Studying in the UK for further education qualifications

www.educationuk.org/burma

Map out your futureEducation UK is managed byThe UK means the

United Kingdom and

consists of England,

Scotland, Wales

(Great Britain) and

Northern Ireland.

British Council

78, Kanna Road, Kyautada Township, Rangoon,

Burma

T + 95 1 254658, 256290, 256291F + 95 1 245345

education.enquiries@mm.britishcouncil.orgwww.educationuk.org/burma

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No matter what qualifications you currently have, you canfind a course that will allow you to get a foot on the educational ladder.

Why study further education qualifications in the UK?

The UK’s long standing tradition of excellence is recognised

throughout the world. Further education qualifications are

accredited by internationally recognised awarding bodies

regulated by the UK government. Therefore, qualifications

gained in the UK are regarded as a passport to success for

the many overseas students who pass though the country’s

further education colleges every year.

Further education can provide a step up, giving access to

higher education. For examples, A-levels, BTEC National

Diplomas and NVQs are recognised and respected all over

the world – If you’d like to progress to higher education in the

UK, you’ll be able to apply with qualifications that will give you

the best possible chance of being accepted onto your first

choice of course and institution. If you plan to go straight into

the workplace, you’ll be doing so with respected qualifications

that will give you an edge over the competition.

Courses in further education colleges are inspected by government inspection agencies, which means that the high quality of the course customers choosecan be guaranteed.

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Many career-based qualifications mean

that you don’t have to take professional

exams, so you’ll be making a real start

in your career before you even

graduate. Many vocational courses also

include work placements, giving you an

insight into working practices and

experience that will get you off to a

running start.

Career-based and pre-university

qualifications are available in many

subject areas, including Engineering,

Health and Social Care, Travel and

Tourism, Science, Computing and Art

and Design, so you can start to build a

foundation for your future from the

moment you arrive in the UK.

UK education system is very flexible

enabling you to study academic and

vocational courses side-by-side (such

as a vocational computer qualification

alongside an AS- or A-level in

mathematics or economics), learn a

vocational skill alongside English

language classes, or prepare for

university whilst also improving your

IELTS score. This way you can be sure

that your time is being used in the most

effective way for you..

The style of UK further education is unique, involving high levels of personal contact and support from tutors, and plenty of scope for independent learning – high success rates and low drop-out rates among international students stem directly from programmes of closely supervised study in an intellectually and culturally stimulating environment.

What can I study?

The broad range and flexible approach of the UK education system allows students to choose the course and qualifications that will suit them best.

The further education system in the UK is geared to satisfying a diverse range of

needs. Students are able to take general academic courses or vocational,

work-based courses, or a combination of both. The academic and the work-based

training route can both lead to qualifications that meet the entry requirements for

degrees and other higher education courses.

Courses can last for up to two years (three with a sandwich placement in industry),

and you can choose from thousands of opportunities in science and technology,

computing and business, art and design, social sciences, the humanities and many

others.

Students who want to develop skills and knowledge and also gain a qualification in

a specific work area can do so with work-based courses.

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Higher National Certificate (HNC) or

Diploma (HND)

Higher National Certificates and

Diplomas are one- and two- year

career-related higher education

courses, which are equivalent to the

first stages of a degree. They are

available in many areas including

engineering, sports studies, art and

design, media and communications and

music technology. Successful

completion will allow you to enter a

career at junior management level and

from many courses you can ‘top-up’ to

a degree by transferring into the

second or third year of the degree

course. For more information see

www.educationuk.org/burma/

Your study options/Career-based and

pre-university study

BTEC National Award, Certificate or

Diploma

BTEC Nationals are one or two-year

courses in career-related subjects such

as e-business, engineering, art and

design, media, performing arts,

agriculture, applied science, computing

and health and social care. They are

ideal for students hoping to progress to

a career at supervisory or technician

level, and also provide a foundation for

higher education courses in the same

subject area. For more details see

www.edexcel.org.uk

AS and A levels

AS and A levels are the UK qualifications

most widely accepted for entry to

university. They are available in subjects

from the humanities, arts, sciences and

social sciences as well as in practical

subjects such as engineering, leisure

and tourism. You will study up to four

subjects simultaneously over two years,

taking AS level examinations at the end  

of your first year and A level

qualifications at the end of your second.

An AS level qualification is the

equivalent of 50 per cent of an A level.

In both AS and A level course work

accounts for between 20 and 30 per

cent of the marks, with the remainder

being assessed by examination. For

further information on these courses

see www.dfes.gov.uk/qualifications

Foundation Degrees (FdA, FdSc etc)

Foundation Degrees are two-year

career-related higher education

courses, which are equivalent to the

first stages of a degree. They are

available in many areas, including art

and design, media and communications,

engineering and hospitality

management, and can be used as a

good foundation for a career or as a

basis from which to progress on to a

degree course. For more information

see www.foundationdegree.org.uk

University International Foundation

Year

University International Foundation

Year courses help to bridge any gaps

between qualifications you hold already

and the ones you need to begin a

degree course at a UK university,

whether this is because you need to

improve your English language skills,

your academic qualifications, or both.

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What qualifications will I need?

How much will it cost?

The qualifications you’ll need will

depend on the course you want to

study. Some qualifications such as

A-levels and BTEC National Diplomas are

below university level and lead directly

onto higher education while others such

as HNDs and Foundation Degrees, are

university-level qualifications that will

enable you to join a degree course in

the second or third year.

The course profiles on

www.educationuk.org/burma will give

you the exact entry requirements for

each course. To give you a rough idea,

the sort of qualifications you’ll need are

as follows:

You can find more details on individual education institutions’ fees on

www.educationuk.org/burma by checking out their profiles.

UK career-based and pre-university course fees can vary considerably between

institutions, but the figures below show approximately what you’ll need to pay.

Qualifications and equivalents

BTEC National Diploma Good general high school education equivalent to four GCSEs

grades A-C, plus IELTS 4.5-5.0

AS/A-levels Good general high school education equivalent to five GCSEs

grades A-C, plus IELTS 4.5-5.0

International Foundation Year Twelve years of school education or equivalent in your own

country, plus IELTS 4.5-5.0

HND Qualifications equivalent to one or two UK A-levels or a BTEC

National Diploma or an international foundation year,

plus IELTS 5.5-6.0

Foundation Degree Qualifications equivalent to one or two UK A-levels or a BTEC

National Diploma or an international foundation year.

Plus IELTS 5.5-6.0

Average course fees

AS- and A-levels: £4,000-£8,000 per year

BTECs and other vocational: £4,000-£6,000 per year

HNC/HNDs: £5,000-£10,000 per year

Foundation Degrees: £7,000-£12,000 per year

International Foundation Courses: £4,000 to £12,000 per year

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You can find a list of all UK

qualifications accredited by the QCA on

the Open Qualifications website at

www.openquals.org.uk

The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)

ensures that UK higher education is of a

standard that’s respected and admired

across the world. Further details can be

found at www.qaa.ac.uk

Many colleges offer some flexibility on

start dates, with a choice of September

or January entry. However, it depends

on the course and you should always

contact the institution of your choice

for details.

In making a decision, the college will

consider your background, interests

and abilities and will treat your

application on its individual merits.

Once you have accepted a place, the

college will send you a letter confirming

this.

Part of the reason that UK career-based

and pre-university qualifications are so

highly valued across the world is the

strict measures of quality imposed on

them. Many of the checks and reports

are available online, so you’ll never be

left in any doubt about the validity and

quality of the course you choose.

The Qualification and Curriculum

Authority (QCA) maintains and develops

the National Curriculum and associated

assessments, tests and examinations,

and accredits and monitors

qualifications in colleges and at work.

Further details can be found at

www.qca.org.uk

For course at further education level,

contact the institution of your choice

and ask for an application form. For

HNDs/HNCs and Foundation Degrees,

contact the institution and ask if you

need to apply through the Universities

and Colleges Admissions Service

(UCAS).

With the exception of applications via

UCAS there are no national closing

dates for applications to career-based

courses but you will need to leave

yourself enough time to apply for a visa,

make travel arrangements and arrange

accommodation.

How will I know if I’ve chosen a good college?

How and when do I apply?

British Council Education Information

www.educationuk.org/burma

Foundation Degrees

www.foundationdegree.org.uk

City and Guilds

www.city-and-guilds.co.uk

International Foundation Programme Scotland

www.studyinscotland.co.uk

Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)

www.sqa.org.uk

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)

www.ucas.com

London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCIEB)

www.lccieb.com

Edexcel Foundation

www.edexcel.org.uk

Where can I find more information?

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