Study in the UK STUDY UK

The UK education system operates on a term basis, with the academic year divided into three terms: autumn, spring, and summer. Autumn is the primary intake period, followed by spring, giving students flexibility in planning. One of the most appealing aspects of UK universities for international students is the one-year program and their openness to interdisciplinary applicants. UK master's programs can be categorized into taught and research-based, with many schools offering pre-master's courses designed for interdisciplinary students to bridge the gap between different fields and enhance English proficiency. Most UK master's programs, whether taught or research-based, require the submission of a personal dissertation for degree completion. However, many institutions that were previously focused on vocational education have transitioned into universities, offering project-based or internship-inclusive master's programs to provide more options for international students.

The education system in the United Kingdom starts early, with compulsory education beginning at the age of five. Students complete six years of primary school, three years of secondary school, and two years of high school before taking the GCSE exams at the age of 16, marking the end of compulsory education. After this, students can choose between vocational education based on their career plans or pursue academic studies. Academic students need to complete an additional two years of A-level courses, equivalent to basic higher education in Taiwan. This allows students to study subjects of interest and take the A-level exams in those subjects upon completion to qualify for university admission.

Most UK applications do not have set deadlines and follow a rolling admissions process. Typically, applications can be submitted starting from September each year until spots are filled or just before the start of the academic year (slight variations exist for universities and research institutes). Unlike many other countries, the UK does not require English proficiency test scores (such as IELTS/TOEFL) during the application process. Schools will review the application materials and make admission decisions directly. If accepted, students only need to submit their final grades before the start of the academic year or attend pre-sessional courses at the school to meet language requirements. Additionally, most UK master's programs do not require GRE/GMAT scores and place more emphasis on students' academic records and relevant experiences.