course that includes a significant amount of work experience is likely to take more than three years.

The following are examples of Bachelor degrees: -

1. Bachelor of Arts (BA)
2. Bachelor of Education (BEd)
3. Bachelor of Engineering (BEng)
4. Bachelor of Law (LLB)
5. Bachelor of Medicine (MB)
6. Bachelor of Science (BSc)

Degrees are classified in the following ways:-

1. First-class degree
2. Upper second-class degree
3. Lower second-class degree
4. Third-class degree
5. Pass class degree

It is important to become proficient in English to make your stay in United Kingdom a good one. You will probably be required to take the International English Language Testing System(IELTS) before you will be admitted to a UK university. The school may also have additional tests for graduate students who are prospective teaching assistants.

This section provides information about IELTS,TOEFL and GMAT exams.

• IELTS
• TOEFL
• GMAT

Student visas can be obtained from the offices of the British High Commission in Delhi and the British Deputy High Commissions in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. Students need to prove that they have an unconditional offer on a full time course, proof of accommodation, sufficient funds to cover the entire cost of studying and living in Britain and that they intend to return home on completion of their course.

Documents that are required for a student visa:-

1. Completed visa application form (IM2A and IM2S) with two passport size photographs.
2. Valid passport (in original)
3. Visa Fee (non- refundable)
4. Letter of unconditional acceptance from a UK institution for a full time course
5. Proof of funding (bank statement, details of securities held, chartered accountant's certification, I Tax clearance, letter from sponsor etc.)
6. Attested copies of education certificates and English language test (IELTS) score sheet (if applicable)
7. Proof of accommodation in the UK

Recent changes to immigration procedures mean that international students now have a more streamlined route to studying in the UK.

Requirements to enter as a student
The requirements to be met by a person seeking to enter the United Kingdom as a student are that he or she:

1. has been accepted for a course of study at:
   (a) a publicly funded institution of further or higher education; or
   (b) a bona fide private education institution which maintains satisfactory records of enrolment and attendance; or
   (c) an independent fee-paying school outside the maintained sector; and
2. is able and intends to follow either:
   (a) a recognised full-time degree course at a publicly funded institution of further or higher education; or
   (b) a weekday full-time course involving attendance at a single institution for a minimum of 15 hours- organised daytime study per week of a single subject or directly related subjects; or
   (c) a full-time course at an independent fee-paying school; and
3. intends to leave the United Kingdom at the end of his/her studies; and
4. does not intend to engage in business or take up employment in the UK, except part-time or vacation work undertaken with the consent of the Secretary of State for Employment; and is able to meet the costs of his/her course and accommodation, and the maintenance of him/herself and any dependants without taking employment or engaging in business or having recourse to public funds.

The British Government determines the list of visa-national- countries. Your nearest British Council office or British Mission (British Embassy, Consulate or High Commission) will be able to tell you whether or not your country is on the list. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office UK Visas website features a visa enquiry form where you can check if you require a visa: go to www.ukvisas.gov.uk and select 'Do I need a UK visa'?

If you are a visa national, you must apply for entry clearance before travelling to the UK. There is a charge for the application. You must satisfy the ECO at a British Mission that you meet the Immigration Rules. The ECO will then issue you entry clearance (more commonly known as a visa) in the form of a sticker in your passport. The entry clearance should normally be valid for the whole length of your course. When you arrive in the UK, the Immigration Officer at the port of entry (e.g. Heathrow airport) will put a date stamp in your passport to show when you entered the UK. Your permission to be in the UK begins on that date and expires on the date indicated on the entry clearance.

Until the end of July 2003, students who are not visa nationals could choose whether to apply for entry clearance or not. Students would consider this if their course lasted for six months or less, if they were applying as a prospective student or they were bringing their husband, wife or children with them. Students who chose this option had to satisfy the Immigration Officer at the port of entry that they fulfilled the Immigration Rules for students. Entry clearances that are issued to people who are not visa nationals are called entry certificates- rather than visas. There is a charge for the application.

If you are a visa national, make sure you apply for entry clearance as a student rather than a visitor. Visa-national visitors are not allowed to extend their stay as students when they finish a visit.

If you need to travel to the UK to finalize arrangements for your studies, you may be able to apply for a visa as a `prospective student. Visa national prospective students can apply to extend their stay in the UK as students.

Bringing a Spouse and Children to the UK
You will usually be allowed to bring your spouse and any children under 18 years of age to the UK, as long as you can show that you can financially support and accommodate them. You will also need to show the ECO a marriage certificate, and a birth certificate for each child. It is advisable for them to apply for entry clearance, even if they are not visa nationals. They will normally be given permission to stay in the UK for the same period as you. Your spouse or children will be allowed to work if your permission to be in the UK lasts for 12 months or more. Make sure they have a copy of your passport with them if they apply after you - the Immigration Officer will need to see the page showing your name, your entry clearance sticker (if you have one) and how long your permission lasts. If your permission to be in the UK lasts for less than 12 months, your spouse and children will not be allowed to work.

Costs
Studying in the UK is great value for money. Degree courses are generally shorter than in the USA and Australia, making them more affordable. Before you embark on your studies you need to have a clear idea of the total cost of course fees and living expenses. Our guide will help to get you started.

Your costs while living in the UK will depend on the type of course you follow. If you are studying a career-based, degree or postgraduate course, you will need to budget for accommodation and meals in addition to the course fees.

Regardless of their country of origin, international students on full-time UK courses that last more than six months enjoy all the benefits of the country's National Health Service. This means free consultation with doctors and free hospital care for you and your family.See below for: