myeducentre

by Ewere Odaro 

Ewere Odaro practises as a chemical engineer in a global Engineering Design and Construction Company. She has a MEng degree in Chemical Engineering from Loughborough University.

The British Educational System
Studying in the UK can be an enjoyable experience. The UK provides a very structured educational system, with qualifications from most UK Universities recognized all over the world. The style of teaching combines lectures, tutorials, practical sessions and a lot of team exercises. The aim is to teach theoretical aspects while preparing you as much as possible to become employable. Most UK university graduates are also expected to have a number of useful ‘soft-skills’ that will go a long way in enhancing their respective careers

There are a number of qualifications that can be obtained in the UK but this article focuses on level 6 i.e. Bachelors (first) degree. However, brief information is also provided on levels 7 and 8, i.e. Masters and Doctorate degrees respectively.

Choosing Your Undergraduate Program
The courses offered in UK schools depend on the university in question. Some universities offer certain courses and others don’t. However, when choosing a university, you must pay close attention to the university’s strength in your particular course of interest.

University ratings based on academic excellence, teacher to student ratios, as well as the quality of the student experience are available online. For detailed information on course ratings at different Universities, as well as the overall rating for any University, please use the following link:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/good_university_guide/

Furthermore, some universities have better reputations with international students and they usually have more experience on issues related to student visas, working in the UK etc. Ensure you consider all the factors that will make your education a rewarding experience for you.

UK Degree Qualifications
In order to obtain a student visa, you must study on a full time basis in the UK. Below are the various categories of qualifications that international students may be interested in.

Bachelors in Engineering (BEng): BEng qualifications are specific to engineering degrees. They usually last for 3 years, or 4 if student takes an industrial placement.

Bachelors in Science (BSc): BSc qualifications are specific to science and science related degrees. They usually last for 3 years, or 4 if student takes an industrial placement.

Masters in Engineering (MEng): The MEng programme is an extended form of the BEng with more advanced modules, and in most cases a design project and a research project. They usually last for 4 years, or 5 if student takes an industrial placement. MEng qualifications are specific to engineering and must be done in one stretch. The choice to study for an MEng must be made in the 1st or 2nd year of your BEng program. This is because the course content varies between BEng and MEng from the 3rd year of study. The department will provide more information on specific modules and the deadline to make a decision between the two programmes. For graduates of a BEng programme, any further qualification will be classed as an MSc qualification, not an MEng qualification.

Masters in Science (MSc): An MSc can be done straight after a BSc or after a few years work experience. The program will last 1-1.5 years depending on the course content and the university.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD): Some PhD’s can be sponsored by a university or a company; depending on the research area and how qualified you are to take on that role. PhD students are expected to teach undergraduate students or help out in tutorial classes as part of their programme and will usually be paid to do this.

Your supervisor for your Masters or PhD research topic will more often than not be the expert in this research field, so it is very unlikely that you will be able to change supervisor without changing the research topic altogether. For this reason you will need to build a rapport with him/her. You can start building a rapport via e-mail before you arrive in the UK, asking constructive questions. Do not be deterred if you get no response initially, they are usually very busy people.

Industrial Placements
For industrial placement, you do not require a work permit or any form of modification to your student visa as long as they are related to your course. Some universities are better at providing help in finding suitable industrial placements for their students. Some departments also have stronger links to industry than others and this may be because certain lecturers work with some companies etc. It is also worth looking into this option, as relevant industrial experience counts as an edge when it comes to applying for graduate jobs. Most students who graduate nowadays have some form of work experience relevant to their field of study. The work experience is sometimes a combination of summer placements. At other times, it’s a one year industrial placement. Industrial placements are only granted to students with at least 2 years of their degree completed. So, applications will be done in your second year, to begin the placement straight after the second year is completed. In my school, Loughborough University, this year was assessed through written reports and I was awarded a diploma in Industrial Studies on my degree certificate on completion of the course. Either way, it is a useful experience to have on your CV.