The United Kingdom is home to many globally renowned universities. For decades, many African students, especially those coming from English-speaking countries, lean towards studying in the UK for its high-quality education standards.
International students who earn degrees in the UK have better access to well-paid and attractive jobs in their home countries. British education aims at producing well-rounded individuals who are ready for the job market – African graduates of UK universities will develop soft skills much sought after by big employers, in addition to deep knowledge of their chosen field of study.
Popular courses offered in the United Kingdom include:
- Business
- Law
- Medicine
- Architecture & Construction
- Computer science
- Engineering
- Fashion
BUSINESS
Business faculties in the UK offer many different specializations that students can major in such as Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Management and more. Business courses are among the most popular among international students and so most UK universities offer a portfolio of business programs at both Bachelor and Master’s level.LAW
The UK legal system is admired and much-copied around the world. Unlike Canada and the USA, you can find a wide range of Bachelor degrees in Law. At Bachelor degree level you will learn the general concepts of law before usually specializing at Master’s level. UK universities offer graduate law programs in many different niches, including business law, natural resources law, intellectual property law and international law. A law degree can lead to many different careers, including that of magistrate, barrister, judge, solicitor or someone who works on advising or developing commercial contracts for companies. However, while there are many countries in Africa that have legal systems that use parts of the UK legal system as their foundation, it is important to remember that law does differ from country to country. Depending on your intended career path, you may wish to consider studying law in your home country first before moving to a UK university to further develop your legal knowledge.MEDICINE
For centuries, the UK has been at the forefront of medical research and practice. A few universities, such as the University of Edinburgh, have a long and proud history of training medical doctors. In recent times and as demand for health treatments increases, more and more UK universities have introduced courses in medicine. Unlike the USA and Canada, medicine is available at Bachelor degree level and a programme will typically take 5 years to complete. Places for international students are limited and so you will need excellent grades from your high school studies to qualify for a programme in medicine. However, if your grades are insufficient to be admitted, there are many related courses in healthcare fields that are much more accessible. Seed can assist African students to access programmes in medicine via the Medical Foundation programme offered by its partner school, Kings.ARCHITECTURE & CONSTRUCTION
Architecture is popular among African students and is also a field of study with long and proud traditions in the UK. UK-trained architects, such as Sir Norman Foster, have designed notable buildings around the world. In addition to Architecture, there are also many related fields in the UK offering excellent job prospects, including Interior Design, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Structural Engineering and even Urban Planning. Seed partner institution Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh offers an excellent range of programmes for students wishing to learn more about the built environment.COMPUTER SCIENCE
Computer science has become a top-rated course of study globally and that holds true in the United Kingdom too. There are numerous job opportunities around the world in IT fields, such as network administrator, database administrator, software developer, managers, programmers, and software engineer. As the world becomes a global village, the demand for computer scientists is also on the rise. Many universities offer programs in computer science at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.ENGINEERING
The UK-led Industrial Revolution that started almost 300 years ago saw the UK at the forefront of engineering achievements and, even today, UK-trained engineers are highly sought after around the world. International students who pursue an engineering programme in the UK will receive diplomas that enable them to work anywhere in the world. There are many UK universities offering high-quality programs in engineering. Seed partner, Heriot Watt University, is ranked #235 in the US News & World Report’s Best Global Universities for Engineering ranking, for example. Heriot Watt offers a wide range of engineering programs, including automotive, chemical, electrical, mechanical, and structural, for example. The University of Bristol, #224 in the same US News & World Report ranking noted above and accessible through Seed partner, Kings University of Bristol International Foundation program, is renowned for its aeronautical engineering program among others. Bristol has been one of Airbus’s main European bases for many years.FASHION
The UK has developed a strong global reputation for cutting edge fashion and London Fashion Week has grown enormously in recent years to help showcase British-trained talent. Seed partner Heriot Watt University has a small campus focusing on all aspects of the fashion industry – Fashion Design, Fashion Merchandising, Fashion Technology, Interior Design and Textile Design are all offered here.FOUNDATION COURSES FOR AFRICAN STUDENTS IN UNITED KINGDOM
Foundation courses are required by most international students prior to starting a Bachelor degree in a UK university. Unless you have completed A-levels, the International Baccalaureate (IB) or a French Bac (as opposed to an Ivorian, Senegalese, etc. Bac) then you will need a Foundation program to qualify for admission to a UK Bachelor degree. It takes one year to complete the course in a UK university and the programme is a bridge between your high school diploma from your home country and a UK university. Foundation programmes consist of three main elements – Academic English, Academic Study Skills and Academic Subjects selected in line with what you plan to study at university. You will find Foundation programmes for all areas of study including Business, Engineering, Law, Art & Design and even Medicine. Seed partner, Kings, offers an excellent suite of Foundation programmes from which its students have gained access to nearly all of the top universities in the UK.