Academic Eligibility Requirements To Study In The UK

The UK is home to some of the top universities worldwide, including prestigious institutes like the colleges in London affiliated under Oxford and Cambridge Universities. That's why it is considered one of the best countries to study abroad. Every year lakhs of candidates from all around the globe apply to study in the UK.

Academic Eligibility Requirements To Study In The UK

The UK is home to some of the top universities worldwide, including prestigious institutes like the colleges in London affiliated under Oxford and Cambridge Universities. That’s why it is considered one of the best countries to study abroad. Every year lakhs of candidates from all around the globe apply to study in the UK.

However, the seats are limited and the competition pretty steep, especially for admission to top universities in the UK. Only the best students who have the potential to excel in their field are accepted by institutes in undergraduate programs.

This article further discusses the detailed academic eligibility requirements for UK international students.

Academic Requirements to Study in the UK

Academic eligibility depends on what university and course you are applying to. International students must have the following basic qualifications to apply at UK universities:

• 12 years of schooling
• Core subjects in the last two years of school aligning with the degree to which you are applying.
• English as one of the subjects during final years of school (required for some universities)

Cut-off scores and percentage in 12th class for international students vary with university and the degree. Top universities and science courses have higher cut-off criteria due to high competition amongst UK international students.

On the other hand, creativity plays a significant role in the admission process of arts courses. Still, 60% in 11th and 12th is the minimum percentage requirement in most of the popular colleges in London as well as all across the UK.

English Language Proficiency Requirements To Study In The UK

The curriculum of UK universities is entirely in English. Lectures are also delivered in English. It is also the native language of people living in the UK. Thus international students must have good command over the English language to academically excel and interact with other students.

This is why almost all UK universities check the English proficiency of international students through following ways:

• English Proficiency Tests: These are conducted worldwide by various organising bodies and accepted by most UK universities. Some of the common ones are IELTS, TOEFL, CELA and PTE. Minimum score requirement varies based on the university and course.

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• English Foundation Courses: Some universities and institutions offer these short-term courses to UK international students who meet all other academic eligibility criteria. Such students are granted admission on a probationary basis. Their enrolment is confirmed after they successfully pass the English course with grades set by the university.

• Extra credits in English language: Some universities in the UK give admission to international students having average scores (less than what is required) in IELTS, TOEFL or any other such English proficiency test. However, these students have to study English as an extra subject in addition to their core subjects. They are promoted to next semester only if they earn the minimum required credit in this subject.

Note: Most top universities in the UK rarely provide the second and third options. Hence international students should focus on getting good scores in English proficiency tests to avoid any uncertainty in admissions.

Other Requirements to Study in the UK

The majority of the universities accept UK international students’ applications through a common application portal called Universities and College Admission Services (UCAS). Here are the additional requirements of this portal:

• Personal statement of 47 lines or 4000 characters
• Resume and/or portfolio (for some courses)

Some universities also take an entrance test and interview. In most cases, international students can take these tests from the designated centres in their home country. Similarly, interviews are often conducted via telephone or video call.

Admission to UK universities can be challenging. However, efforts will be worth it once you get in. Start preparing two years in advance and research well about the academic eligibility requirements of the University of your Choice.

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