Want to gain a UK qualification outside the UK?
Each year, over 590,000 students worldwide gain a UK qualification… without travelling to the UK!
There are countless advantages to a UK qualification, but for many students, studying in the UK is not possible.
The good news is that many UK universities, colleges and schools
offer courses and qualifications that are taught or awarded overseas
(sometimes called ‘transnational education’ or TNE).
Why study for a UK qualification overseas?
Reputation and quality: UK
education standards are respected by employers and academics worldwide –
UK schools, colleges and universities consistently rank highly for
quality of education, student satisfaction and employment prospects.
There are rigorous quality assurance systems - courses delivered
overseas by recognised UK schools, colleges and universities are subject
to the same standards as those taught within the UK. Find out more in Gain a world-class education.
Cost: Choosing a
UK qualification delivered overseas can be more cost-effective than
studying in the UK - you can save on airfare, and living costs such as
accommodation may be cheaper. You can also continue working if you
choose to study part-time and work alongside your studies.
Looking for a scholarship? See Scholarships and financial support and the three guides to Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore below.
Career: Gaining a UK qualification will boost your employment prospects – in the 2013 QS Rankings,
employers ranked five UK universities in the global top 10, and
UK-educated international graduates have higher average
salaries. Many international students study for a UK qualification
part-time alongside a job – this lets you build experience in the
workplace and progress in your career while studying.
You’ll also benefit from studying in English, gaining international
exposure (on a UK course delivered overseas, you’re likely to meet
lecturers and students from around the world), and gaining the skills in
critical thinking and innovation that all UK degrees offer.
Flexibility: There
are thousands of undergraduate, postgraduate and professional
qualifications to choose from, available full-time or part-time.
Studying closer to home means you can stay close to friends and
family. For the experience of living abroad, however, you could choose a
programme that allows you to complete part of your course in the UK –
the best of both worlds!
What are the options?
Distance or online learning
In distance learning programmes, classes might be conducted online via
forums, instant messaging, social media, blogs and email. Some have
‘virtual’ lectures and seminars, where students participate through
webcams. You might also receive course materials in print or on CD.
These courses are ideal for part-time study, but you need to be
disciplined to ensure you complete all assignments and projects on time.
You might hear about 'massive open online courses' (MOOCs). Although a
great way to learn, typically these are not recognised qualifications.
Always double-check whether your course offers a qualification at the
end.
International branch campuses
Several UK universities, colleges and schools have a campus or academic
buildings in other countries. These campuses often have a real UK
atmosphere – lessons are taught in English, and some teachers and other
students may be from the UK. This is a great way to experience student
life, plus you’ll receive the same qualification as if you had studied
in the UK.
Franchised programmes
Sometimes known as a 3+0 programme (meaning you do the full three years
in one place, and spend no time in the UK), this is a UK degree course
studied entirely at a local institution. The UK university or college
will license a local institution to teach the course – this means the UK
institution oversees academic standards and awards the final
certification, but students don’t need to attend the UK campus.
Twinning
Students on twinning programmes will spend some time in the UK. These
are joint study programmes, where students study at one institution and
transfer to the other at a specified stage. Twinning programmes are
available as 2+1 (two years spent studying locally and one spent
overseas), 1+2 (the other way around), 1.5+1.5 (splitting your time
equally), or another balance depending on the length of your course.
Validation
In this arrangement, the course is entirely developed and taught by a
local institution, and validated by a UK institution. Although the UK
institution may not deliver the same course, there is a strict system of
accreditation to ensure the award is of the same standard as other UK
awards at the same level.
Joint, double or dual degrees
These programmes are jointly developed and recognised by two or more
institutions. The local institution might have teaching staff from the
UK, and some courses include a year abroad. At the end of the programme,
students receive either separate degrees from the two institutions
(dual award), or a degree that’s awarded jointly from both (joint
award).
Credit transfer
Sometimes called ‘articulation’, this means a UK institution recognises
the ‘credits’ a student has gained from studying at a local institution.
You might start studying in your home country and build up three or
four credits for each subject you take, for example, then transfer these
credits and continue your studies in the UK.
Top-up programmes
If you hold a 'sub-degree' which is recognised in the UK (such as an HND
or Associate degree) from a local institution, with a ‘top-up’
programme you may be able to convert this into a UK bachelor’s degree in
9 to 18 months (compared to three years for a full UK bachelor’s
programme).
Full-time or part-time
Many of these courses could be studied either
full-time or
part-time.
For undergraduate degrees, this means you could study full-time and
complete the course in three years, or study part-time (evenings and
weekends) for five or six years. You could complete a master’s degree in
one year full-time, or two years part-time. There are many more options
– check out the guides below to find out more.
Finding and choosing a UK course delivered overseas
When choosing a course, check that the UK provider is a reputable
school, college or university that is recognised by the UK government
and education bodies. Please see the following sections for more
details: Education for students aged 16 and under, Learn English, Further education, Higher education.
Online/distance learning
The
Open and Distance Learning Quality Council
(ODLQC) sets standards for distance learning and home study courses,
and can give you a list of the education providers that have been
assessed.
You can also find thousands of online and distance-learning UK courses with our
course search tool.
Just select the level and subject you want to study, then filter your
search results by ‘study mode’ (on the left side of the screen, check
the box for ‘Distance/Online’).
UK courses around the world
UK courses are available in many countries around the world. Three of
the most popular destinations are Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia:
UK courses in Singapore
In Singapore, over 50 UK universities have partnered with more than
120 Singaporean education institutions, offering 1,150 UK qualifications
to Singaporean and international students. In total, 52,000 students
are enrolled on UK courses here, studying for degrees in business,
hospitality and tourism, accounting, marketing and media, IT and much
more – plus MBAs and other postgraduate qualifications.
See
Cohort magazine, the guide for students in Singapore.
UK courses in Hong Kong
Over 30,000 students are studying for a UK qualification in Hong
Kong, with a choice of over 700 courses, and numbers are growing every
year. The UK offers 60% of non-local programmes in Hong Kong, with
high-quality teaching and facilities. Many top UK universities offer
full degree programmes through local partners, and there are courses
accredited by professional organisations such as the Chartered Institute
of Marketing and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
See our
Guide to UK qualifications in Hong Kong
UK courses in Malaysia
The UK is the leading provider of international qualification
programmes in Malaysia, with more than 58,000 students enrolled in over
800 courses annually – from pre-university through to postgraduate and
professional qualifications. Malaysia is fast becoming a leading
international education hub, and the UK qualifications offered here are
among the best in the world.
See our
Guide to UK qualifications in Malaysia