Read all about the undergraduate course structure in UK: the eligibility, procedure for applying, cost of education, and top colleges in this article.

Undergraduate Courses in UK

The United Kingdom is nothing short of an international hub when it comes to providing educational services to the aspirants from all across the globe. From worldwide acknowledged universities like Oxford, Cambridge, Cardiff, and many others to the countless popular and interesting courses; UK has it all, along with top class facilities for its students. No wonder thousands of international students flock here in order to pursue further education from the very best in the world to give their career a kick start. And although the cost of education in UK may be higher when compared to other countries, the experience of studying in top universities of UK is an experience of a different league altogether. The undergraduate courses in UK generally are of 3 years duration, however in some science or engineering related undergraduate courses, the duration may be of 4 years. Some universities also offer undergraduate courses of 4 years, in which 1 year is provided for gaining work experience in between. These courses are known as Sandwich Courses. Read further to know about the eligibility criteria, procedure, and top colleges for undergraduate courses in UK.
 
Degree Recognition
The bachelor’s degree programs of the UK are recognized and valued in organizations and higher education institutes around the globe. These programs also lay a perfect foundation for further higher education that students wish to pursue.
 
Degree Structure
The bachelor’s degree programs or undergraduate programs in UK are generally of 3 years duration, like many other countries except the US, with a number of subjects to choose, from accountancy to zoology. There are some science and engineering related programs that are of 4 years duration that allow the students to gain 1 year of work experience. Students can choose to move away from 3 years bachelor’s degree programs and opt of Higher National Certificates or Higher National Diplomas that can later be converted into second or third year Bachelor’s degree program depending on the duration for which they were pursued. However, basic secondary education qualification is a must to be eligible for HNCs, HNDs, or Bachelor’s degree programs. Usually the academic session starts by the end of August or beginning of September and continues till July next year.
 
List of Undergraduate Courses
  • Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
  • Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.)
  • Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.)
  • Bachelor of Law (L.L.B.)
  • Bachelor of Medicine (M.B.)
 
Popular Subjects
Accountancy & Finance, Agriculture & Forestry, Anatomy & Psychology, Architecture, Archeology, Art & Design, Biosciences, Chemical Engineering, Business Management, Computer Sciences and IT, Criminology & Psychology, Drama & Dance, Earth & Marine Sciences, Economics, Electrical Engineering, English, Geography & Environmental Studies, History & History of Art, Humanities, Law, Life Sciences, Linguistics, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Media Studies & Communication, Medicine, Philosophy, Physics, Politics, Sociology, Sports Sciences, and Theology.
 
Admission Requirements
  • The students in UK undergo a 13 years period of pre-university education and are required to score well to get a direct admission in undergraduate programs in UK. However, the students who don’t have a good academic score may have to go through a foundation course before taking an admission into an undergraduate program.
  • If any student doesn’t have the above qualification, he/she can still study in UK although a few other qualifications may be required to make up for the above. For example: Higher National Diploma, Foundation Degree, or Diploma of Higher Education: each of which is equivalent to one or two UK Advance Levels (required for qualifying for undergraduate courses).
  • Students from overseas planning to get admission in an undergraduate program need to submit the transcripts/mark sheets/related documents of all their final examinations including the certificates of the secondary and senior secondary education, along with the letter of recommendation and statement of purpose.
  • It should be clearly mentioned on the statement of purpose as to why the student has chosen the particular stream and how he/she will manage financially during the stay in UK. The letter of recommendation should preferably be from the person who has taught the student. It should highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the student and how he/she is expected to perform.
  • As a part of eligibility criteria fulfillment, foreign students need to appear and clear International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as an English proficiency test conducted by the British Council in over 125 countries, including India. The score needs to be between 6.0 and 7.0.
  • To study for work based vocational courses, evidence of prior work experience if any, needs to be submitted through an experience certificate or letter containing the details about the previous position(s) held over the years.
 
Application Procedure
  • The admissions to nearly all of the British higher education institutions take place through Universities and Colleges Admission Services (UCAS), which is a charitable organization responsible for managing applications for almost all undergraduate degree programs.
  • The process applies to all categories of candidates, whether qualifying as home students or as a foreign student. It’s through the UCAS’ website that a candidate can apply for up to 5 courses from among the list, by submitting a single application.
  • The 5 courses for which the student is applying needn’t be according to preference and the whole process is carried on confidentially without any of the colleges getting to know about the other course for which you’ve applied for other colleges.
  • These applications need to be submitted by 30th of June. But for some courses, the applications may need to be submitted by as early as the middle of October of the preceding year.
 
Cost of Education
The average total tuition fees per academic year may range from:
Foundation Courses: £4,000 to £12,000
Arts Courses: £7,000 to £9,000
Science Courses: £7,500 to £22,000
Clinical Courses: £10,000 to £25,000
Along with the above mentioned tuition fees, the average cost of living per academic session also needs to taken into consideration which varies according to which part of UK the student is living in. It may be anywhere between £6,000 and £12,000 for an individual. These costs include accommodation, food, travel (bus/subway), entertainment (cinema/eating out/sports), and other (books/clothing/personal hygiene/telephone calls) and also varies according to person’s lifestyle.
 
Top Colleges and Universities
University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, the University of Edinburgh, University College London, Imperial College London, The University of Manchester, University of Glasgow, the London School of Economics and Political Science, the University of Warwick, and the University of Southampton are the top ten colleges and universities according to the rankings.


More in Study in UK

  • Internship Program in UK

    While grasp of the theoretical concepts is important; there's no substitute for on-the-job training. Go through this article if you want to take up an internship program in UK.

  • PhD Programs in UK

    The PhD programs in UK are a hit among the overseas students. Read all about the eligibility & procedure of the PhD programs in UK and decide if you want to pursue from here.

  • MBA Programs in UK

    Looking to pursue an MBA program in UK? Read all about the course structure, eligibility, procedure, fee structure, and top colleges for this program.

  • Student Visa for UK

    Read this article to equip yourself with all the relevant information about getting a student visa for UK.

  • Study Cost in UK

    Studying in UK doesn't just include the course fees but also the cost incurred to support oneself. Go through this article on study cost in UK to get an approximate idea of how much you can expect to spend.

  • Postgraduate Courses in UK

    Go through this article on postgraduate courses in UK if you're planning to take one up. The details about the courses: eligibility and procedure along with the fees are all mentioned here.

  • Vocational Courses in UK

    Vocational courses provide a greater edge to the students by helping them to efficiently utilize their skills and knowledge. Explore this article to know more about these vocational courses in UK.

  • University Admission in UK

    Planning to study in UK? Go through this article on University admissions in UK to know all about the procedure and all the essential requirements to study in UK.

  • English Language Courses in UK

    Refine your English language skills by learning from the very best in the world. There are a number of English language courses that will help you in achieving the purpose. Go through this article to get more insights.

  • Top Universities of UK

    Confused over the choices for education in UK apart from the Oxford and Cambridge? Go through this article to know about the top universities of UK.

  • Education System in UK

    Explore this article to know about the education system in UK (England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Island).


Top