You'll get a world-class qualification

UK qualifications are recognised and respected throughout the world. Your UK qualification will be a solid foundation for building your future, boosting your career and prospects for a higher salary. UK universities, colleges and schools will provide a vibrant, creative and challenging environment in which to develop your potential.

Quality standards for UK institutions are among the best in the world. Universities, colleges and schools continually have to prove that their courses meet strict criteria. Many other countries are now trying to follow the example of the UK.

The international alumni from UK institutions includes many leading politicians, thinkers and business people who have had an important influence on the world such as Bill Clinton (former President of the USA), Thabo Mbeki (President of South Africa), Desmond Tutu (Archbishop and human rights campaigner), Rifat Ozbek (fashion designer), Wole Soyinka (Nobel prize-winning author), Stelios Haji-Iaonnu (founder of the easyGroup of businesses) and Imran Khan (cricket legend and politician).

… You will get the skills you'll need for the modern environment

In an increasingly globalised world economy, people need special skills and qualities to succeed. Employers want employees who can think effectively, creatively and independently. 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.

UK scientists and institutions have won almost 100 Nobel Prizes for their scientific achievements. The UK's creative brains 'artists, fashion designers, film and television stars, and leisure software designers' are regarded as among the best in the world. Their work is worth £112 billion every year.

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 acknowledged as the language of business, science, IT and the Internet around the 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 3,000 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, satellite positioning technology or sound engineering to multi-media design, anthropology, cross-cultural psychology, 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.

You've probably come across the UK's vibrant popular culture through its music, television and films. Now you can find out what it's like to be a real part of it. This is after all the home of Robbie Williams, Coldplay, Radiohead, Michael Owen, David Beckham, Jude Law, Ewan McGregor and Kate Winslet.

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 three countries and a province in one: England, Scotland, Wales and the province of 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.

Thousands of scholarships and bursaries are offered by UK institutions just for international students, while more than 21, 000 international students receive scholarship funding from the UK Government every year. Under existing work regulations, international students in the UK can work up to 20 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 many years of experience of looking after your needs, and will give you special support from the moment you apply and throughout your time in the UK.

Your local British Council office will give you advice and information 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

…Quality education wherever you study in the UK

The UK has two distinct education systems: one for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and one for Scotland. Each is compatible with the other. The Scottish Parliament has devolved responsibility for education in Scotland. Wherever you choose to study, you will be able to study relevant, world-class qualifications of exceptional quality.

For more information on any aspect of studying in the UK contact British Council

www.educationuk.org