Admission into Universities in the UK, USA and Canada

Admission into Universities in the United Kingdom (UK)

Before a student qualifies for admission into any university in the UK they must have successfully completed their high school education in addition to having passed two or three A’Level (Advanced level) papers in their area of choice.

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Entry Requirements into UK Universities:

A good result from the International General Certificate for Secondary Education (IGCSE) is acceptable for admission into UK schools and colleges. Nevertheless, a student without the IGCSE result should posses an A’level (Advanced level) or AS’level (Advanced Supplementary level) papers which are the most common entry qualifications for students into UK institutions. However, most universities accept the International Baccalaureate (I.B) and the General National Vocational Qualifications (GNVQ) as equivalents to A’levels.

Application Universities in the UK

Applications are made a year earlier through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS), which forwards the applications to the chosen institutions. Individual UK schools also have direct contacts with foreign students on admission issues. You could verify their first degree guidelines via their websites.

Admission into UK Universities

UK institutions offer admission based on the grades achieved in the A’level exams or its equivalents and on vacancy situations. Some UK institutions also have a sort of preliminary programme. An initial one year academic work aimed at preparing the incoming students for the real academic work.

Provision for Workers:

This is generally for adults with good work experience but without formal qualifications. The institution must however, satisfy itself that the intending student has sufficient general standard of education.

Foreign Students:

Foreign students that were not trained in the UK are required to ascertain how their educational levels correspond to the British system. They also have to check whether their qualifications are equivalent to the UK A’level. Similarly, they must be English language literate. It is important that intending foreign students should visit the British Council close to them to check whether their qualifications are equivalents to the UK A’level. The British Council offices in various countries can tell what the equivalents of various qualifications are in Britain.

The Nigerian A’levels, National Certificate of Education, the National Diploma etc., are equivalents of the British A’levels. However, British institutions are autonomous and make their own decisions on the acceptability and recognition to be given to an international qualification. Furthermore, the institutions will test their proficiency in the English language. A foreign student could also gain admission through the pre-degree programme, which allows the student to go through a qualifying study schedule. If the candidates passes the end of the term examinations, they enter into a full degree programme.

Application

A foreign student could apply directly to the institution of his choice. But generally the British Council helps to obtain the various application forms and the test forms. Application forms for undergraduate courses in social works could be obtained through the UCAS or through the Social Work Admission System (SWAS). For Nursing in England, applications should go through the Nurses and Midwives Central Clearing House, and in Scotland, through the Centralized Applications to Nurse Training Clearing House. In Wales, applications are made directly to the institution of one’s choice.

For further information, contact the British Council in your country.

Admission into Universities in the United States of America (USA)

Apart from possessing five (5) O’level credits in relevant subjects, an applicant must possess a high score in the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to be eligible to apply and be offered admission by any university in the United States of America.

Foreign Students

A prompt visit to any United States Information Service (USIS) office will be very helpful to any intending student to an American university of college. It is also advisable that the student registers with the Educational Services Counseling Centre (ESCC) of the USIS for proper guidance leading to his final admission.

Requirements for Admission into Universities in the USA

Five credits at the SSCE or GCE O’levels preferably at one sitting is required. The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is also acceptable. The education officer at the ESCC will give further information regarding the institutions that offer various courses in the USA and the subjects required for admission. You could also visit the institution’s website for specific information.

Furthermore, every international student would be required to write the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). These standardized tests enable the institution of your choice to assess your educational capabilities. The forms for these are collected from the USIS of confirmation that admission correspondence has been opened with an institution in the USA.

Application for Admission into Universities in the USA

The main school system begins in September (Fall) though there is also a January (Spring) academic programme. Applications for admission and the administrative handling of documents could last between twelve (12) to eighteen (18) months. Foreign students are advised to start early enough in order to gain admission at the appropriate times of the year.

Admission into Universities in the USA

Institutions in the USA are autonomous. They offer admission to any international student that satisfies the conditions for foreign students’ admission.

Admission into Universities in Canada

The admission requirements into Canadian colleges and universities are about the toughest in the world. Therefore, an aspiring international student into a Canadian institution must possess very strong grades in their admission subjects in the SSSCE, NECO, GCE, GCSE, IGCSE or IB examinations and must obtain a very high score in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). It would be very advantageous (though not compulsory) to sit for and obtain good A’level scores in those core subjects needed for admission.

Entry Requirements for Canadian Universities

English language and TOEFL are compulsory requirements. “Further Mathematics” may be required for some science courses. Nevertheless, each university may specify the individual grades students must score in each admission subject to qualify for admission into any course offered by it. It is therefore necessary that an intending student passes their core qualifying subjects in their GCE, GCSE, IGCSE or IB with scores in the range of ‘As’. The prospective student should also open discussions with the university of their choice or with an admission liaison organization for proper guidance.

Application for Admission into Universities in Canada

Every application is considered on individual merit and only those with the best academic grades and records amongst others are offered admission. The school system begins in September or in January. Applications and the administrative handling of documents could last between nine (9) to twelve (12) months or more. Foreign students are advised to start early enough in order to gain admission at the appropriate times of the year.

Foreign Students Admission

An intending foreign student that satisfies the above requirements as well as shows ability to fund their education would be admitted. They must, however, start early enough especially to find the school that offers the course they intend to study and the subject combination required by the school as well as the grade that must be scored in those subjects in the ‘O or A’ level examinations.

Preparatory (Preliminary) Programme

Most Canadian institutions offer a kind of gateway-remedial-course for those who did not score very high in their secondary certificate exams. Success in this programme ensures direct entry into a main degree course but failure means that the entire effort is wasted.

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Summary

It is one thing to have all the entry qualifications, it is another to know the various combinations of factors that enhance admission. This article has carefully noted those important facts you should know regrading tertiary education and admission procedures in the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Canada. A good understanding of these information is indispensable to any intending student.

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