Studying abroad

The rise in UK tuition fees for students living in England has led to an increased interest in studying abroad, though it is important to carefully consider the full implications of this route for each individual student. Students need to allow plenty of time to thoroughly research institutions and the courses they offer as well as application procedures and possible sources of funding.

Issues with funding vary according to each country, with some tuition fees being lower and some higher than the UK. In Scandinavian countries there are no tuition fees whereas in the USA average annual tuition fees for private universities are in the region of US $27,000. However, US universities do offer a wide range of scholarships and bursaries based on sporting or artistic excellence, academic merit and family income. There are no student loans from the UK government for students studying abroad, and for financial support students need to approach the appropriate agency in the country they are considering. To find out more about financial support in EU countries visit the Your Europe website.

It is recommended that students check what status the qualification offered by an overseas university has in the UK. This can be researched on the UK NARIC website. Recognition of the qualification is especially important for careers where it is needed in order to practice such as law and medicine, and additional checks should be made with the relevant professional body in the country where you intend to work.

The vast majority of our students apply to UK universities through the UCAS system but some students do choose to apply to institutions overseas either in addition to, or as an alternative to, universities within the UK. More information about studying abroad is available from the Careers Library and in the 6th Form Careers Area of "SharePoint".

Browse Mobility with disability: guide for UK students | Omio for information on Exchange courses with an emphasis on resources and information for those with disabilities or health concerns.

The following websites and organisations are useful starting points for your research:

www.ozstudies.com

A useful site with details of courses, scholarships and helpful advice on visas, finance and the grading system.

www.astarfuture.co.uk
An organisation providing information about international university education specifically designed to answer the questions that British students have when thinking about studying abroad. The degree courses listed on this site are taught in English.

www.thestudentworld.com

Includes a study abroad forum and international university profiles

www.studee.com

Advice for students worldwide who are considering studying abroad for an international education.

www.studylink.com

Includes a database of over 100,000 study options from universities throughout the world.

www.topuniversities.com
World university rankings, course guides and study abroad information for students and parents.

www.cao.ie
The Central Applications Office for higher education institutions in the Republic of Ireland. Information on courses, application procedure etc. There are currently no tuition fees for EU citizens though there is an annual student services fee. Students are not eligible for a UK student loan. Students applying for medicine or veterinary courses could consider increasing their chances of success by applying to an Irish university in addition to their ucas application. Click here for a useful download of the medical school application procedure. To achieve the points score required for entry UK students are advised to take 4 A2s. Students also need to register for the HPAT admissions aptitude test.

www.qualifax.ie
This website is a "one stop shop" for all HE provision in Ireland.

www.studyineurope.com

A database of many degree courses in Europe which are taught in English.

http://www.studyinholland.co.uk/

An independent overview of degrees offered by Dutch Universities for international students.

www.maastrichtuniversity.nl
Maastrich University is an internationally orientated institution in the Netherlands with 45% of its students from abroad. Most courses are taught in English and there is a strong problem based learning approach. Annual tuition fees are much lower than the UK.

www.fulbright.co.uk
The US-UK Fulbright Commission is the official source of information on applying to US universities from the UK. They hold regular information events including the annual US College Day in London where students and parents can meet representatives from US universities. Choosing the right university requires considerable research as there are 4000 state-funded and private universities. Studying in the US is more expensive than the UK but there are more opportunities for bursaries and scholarships and students need to allow plenty of time to research these.

www.student-scholarships.com
This is a commercial organisation which guarantee to find courses and scholarships for students applying to US universities. They work with a consortium of 120 US universities who are trying to attract more international students.

www.harvard-ukadmissions.co.uk
Harvard College has a UK website for potential British applicants which includes details of the SATs tests, financial aid etc. Bursaries are based on need not merit to enable Havard to attract top applicants regardless of financial background.

UniversityStudy

Information on Canadian universities.

Erudera

Information on Canadian universities

www.studiesinaustralia.com
An international students guide to studying in Australia.

www.studyoptions.com

The official application support service for UK based students applying to university in Australia and New Zealand.

Turing Scheme (turing-scheme.org.uk)

The Turing Scheme is the UK government’s programme to provide funding for international opportunities in education and training across the world. It supports Global Britain by providing an opportunity for UK organisations from the higher education, further education, vocational education and training and schools sectors to offer their students, learners and pupils life-changing experiences to study or work abroad.