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Are UK Universities Accredited and Recognized in the US?

Posted on by Jackie Christopher

One question we get a lot from American students is whether UK universities are accredited, which is really another way of asking: Will my UK degree be recognized and accepted in the United States?

You'll be happy to know that the answer is generally yes!

Degrees from officially recognized UK universities can be accepted by US employers and graduate schools. However, the UK accreditation system works a little differently from what you're probably used to in the US, and there are a few exceptions for certain professions.

Here's what you should know before choosing a UK university.

How UK University Accreditation Works

In the United States, you're probably familiar with colleges and universities being described as accredited.

The UK has its own system for recognizing universities and maintaining academic standards. Rather than relying on one accrediting organization, UK universities and other recognized institutions must have official degree-awarding powers to award their own degrees.

Some colleges also offer programs where the degree is awarded by another recognized university, so it's important to know which institution will award your qualification.

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) plays an important role in supporting academic quality and standards across UK higher education, although it isn't the organization that accredits every UK university.

Universities also use external examiners, often academics from other institutions, to help review assessments and maintain academic standards.

Want to check whether a UK university is officially recognized? The UK government has a helpful resource where you can check if an institution can award recognized degrees.

Using Your UK Degree in the United States

So, can you bring your UK degree back to the US and use it?

In many cases, absolutely!

UK degrees from officially recognized institutions can be accepted for employment and further education in the United States.

For most jobs, it's up to the employer to decide whether your degree meets its requirements. And if you're planning to attend graduate school in the US, the university will determine whether your UK qualification meets its admissions criteria.

Sometimes, an employer or university may ask for a credential evaluation. This is simply a review of your international degree to determine how it compares with a US qualification.

Not everyone needs one, and the organization reviewing your degree will usually let you know if it's required.

You can learn more about how foreign qualifications are recognized through the US Department of Education.

Degrees That May Require Additional Licensing

As always, there are a few exceptions to the rule!

If you're planning to enter a profession that requires a license in the United States, you may need additional exams, coursework, supervised experience, or a credential evaluation before you can practice.

Some examples include:

  • Nursing: Additional evaluation or licensing exams may be required.
  • Teaching: Requirements vary by state, and UK teaching qualifications may not transfer directly.
  • Medicine: Graduates of international medical schools must meet additional requirements to practice in the US.
  • Social Work: State licensing boards may have specific education and experience requirements.
  • Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy: Additional credential evaluations or licensing requirements may apply.
  • Law: Eligibility to take the bar exam with a UK law degree varies by state.
  • Architecture: Additional education, experience, or examinations may be needed.
  • Psychology: Professional licensing, particularly for clinical practice, may require specific graduate education and supervised training.

This doesn't mean you shouldn't study these subjects in the UK! It just means you'll want to do a little extra research before choosing your degree.

We always recommend contacting the relevant US state licensing board or professional organization to confirm whether the specific UK degree you're considering will meet its requirements.

What About Other UK Degrees?

For students studying subjects like humanities, mathematics, business, and many areas of science, additional professional licensing often isn't necessary simply because you earned your degree in the UK.

Of course, individual employers and graduate schools may still have their own requirements.

The important thing is to think about what you want to do after graduation and make sure your chosen degree will help you get there.

For most American students, studying at a recognized UK university can be a great option, whether you're planning to stay abroad, return home for work, or continue your education.

Ready to Explore UK Universities?

If you're thinking about studying in the UK, finding the right university and degree is a great place to start!

The UK Study Expert's Undergraduate University Search Tool helps American students explore UK universities and compare entry requirements based on their academic qualifications.

Search UK Universities →

And if you'd like more personalized help choosing universities and preparing your applications, explore our student and parent advising services.

Please note: Professional licensing requirements vary by state and profession. We recommend confirming the requirements for your intended career with the appropriate US licensing board before choosing a degree.

UK University Entry Requirements | The UK Study Expert

Posted on by Jackie Christopher

If you’ve been confused by entry requirements listed on UK university websites, then you’ve come to the right place. We know the grading system, and all this talk of A-Levels, looks and sounds like a foreign language. Have no fear – the UK Study Expert is here to simplify UK entry requirements for you.

 

First, what you need to know is each university has a set of entry requirements based off of American exams and GPAs, therefore, you won’t be going off of UK requirements at all! These US requirements are usually buried somewhere deep on the university’s website. In this article, we are going to go over the general requirements you need to get into UK universities for both graduate and undergraduate programs.

 

Graduate Degree Program Requirements

Let’s begin with the easiest requirements to break down: Graduate (Master’s) Degree requirements. You’ll be happy to find out that Graduate degrees in the UK do not need the GRE (what a sigh of relief)! UK universities will be looking at your GPA as the main entry requirement for their programs.

 

Generally, if you have a 3.0 and above, you’re in a really good spot for most UK universities. Of course, the higher your GPA, the better, but generally UK universities are more lenient towards GPA than their US counterparts.

 

Students who have a 2.5 GPA and above still have a good list of universities to choose from.

 

Under 2.5 is definitely doable, but the lower you go, the more of a case-by-case situation it will be when admissions is deciding on your application (work experience also comes into play, of course).

 

Besides GPA, certain specialty programs may ask for portfolios or entrance exams, but this is not the norm for most graduate programs. If anything extra is needed beyond a student’s GPA, it will be clearly stated on the university’s program page.

 

You can take the quiz on our website to see a list of your best matches based off of your GPA.

 

Undergraduate Degree Program Requirements

Undergraduate Degree requirements are slightly more complex, and vary depending on the university you are applying to.

 

The best exam to boost your UK application is the AP exam. The more AP exams with high scores you have, the better. If you are looking to study at prestigious universities such as University of Oxford, Cambridge University, Imperial College London, University College London, University of Edinburgh, etc., it is a main component for admission in a student’s application. This is due to the UK education system and A-Level qualifications. The closest equivalent to this in the US is AP exams, which is why this is a hard requirement and universities will not provide any substitutions or flexibility. The IB (International Baccalaureate) curriculum is also highly considered.

 

if you don’t have AP exams, there’s also plenty of other high-ranked, well-known universities that offer flexible requirements to choose from!

 

Since COVID and universities moving away from standardized testing, many UK universities have followed suit and have implemented a new test-flexible approach. The ‘main formula’ most universities are looking for is:

 

Ex. 3.0 GPA + (SAT or ACT or AP exams with a good score)

 

However, we have been finding that more universities are taking different combinations of exams and honours classes or dual enrollment classes in place of the ‘main formula.’

Some universities ask for less/more exams, and some universities will be fine with lower GPAs, while some will require higher GPAs. There are even a growing number of universities that have gone test optional!

 

Furthermore, if you have an associate’s degree, this will also be considered in place of exams at most universities, just note that your credits may not transfer.

 

As you can see, there are so many ways to fulfill requirements for UK universities! To make this much easier on you, we have provided this quiz on our website to compile a list of your best university matches based off of your GPA and test scores.

 

Foundation Programs and Extended Degrees

 

For undergraduate students who don’t quite meet the mark on GPA and test requirements, there is an option to do a foundation program before your undergraduate program. These are also sometimes called extended degrees. This will add an extra year prior to starting your undergraduate degree, and entry requirements are usually pretty minimal for most foundation programs – a lower GPA and test scores is more readily accepted.

 

To find out if a Foundation degree is the right option for you, you can read our article Should You Consider a Foundation Degree.

 

The UK Study Expert Search Tool and Quiz Can Help You

Lucky for you, the UK Study Expert has taken the guesswork out of figuring out what each university requires with our handy dandy search tool. Or you can find your best university by taking our free UK University Quiz Match.

 

 

Study: British Pound Drops vs US Dollar | UK Study Expert

Posted on by Jackie Christopher

Due to the recent changes from the British government on tax cuts and borrowing, the British Pound (GBP) has weakened to $0.92 per US Dollar (USD). Never has the US Dollar been so strong against the Pound.

 

Even before the Pound dropped, you might be surprised to know that the UK has always been a more affordable option to earn a degree compared to the US.

 

The average cost of tuition fees for students studying in the US on campus is $35,500 per year (Best Colleges, 2022). UK university tuition fees can range from £14,000-£26,000 per year. Not only are tuition fees far less in the UK, UK degrees in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland offer 3 year bachelor degrees (unless it’s an integrated or placement year degree). Therefore, students save an additional year of tuition and living expenses.

 

This also rings true to master’s degrees in the UK. A master’s degree in the UK is 12 months long. This allows the student to save another year of tuition and living expenses.

 

As for living expenses, if you are living in London and are on a 9 month course (degree), the UK Government recommends students applying for their UK Student Visa must have at least £12,006 to cover housing, food and transportation (not just room and board). For students living outside of London for a 9 month course, it is recommended having at least £9,207.

 

So if you’re looking at affordable UK degree options, you could earn your bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 4 years and save 2 years worth of tuition and living expenses!

 

Currency Conversion – Total Cost to Earn Your UK Degree

 

Now let’s convert those currency figures (GBP) to dollars (USD) in today’s economy…

 

If we looked at the lowest amount for UK undergraduate tuition fees (£14,000) and living fees outside of London (£9,207), the student would be looking at total expenses of £23,207 per year.

 

UK tuition fees and living expenses per year for a student living outside of London could be as low as $25,000 per year (xe.com, Sept 28, 2022).

 

If we looked at the highest amount for UK undergraduate tuition fees (£26,000) and living inside of London (£12,006), the student would be looking at total expenses of £38,006 per year.

 

UK tuition fees and living expenses per year for a student living inside of London could be as high as $41,000 per year (xe.com, Sept 28, 2022).

 

Is this the time to be looking at earning your degree in the UK more than ever? Is the pound expected to jump back and rise?

 

We can’t predict the future but from what we’ve read, it looks positive for Americans. The US dollar has strengthened and played a contributing factor. Economics have also pointed out that they don’t see the pound jumping back up anytime soon. The Washington Post interviewed Barry Eichengreen, a professor of economics at the University of California at Berkeley, who said “Recovery is not on the horizon” for the foreseeable future.

 

How Can I Start My Search and Find the Right UK University Match for Me?

 

There’s two main resources students can look to find the right UK University fit…

Students can start by taking The UK Study Expert UK University Match Quiz which asks you questions about what degree you are interested in applying to (undergraduate or graduate), your interests, and academic profile. The quiz will then populate the top 5 UK universities that best match your profile.

The UK Study Expert also has an Undergraduate UK University Search Engine and Postgraduate UK University Search Engine. Students can input their GPA, SAT scores, ACT scores, how many AP exams they have taken/will take, subject interest, and more. They can input as much information or as little of their academic profile and interests. Once added, the search engine will populate UK university options that match their interests and entry requirements.

 

UK universities have clear, transparent information for students to be admitted into their universities. They favor academics rather than looking at a holistic review of a student’s profile. To find out their US entry requirements, students can click on any of The UK Study Expert UK university pages to find out their US entry requirements.

 

Study Creative Writing in the UK | The UK Study Expert

Posted on by Jackie Christopher

Why study creative writing in the UK? (And why Falmouth University in particular?)

 

If you’re looking ahead to university and considering what you might want to study, and where, you might not have considered creative writing as a major yet. That’s not surprising: it’s not usually taught as a separate academic subject in secondary schools (high school). It’s usually taught as part of your language studies, which for many US students means it’s a (fun, one hopes) component of English class if that is the language of instruction. Let’s take a look at how it’s taught, how it’s taught in British universities, and what’s unique about our program(s) at Falmouth.

 

Maybe you’ve heard the myth that creative writing can’t be taught. Of course it can be, but how does it actually work? The workshop is the basic model of creative writing instruction at universities. The goal of the workshop is to recreate for the student writer how a reader will react to their work. In the real world the author isn’t there to explain their intentions. The written text has to stand on its own. Thus, in the workshop, the students will be guided through a peer-review process—sometimes a very intensive one—to offer feedback. Typically, only one or two students will have their work critiqued in a given session; the instructor will set up a rota or schedule for that. This is done in a focused way, often paired with readings in order to highlight specific skills and techniques, and to assess how well the student writer has utilized them. These may include story or poem structure, different literary forms, language mechanics (grammar, sentence structure, punctuation), description, character development, genre, dialogue, and much more. Does the story make sense, or does it contradict itself? Is it immersive, or is it just a casual, bare-bones telling of what happened? Are there gaps in the logic? Are the sentences clear and well constructed? Or is the writer trying too hard to write Really Beautiful Prose?

 

The biggest difference between UK and US programs, other than duration (3 years in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland vs 4 years in the US), is the British focus on industry and outcomes. Although both countries are broadly similar in their methodologies, Britain’s universities have a legal mandate to look at employment applicability. (This is why every UK university program website you look at will have some text telling you how the course might be useful preparation for certain types of jobs.) With this in mind, the classes (modules) comprising the degree will focus on craft and on readings, but there will also be coverage of, for example, the publishing industry and how it works. Like the US, many UK writing programs host literary journals and events, but the UK arguably has a stronger reading culture. Literature is still more valued here, and there is more visible government support for the arts in general. Moreover, the UK’s relative compactness means that literary events, festivals, and so forth are unlikely to be too far away.

 

Why Falmouth University, then? Despite being an arts university, Falmouth also has a strong culture of entrepreneurship. Our creative writing programs feature two modules on the publishing industry during year one, and another module focuses on the practicalities of being a writer. This means you will finish the year knowing how to select appropriate markets for your work, how to submit it, and how the publishing industry actually works—from the manuscript stage through to the printed book or the online literary journal you might read. There is the expected focus on craft, but you’ll also graduate knowing what to do with it.

 

A secondary benefit is the size of the program: it’s just large enough to allow us to run choices of modules, and it’s large enough for students to find their own groups of friends, but it’s small enough that the lecturers are able to offer 1:1 support and guidance. Everyone on the faculty is also a working writer, and a few also run (or have run) presses. Also, the Woodlane campus (now known as the Falmouth campus where the program is housed) is ridiculously pretty and six blocks from the beach. There’s the Lighthouse, a comfortable lounge and events space where students can hang out and work between classes—and, crucially, form community. Falmouth is unique among UK universities in that it has its own personality and guiding philosophy, and it isn’t afraid to do its own thing. If you’d like to know more about the program, please get in touch. Someone from the department would be more than happy to have a chat with you.

 

Dr. Marshall Moore is Course Leader (BA Hons, English & Creative Writing) and Senior Lecturer in the School of Communication at Falmouth University. He holds an MA in applied linguistics from the University of New England (Australia) and a PhD in creative writing from Aberystwyth University. His research interests include the pedagogy of creative writing and the disconnects between the academy and the publishing trade. Recent and forthcoming books include two academic collections: The Place and the Writer: International Intersections of Teacher Lore and Creative Writing Pedagogy (Bloomsbury, 2021) and Creative Writing Scholars on the Publishing Trade: Practice, Praxis, Print (Routledge, 2022). His memoir I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind of Thing will be published by Rebel Satori Press in 2022.