I am an international student from Brazil who recently moved to the UK. Last year I tried to apply for an economics degree through UCAS, but since I did not meet the entry requirements, they offered me a foundation year entry, which I did not accept. Since then, I have been privately studying to take CIE A-Levels in November. I plan to take Economics, Mathematics and Further Mathematics papers, I chose those last two due to the fact that I took three years of a physics degree in Brazil (It is a four-year course there) already and have a solid mathematical foundation. It has been pretty hard for me to understand your education system and I would like to know if you have any tips that would help me in this journey. I will leave some questions below that worry me.
1)CIE A-Levels are equivalent to normal A-Levels, right? 2)Do you think that this combination of subjects is adequate? 3)If you know of any private centres I could book my tests in the Midlands or even in London It would help a lot, the best one I found was this one - https://www.tutorsandexams.uk/ - but it is pretty expensive. 4)Since I am considered a mature student (21 yo), are there any differences in the way universities handle my application? 5)I have been studying for all subjects through the Cambridge books for the A-Levels, Am I on the right path?
I am just surprised you would not have taken Physics at A Level.
CIE A Levels are just a different exam board to my knowledge.
I'm not very knowledgeable in this area but I wish you the BEST of luck!
You might be best off ringing the exam board tomorrow and entering yourself, it's cheaper than someone else (you're paying for admin rather than effort or the ACTUAL exam)
I am just surprised you would not have taken Physics at A Level.
CIE A Levels are just a different exam board to my knowledge.
I'm not very knowledgeable in this area but I wish you the BEST of luck!
You might be best off ringing the exam board tomorrow and entering yourself, it's cheaper than someone else (you're paying for admin rather than effort or the ACTUAL exam)
Haha well, I thought about taking physics as one of them, but the practicals are too expensive. What do you mean by ringing the exam board? Does Cambridge apply the exams independently as well?
Haha well, I thought about taking physics as one of them, but the practicals are too expensive. What do you mean by ringing the exam board? Does Cambridge apply the exams independently as well?
The exam board is CIE (Cambridge International Education) I would suggest calling them and asking for their advice. Cambridge are an exam board, you must find a place that will "authorise" your examination and allow you to sit it, send it off for marking and then recieve your results.
1)CIE A-Levels are equivalent to normal A-Levels, right
Yes
2)Do you think that this combination of subjects is adequate?
Yes, although LSE (if you were considering applying there) only accepts FM as a 4th A-level for Economics. But that's unusual, for other universities your choices are fine.
3)If you know of any private centres I could book my tests in the Midlands or even in London It would help a lot, the best one I found was this one - https://www.tutorsandexams.uk/ - but it is pretty expensive.
Also, do you have funds to pay for your university tuition? From what you have said you will be treated as an International student and fees are relatively high in the UK...
You might be best off ringing the exam board tomorrow and entering yourself, it's cheaper than someone else (you're paying for admin rather than effort or the ACTUAL exam)
I'm pretty certain that no exam board accepts entries directly. You have to find an exam centre willing to accept you as a private candidate.
OP - I'm afraid finding somewhere to accept you for the Autumn Cambridge exams is going to be difficult in England as they are exams for the international market (the exam board is the international arm of OCR, a domestic exam board) and not generally taken in the UK so you're going to have to be prepared to travel and/or pay a lot.
And just to add, you don't need to have completed your exams in order to apply to university. Any university offer will (usually) be conditional on achieving the requirements by the end of August 2019.
I'm pretty certain that no exam board accepts entries directly. You have to find an exam centre willing to accept you as a private candidate.
OP - I'm afraid finding somewhere to accept you for the Autumn Cambridge exams is going to be difficult in England as they are exams for the international market (the exam board is the international arm of OCR, a domestic exam board) and not generally taken in the UK so you're going to have to be prepared to travel and/or pay a lot.
I don't think I explaned myself clearly. What I meant to say was to contact the exam board and be advised on where to go to be entered. I know that you can be entered at a school (almost acting as a central hub for your exams, that you don't neccesarily attend)>
Yes, although LSE (if you were considering applying there) only accepts FM as a 4th A-level for Economics. But that's unusual, for other universities your choices are fine.
Also, do you have funds to pay for your university tuition? From what you have said you will be treated as an International student and fees are relatively high in the UK...
Thank you so much for the answers, I can afford this fees but I was wondering two things: 1)I know I cannot apply for a government student loan since I must live in the UK for 3 years prior to the course, but is there any kind of private student loaning here? 2)Also, when I complete three years of residence here, can I apply for the govt. student loan? even if it is in the middle of a term?
And just to add, you don't need to have completed your exams in order to apply to university. Any university offer will (usually) be conditional on achieving the requirements by the end of August 2019.
But what qualifications I would inform to UCAS? I know there is such a thing as grade predictions here, but since I do not attend a school I do not know how this can be done.
I'm pretty certain that no exam board accepts entries directly. You have to find an exam centre willing to accept you as a private candidate.
OP - I'm afraid finding somewhere to accept you for the Autumn Cambridge exams is going to be difficult in England as they are exams for the international market (the exam board is the international arm of OCR, a domestic exam board) and not generally taken in the UK so you're going to have to be prepared to travel and/or pay a lot.
I already emailed this one I posted, they said I can apply for November without any problems, should I be worried they will reject me later on? Should I apply well before the entry deadline?
Thank you all for the replies, I cannot wait to study again but am really nervous to insert myself in such a new system. You guys are being really helpful.