Have you made your decision and want to start studying in Great Britain? Those who are at the very beginning of the application process will ask themselves to what extent there are differences when applying for a degree in Great Britain compared to Germany. So what you need to consider in order to study abroad at the university of your choice in the UK. To learn more about United Kingdom and Europe, please visit prozipcodes.
The admission requirements depend primarily on the study program and the respective university: For a semester abroad in Great Britain it is often sufficient to apply just a few months in advance. On the other hand, an application for a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in the UK must be made about a year in advance.
A flat-rate application process for studying in the UK so there is not. Nevertheless, the following text provides some information on how to apply for a degree in Great Britain and which admission requirements must be observed.
UK Admission Requirements by Study Type
Whether and when it makes sense to apply to study in Great Britain depends primarily on the admission requirements of the university of choice and the study program. In contrast to Germany, almost all universities and colleges require that students have a transcript, a letter of motivation and at least one letter of recommendation.
Semester abroad / Academic Gap Year
The Study Abroad programs, in which German school leavers and students can complete a semester abroad or academic gap year in Great Britain, have relatively low admission hurdles. For a semester abroad, depending on the course chosen, some of the academic prerequisites, such as the attendance of specialist courses, must be proven. For an Academic Gap Year, the Abitur is usually sufficient. Proof of language proficiency is required for both study programs.
Bachelor degree
The minimum requirements for a Bachelor’s degree in Great Britain are slightly higher: A basic requirement is the Abitur and – depending on the subject chosen – also the attendance of certain subjects in the upper school. At some UK universities, a high school diploma is sufficient for an application.
At most British universities it is possible to apply centrally via UCAS or directly to a university. Both in the direct application and in the application via UCAS critical of the grade point average. The language certificate must be up-to-date, which means that it should not be older than two years.
Masters and doctoral studies
The admission requirements for a master’s degree in Great Britain generally include a first academic degree such as a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or diploma. In many study programs, a good grade point average is also an advantage here. It is also necessary to enclose at least two letters of recommendation with the application for a master’s degree.
Depending on the PhD position, doctoral studies can be started flexibly or on a fixed date, such as at the beginning of a new academic year. As a rule, the basic requirement in addition to the research project is a very good master’s, master’s or diploma degree. In exceptional cases it is possible to apply with an above-average Bachelor’s degree.
Application process for studying in the UK
Whether you have decided on a short-term course such as a semester abroad or a summer session or a full course.
Aside from applying through UCAS, the UK has individual university deadlines, which are often renewable. However, it is advisable to start your application as early as possible, as places in particularly popular subjects are often limited. The course selection should only be made after the respective course program for the academic year has been discontinued.
The application process for studying in Great Britain is usually well timed if you observe certain deadlines. Registration for a language test should not be made too shortly before the start of the course so that it can be repeated if necessary. It is also necessary to obtain a reference. Organizing a letter of recommendation can also take several weeks.
Language tests while applying to study in the UK
If applicants cannot prove English as their mother tongue, sufficient language skills must be demonstrated. These can be proven using standardized language tests.
For a full course, the minimum number of points required for the course should be provided in a language certificate such as the CAE, TOEFL or IELTS. For a short stay abroad, the DAAD language certificate or a good English grade on the Abitur certificate are often sufficient.
Next Steps to Prepare to Study in the UK
After a successful application you will receive your acceptance and have already mastered the biggest step towards studying abroad in Great Britain. After the acceptance, organizational tasks in particular should be dealt with.
If you have not already applied for accommodation in a student residence in your application so that the university is informed and can block places, you should do so quickly. Even those who have successfully applied for a dormitory room should apply again separately.
In addition, must be received by local tuition fees paid are. It is also advisable to take out additional health insurance and to organize ship, plane, train or bus tickets at an early stage.
