Introduction Globalisation is leading to a greater mobility of students across the world, and UK HE is benefiting from the recruitment of students from other countries. It is therefore important that HE admissions officers, staff and tutors are fully aware of the <strong>qualifications</strong> that may be offered by international applicants. The main aim of this publication is to provide accurate and up-to-date information that allows international students to be assessed fairly, and promotes an understanding of the value of their <strong>qualifications</strong>, giving HEIs the ability to make realistic offers to international students. Just as in the UK, the political map of the world is constantly changing. This affects educational systems and the <strong>qualifications</strong> offered by potential applicants to UK HE. It can also make it difficult to obtain information from some countries. PRESENTATION OF MATERIAL The layout of this edition is similar to previous editions, with the entries arranged in alphabetical order of country, and provides the following. g g g g Evaluation – how <strong>qualifications</strong> offered by applicants compare with UK <strong>qualifications</strong>. Grading system – how the examinations are marked or graded by the awarding body or educational system. Where possible, the distribution of grades is given. Education system – a brief outline of how the system works in each country to inform the assessment of <strong>qualifications</strong>. Access to higher education – an insight of requirements within each country. Where changes have been made to text since the last edition, the relevant paragraph has been shaded. Where changes have been made in a table, the heading GRADING SYSTEM or the headings for the table itself have been highlighted. The Appendices include the following information. g g g g g g Appendix A covers a number of UK awarding organisations offering examinations to overseas centres. Appendix B covers information on the European Baccalaureate. Appendix C covers the <strong>International</strong> Baccalaureate with information on the Middle Years Programme (MYP) and certification. Appendix D covers the Option <strong>International</strong> du Baccalauréat. Appendix E covers <strong>International</strong> Foundation Programmes. Appendix F covers English language proficiency and embodies information on a wide variety of examinations and tests, which applicants may present as evidence of competence in English. COMPARABILITY WITH UK QUALIFICATIONS Wherever possible, an attempt has been made to provide comparisons with UK <strong>qualifications</strong>. In approaching international applications, it may be apposite to bear in mind that many countries have broadly based school-leaving examinations. The ‘group certificates’ obtained in such countries usually cannot be readily converted into ‘single-subject’ equivalencies in terms of UK <strong>qualifications</strong>; the most appropriate way to evaluate performance may be to look for high marks in subjects of particular relevance to the candidate’s application. When the school-leaving qualification of a country is evaluated as acceptable in lieu of GCSE, it will clearly need to be supplemented by acceptable <strong>qualifications</strong> widely used for entry to UK HE, for example, General Certificate of Education (GCE) or Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) awards. The Bologna Declaration (1999) includes in its objectives the adoption and promotion of a Europe-wide system of comparable degrees based on two main cycles of study, leading to bachelor’s and master’s awards respectively. The knowledge and capabilities of a graduate from a European bachelor’s programme should, generally, equip them to progress to master’s level study. It is important to note, however, that the selection of candidates to programmes at UK HEIs is determined solely by the institution concerned and is not an automatic right. Progress towards the two-study-cycles system is being made at different rates across the signatory countries. ENGLISH LANGUAGE QUALIFICATIONS English language proficiency has a particular importance for international applicants. For many of them, English is not the mother tongue and, in some instances, the English language syllabus of their school-leaving examination may be regarded as less than rigorous or, indeed, is known to be inadequate. It may be prudent to take particular care regarding competence in the English language in respect of applicants with an acceptable ‘group qualification’. The standard qualification is GCSE English language, but there are other examinations and tests specifically designed for candidates whose first language is not English and which, for a long time, have been regarded as providing evidence of proficiency in English. Although this is not an easy matter to resolve, it may well be that the most useful approach should be in terms of an assessment of the ability to cope; that is, some evidence of competence for the task ahead rather than the achievement of a particular academic qualification. Appendix F lists some of the main English language proficiency tests available to international applicants. g Appendix G includes useful email addresses and websites, as well as postal addresses and telephone and fax numbers. The information in this publication is also available on the UCAS website. 4 INTERNATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Qualifications currently offered listed by country