Education system in England

England is rightfully considered the forge of world education for several centuries. There is an orderly training system, high requirements for the process and method of assessment, corresponding to the most prestigious European and world requirements.

Pros of studying in England

• Prospects for foreign employment (almost all graduates of English universities find a job at the stage of study);
• Worldwide diplomas that are recognized in any country and are an indicator of the highest skill of their owner;
• Language practice and excellent knowledge of English;
• Many educational institutions are included in the list of the world's best universities and have a high status.

Grades of higher education in England

Modern basic higher education in Britain is based on historical traditions.

• On Undergraduate or in the undergraduate system, training takes 3 years, in Scotland - 4. At the time of admission, the prospective student must be 17-18 years old. Upon completion of this course, a diploma of higher education DipHE, a higher national diploma HND and a general certificate of higher education are issued;
• Postgraduate or Master's Degree represents the next stage of education. Typically, undergraduate graduates continue their studies in graduate programs. Master's degree studies last 1 year, during which students deepen their knowledge of the chosen specialty and are engaged in the development and presentation of their own project;
• Master and PhD: scientific research is the highest level of education in the UK. Students enrolled in these areas are seriously engaged in scientific activities and receive appropriate diplomas.

System of certification and exams

The certification system depends on the type of educational institution, the age of the subject, the chosen faculty, direction and other factors.

• A-level - exams that are taken before entering the university at the age of 17-18. In fact, these exams are both final and entrance exams. Depending on the results, a university and a course of study are selected. This exam includes 3 or 4 subjects. They are handed over either in writing or as a term paper. Evaluated on a scale from A to E, where A is the highest score;
• Extended Project Qualification - a qualification exam that is taken by school or college graduates aged 16-19. It is a project, for the implementation of which they take any topic they like.

Start and end dates of the academic year

In the universities of England, vacations last a month longer than in other world universities - from June 1 to September 30. Study starts on October 1st. The entire training scheme is divided into trimesters, the duration of which is 9-10 weeks.

The main form of training is seminars, coursework and research papers, lectures.

Admission conditions for Russians and other citizens of the CIS

The norms and deadlines for submitting documents for enrollment for Russians and CIS citizens will be slightly different than for residents of the kingdom. It is necessary to decide on the choice of the university and the direction of the bachelor's degree in advance, because documents are accepted here until January 15 (some universities extend this period until June). Applications for the master's program must be submitted before July.

It is worth remembering that citizens whose countries are not members of the EU go through the enrollment procedure differently. Moreover, each university or college sets the rules independently.

But Ukrainian students can count on some benefits: from 2009
of the year Ukraine is a member of the European Union program.

Study programs after grade 9

If a student decides to continue his studies after the end of the 9th grade, he first needs to receive a document confirming the completion of a full course of secondary education.

• General Certificate of Secondary Education - students aged 14-15 are accepted for this course. The training lasts 2 years. Upon completion of the course, a certificate is issued confirming the presence of a complete secondary education;
• International Baccalaureate - a training program for schoolchildren aimed at admission to universities around the world. The results of the International Baccalaureate exams are accepted by universities around the world. The age of schoolchildren is from 16 to 18 years old. The duration of training is 2 years;
• A-Level - Program for admission to the University of England.

List of required documents:

• Diploma or certificate confirming the presence of completed secondary education. And the diploma or certificate itself, as well as an extract with grades must be translated into English and notarized, with a confirmation seal. For undergraduate you need a certificate, for postgraduate - a diploma;
• A testimonial or letter of recommendation in which mentors briefly describe the student's merit. Best from multiple instructors;
• Photocopies of documents (passport);
• A letter from a student, a presentation or, as it is called in England, a motivational essay in which the student must clearly explain the choice of a particular university. Often foreign citizens do not take this point seriously, because it is not in the educational practice of Russia and the CIS countries. But this letter is an important part of admission, therefore, you should approach its writing responsibly, excluding possible grammatical and lexical errors;
• A document confirming the successful delivery of IELTS, TOEFL.

IELTS, TOEFL - language testing, which checks the knowledge of grammar, spelling and the level of the spoken language:

• IELTS - an international system for testing knowledge of the English language, which includes: reading, writing skills, listening and the level of proficiency and understanding of the spoken language. Divided into two levels: Academic and General. Academic level is required for admission. This exam is paid, it costs about 20-25 thousand rubles The certificate is issued for a period of two years;
• TOEFL includes the same items as IELTS, only it costs a little less (10-15 thousand rubles). If IELTS is suitable for those applying to the UK, because the main pronunciation norms used in this system are British, the TOEFL is intended for US students.

You can take the test and get the corresponding certificate both in foreign language schools that provide specialized preparation for testing, and in Russian accredited centers, which are often found in linguistic universities.

Tuition fees in 2021

Studying in England is expensive even in comparison with prestigious Russian universities. The price is made up of many factors:

• University rating;
• Terms of training;
• Number of programs studied;
• Level of study (bachelor's or master's).

The cost of undergraduate studies in 2021 is from 10 to 15 thousand pounds sterling (translated into Russian rubles - 836 thousand rubles and 1 million 255 thousand rubles... respectively). However, if a student chooses medicine as a future profession, then the tuition fee will have to be paid. 20 - 40 thousand pounds sterling (1.6 - 3.5 million rubles).

For a master's degree, you will have to pay how much and for a bachelor's degree. Only the term of study will differ.

Is it possible to get education for free

The entire education system in England is paid. There are no free colleges and universities.

But even here there are some nuances. Part of the cost of expensive education can be covered by increased scholarships and special grants. This rule is provided only for graduate students, this does not apply to undergraduate students.

Scholarships and grants for foreigners

Universities in England provide special scholarships and grants to foreign citizens.

• Chevening scholarship Is one of the most famous scholarships for foreign citizens. To get one, you must ideally be fluent in English and be an excellent student of the chosen university.But it does not apply to all specialties;
• Chevening - this grant is funded by the government of England, so that every interested foreign student could try his hand at studying for a master's degree. Absolutely all UK universities are covered by the program.

Pros:

• The scholarship covers all tuition-related expenses;
• Prospects for further employment. Since really gifted children receive this scholarship, potential employers are already looking closely at the students in advance.

Minus – one of the conditions is that the scholarship holder returns to his country after training for two years.

Features for internship and exchange programs

An exchange study is a good chance for those who want to get to know the culture of the country better and improve their language skills.

• Box hill school - This program is suitable for both preschoolers and primary school students. The training takes place in the Dorking center, located in the capital;
• Bradfield College - focused on schoolchildren aged 10-15;
• Abbey College Malvern - according to this program, schoolchildren of 12-18 years old prepare for IELTS and TOEFL;
• AFS - the program, which includes 56 countries, is suitable for students aged 15-18. It's completely free. You will have to spend money on insurance and a visa. To take part, you need to leave an application on the official website.

The selection of families is carried out by accredited organizations that accept the application by April 15th. Families are selected individually. The student will attend a regular English school and live with a host family for 1 academic year. The cost of such an exchange starts from 135 thousand rubles

Accommodation and meals for students

The choice of accommodation option is an important part of the educational process, especially for foreigners:

• Each British institution provides students with the opportunity to live in residences. But only 1st year undergraduate students can count on such a housing option. This is convenient because all administrative buildings - university buildings, sports grounds, cafes, libraries are located nearby. To get the opportunity to stay in the residence room, you need to send an application in advance and pay a fee in the amount of 250-400 dollars... Annual stay will be cost 4000-5000 thousand dollars... When signing the contract, you can choose the option of accommodation with meals (for an additional fee);
• Homestay accommodation. Very popular with Russians and Ukrainians. Many immigrants from the CIS countries live in England, ready to receive their compatriots;
• Rented housing is chosen by students of 2-3 courses. The apartment is rented for several people. There are private companies in England that are engaged in the selection of housing for students. Many of them provide cleaning and food preparation services.

Ranking of the best universities in the UK

Universities in England, many of which are state-owned, occupy leading positions in the world rankings.

• University of Cambridge, whose motto is: "Keeping traditions - looking to the future." Formed in 1214. For almost 800 years it has retained the title of one of the best in the world. It is ranked 5th in the Q5 World University Rankings (www.cam.ac.uk);
• Oxford University. It was founded in the 11th century. More than 40 teachers are Nobel laureates (www.ox.ac.uk);
• Imperial College London. Many famous world figures studied here (www.imperial.ac.uk);
• The University of Edinburgh, which began operations in the mid-16th century. It was from its walls that the great Charles Darwin came out (www.ed.ac.uk);
• St. Andrews University, whose history began in the early 15th century. This is where members of the royal family studied (www.st-andrews.ac.uk).

Higher education in England is under the scrutiny of the government. Huge amounts of money are allocated annually to finance and develop various programs aimed at improving the quality of education.

Reviews about studying in England

Alexander, 42 years old.After finishing the 9th grade, they decided to send their daughter on vacation to England, to the city of Brighton. The child was very pleased. In addition to deep knowledge of the language, she has made many new friends. Of the shortcomings, I can single out only one - this is the price.

Sophia, 17 years old.I have always dreamed of studying in England. Been there more than once. Therefore, after the 10th grade, I spent the summer holidays in Magritte. London prices were high. The purpose of the trip was to prepare for IELTS and TOEFL in order to continue my studies abroad. I did not find any minuses for myself.

Before entering, you should study in detail all the training options, view the rating of universities and the possibilities of free programs. It is worth focusing on the city of study, professional preferences, level of language proficiency and other factors.