Affordable UK Degrees

This should have been a brochure rather than an article on chowk.

Is the Birmingham International College recognized by British Council as they are not giving visas for unapproved colleges.

Next time, why don't you write a letter as a Bank Manager in Nigeria where a certain M. Dosa has died leaving you with 1,220,000 dollars and you need my services to release the account for which I will get 30%.

what is the flip side?

First of all, I disagree that a UK degree is really worth striving for whether it comes directly from a UK university or its affiliated college.
It is the colonial and imperial mentality that this article represents as if the degrees from our colonial masters are passports to success and good life.
Instead of encouraging our students to go for cheaper options in the UK, the author can show a better vision to them by encouraging them to study in their homeland(s) and to contribute to the development of their own academic institutions.
I don't know for how long our young people will be running after the UK and the US degrees and will understand that this is another way by which they contribute to their imperialistic designs.

Re: # 1 agree with vanguard! did chowk charged something from ED Halifax?

Anyhow I went to Birmingham Uni @ Seloak - during those days I saw guys working more then 18hr limit (Intl' Students are allowed to work 18hr / week ) - and when I asked them about the legality of working more then 18hours , they replied , ' they don't go to any university ' - they pay 100 quids and get a degree after four years!

i think this article is more like an advertisement of some college(s) rather then some worthy information. i have studied in Uk and it is true that international students pay a huge fortune for their degrees compared to the locals. This mounting fees is absolutely unjust in a society which claims to have the best human values. but education is an industry in UK and it gives them more revenue then even their manufacturing industry. Also the irony is that international students specialy from south asia are the most hard working guys in uni but they arent given any reward for their skills.

about colleges, lemme clear one thing here that colleges are in most cases fraud. they dont have any teaching units, and many colleges here are based in small houses wth 2 rooms only, they however get the certification and then "students" are enrolled in 200 GBP for a year. later students they never show up unless the enrolement time is over. These colleges are making money by many agents based in cities like Mumbai and Karachi, where students are given on spot enrolement by agents on pads of these colleges. in 90% case students visas are rejected on these colleges admissions, and these days even students visa extensions are being rejected if one sends the extension on basis of such bogus colleges. so a college degree from uk is in more cases (except Royal Colleges) is a purchased degree.

cheers

Have mercy on Ed. He is a pakistani university lecturer with five years experience, and he has done a good job.

There is a trick here.(or rather tests)

Test (1): Can the graduates from this college get
(a) a job in the u.k (okay assume they are uk
residents)
A general rule of thumb is employability of UK resident grads in low
(b) entry to further studies (higher degrees).
as some said if BC doesnot do recognition these are plain bad. But interestingly, the only ones who apply for higher degrees are overseas guys from these places. The netry is again dificult in the bigger institutions.

Test (2): If you are overseas - check the BC list. Also check with your Embassy/HC for an approved list of instritutions. they generally two lists - list A for which they could be scholarships from your govt, and a more general list. If the prospective institution is not on it - forget it since you would even be eligible for a govt job back home.


#3 is upto a point correct.

I think chowk has a gremlin which changes the words and introduces errors randomly. #7 was typed in word spell checked and the cut and pasted here. and is full of typos....

this one...god help us

Can anyone tell me if a college is found in the register of DFES (dfes.gov.uk/providersregister), is it an authentic institution and can visa be offered by British High Commission for a course in that institution?

#9 DFES is for schools - GCSE and A-level types and for NVQs etc.
the register also has etries of compnaies which provide training for the unemployed to become employable.

If you are look for a first degree (BA, BSc BBA) or higher degree - MSc MA MPhil PhD etc you need to check the HEFCE website www.hefce.ac.uk
the list of universities colleges etc is here http://www.hefce.ac.uk/unicoll/

DfES Listing
In answer to the question from Akbarhussain, colleges on the list are generally genuine. The Department for Education works with the UK Border & Immigration Authority to check them. However, when it was first created in 2005, some false colleges managed to get onto the list, so my advice to all is to check what accreditations the college has and the names of its affiliate universities. The BAC sign means the college has been thoroughly inspected by the British Accreditation Council. Colleges that offer courses from recognised UK universities will have been visited by the universities and the tutors will have been approved. However you might also look on the following website www.dfes.gov.uk/recognisedukdegrees and then click on "Listed Bodies". This is a list of colleges that the universities themselves have approved to deliver their courses and shortly it will replace the DfES List for the issue of student visas for UK degree courses. I hope this helps.

Re: # 7
Source: education.guardian.co.uk, 2nd April 2007

International students who graduate from UK universities will be permitted to stay on for an extra year to work, the government has announced.

From 1st May, students who pass a bachelors degree or earn a postgraduate qualification in any subject can apply to extend their visas in a move that the Department for Education and Skills hopes will "cement the UK's status as a top study destination for international students". The International Graduates Scheme replaces one that had previously only been open to science and engineering graduates in England.

The higher education minister, Bill Rammell, said the year-long visas will "allow UK employers to benefit from skilled people who have gained UK qualifications and have experience of living in the UK."

Re: # 5
Clearly whypertension has seen the bad side of the UK's education industry and what he says is a warning for all potential students to make thorough checks on the colleges and on their agents before they part with any money. However, as posted elsewhere, the UK universities inform the DfES of the names of colleges they have approved to deliver their qualifications. It is advisable to open the following website and to click on "Listed Bodies". If the college is not listed, the student will not get a visa for the degree. The web address is http://www.dfes.gov.uk/recognisedukdegrees/.
Shortly, this and not the current DfES list will be the only list accepted by visa officers for the issue of student visas.
In addition, acceptance letters issued by either the college or the agent will NOT GET VISAS! The universities themselves must issue the acceptance letter otherwise the offer is nothing but a scam.

Re: # 6 Ed is neither a Pakistani nor a lecturer. This posting is rubbish.