Good English Important for UK Study
Study in the United Kingdom may be expensive but it is the best in the world, says Mr. Dan Chugg, the First Secretary and the official spokesman of the British High Commission in New Delhi, in recent exclusive phone-interview with TCYonline.com.
We also spoke to Ms. Gurpreet Wadhera, Head, English Programs at BetterThink, Ludhiana, the language division of Top Careers & You (TCY), an education company with 34 centres in North India.
These experts throw light on various issues concerning a prospective Indian student desiring to pursue his/her studies in the land of the Cambridge and the Oxford.
Q 1. How much weightage do you give to the Indian education from the visa point of view?
DAN CHUGG: A degree from an Indian university is as good as one from any other country and we give it the same weightage. For example, under the points system, students get points for having a (graduation) degree or a post-graduation degree. He gets the same amount of points as he gets from the Indian university or from the British or French university. Well, our eligibility criteria are very simple. If somebody comes to us with a letter saying he has been accepted by a UK university, got a place to stay and have a proof of enough funds, he is given a student visa.
Q 2. Is work experience mandatory for students pursuing their MBA after graduation?
DAN: It entirely depends on the course. Some courses would expect a student to have a work experience before going for an MBA study. On the other hand, some MBAs in the UK are deliberately designed for mid-career professionals but other MBAs would be free to take students straight from the university.
Q 3. How does the knowledge of English language affect a student's job prospects in Britain?
DAN: I think, firstly it affects him as a student. To be able to study in the UK he must have a sufficient knowledge of English to enable him take the course. If his English is very poor then it would be very difficult for him to get the required qualifications. Following that, if he is looking for a job it would depend on what kind of job he will be doing and how good his English needs to be. For some jobs he needs to speak perfect English and for others English may not be that important.
GURPREET WADHERA: It is pertinent for a student to have a good knowledge of the English language. He should be really good at all the four modules - Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. No wonder, the High Commission wants a student to show a good English proficiency by requiring him to clear an IELTS test. A good preparation is the key. I always advise my students to visit TCYonline.com for free online practice tests and IELTS strategies to improve their command over the language and thereby obtain a good band score.
Q. 4. How far is the British accent important for jobs in the UK?
DAN: I don't think the British accent is important at all. It is important that he should be able to communicate well.
GURPREET: The Indians have a neutral accent which is accepted universally. An ability to communicate well in English is more important. Accent can be developed later when the student starts living in that country.
Q 5. Is IELTS compulsory for everybody? Does the UK accept TOEFL score as well?
DAN: For an admission into a UK education institution, they (universities) need a proof that an Indian student can speak appropriate English. But if the university doesn't set any minimum standard, we would expect the student to have at least the level of IELTS of 5.5 minimum score or an equivalent level to that. It would be fine if he has a TOEFL score instead. We have set the standard and if he is not able to score, we feel that he won't be able to complete the course. So, we don't give him a visa.
GURPREET: IELTS basically is a test of English language that proves the proficiency of a candidate in this language. It is mandatory for a native of any non-English speaking country if he wants to live in the UK at any status. A minimum 5.5 band score is accepted to go to the UK. This score proves the minimum level of understanding of this language that helps the student communicate and complete his studies. TOEFL is also accepted by some of the universities.
Q. 6. Are any scholarships available for bright Indian students who may not be financially that strong?
DAN: Yes, there are lots of scholarships available from universities who have their independent scholarship schemes. So, it would be appropriate for the students to try and find out what types of scholarships are available for them. The British Government also offers a few scholarships. It has got the Chevening scholarship scheme, a very prestigious scheme for very outstanding candidates; a scholarship from the Cambridge university, and there are also some Commonwealth scholarships.
GURPREET: Definitely, scholarships are available for intelligent candidates. Students can check with the University for the Scholarships available and their eligibility criteria.
