The UK has always been one of the most popular study abroad destinations for Chinese students. Many students have the idea of studying in the UK. However, many students fall into the trap due to lack of experience and some misunderstandings about studying in the UK.Analysis of misunderstandings when applying to study in the UKApply to study in the UK, ,Postgraduate application for studying in the UK, ,PhD Application in the UKThe problem.
Analysis of misunderstandings when applying to study in the UK
1. Analysis of misunderstandings when applying to study in the UK
Myth 1: It doesn’t matter if you haven’t chosen a good major, just go abroad first.
The purpose of studying abroad is not only to learn the world's cutting-edge and industry knowledge, but also to learn the learning styles and methods of other countries so that you can benefit from them throughout your life.
Therefore, when choosing a major for studying abroad, you must first be clear in your mind about which field you want to develop in the future and have a specific plan for your career development. When choosing a major, you must carefully study the course settings, mainly the content of the courses, and pay attention to practicality.
In addition, you should have a detailed understanding of the conditions and professional settings of foreign institutions, because different institutions in the same country often have different course settings for the same major.
For example, in the same Marketing major, the focus of Strategic Marketing will be different from that of International Marketing course settings.
For example, TESOL (teaching of English to speakers of other languages), some schools focus on teaching methods, while some schools have simpler courses and focus on the knowledge of the language itself. Then we have to make corresponding choices based on our own shortcomings and future work development plans.
Myth 2: The xx major in the UK is very good, so I will choose this one
Instead of blindly following the choices of others, you should consider whether the road is suitable for you or the shoes are suitable for you. Although the diplomas of popular majors such as IT, finance, and business are highly valuable, the competition for admission is extremely fierce. In addition, due to the serious phenomenon of crowding, some professional fields have already seen a phenomenon of saturation of talents.
There is no such thing as a good major that makes it easy to find a job. Only students with suitable majors and abilities will have more employment opportunities.
Myth 3: The higher the school ranking, the better. Ranking is everything.
Many students and parents in China think that since the admission rate to the UK is so high, they must go to a university with a high ranking and a big reputation. The ranking standards of various UK universities are different, and the rankings can sometimes vary greatly. Therefore, students who care about world rankings can use the reputation of the school as a reference, but it is not a substantial determining factor.
Students should look at the rankings rationally, and should consider details such as majors, geographical environment, tuition fees, and course settings comprehensively. After all, only the one that suits them should be chosen.
Myth 4: A master’s degree in the UK only takes one year and is of low value
The characteristic of a British master's degree is "short, flat and fast", but this does not mean that its value will be reduced.
Because in this one-year period, various teaching courses are intensively arranged. There are three semesters a year, and students study 8-12 courses. Students basically have no holidays, which is equivalent to condensing two years into one year. Students learn a lot in one year.
In addition to lectures, the course also includes tutorials and seminars, which fully train students' academic research and thinking and expression abilities.
The teacher will usually give you a long reading list before class. During class, the teacher will assume that everyone has prepared in advance, so he or she will start with in-depth explanations directly. The seminar will also start with group discussions of viewpoints and finally summarize the research conclusions.
If you don’t work hard, you will easily fall behind your classmates. This orthodox and rigorous teaching style also ensures the high reputation of British education.
Myth 5: The cost of studying in the UK is high and ordinary families cannot afford it
The United Kingdom is divided into four parts: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Tuition fees for different schools and majors vary, and living expenses in different regions vary, so the cost of studying abroad varies greatly.
Among them, London, as one of the cities with the highest consumption levels and the largest number of universities in the world, the annual cost of studying abroad may be as high as 350,000 to 400,000 yuan, or even higher.
However, in cities in Scotland and Wales, and some small towns in England, the annual cost of studying abroad can be less than 200,000 yuan, which is a big difference.
Therefore, measuring the cost of studying abroad from a country's macro perspective is often not of practical reference value. Accurate judgment should be made based on specific cities, schools, and majors.
In addition, British universities offer generous scholarships, the most famous of which is the Chevening Scholarship, which is very high and covers full tuition, round-trip airfare between China and the UK, living allowance, etc. There are also various part-time jobs and internships to help you earn living expenses. If your family conditions allow, you should still seize the opportunity to go out and see the world.
2. Main categories of universities for studying in the UK
1. Classical University
The old British aristocratic collegiate universities include Oxford, Cambridge and Durham.
Old Scottish universities, such as St Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh
2. Red Brick University
Including the University of Bristol, the University of Sheffield, the University of Birmingham, the University of Leeds, the University of Manchester and the University of Liverpool
3. England’s oldest university
Durham,Oxford,Cambridge
The most prominent feature of these universities is their college system. Colleges are completely autonomous in their property, government and internal affairs, but the university awards degrees and determines the conditions for students to be awarded degrees. Students can only become students of the university if they are accepted by the college. For example, to apply to Cambridge University, you must choose a college in Cambridge University to apply. If you are not accepted by the college, you cannot be admitted to Cambridge University and become a member of it. So only if one of the colleges accepts you can you become a student of Cambridge. It is also worth noting that these colleges do not represent departments.
4. Scotland’s oldest university
University of St Andrews (1411); University of Glasgow (1451); University of Aberdeen (1495); Edinburgh (1583).
The University of London was chosen by Royal Charter in 1836 as an institution for the examination and approval of the degrees of students in schools. Until 1900, the University of London was limited to these functions, but when he exercised these functions, it influenced and coordinated from time to time with other universities and colleges in London. From 1858, the degrees of the University of London, except for medicine, could be studied and obtained by students in certain designated learning institutions. The University of London was the first university in the UK to grant degrees to women (in 1878). Today, the University of London is not only a teaching institution, but also an examination institution, and it has become an academic federation, where it unites higher hospital schools and non-medical schools that cooperate with hospitals, such as King's College London, as well as many research institutes and some academic institutions.
5. University of Wales Alliance
The University of Wales consists of the following universities and colleges and medical schools: University of Strathclyde, University of Wales, Bangor University, Cardiff University, Swansea University, St David's University, Lampeter University, and the University of Wales College of Medicine.
6. New Science and Technology University
This category includes: Aston University, Bath University, Bradford University, Brunel University, City University, Heriot-Watt University, Loughborough University, Salford University, Surry University, and Aberystwyth University.
The ten new universities were the result of Robbins's report on higher education in 1963. Strathclyde University and Heriot-Watt University were formerly Scottish Central Academic Institutions, both of which are advanced scientific and technological institutions.
7. Open University
The Open University is an online distance education university. It received the Royal Charter in 1969. It has no formal entry requirements for undergraduate courses and is designed to help students who cannot study in existing higher education institutions to achieve their dreams. Teaching methods include: written textbooks, face-to-face teacher teaching, short-term boarding schools, radio, television, audio tapes, video tapes, computers and home experiment packages. The university also offers continuing education courses, including in-service teacher training, management training, and also provides short-term science and technology courses for community education. This form of teaching began in 1971.
8. Private universities
The University of Buckingham is a privately financed institution. Its first student was admitted in February 1976. It received a Royal Charter as early as 1983 and was named Buckingham Palace University. The university is still privately financed and offers two-year courses, each year consisting of four semesters of 10 weeks. The main subject areas are: law, accountancy, science and economics, and it can now award bachelor's degrees and has the right to award master's degrees.
3. Ways to learn English in the UK
1. English Course Center
There are many English centers in the UK that aim to provide foreigners with a good English education. Depending on your English level and the relevant areas you want to improve, you can find a good institution.
Currently, there are more than 500 courses in the UK that are accredited by official regulatory bodies. In addition, university campuses offer many summer camps where you can learn English, make friends and have fun. In addition to regular English courses where you can attend lectures in person, there are many online courses to learn English in the UK.
In addition to these courses, the UK also offers free websites for foreigners in the UK to help you learn the English skills you need.
2. Watching TV and listening to the radio
Television can't give you a real-life feel, but it can help you keep up with your spoken English. Watching comedies is especially helpful for learning English in the UK, where you can learn to understand an expression beyond its literal meaning, and is a great way to improve your critical thinking in a foreign language.
Listening to the radio may be more helpful because you will be used to taking in information using only one human sense. Normally, our brains construct information based on the different cues it receives through our senses. However, if you only listen to podcasts, it will definitely be more challenging.
The good thing about listening to local radio is that it doesn't interfere with your daily activities: you can listen while traveling, or stay at home and do other things, etc. Don't stress if it's difficult at first. Learn to be more patient and turn an annoying thing into a pleasant one in a short time.
3. Hire an English tutor
If you feel that you need some extra preparation and supervision, you can hire an English tutor. Regardless of your English level, there are many different tutors who can provide you with the knowledge you need. You can always find a tutor, or even schedule your own lessons. You can choose to meet him/her face-to-face or communicate through a medium such as Skype. A good and experienced tutor will probably notice your English deficiencies and will tell you how to overcome them.
4. Read an English book before going to bed
It is a good habit to read an English book before going to bed, pick up a random magazine or read an article on any topic online and learn new vocabulary. Reading a book is definitely more challenging than going out and having a casual conversation with locals because the language used in the book is at a higher level, but the effect is also obvious. If you are a student waiting to enter a British university, you need to start accustoming yourself to reading books of a higher academic level. If you are just an ordinary person living and working in the UK, you can start with a more readable book.
Analysis and summary of misunderstandings when applying to study in the UK
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