Studying in the UK is a popular choice for many DSE students and parents as it offers internationally renowned universities with high recognition. Therefore, many Hong Kong students choose to study in the UK. This article will provide a comprehensive guide for studying in the UK with DSE results, including admission requirements for UK universities based on DSE scores and a simple and easy-to-understand strategy for studying in the UK with DSE.
The admission requirements for international students at UK universities.
Different UK universities have different DSE score requirements. Here are some suggestions for applying to universities with different DSE scores:
- DSE score - 22333:
If a student's DSE score is 22333, they may not meet the minimum admission requirements for mainstream UK universities. Therefore, students should apply for a university foundation program as a backup plan, which usually lasts for six months to two years. After completing the program's requirements, students can then enter their desired undergraduate program. Students can apply for foundation courses in business or liberal arts and then progress to their desired undergraduate program.
- DSE score - 33444:
If a student's score is 33444, they can try to apply for more mainstream and popular UK university courses, such as business, communication, and engineering. At the same time, students should also apply for a university foundation program as a backup plan, which usually lasts for six months to two years. After meeting the requirements of their target undergraduate program, students can enroll in their desired field of study.
- DSE score - 44555:
If a student's score is 44555, they can try to apply for most of the top-ranked universities in the UK for subjects such as law, accounting, architecture, and health sciences. In addition, universities may have other admission requirements, such as entrance exams.
- DSE score - 55555:
Students who achieve excellent scores of 55555 or above can have more choices of universities and subjects. For example, students applying for actuarial science, medicine, veterinary medicine, or dentistry in UK universities must achieve Level 5 or above in all subjects of the DSE. However, it is important to note that UK universities may require students to meet other admission requirements, such as passing entrance exams.
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English language proficiency requirements for international students:
In addition to academic requirements, UK universities also require international students to meet certain English language proficiency levels. Most UK universities require students to achieve Level 4 or above in the English Language subject of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE). If students cannot meet this requirement, they can provide their IELTS scores as an alternative to the HKDSE English Language subject. Most UK universities require a minimum IELTS score of 6.0-6.5, while some specific subjects such as nursing or law require a score of 7.0 or above. The minimum IELTS requirement for foundation programs is 5.5.
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When do UK universities open for applications?
As a DSE candidate who wants to submit an application through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), it is important to pay attention to the important dates of UCAS. The UCAS platform starts accepting applications from September each year, and the first round of applications will close in January of the following year. The period from February to June is the admission period, during which applicants need to patiently wait for the results to be released. If an offer is not received in the first round, applicants can re-strategize their application in the second round from June to July. From July to September, UCAS enters the Clearing stage, which is the final stage of the admission period where students who have not been accepted by any university can use this program to find a university that is willing to admit them.
Source: UCAS
The above has introduced the admission requirements for UK universities and the basic strategies for applying to UK universities through UCAS based on DSE score requirements. Therefore, students who are interested in studying in the UK must prepare the necessary information in advance in order to have sufficient time to prepare for admission to their desired university.
