British Council helps in choosing a UK university
British Council helps in choosing a UK university
Despite the economic crisis' impact on the number of Indonesians studying abroad, many still recognize the gains from earning a degree at a foreign university.
This is where the British Council, the United Kingdom's international network for education, culture and development services, can be of invaluable help in choosing a UK university.
Novina Almadja is studying at the University of Southampton, majoring in Computer Science. With her first year complete, Novina is looking forward to the rest of the course.
"I passed my first exam in June 1997, and I must confess that it was a big relief for me. I found the first year tough, but I kept thinking how hard my parents work back home, and about their hopes for my success. Those thoughts definitely motivated me.
"I was accepted at the university without having to do any foundation/preuniversity course. The lectures were in English, which was a new and challenging experience for me. But as I got used to things around me at the campus, I gained more confidence.
"I consider myself lucky in that I have good friends who live close to me. They all come from different countries, and we have a habit of cooking in turns every Sunday, preparing specialities from our own countries.
"I'm glad I have pursued my studies. I have learned so much in a short time, not only about computer science but also about how to be flexible, adaptable, careful with money and how to interact with others from different nationalities and cultures."
Novina advises that there are a lot of people who want you to succeed, so take advantage of their support and learn from the overall experience of living in the UK.
The Council offers a checklist of important considerations. * Choosing a Course: Students should ask themselves important questions before choosing a degree course. Is it an appropriate subject? What type of degree is it? Will it be recognized by employers and institutions at home? What is the size of the institution? Is it in an urban or rural area? * Costs: Students should consider that tuition fees do vary according to course length, subject of study and choice of institute. Living costs also depend on course length, region of the UK, whether one is alone or with dependents and lifestyle. * Application Procedures: All students must submit a formal application. For most degree courses, applications should be made to Universities and Colleges Admission Service. An information sheet, Application procedures, is available from British Council offices. * Entrance Requirements: Applicants must satisfy both general requirements and course requirements. Overseas students must have a good level of written and spoken English and are usually asked to show recognized qualifications or test results.
More information on joining the 270,000 foreign students who study in the UK yearly is available from the British Council in Jakarta, S. Widjojo Centre, First Floor, Jl. Jend. Sudirman, tel: (021) 2524115/4122, fax: 2524129, e-mail: ecs@britcoun.or.id, web page: http://www.britishcouncil.org; Surabaya, Jl. Cokroaminoto 12A, Third Floor/tel. (031) 5620913, fax: 5689957, e-mail: bcits@server.indo.net.id, or contact the Indonesia-Britain Education Center in Semarang (024) 316028; Medan (0610 534991; Tangerang (021) 5523880; Bandung (022) 700075; or Bali (0361) 245929.