Prospects Postgrad UK 2007/2008 - (Page 7) SPONSORED BY www.prospects.ac.uk/PostgradUK ADVICE AND INFORMATION 7 Learning and careers aside, the social side of studying in the UK should not be overlooked. Nike Akinyele came from Nigeria to study an MSc in Economics. He found meeting people from different cultures to be one of the most rewarding parts of this experience. TOP QUALITY ‘Britain is a good place to study. It’s not all Britain is home to some of the newest and about the classroom. There are a number of THE BIG PICTURE oldest universities in the world. Both the new things to learn in the course of daily life. Thousands of international students come to and the old are involved in cutting-edge Spend a whole year in UK and you would most Britain every year from all over the world research and delivering world-class teaching. likely grow wiser,’ says Nike. because of the quality, value and support that is This reputation for quality is the result of Universities themselves contain a huge offered by UK institutions in Britain, as well as sustained efforts to assess, recognise and variety of communities grouped around special all the added extras. develop standards across the sector. interests or other common factors. There are Value, quality, support - these are all The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) is an faith groups and sports clubs. There are benefits you can enjoy while studying the independent body, responsible for making sure societies for people with a passion in anything course that interests you, whether it’s a the standards of qualifications are not just from archaeology to zombie movies. And if the postgraduate diploma in Aeronautical maintained, but constantly improved. Teams of group for you does not exist, then you could Engineering or a PhD in Latin verse poetry. appointed academics and other professionals always set one up. As Nike suggests, there is The academic experience is central to studying undertake audits and assessments of also a lot to be experienced outside the in the UK, but one of the things that really institutions up and down the country. classroom. He chose to come to the UK sets it apart is the range of transferable skills The QAA website identifies all the because of the reputation of British from which you will profit indefinitely. benchmarks which institutions must meet, as universities, but also because it is a good base Studying in the UK can give you an well as the achievements and learning from which to travel. Weekends in Barcelona, improved command of the English language outcomes that are required if courses are to Berlin and Budapest are all perfectly possible. and skills which will help you work with qualify for status as an MA or MSc, for You can fly to just about everywhere and you people in any part of the world. It can teach example. Perhaps most useful for potential can even get the train from London to Paris. If you how to communicate clearly and persuade students’ purposes are the reviews and reports this all seems daunting, remember that 25% of people effectively. It can also give you which detail the quality and standards achieved postgrads are international students, so there invaluable experience of working in teams and by all the institutions, found at are plenty of people who are keen to meet new adapting to a new culture. www.qaa.ac.uk/reviews. faces and make new friends. ‘A period of study abroad,’ says the Department for Education and Skills spokesperson, ‘can be invaluable to students and enhance their employment prospects particularly in today’s increasingly global market. Study abroad helps to broaden horizons and can help students to acquire skills and knowledge, invaluable for securing high quality employment. Skills such as the ability to work comfortably in multinational teams, an understanding of different business methods, legislation and ways of working, a better understanding and appreciation of different cultures, and adaptability and versatility.’ A number of other organisations also conduct intensive surveys, such as the Research Assessment Exercise (www.hero.ac.uk/rae) and the Times Good University Guide (www.timesonline.co.uk) all of which ensure that the quality of higher education matches its reputation. ADDED EXTRAS http://www.prospects.ac.uk/PostgradUK http://www.hero.ac.uk/rae http://www.timesonline.co.uk http://www.qaa.ac.uk/reviews
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