International qualifications For entry to university or college in 2015 This publication contains information relating to a wide range of international qualifications offered for undergraduate admission in the UK. Published by: UCAS Rosehill New Barn Lane Cheltenham GL52 3LZ © UCAS 2014 All rights reserved. UCAS is a registered trade mark. UCAS, a company limited by guarantee, is registered in England and Wales number: 2839815 Registered charity number: 1024741 (England and Wales) and SC038598 (Scotland) Publication reference: 130226 We have made all reasonable efforts to ensure that the information in this publication was correct at time of publication. We will not, however, accept any liability for errors, omissions or changes to information since publication. Wherever possible any changes will be updated on the UCAS website (www.ucas.com). Copies of this publication can be downloaded from www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/advisers-and-referees/guides-and-resources For further information about the UCAS application process for HEPs go to www.ucas.com/members-providers If you need to contact the HEP Team: phone 01242 545734 or fax 01242 544 961 If you have hearing difficulties, you can contact the customer service team, using the text relay service: From the UK phone 18001 0371 468 0 468 If you have received exceptional service from someone at UCAS and want to acknowledge it, then we would like to hear from you- please email your comments to [email protected]. Further information can be found on our website www.ucas.com. Preface This guide is primarily intended as a working document for selectors and staff involved in admissions and associated activities in higher education providers (HEPs). The publication contains information relating to a wide range of international qualifications offered for undergraduate admission in the UK. It will also be of interest and relevance to guidance staff in schools, the further education (FE) sector and careers services that advise overseas applicants on entry to higher education (HE). Its purpose is to provide up-to-date information which is easy to access and use, and which will promote the effectiveness and quality of the admissions process. The publication therefore contains details of a range of qualifications available from many countries throughout the world. All entries have been submitted to the appropriate authority of the country concerned to allow an opportunity for comment and update. UCAS is particularly grateful for the care and attention taken by correspondents in the updating and constructive suggestions they have given for this publication. Extensive reference has been made to additional sources and publications, including UK and overseas education and examination authorities (see Appendix I). The aim of the publication is to provide objective information, on the basis of which HEPs can make their own decisions about the admission of international students. The inclusion of qualifications does not imply recognition or endorsement on the part of UCAS or HEPs for the purpose of entry to HE programmes. UCAS would be pleased to receive comments and suggestions about the format and content of this publication for the benefit of future editions. Please send any comments you have to: Margaret Farragher Policy & Research Development UCAS Rosehill New Barn Lane Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL52 3LZ t: +44 (0)1242 223 765 e: [email protected] Contents Introduction 4 Nepal 47 Netherlands 48 Countries New Zealand 49 Albania 6 Nigeria 51 Algeria 6 Norway 51 Australia 7 Oman 52 Austria 8 Pakistan 52 Bahrain 9 The Philippines 53 Bangladesh 9 Poland 53 Belgium 10 Portugal 55 Botswana 10 Qatar 55 Brazil 11 Romania 56 Brunei 11 Russia 57 Bulgaria 12 Saudi Arabia 57 Cameroon 12 Serbia 58 Canada 13 Sierra Leone 58 China 16 Singapore 59 Croatia 17 Slovakia 59 Cyprus 17 Slovenia 60 Czech Republic 18 South Africa 60 Denmark 19 South Korea 62 Egypt 20 Spain 62 Eritrea 21 Sri Lanka 64 Estonia 21 Sudan 64 Ethiopia 22 Sweden 64 Faroe Islands 23 Switzerland 65 Finland 23 Syria 66 France 24 Taiwan 66 Gambia 25 Tanzania 67 Georgia 25 Thailand 67 Germany 26 Tunisia 68 Ghana 27 Turkey 68 Greece 27 Uganda 69 Hong Kong 30 Ukraine 69 Hungary 31 United Arab Emirates 70 Iceland 31 United States of America 70 India 32 Uzbekistan 71 Indonesia 33 Venezuela 72 Iran 33 Vietnam 72 Iraq 34 West Indies/Caribbean 72 Ireland (Eire) 34 Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Israel 35 Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Italy 36 British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Japan 36 Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Jordan 37 Montserrat, St Kitts/Nevis, St Lucia, Kazakhstan 37 St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad Kenya 38 and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands Kuwait 38 Zambia 74 Latvia 39 Zimbabwe 74 Lebanon 40 Liechtenstein 40 Appendices Lithuania 41 A International examinations of UK awarding 75 Luxembourg 42 organisations Macedonia (Republic of) 42 B European Baccalaureate 84 Malawi 43 C International Baccalaureate 86 Malaysia 43 D Option Internationale du Baccalauréat 91 Malta 45 E International foundation programmes 92 Mauritius 45 F English language proficiency 93 Mexico 46 G ECL European modern languages examination 96 Montenegro 46 H The UCAS Tariff 98 Morocco 47 I Additional sources 99 Myanmar 47 INTERNATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS 3 Introduction Welcome to the UCAS International Qualifications The information in this publication is also available on the Guide 2015. UCAS website. Globalisation is leading to a greater mobility of students UCAS also provides Qualification Information Profiles across the world, and UK HE is benefiting from the (QIPs) which include a range of comparable information recruitment of students from other countries. It is therefore about qualifications such as size, grading, assessment, important that HE admissions officers, staff and tutors are structure and content. QIPs for selected EU and fully aware of the qualifications that may be offered by international qualifications can be found on the UCAS international applicants. The main aim of this publication website at www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/advisers-and- is to provide clear and up-to-date information that allows referees/guides-and-resources international students to be assessed fairly, and promotes an understanding of the value of their qualifications, UCAS would welcome any feedback on the qualifications giving higher education providers (HEPs) the ability to guide. Any comments or questions should be sent to make realistic offers to international students. [email protected]. Just as in the UK, the political map of the world is COMPARABILITY WITH UK QUALIFICATIONS constantly changing. This affects educational systems Wherever possible, comparisons have been drawn and the qualifications offered by potential applicants to with UK qualifications. In considering applicants with UK HE. It can also make it difficult to obtain information non-UK qualifications, it is worth bearing in mind that from some countries. many countries have broadly based school-leaving examinations. The ‘group certificates’ obtained in PRESENTATION OF MATERIAL The layout of this edition is similar to previous editions, such countries usually cannot be readily converted with the entries arranged in alphabetical order of country, into ‘single-subject’ equivalencies in terms of UK and provides the following. qualifications; the most appropriate way to evaluate performance may be to look for high marks in subjects g Evaluation – how qualifications offered by applicants compare with UK qualifications of particular relevance to the candidate’s application. Further information about the comparability of overseas g Grading system – how the examinations are marked or graded by the awarding body or educational qualifications can be obtained from UK NARIC at http:// system. Where possible, the distribution of grades ecctis.co.uk/naric/Organisations/Default.aspx is given The Bologna Declaration (1999) includes in its objectives g Education system – a brief outline of how the system the adoption and promotion of a Europe-wide system of works in each country to inform the assessment of comparable degrees based on two main cycles of study, qualifications leading to bachelor’s and master’s awards respectively. g Access to higher education – an insight into the The knowledge and capabilities of a graduate from a requirements within each country. European bachelor’s programme should, generally, equip It should be noted that some entries that have been them to progress to master’s level study. It is important reviewed for the 2015 guide remain the same as for to note, however, that the selection of candidates to 2014. In these cases, the details of the education programmes at UK HEPs is determined solely by the systems in those countries do not need updating. institution concerned and is not an automatic right. Progress towards the two-study-cycles system is being The Appendices include the following information: made at different rates across the signatory countries. g Appendix A covers a number of UK awarding ENGLISH LANGUAGE QUALIFICATIONS organisations offering examinations to overseas English language proficiency has a particular importance centres for international applicants to enable them to cope with g Appendix B covers information on the European study at a UK HEP. For many English is not the primary Baccalaureate language of communication and, in some instances, g Appendix C covers the International Baccalaureate with information on the Middle Years Programme the English