Romanian Studies in the UK

Romanian Studies in the UK

Undergraduate Study

		Where to find more information
		For information about types of courses, qualifications, types of institutions and fees, please refer to the British Council Education info sheets Choosing your degree & Institution and Higher education tuition fees from 2006: EU students

		Can I compare universities and colleges?
		Yes. There are two ways: 1. By looking at the Teaching Quality Assessment results. Teaching Quality Assessments are carried out by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), which gives official review reports by subject and by institution. 2. By looking at the unofficial rankings compiled by various publications. This includes The Times newspaper (The Times Good University Guide,which ranks by institution and subject), and The Guardian newspaper, which ranks by subject. It is the opinion of the British Council that there is no such thing as the "best" university but that there are always institutions or departments of those institutions that are rated the "best" in a particular subject.

		What qualifications will I need?
		All institutions accept overseas students on a competitive basis. You should get details of the course requirements from the institution's current prospectus or direct from the faculty (for institution web sites see www.educationuk.org ). Overseas applicants should have qualifications equivalent to A-levels or to other equivalent qualifications. Romanian applicants do not need to have an International Bacalaureate. The Romanian Baccalaureate is considered as meeting entry requirements to UK higher education institutions provided high marks have been obtained (8 and above).

		English language proficiency
		You should be able to speak and write English well. Most universities and colleges will ask you to provide formal proof of your standard. It is worth checking this early to make sure you have enough time to take an English language test well in advance. The EFL (English as a Foreign Language) Cambridge examinations are : International English Language Testing System (IELTS) band 6 or above Certificate of Proficiency in English or Certificate in Advanced English grade C For the grades/scores required by each institution in order to satisfy the English language requirement for admission, see table at http://www.cambridge-efl.org/. It is possible to take English language and other exams at the British Council. For tests availability, fees and registration, please visit the examinations section on this site.

		Steps to follow
		Once you have shortlisted your preferred courses and colleges, you should get the college prospectuses - these are also available on the Internet and can be accessed at www.educationuk.org. Complete an online UCAS application form through ucasapply (www.ucas.com/apply). You can apply for up to six courses on one form. You can apply through UCAS from 1 September of the year before your course starts. Applications for clinical subjects (such as medicine) and Oxford and Cambridge must be in by 15 October. For all other courses apply as early as possible - non-EEA applicants can apply until the end of June. You should be aware that some courses, such as medicine, require an interview, while others (dance, drama) ask for an audition or (art and design) a portfolio. UCAS will handle your application from the UK, and tell you whether you have been made any offers. For more information on UCAS, refer to the UCAS web site at www.ucas.com

		Where can I find more information?
		Education UK This British Council web site is the first port of call for all international students interested in studying for a UK course or qualification. HE students' gateway The Department for Education and Skills' web pages for higher education students and for professionals interested in the education policy in the UK. Student UK An online guide to British universities, written by and for students, with message boards, chat, radio, and advice. Approved by UCAS. UCAS - Universities and Colleges Admissions Service UCAS is the UK central organisation through which applications are processed for entry to full-time undergraduate courses, foundation degrees, HNDs and university diplomas in the UK. From September 2005 the applications are made electronically only through ucasapply.

Postgraduate

	Master Degrees, Research, Doctoral Degrees (PhD)

A postgraduate degree is awarded after the successful completion of either a taught course or a period of research. Taught Master’s programmes give students a deeper knowledge of a specialised subject. They can act as a way of moving from one discipline to another or as preparation for research. Research programmes involve individual supervision by a faculty member. The emphasis on personal guidance and independent study is a key characteristic of research degrees in the UK. a. Taught courses b. Research programmes a. Taught courses

		How should I choose my course and institution?
		Decide which subject you wish to study. It is usual to study the same subject as your first degree, or a related subject, but not necessarily. There are also conversion Masters, which are designed to help you move into a new subject. A typical example could be a student with a background in Science or Mathematics moving to Computer Science via a conversion Masters course, but it is also possible for a graduate from a non-numerate subject, such as History, to follow a conversion course in Finance & Accountability. Carry out thorough research into the programmes available –www.educationuk.org. for course and institution information (see also Postgrad: the directory of graduate studies and Prospects: Postgraduate directory Check the results of the subject reviews at www.qaa.ac.uk/reviews/

		What types of taught postgraduate qualifications are available?
		There are broadly four types: Master’s degree (Master of Arts, Master of Science, but also specialisms such as Master of Laws and Master of Education) Master of Business Administration (MBA), either general or specialist (see MBAs below) Certificates and diplomas such as the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), the postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and the Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) New Route Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

		What are the entry requirements?
		In order to be admitted on to a postgraduate programmes you need to: Have the equivalent to a UK first degree in a relevant subject. As regards Romanian applicants, the Romanian licenţă is equalled to a General (Ordinary) Bachelor degree, the last of the four types of UK undergraduate programmes. Have achieved well in terms of academic performance (be an at least Upper Second Class graduate). For Romanian applicants this means to have achieved at grade 8 and above. Have English language qualifications. These will usually be an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) grade 6, or a Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) grades A and B, or a Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) grade C, or a TOEFL score of 550. For requests by individual institutions check Cambridge ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages). All but the last test mentioned can be sit at the British Council

		Next steps
		Draw up a shortlist of institutions and courses. There is no restriction on the number of institutions to which you can apply. Obtain postgraduate application forms from all of them (there is not a standard form and you will need to apply direct to each university) Start your application procedure at least twelve months before the proposed start date (usually October). If you are applying for a scholarship, apply at least one year before the course starts. You must arrange for some accommodation (even if only temporary) before you arrive in the UK. Once you have been accepted on to a course, apply for accommodation immediately (either university owned or private). For more information, check www.educationuk.org. and the British Council education information sheets at B.Research programmes The United Kingdom’s research base is exceptional. It contributes almost a tenth of the world’s research output. This is one of the many reasons why you should consider coming to the United Kingdom (UK) to do postgraduate research. You can specialise in almost any subject area and you will leave with a prestigious qualification that will add to your knowledge and help your career.

		How should I start to choose my research topic and institution?
		A good place to start is the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) www.hero.ac.uk/rae/index.htm. This is an official assessment conducted every five years and gives a ranking, by subject, for research at each institution. The last RAE was carried out in 2001 and graded research from 1 (lowest) to 5 (world class research). For more information, refer to Quality issues in this series. As important as finding a department that matches your interests is to find a professor or tutor who is willing to supervise your work. The best chances of this arise when a supervisor has published work relevant to your interests and so will be in a good position to supervise your research. It is important to find out who is the most widely read and respected person in your field of interest – often you may already be familiar with these people through their articles published in journals and periodicals.

		Choosing a research degree
		Check your selected universities’ websites via www.educationuk.org for details of research activities contact the relevant departments in your selected universities to request details of their research activities see whether it would be possible to meet alumni from the university to which you are thinking of applying

		Choosing an institution
		Is the staff profile and size of the department right for you? You might prefer a large or small department, or you might want to work with a particular academic or group of academics. How good are the institution’s academic facilities and resources? What computer facilities does it have? Are there links with relevant institutions/other bodies close to the university? Have you read publications by the department’s staff?

		Types of research degree
		The most prestigious is the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), which is the highest academic award for which a student can be registered. But there are several others: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD or DPhil) – three + years Master of Philosophy (MPhil) – two + years Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MSc) by research – usually one year Master of Research (MRes) – usually one year New Route Doctorate of Philosophy - four years

		Entry requirements
		They vary greatly, so you should contact the institution you would like to attend. If you are not sure where you want to go, you should obtain several prospectuses. As a rough guide, you will need: an outstanding academic record, with proven academic achievement usually, a first degree in the same subject as the postgraduate degree you intend to take generally, a Master’s degree (a taught Master’s), an MPhil (Master of Philosophy) or a Master of Research (MRes) usually, in science and technology subjects, a Bachelor’s degree – you would usually first register for an MPhil and then, if your research progresses well, change to a PhD some evidence that you know about research procedures in science, social science and humanities subjects – some experience of working alone on a research project is very useful some evidence of good writing and communications skills, especially with humanities and social science doctorates formal English language qualifications – a Cambridge ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) examination whether it is the IELTS (grade 6), the Certificate of Advanced English (CAE), grades A and B, the Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE), grade C, or a TOEFL score of 550. For individual institutions requests check the Cambridge ESOL Online at http://www.cambridge-efl.org

		Next steps
		Once you have decided at which universities you would like to study, and have chosen a suitable topic for your research, check with the departments to see if there is a closing date for your application Give yourself plenty of time to consider your options. It is probably advisable to apply to more than one institution to reduce the risk of missing out if your first choice rejects you. Apply direct to the institutions (forms are available from them). Your application could be speeded up if you use the Internet to apply (where possible). Prepare your research proposal. This should be a short (perhaps two-page) summary based on research in your field. If a professor has an idea for research which he/she has not been able to pursue, it will be advertised in the national press, usually the Times Higher Education Supplement (www.thes.co.uk ) For more information, check www.educationuk.org and the British Council education information sheets at http://www.britishcouncil.org/education/resource/infosheets/index.htm

MBA Programmes

The MBA (Master of Business Administration) degree is internationally recognised and is seen as a passport to a successful management career. The UK, with over 10 000 graduates annually, produces the highest number of MBAs outside North America. The first MBA programme was established in the USA in the early 1900s and was introduced into Europe in the 1960s with the founding of IESE in Spain. London Business School and Manchester Business School followed shortly after. In the USA, full-time programmes are generally two years in length, while in Europe, full-time study can take anything from 10 months to two years to complete. The majority of European MBAs take twelve months to complete. Why study for an MBA in the United Kingdom? More MBA students are educated by British institutions than in the rest of Europe put together You can take the classic general MBA or a specialist qualification in your own field, and you can study full-time, part-time, in modules or by distance learning The UK’s reputation in the world of business has led to its exceptional strength in the teaching of MBAs Students who register for most British MBAs find themselves among very high-calibre managers, and staff usually have strong and relevant links to business The opportunity to improve your fluency in English will be especially useful if you intend to work in commerce or business Entrance Competition for places on well-regarded programmes is fierce. The least you could be asked for is: An Honours degree or its professional equivalent.(see Choosing your first degree at http://www.britishcouncil.org/learning-education-information-sheets.htm ) The absence of an honours degree equivalent in the Romanian higher education can be compensated for through high academic performance. At least three years’ managerial work experience A GMAT score of at least 500 for full-time courses (some schools use the GMAT test, while others have devised their own tests) A good understanding of both written and spoken English language (IELTS level 6 or a TOEFL score of at least 580 but some schools ask for higher standards) Institutions will want to know that you have not only fulfilled all these conditions, but have excelled in them. Your personal characteristics are also important, and an academic reference and several essays may also be asked for. You will almost certainly be interviewed, which can sometimes be done in your own country. What is the GMAT test? It is the Graduate Management Admissions Test, based in the United States and sponsored by the Graduate Management Admissions Council It measures the candidate’s academic potential for advanced management studies and is a standard and uniform predictor of graduate level performance It is an entry requirement for most US business schools, and is used worldwide Even schools that have their own admissions test will exempt applicants from it if they have taken the GMAT and achieved a good score Information on how you can take the test in Romania can be obtained from the Fulbright Commission. How can I compare courses? According to the AMBA (the Association of MBAs), reputation is the most important single factor in your choice of a school, because employers will ask not only whether you have an MBA, but where you studied, and some programmes have a better reputation than others. There are external ratings and the best known are produced by: Business Week The Financial Times Forbes The Wall Street Journal However, the Association of MBAs has major concerns about business school and MBA programme rankings ocasionally produced by the media. The methodology and criteria used vary widely across surveys and with the huge variety in delivery of programmes (full-time, part-time, distance learning, modular) it is not possible to compare like with like. Look for MBA programme accreditation as an indicator of quality and talk directly to the school and its MBA alumni about their experiences and achievements. Next steps Search for courses on www.educationuk.org (for all UK courses) and www.mbaworld.com Always ask the institution how their MBA is priced Apply early – overseas candidates should make sure that their application is with the institution well before the closing date (often in May) in case an offer is made conditional on attending a presessional English programme. You should first ask a school whether or not they require GMAT. If they do, try to take the test by March of the proposed year of entry, and register as early as possible More in Master of Business Administration at :www.britishcouncil.org/learning-education-information-sheets.htm

http://www.britishcouncil.org/