Applying to non-UCAS universities

Applying to Foreign Universities



Why might you consider studying abroad?

• Broaden the mind – a different experience • Employability – proof of your independence and

motivation • Courses or course style offered

• Facilities

• Lower entry requirements

• Finance – possible, but unlikely to be cheaper,

and you can’t get a student loan


Why might you NOT consider studying abroad?

• There is no UCAS

• There is no student loan

• There may be language issues

• You will have to invest time and money in applying

• Costs are subject to currency risk

• There is less expertise to help you in school

Applying to Foreign Universities Country Tuition Fees Living Costs Total Notes

UK £8k - £9k £7k - £11k £15k - £20k Subtract accommodation costs

(£2k - £5k) if living at home

US $20k - $40k $10k - $14k $30k - $54k Undergraduate programmes are 4

years. Huge variability in costs.

Scholarships widely available, but

NOT to Ivy League (although these

offer bursaries.)

Australia $18k - $35k $18k - $28k $36k - $63k Scholarships are VERY rare.

Holland Eu 1.5k – 3k Eu 8k – 12k Eu 9k- 15k

France Eu 0 - 250 Eu 8k – 12k Eu 13k -15k

Germany Eu 0 – 1.7k Eu 8k – 12k Eu 8k – 14k

Scandinavia Eu 0 Eu 10k – 15k Eu 10k – 15k Applying to Scandinavian

universities is not straightforward.

Also living costs are high.

Ireland Eu 2,000 Eu 8k – 12k Eu 10k – 14k You need to be studying 4 A2

subjects to stand a realistic chance

of entry to a top Irish university


Europe

• Proximity

• 400 courses taught in English

• Possibly cheaper

• Easier entry requirements

• More flexible entry process

• Universities like Maastricht are recruiting heavily and will ease the process for you – look carefully through


USA • Global leader in higher education

• Fantastic facilities

• Ivy League very expensive except for the truly

exceptional, and very hard to get into

• Mid-tier universities do offer many scholarships and student support which would bring the cost down comparable to UK (no student loan though)

• Complicated, non-centralised admissions usually including SATs

• www.fulbright.co.uk/.

http://www.fulbright.co.uk/




USA – possible timetable for admission

• Lower Sixth – research institutions and funding, aim to apply to 4 -6 institutions

• Oct – sit ACT / SATs**

• Nov – submit applications

• Nov/Dec – interviews (in London)

• March / April - decision

**Scholastic Assessment tests in critical reading, maths and writing. Set date in Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan (you can re-sit). Some universities allow 2-3 subject based SATs in sciences, literature, modern languages or history, instead of the writing SAT. SATs are supposed to be ‘un-coachable’ but many people recommend help from a specialist training company – e.g. Kaplan offer an online course or classroom based in London.


Oz / NZ

• Expensive

• Process reasonably straightforward and flexible

• ‘Feel’ of courses and unis similar to UK

• World leaders in many subjects

• Lower entry requirements

• Academic year start in Feb – mini gap year before starting

• Can apply at any time


To successfully apply to a foreign uni, you will need:

• To think hard about why you wish to do so • To do a lot of your own research

• To put in the time and effort

• To think about it early

• ..and almost certainly apply through UCAS to UK unis

too Consider the many UK based degrees that give you a year abroad


Questions?

Documents

Applying to non-UCAS universities