Masters in Scotland. How to enter a university in Scotland. How do you like the curriculum and teachers

Great Britain is the best place to learn English. And Scotland is one of the best options. Studying English in Scotland requires constant communication with native speakers. These are both teachers and local residents. The schools offer quality programs for those looking to move to this country or want to study. Studying a language in Scotland is one of the most effective options.

English courses in Scotland will help to understand English even for those who do not know it at all, there are special programs for beginners. You do not have to worry about understanding the information, because Russian-speaking teachers can help in this.

Learning a language in Scotland involves familiarization with the classic version of British English. This means that your pronunciation will be clear and correct. English courses in Scotland will help you to be more successful in work, study, and also improve your speech when communicating with foreigners. The only thing you need to take care of is obtaining a visa and choosing a school with the desired program. And with this you will be helped inLogosStudyGroup!

English language training in Scotland is carried out according to specially developed programs and time-tested methods. There are directions with different intensity and duration. The main ones are:

English for beginners (Beginners ). The program allows you to learn English from scratch, even if the language practice is completely absent.
Business course. You can learn English in Scotland on your own, when at work you constantly need to deal with foreign partners and documentation in English. You can send a whole group of employees for advanced training.
Exam preparation program. The School of English in Scotland helps prepare applicants for the entrance exams. The tasks for the test are being worked outIELTS if you want to study in the UK, USA, Canada and other countries. The programs are also good for students.
Intensive English. Intensive language courses in Scotland are an opportunity to quickly “improve” in English, start speaking more confidently, and gain a lot of knowledge.

School of English in Scotland will be useful not only for those who learn the basics of the language. Russian teachers also often need such courses. This is a worthy professional development, upon completion of training a certificate is issued. It is especially useful for private teachers. When studying English in Scotland, you can adopt many effective methods that will be practiced when teaching Russian students.

Choosing the right school

Choosing a School is difficult. You can learn a language in Scotland anywhere. Decent options are available in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Sterling and other cities. CompanyLogosStudyGroup for a long time provides an opportunity to easily go to a good school. We know all the subtleties and will help with paperwork. We give advice and select the best option.

How much do the courses cost? It all depends on the specific school and program. For those looking to study English in Scotland, the cost of a 2 week course will be around £ 600. The price is also influenced by the included (if possible) meals and accommodation.

Do you want to know English at a more advanced level? It is better to do this in the UK, in his homeland. And Scotland is a great choice!

What are the features of studying in Scotland? For starters, it should be noted that the Scottish system is similar to the British education system. However, Scots are confident that their education system is significantly better. Whether it is true or not, it will probably be up to those who intend to study there or teach their children. We can only confidently cite the following generally accepted facts and benefits of Scottish education.

Benefits of education in Scotland

scottish diplomas are recognized in all countries of the world;
high quality education;
in teaching a number of specialties: oil and gas industry, engineering, information technology and various kinds of applied sciences, universities in Scotland are among the top leaders;
affordable cost of studying and living in the country;
high quality of language teaching in linguistic courses.

Objectively speaking, there are still differences in the Scottish education system compared to the British education program. They are noticeable already from elementary school, which lasts up to 12 years. After graduating from primary school, children take tests and enter secondary school, where education lasts another 3 years. This is followed by admission to colleges and universities. The student himself chooses what to do: to study for another 2 years in secondary school in order to receive a certificate of higher education, or at the age of 15 after passing the exams to enter one of the country's colleges.

If, nevertheless, a student decides to graduate from a higher secondary school, then with the received certificate he will be able to subsequently enter any university in the country. Students from the CIS countries or from other countries will also need to have an appropriate certificate for admission. In addition, the applicant must be fluent in English. The overall TOEFL score must be at least 550 or 5.5 on the IELTS test program. And for admission to medical and legal specialties, at least 600-700 points or, respectively, 6-7 points in IELTS.

Language courses in Scotland

To learn the language perfectly, it is recommended to take national linguistic courses. The learning outcome will exceed your expectations, as great attention is paid to the quality of language teaching. The Department of Education maintains strict control over the effectiveness of training in these courses, not only for local residents, but also for foreign citizens.

Going to college in Scotland

Another optimal and best option for enrolling in a university is going to college. Upon graduation from college, you will study the features of local educational programs, learn the language more thoroughly, as a result of which you will have a number of advantages in admission, compared with other foreign students. The advantage of studying in college is that after graduation, you can confidently enroll in any university. You will be immediately enrolled in the second or third year in your chosen specialty. This is possible due to the fact that the management of universities and colleges in advance made an agreement on the possibility of entering universities after graduating from colleges, bypassing 1-2 years of study.

After graduating from a university or institute, a student can continue his studies for a master's or doctor's degree. To obtain a master's degree, you need to study a year, and for a doctor's degree - 3 years.

Features of educational programs at Scottish universities

The peculiarities of educational programs in Scottish universities are that they are characterized by flexible teaching schemes. Students, in addition to the subjects that should be passed through the program, can choose any subjects from parallel study programs. During the study, special attention is paid to the passage of practice, as a result of which students develop practical work skills.

The success of the training is determined by the small number of students in the groups, the multinational composition of the students and the high qualifications of the teachers. The process of processing and sending the necessary documents to universities in Scotland should be done in advance, about 1-2 years before admission.

Many people want to study abroad, some have all the necessary resources for this. But which country to choose for education, what are the rules of admission and features of education itself in a particular country?

In this article, read about how to enter a university in England, what is needed for this, and what knowledge an applicant should have.

Is free education abroad real?

Many European countries offer foreign applicants the opportunity to study for free. Among them, France, Finland, Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark and some others. In order to use the program, you need excellent knowledge of a foreign language, a high score on the entrance exam, but in principle anything is possible.

Unfortunately, universities in England do not provide free education for foreign citizens. But this limitation can be bypassed, if you competently approach the paperwork.

So, if you come to the UK under refugee status, you can count on government assistance, get a job and subsequently apply for permanent residence in England. This will provide an opportunity to enroll in budgetary places in a state educational institution..

Another option is to take advantage of all kinds of grants from international organizations, but for this you need to have extraordinary abilities, to bypass competitors in competitions or international Olympiads.

Another option for free study abroad is student exchange programs, which enable residents of the CIS to enter the university even with the appointment of a scholarship and receiving a free hostel.

To study under the exchange program, you can independently go to the website of the educational institution and get comprehensive advice on the requirements for foreign students. Usually you need knowledge of English, confirmed by an IELTS 6.5 certificate. But if you plan to study English, you may be accepted with a lower IELTS score.

Studying a language abroad can be the beginning for further education, obtaining a master's degree or getting a job. through education is one of the most popular ways.

Education in Scotland - the path to a fulfilling life

Of all the English universities, educational institutions of Scotland stand out. This country has rich experience in creating an educational system aimed not only at acquiring knowledge, but also at self-education of students. It was in Scotland that four of the first six were discovered.

The number of foreign students in universities in this country reaches 45%, while only about 15% of young people study there from the UK. This indicates rather flexible conditions for receiving citizens of other countries.

Against the background of the British educational system, Scottish institutions are trying to stand out, they believe their education system is better and of higher quality.

Universities in Scotland, as well as other English institutions, accept students from 18 years old... Therefore, after graduating from school in your country, you should go to the Foundation Course, which is open especially for foreign students. A single Scottish preparatory program for such applicants is called SIPF, it will cost about 10-11.5 thousand pounds. But its successful completion makes it possible to enter almost any university.
The end of the preparatory course is marked by the passing of the exam (comprehensive final work in English) and the IELTS or TOEFL language test.

Requirements for applicants for admission to a university in Scotland

Each applicant must have a TOEFL 550 points or IELTS 5.5 points. Some universities require a level of at least 600 or 6 in English. For medical and legal specialties, the level is even higher - not less than 7 points.

The safest path for applicants is to complete a two-year study at a Scottish college and then take the Foundation Course. Having received a certificate of graduation from secondary education, you are admitted to the state entrance examinations.

Features of admission

The very procedure for admission takes place through the nationwide British service UCAS. And the procedure and the collection of the necessary documents should begin 1 year before the scheduled date, approximately in September. It is impossible to send documents directly to selected universities... It is on the website of the UCAS system (www.ucas.ac.uk) that you can download all the necessary documents, and the system itself will send them out to educational institutions.

By the way, after registering on the website, the student has a personal page where he can track the process of considering applications.

The system of admission to universities in Scotland is very flexible, like the education system itself. The grading system is built in such a way that the received points in subjects can be counted when moving from one institution to another.

The student is free to choose the disciplines studiedeven if they are not included in the main program. Some may receive a so-called double education (not to be confused with two higher degrees!) "Joint degree".

An applicant can enter the basic course ( undergraduate), and then continue training in a narrow specialization ( postgraduate). There are two programs in the universities of Scotland:

Master's degree (one year of study after 4 years of higher education);
Doctor's degree (three years of advanced study in a chosen subject).

Be that as it may, experts recommend submit documents before January 15 for all specialties, although the deadline for foreigners is June 30. But many universities may run out of vacancies by this time. If you plan to get a medical specialty, then you need to have time to submit the documents before October 15.

By July, your applications are guaranteed to be reviewed and a decision will be made to accept or reject your application.

Visa to Scotland - how to apply (detailed video)

The British Visa Application Centers are responsible for issuing Scottish visas. Or rather, there is no separate visa to Scotland, there are visas to the UK, which means that you can move freely throughout the United Kingdom.
There are the following types of visas:

Original invitation from the university (CAS-Letter);
International passport and internal passport;
2 photos;
Certificate of successful passing of tests in English;
Document confirming admission to the selected university;
Bank statement with the presence of an amount sufficient to make payment and living expenses;
Copies of documents for property in the country of residence (if any);
Certificate from the place of study in the country of residence;
Marriage or divorce certificate (if any);
Copies of birth certificates of children (if any).

When leaving a person under 18 years old, a notarized permission from the parents is required.

Having received a visa, you can safely go towards a new life. Upon graduation, you will be able to find a job and get a work visa, and subsequently a residence permit in Scotland and throughout the UK.

Note that not all immigration methods require so little funds. In fact, you will need to pay for tuition, and not fabulous sums for the country's economy.
Go for it and you will succeed!

Glasgow Caledonian University is one of the largest universities in Scotland and the only modern Scottish university to enter the world's top rankings. It has a reputation for being one of the UK's most innovative and dynamic universities. It also ranked second in Scotland (and eleventh in the UK) in terms of graduate employment success (Higher Education Statistic Agency, 2013).

Kristina Kovalchuk, who is currently studying at GCU on the MSc Human Resource Management program, spoke about her studies at Glasgow Caledonian University.

Christina entered GCU with a law degree from RUDN University and several years of work experience, so her view of admission and study is especially interesting.

You will learn:

- about the specifics of training after changing the specialty,
- how the compulsory internship is going,
- tips for finding accommodation for students,

and many more useful and interesting information for those who are planning their admission to a foreign magistracy!

What makes this interview unusual is the fact that Christina began her studies in January. There are fewer such master's programs, but they are, and this can be a good option for those who for some reason missed the September programs.

About preparation and admission

Christina, I remember that at the time of choosing a study program, you already had work experience. Tell me, what were your tasks? Why did you decide to apply for a master's degree?

I wanted to find a job that I liked, but it didn’t work because I had no experience in this field. I tried to get a job as an assistant in order to develop already in the department, but it didn't work out, because at the previous place of work I had a leading position. An internship could have helped, but this was also difficult, since I graduated from the university three years ago. So I decided to continue my education. It also happened that there was an opportunity to study abroad, and I thought that later I would regret it if I did not use it.

Have you only considered foreign universities? Or Russian too?

I thought about Russia, but human resource management is still too young a specialty. And it was also very important for me that practice was included in the training.

In your opinion, was it possible to do something differently at the selection stage? What advice would you give to those who are choosing universities now?

I think I did everything right. But the advice is this: you need to understand well what you want and why - in the last year, only this will help you pull yourself together and cope with all the difficulties that arise during admission (choose the right universities, prepare all the documents, etc.).

You have chosen a Scottish university, this is unusual. Most of the guys really want to study in London, although I always say that Scotland also has very good universities and many opportunities. Now, after several months of study, what do you like and dislike about Scotland?

Glasgow residents think that they have a very large city, but I am from Moscow, and I don't think so. One of the advantages of Scotland is that it is cheaper to live here than in London. At the same time, the university's rating is also high and it meets all my criteria - it's not a fact that in London I could find something better.

Tell us how you settled in the city.

I arrived without booking my accommodation in advance. So I had a week left to find myself some accommodation. It was emotionally difficult, I thought: where should I go to sleep when my days at the hotel are over? I went to one private hostel, but there were only places there for September, and they recommended me the next one, where I found a room. I didn't even regret it, because the difference was 3-4 pounds a week, and I liked the place there better. Therefore, I advise you to find a place to stay in advance. If this is not done, it may turn out that you have to choose from two not very good options - for example, a room with a shared bathroom and a studio, for which you have to pay unreasonably high.

In my dorm, you have to pay for the year and separately for the summer. It costs about £ 120 per week, which includes internet, water and electricity. Own bathroom, common kitchen for the apartment (there are 5 rooms in the apartment). In summer there are few people - 4 foreign women. And from July to January I lived with the Scots.

About studies and classmates

Was there an introductory week at the university? Did you help with any organizational issues?

Yes, we had a welcome party for students of different courses who started studying in January. There were also various meetings - they talked about student clubs, held games for communication. It is difficult to find friends on my course, because classes are 3 times a week, the group is small, about 15 people, and it is often mixed with other students (with correspondence students and full-time students, with those who started in September, etc.). Therefore, in addition to these 15 people, people often change.

My classmates are on average my age - 26 years old, there are also older. I myself was surprised: usually the age after bachelor's degree is 22-23 years old, but we have only a couple of such people. There are 4 foreigners, the rest are Scots and British. There are two foreigners in the September set, although the group is larger, so there are not very many foreigners on the course.

You have a friendly group, can you establish contacts?

In general, yes, but it turned out that everyone has their own life. We communicate for study, we can go somewhere, but friendship does not develop very well - after all, such are already adults. I mainly communicate with those whom I met in a more informal setting, at university meetings.

How many days per week do you study?

In the first trimester, there were three days of three modules, one module lasts three hours - that is, almost the whole day is busy. And in the second trimester, one subject is Research Design, this is the methodology of writing a dissertation. They talk about what are the approaches to the construction of research, how to make such and such a strategy. Classes are held once a week, and I combine this trimester with practice - I go to work 4 days a week. In the third trimester, we will study again 3-4 days a week.

How do you like the curriculum and teachers?

Everything is interesting. It's a little difficult only because of the English (it's not as good as it seems to me), and it would be easy to learn that way.

Teachers are practitioners, but not invited from the company, as sometimes happens. I love that they interact with us in class. For example, a teacher is giving a lecture where there are several functions, but she does not open them, but asks us - what are these functions? And you get involved in the process, participate, if you are interested. I almost never spoke at the institute, I just listened, and here I even wonder what kind of active student I am.

Do you have any educational projects, case studies?

Yes, we do have workshops - for example, tasks in the computer class. The very first module on the course was personal development, and there were interesting trainings, similar to team building. We were there together with MBA students. The workshop went on all day, it was interesting - we talked, there were cases and psychological tasks.

How do you like the GCU business school itself? Do you use any additional resources, opportunities?

There is a Learning and Development Center where you can bring your coursework and work on the language. They can give recommendations on the structure, point out errors. There is also a career center, but there are consultations - they will not be sent to the company and will not help to get to an interview. But they tell you which sites you need to register on and how best to write a resume. This was all very helpful.

Overall Glasgow Caledonian University Do you like it?

Yes. Especially the fact that it is quite easy to achieve changes there if you don't like something in the learning process. For example, labor law was taught to us by a teacher from another faculty, and this is the only subject in which we did not have presentations. The presentation helps a lot, if you have lost the thread, you can understand what the speech is about or at least to which point you have already moved. Therefore, it was difficult without presentations, and not only for me. We said this, and almost immediately they began to give us lectures with presentations. That is, they listen very carefully to the opinions of students.

About internship

Please tell us about your internship. Where do you intern and how did you find this place?

I started thinking about it back in the spring, because in May I had to hand over the lists of who was training where. Our tutor told me that they help international students find a place because we have no connections. After he submitted my resume to companies, I was invited for two interviews. The first time was from a company that does charity work, helping people with serious illnesses. I really didn't want to be taken there. I didn't like it there - the company is small, the department is small and they hardly knew what they wanted from me at all. And it was embarrassing to refuse. As a result, a Scotsman was chosen from 11 people.

The second time I got into a transport company that deals with bus transportation. It turned out that this was a factory - and I had never been to a factory, so it was interesting.

And how does everyone go? Are you given a real job, are you given tasks?

Yes, I was very lucky with the boss. He explains everything to me, and when I have finished my work and sit down next to me, he tells me exactly what task he is currently performing and how. I am doing an internship in HR in the Training and Development department, and at meetings they also ask my opinion: “What do you think should be done?”, They are interested in my view of the issue and ideas.

Is your Scottish accent no problem?

At work - no, because, it seems to me, they are trying to speak to me more clearly: they answer me "yes", but among themselves - this is their "ay". I can understand teachers, employees at work, but I, for example, cannot order a taxi or receive delivery - for me it is very difficult. I hardly understand couriers and drivers, they don't understand me either))

How long is your internship?

Mandatory were 20 days, this is 4 weeks, but more is possible.

About plans for the future

What are your future plans? Can you stay on a visa for a while after graduation - for an internship, for example?

My visa ends in May, and the course ends in March. If I have the opportunity to stay for an internship, then I will, of course, but in general I do not plan to work here. The main reasons are language and visa. For example, Italians from our course can work here without a visa, and my employer will have to face this problem. And while I am not yet such a good specialist to justify such troubles. But let's see how it turns out - if there is another internship, I would stay, of course.

Glasgow like it?

Yes. But it is cooler here than in England and the weather is very changeable.

Have you traveled somewhere, traveled to England and Scotland?

I have been to Manchester and Edinburgh. It can be seen that the British are so calmer, and the Scots are active, sociable. Russians are well treated - I had no problems with that, either in a group or on the street. There are almost no Russians in Glasgow itself, I haven’t met anyone from Russia yet, although I know that they are among the students at the university. But in Edinburgh I heard Russian speech both in the store and on the street.

(Some of the photos are courtesy of Christina!}

Many thanks to Christina for the communication, many useful tips and interesting information!

Did you enjoy the interview? These articles will also be useful and interesting:

(3 key steps)

Scots consider their education (both secondary and higher) to be better than English and strive to necessarily stand out against the background of the general British system. Differences appear in elementary school. Children in Scottish schools are not six years old, but seven and move to high school at the age of 12.

From 5 to 12 years old, children attend primary school ( primary schoolAt the age of 12, they transfer to secondary school ( secondary school). At the age of 15, schoolchildren take exams for a general certificate of secondary education Scottish Certificate of Education (SCE Standard Grade)corresponding to English GCSE. After that, the student can either go to a college of further education, or continue his studies at school to obtain a higher level certificate (Higher Grade). To do this, you need to study from 16 to 18 years old and pass exams in 5 or 6 subjects. This certificate is enough to enter universities.

To study in other parts of the United Kingdom or to get into one of the top universities, you must complete the so-called "sixth year" of school and receive a certificate Scottish Certificate of Sixth Year Studies (SCSYS), which is equivalent to a UK-wide diploma GCE A-level... Now, instead of the SCSYS certificate, graduates are issued a certificate Advanced Higher... It generally complies with A-level - Higher and Advanced Higher certificates are recognized by all UK universities.

Some schools provide an opportunity to take exams directly to obtain an English A-level. Most schools for older children

There are 43 colleges in Scotland for special or further education (similar to Russian technical schools). They offer academic and professional qualifications in most subjects, from entry level to level higher education diploma... In colleges, you can get a specialty in the following areas: information technology, the study of business fundamentals, electronics, engineering, sports, tourism, interior and exterior design, healthcare, media, finance. After a year of full-time study here you can get Higher National Certificate, and students who have studied for two years become owners Higher Education Diploma.

An alternative to college education can be preparatory programs Foundation... There is also a single Scottish International Preparatory Program SIFP, the successful completion of which gives graduates the opportunity to enroll in almost any university in Scotland.

The usual length of study at a university is bachelor degree - 4 years. The last year gives students the opportunity to obtain a Bachelor with Honors degree. The first two years they study a wide range of basic subjects, and then two more years are devoted to special disciplines in the chosen profile.

Basic courseat the Scottish University (undergraduate) lasts 4 years. Curriculum flexibility is inherent in local universities. Students have the opportunity to study a wide variety of disciplines, even if they are taught in different faculties. Graduates can be awarded double degrees (joint degrees), for example, in accounting and economics. Some educational institutions offer so-called (sandwich courses) aimed at gaining practical experience while studying.

Entry Requirements for Scotland Universities

Entry requirements are quite high. Typically the baseline for applicants is 550 TOEFL or 5.5 points on IELTS... Some university departments require a score of 600 or 6. And the medical and law faculties require at least 7 points. The most reliable way to enter a Scottish university is to study the final two years in a Scottish school or college, to complete the program Foundation Course... In these courses, international students are prepared to obtain a Scottish high school diploma. At the end of the program, students pass the state exams required for admission to universities.

The procedure for admission to Scottish higher education institutions is no different from admission to English institutions and is carried out through a nationwide service UCAS... The procedure for admission and paperwork should be started as early as possible: 1-2 years before the start of training. Time will allow you to choose university, really assess your capabilities, prepare and pass all entrance exams on time ..

In order to enter a Scottish university, you need not only good, but very good knowledge english... We recommend that you improve your language at courses in Scotland itself. Many language centers are part of the Scottish Consortium for Teaching English ( SELTIC), which controls the quality of teaching. Local schools offer a variety of options from general English to superintensive, exam preparation and university admissions.

The system of admission to higher education institutions in Scotland as a basic course ( undergraduate), and for those wishing to narrowly specialize in some particular field of knowledge (postgraduate), is as flexible as the entire system of higher education. Structure of education allows students to receive a grading system that is credited to them when moving from one educational institution to another. If a student wants to change the faculty or university, then the marks are counted in accordance with the conditions of the chosen educational institution.

Postgraduate education (postgraduate) available to all who have graduated from recognized educational institutions around the world. Scottish universities have an intensive one-year Master's degree program and a three-year Advanced Doctor's degree program.

Scotland is a country of ancient traditions and the latest scientific and technical achievements. Studying here is prestigious and promising!