UK universities are world renowned

The UK is a pioneer in the field of education and home to some of the best colleges and universities in the world.

The UK has a long and distinguished tradition of excellence in education, developed over centuries. The UK approach to education and course content continues to be cutting-edge with fantastic facilities, stimulating students to be independent thinkers and giving them a valuable, well-rounded learning experience that will set them up for the future.

Students in the UK learn in an inspiring and dynamic educational environment. As a study destination, the UK remains one of the most popular choices for students around the world, including the UAE, thanks to its academic reputation as a world leader, the international recognition of qualifications obtained in the UK, and its cultural diversity.

At any one time there are more than a quarter of a million international students in the UK, creating a richly diverse, open-minded, multicultural society. UK universities, colleges and schools are becoming more accessible and these institutions are placing more emphasis on their international students.

In fact, the UK has been welcoming international students for generations. There are more than 3,000 educational institutions that welcome international students in the UK and they all make their international students feel at home by offering assistance with accommodation, counselling and special advice services. According to the latest figures provided by the UK's Higher Education Statistics Agency, the total number of students from the UAE studying Higher Education in the UK in academic year 2006-07 rose to more than 2,200 – an increase of 6 per cent over the previous year; the number rises to well over 3,500 students from the UAE when those studying at Further Education level and English language courses are taken into consideration. This follows the strong increase (15 per cent) in UAE student numbers for 2005-06. The undergraduates are generally in their late teens and early 20s, the majority being male students, while postgraduate students tend to be over 30, again with a bias towards male students.

It's easy to see why the UK is increasingly popular. Most UK degree courses take three years to complete and postgraduate Masters courses only one year (compared with four years and two years in most other countries) while quality standards of UK institutions are recognised as being among the best in the world, meaning the courses are high quality as well as being efficient in terms of time and money.

The variety of choice is also part of the UK's attraction. From independent schooling to postgraduate higher education and vocational education, the UK offers more course options, more flexibility and more opportunities for students to fulfill their ambitions than many other countries.

Many of the world's outstanding scientists, engineers, artists, writers, thinkers, politicians and business people have benefited from a UK education, including Bill Clinton, former US President; Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa; Desmond Tutu, Archbishop and human rights campaigner; Rifat Ozbek, fashion designer; Wole Soyinka, Nobel prize-winning author; Stelios Haji-Iaonnu, founder of the easyGroup of businesses and Imran Khan, cricket legend and politician. UK qualifications are known and respected worldwide and are a measure of achievement that any employer looking at your CV will recognise and understand. Many career-based qualifications mean that you don't have to take professional exams, so you'll be making a real start to 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.

In UK education you'll be valued for who you are and encouraged to combine academic excellence with thinking for yourself. The UK's approach to teaching has evolved over many hundreds of years and aims to encourage independent, thoughtful and confident students.

Students pursuing career-based courses are encouraged to take responsibility for their own studies while having a great network of support from tutors and lecturers. You will find yourself working on projects with other students, being assessed through practical demonstrations or spending time in college libraries in preparation for essays and exams. Your course will combine practical skills with a sound academic foundation, enabling you to learn in the best possible way for you.

Not only are there schools and colleges all over the UK, but there's such a variety in both courses available and teaching styles that there's something to suit everyone.

One of the great things about a UK education is that you can start to focus your studies on the area that interests you most before you've even finished school.

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.

Courses can vary in length from a few weeks to two years; this means you can choose exactly what you need. The 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 while also improving your IELTS score. This way you can be sure that your time is being used in the most effective way for you.

Career based qualifications tend to be more work-related than academic and can accelerate progress in your current career, launch you into a new career or provide a springboard onto a degree course.

Career based courses in the UK often involve strong links between institutions and industry which makes their qualifications more relevant to the workplace and improve the career prospects of the students who take them.

Courses at this level tend to be particularly flexible. Many do not have specific entry requirements, so, no matter what qualifications you currently have, you can find a course that will let you get a foot on the educational ladder.. Every type
of accredited educational institution in the UK goes through rigorous assessment, so you can be sure that you are getting a high standard of education. Quality standards for UK institutions are strict and among the best in the world. Universities, colleges and schools continually have to prove that their courses meet rigorous criteria, overseen by government appointed agencies. If you are studying for a professional qualification linked to a career (e.g. medicine or dentistry) it is a good idea to check with the professional body in your home country whether UK qualifications are recognised for work purposes. You can also check yourself that the institution you wish to attend is accredited. Official bodies check every sort of accredited educational establishment, including English language schools and independent schools. At school level, these checks will cover premises and welfare as well as educational standards. As the language of business, science, IT and the internet, English is now the accepted international language. Where better to immerse yourself in the English language than in its home?

– British Council