 For
the 10th year running, the British Council will be holding its flagship
Education UK exhibition, beginning in Chennai on February 17 at the Taj
Coromandel.
Back in 1994, 15 UK
institutions exhibited at the first event and 3,500 eager students visited
during the tour of four cities. Ten years later, and the event is so popular
that it is held twice every year (February
and November), visits a total of nine cities across the country, showcases more
than 65 UK institutions and attracts nearly 13,000 prospective students. Of
course, the education market is
very different now to what it was a decade ago, with more and more countries
holding events like this in India. And yet, the Education UK exhibition remains
one of the most popular and respected events in the education diary. Why? Most
probably for one reason...quality.
 Today
when students and their parents are being bombarded by information about
studying overseas, it is often difficult to know which institutions are genuine
and which are not. With British Council organised events, this worry is gone.
All the institutions which take part in the Education UK exhibition are 100%
bonafide. Many of them have been recruiting students from India for many years
and have appointed local representatives to help advise students
and their families. And of course, should anyone still have concerns, there are
always British Council staff on hand
to advise about accreditation, scholarships, visas and more.
So, to make sure you get the
most out of your visit here are five things to do before you attend:
Decide which course(s) you are interested in studying.
UK representatives will pay
little attention to students who ask 'What course do you think I should do?' or
'What course has the best job prospects?' Instead, they want to speak to
students who have thought seriously about their future, what subjects interest
them, what subjects they are good at and what job they would eventually like to
secure.
Shortlist the institutions you are interested in.
Not all the institutions
exhibiting will offer the course you are looking for, so there is no point
visiting each and every stall. Your time will be better spent focusing on those
you know have courses you are interested in. Visit the institutions' websites
beforehand to help you shortlist.
Think about how you will fund your study.
Studying in the UK is a major
investment of both your time and money. Of course, there are various ways you
can meet the costs - family savings, company sponsorship, bank loan or
scholarship. It is important that you have considered each of these options
before your visit to the exhibition as UK representatives will ask how you
intend to pay for your course.
Find out if you meet the entry requirements.
Most university courses in the
UK will require students to have high marks in their Indian school
qualifications and an excellent level of English. It is important to be
realistic about which course(s) you will be accepted for. If your grades are
slightly lower than the entry requirements being asked for, there may be other
options open to you such as foundation/access courses or vocational courses at
further education colleges.
Make copies of relevant certificates.
As the exhibitions are usually
very busy, representatives do not have time to wade through piles of paper. It
will impress them if you have put some effort into arranging your paperwork.
Bring copies of your school examination results and other relevant
qualifications, e.g. degrees or diplomas in a neatly ordered folder. There is no
need for you to bring details of your curriculum, project work or other
extraneous information.
The Education UK Exhibition will be held in the
following cities in February:
Chennai 17 & 18 February, Taj Coromandel
Bangalore 21 & 22 February, Taj
Residency
Hyderabad 24 & 25 February, Taj Krishna
For further information, contact ramesh@in.britishcouncil.org
or visit www.educationuk-in.org
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