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1 International Qualifications 2005 Entry

PREFACE This guide is primarily intended as a working document for

selectors and staff involved in admissions and associated

activities in higher education institutions (HEIs). The publication

contains information relating to a wide range of international

qualifications offered for undergraduate admission in the UK. It

will also be of interest and relevance to guidance staff in schools,

the further education (FE) sector and careers services that

advise overseas applicants on entry to higher education (HE).

Its purpose is to provide up-to-date information, which is easy to

access and use, and which will promote the effectiveness and

quality of the admissions process. The publication therefore

contains details of a range of qualifications available from many

countries throughout the world. All entries have been submitted

to the appropriate authority of the overseas country concerned

to allow an opportunity for comment and update.

UCAS is particularly grateful for the care and attention taken by

these overseas correspondents in the updating and constructive

suggestions they have given for this publication. Extensive

reference has been made to additional sources and publications,

including UK and overseas education and examination

authorities (see Appendix G).

The aim of the publication is to provide objective information,

on the basis of which HEIs can make their own decisions about

the admission of overseas students. The inclusion of

qualifications does not imply recognition or endorsement on the

part of UCAS or HEIs for the purpose of entry to HE

programmes.

UCAS would be pleased to receive comments and suggestions

about the format and content of this publication for the benefit

of future editions. Please send any comments you have to:

Research Services

Outreach Department

UCAS

Rosehill

New Barn Lane

Cheltenham

Gloucestershire

GL52 3LZ

Tel: +44 (0)1242 544900

Fax: +44 (0)1242 544954

Email: [email protected]

International Qualifications 2005 Entry 2

CONTENTS

Page

Introduction ............................................................................... 3

Individual Countries

Algeria ............................................................................................ 4

Australia ......................................................................................... 4

Austria ............................................................................................ 5

Bahrain ........................................................................................... 5

Bangladesh ..................................................................................... 5

Belgium ........................................................................................... 6

Brazil ............................................................................................... 6

Brunei ............................................................................................. 7

Bulgaria .......................................................................................... 7

Cameroon ....................................................................................... 7

Canada ............................................................................................ 8

China ............................................................................................... 9

Croatia ............................................................................................ 9

Cyprus ............................................................................................ 9

Czech Republic .............................................................................. 10

Denmark ......................................................................................... 10

Egypt ............................................................................................... 11

Estonia ............................................................................................ 11

Ethiopia .......................................................................................... 11

Faroe Islands .................................................................................. 12

Finland ............................................................................................ 12

France ............................................................................................. 12

Gambia ........................................................................................... 13

Germany ......................................................................................... 13

Ghana .............................................................................................. 14

Greece ............................................................................................. 15

Hong Kong ...................................................................................... 15

Hungary .......................................................................................... 16

Iceland ............................................................................................ 16

India ................................................................................................ 17

Indonesia ........................................................................................ 17

Iran .................................................................................................. 18

Iraq .................................................................................................. 18

Ireland (Eire) .................................................................................. 18

Israel ............................................................................................... 19

Italy ................................................................................................. 19

Japan ............................................................................................... 20

Jordan ............................................................................................. 20

Kazakhstan ..................................................................................... 20

Kenya .............................................................................................. 21

Korea (South) ................................................................................ 21

Kuwait ............................................................................................. 21

Latvia .............................................................................................. 22

Lebanon .......................................................................................... 22

Liechtenstein ................................................................................. 22

Lithuania ........................................................................................ 23

Luxembourg ................................................................................... 23

Malawi ............................................................................................ 23

Malaysia ......................................................................................... 24

Malta ............................................................................................... 24

Mexico ............................................................................................ 25

Morocco ......................................................................................... 25

Page Myanmar (previously Burma) ..................................................... 25

Netherlands ................................................................................... 25

New Zealand .................................................................................. 26

Nigeria ............................................................................................ 27

Norway ........................................................................................... 27

Oman .............................................................................................. 28

Pakistan .......................................................................................... 28

Poland ............................................................................................. 28

Portugal .......................................................................................... 29

Qatar ............................................................................................... 29

Romania ......................................................................................... 29

Russia ............................................................................................. 30

Saudi Arabia ................................................................................... 30

Sierra Leone ................................................................................... 31

Singapore ....................................................................................... 31

Slovakia .......................................................................................... 31

Slovenia .......................................................................................... 32

South Africa ................................................................................... 32

Spain ............................................................................................... 33

Sri Lanka ......................................................................................... 33

Sudan .............................................................................................. 33

Sweden ........................................................................................... 34

Switzerland .................................................................................... 34

Syria ................................................................................................ 34

Taiwan ............................................................................................ 35

Tanzania ......................................................................................... 35

Thailand ......................................................................................... 35

Tunisia ............................................................................................ 36

Turkey ............................................................................................. 36

Uganda ............................................................................................ 36

Ukraine ........................................................................................... 37

United Arab Emirates ................................................................... 37Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, Umm al Qaiwain

United States of America ............................................................. 37

Uzbekistan ..................................................................................... 38

Venezuela ....................................................................................... 38

Vietnam .......................................................................................... 38

West Indies/Caribbean ................................................................. 39Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts/Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines,Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands

Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) ......................................... 40

Zambia ............................................................................................ 40

Zimbabwe ....................................................................................... 40

Appendices

A Overseas Examinations of UK Awarding Bodies ................ 41

B European Baccalaureate ....................................................... 43

C International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme,Certificate and Diploma ........................................................ 45

D Option International du Baccalauréat ................................. 47

E International Foundation Programmes ............................... 47

F English Language Proficiency ............................................... 48

G Additional Sources.................................................................. 49


INTRODUCTION

Globalisation is leading to a greater mobility of students acrossthe world, and UK HE is benefiting from the recruitment ofstudents from overseas. It is therefore important that HEadmissions officers, staff and tutors are fully aware of thequalifications that may be offered by international applicants.The main aim of this publication is to provide accurate and up-to-date information that allows international students to beassessed fairly, and promotes an understanding of the value oftheir qualifications, giving HEIs the ability to make realistic offersto international students.

Just as in the UK, the political map of the world is constantlychanging. This affects educational systems and thequalifications offered by potential applicants to UK HE. It canalso make it difficult to obtain information from some countries.

Presentation of Material

The layout of this edition is similar to previous editions, with theentries arranged in alphabetical order of country, and providesthe following.

• Evaluation – how overseas qualifications offered byapplicants compare with UK qualifications.

• Grading System – how the examinations are marked orgraded by the awarding body or educational system. Wherepossible, the distribution of grades is given.

• Education System - a brief outline of how the system worksin each country to inform the assessment of qualifications.

• Access to Higher Education - an insight of requirementswithin each country.

Where significant changes have been made, since the lastedition, to the information concerning the comparison andevaluation of a qualification, this is highlighted by underlinedtext.

The Appendices include the following information.

• Appendix A covers a number of Awarding Bodies offeringexaminations to overseas centres.

• Appendix B covers information on the EuropeanBaccalaureate.

• Appendix C covers the International Baccalaureate withinformation on the Middle Years Programme (MYP) andcertification.

• Appendix D covers the Option International du Baccalauréat.

• Appendix E covers International Foundation Programmes.

• Appendix F covers English Language Proficiency andembodies information on a wide variety of examinations andtests, which applicants may present as evidence ofcompetence in English.

• Appendix G includes useful email addresses and websites, aswell as postal addresses and telephone and fax numbers.

The information in this publication is also available on the UCASwebsite at www.ucas.com/candq/inter/index.html.

Comparability with UK Qualifications

Wherever possible, an attempt has been made to providecomparisons with UK qualifications. In approaching overseasapplications, it may be apposite to bear in mind that manyoverseas countries have broadly based school-leavingexaminations. The ‘group certificates’ obtained in such countriesusually cannot be readily converted into ‘single-subject’equivalencies in terms of UK qualifications; the most appropriateway to evaluate performance may be to look for high marks insubjects of particular relevance to the candidate’s application.When the school-leaving qualification of a country is evaluatedas acceptable in lieu of GCSE, it will clearly need to besupplemented by acceptable qualifications widely used for entryto UK HE, for example, General Certificate of Education (GCE) orScottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) awards.

The Bologna Declaration (1999) includes in its objectives theadoption and promotion of a Europe-wide system of comparabledegrees based on two main cycles of study, leading to Bachelor’sand Master’s awards respectively. The knowledge andcapabilities of a graduate from a European Bachelor’sprogramme should, generally, equip them to progress to Master’slevel study. It is important to note, however, that the selection ofcandidates to programmes at UK HEIs is determined solely bythe institution concerned and is not an automatic right. Progresstowards the two-study-cycles system is being made at differentrates across the signatory countries. It is intended that futureeditions of this publication will report more fully on suchprogress.

English Language Qualifications

English language proficiency has a particular importance foroverseas applicants. For many of them, English is not the mothertongue and, in some instances, the English Language syllabus oftheir school-leaving examination may be regarded as less thanrigorous or, indeed is, known to be inadequate. It may beprudent to take particular care regarding competence in theEnglish language in respect of applicants with an acceptable‘group qualification’. The standard qualification is GCSE EnglishLanguage, but there are other examinations and tests specificallydesigned for candidates whose first language is not English andwhich, for a long time, have been regarded as providing evidenceof proficiency in English. Although this is not an easy matter toresolve, it may well be that the most useful approach should bein terms of an assessment of the ability to cope; that is, someevidence of competence for the task ahead rather than theachievement of a particular academic qualification. Appendix Flists some of the main English Language Proficiency testsavailable to international applicants.

ALGERIAEvaluation

Baccalauréat or Baccalauréat TechniqueConsidered to be between the BTEC First Diploma and BTECNational Diploma.

Baccalauréat de l’Enseignement SecondaireMay be accepted as a group qualification by some institutions assatisfying general entrance requirements, provided that anoverall grade of at least ‘bien’ has been achieved. Can besupplemented with GCE A Level.

Brevet de MaitriseConsidered to be comparable to BTEC First Diploma or NVQlevel 2.

Diplôme de Technicien SupérieurConsidered to be comparable to the BTEC National Diploma/GCEA Level.

Grading System20 - 16 très bien (very good)

15 - 14 bien (good)

13 - 12 assez bien (fair)

11 - 10 passable/moyen (pass)

9 - 0 insuffisant (fail)

Education SystemCompulsory education is nine years, from the age of six to 15,followed by three years secondary. The medium of instruction isArabic throughout. French is taught as a first foreign language(from fourth year) and English as a second foreign language(from eighth year) of the Ecole Fondamentale. At the end of thenine years of compulsory primary education, pupils may beawarded a Brevet d’Etudes Fondamentales (BEF) and the moreable will transfer to secondary education. At a secondary school,pupils will select a humanities, mathematics or science optionand take the Baccalauréat in appropriate subjects after threeyears. The education system in Algeria is in the process of beingchanged with one of the predicted changes being the middleyears lasting for four years instead of three.

Access to Higher EducationThe Baccalauréat is the basic university entrance requirement inAlgeria at grades varying from 12 - 18 according to the type ofdegree to be pursued. The first degree is a Licence, which maybe achieved after four years in letters or science and five yearsin engineering.

AUSTRALIAEvaluationSenior secondary school certificates of the Australian States andTerritories are generally considered to satisfy the generalentrance requirements of UK universities if a tertiary entrancescore/rating at a specified level has been achieved. Both theschool leaving certificate and tertiary entrance ranking shouldbe taken into account when evaluating admissions potential.

Grading System

Capital TerritorySecondary Education - ACT Year 12 Certificate:

Three classes of courses - the T Course prepares students for HE.Graded A - E with A being the highest.

ACT Scaling Test (AST):

Measures scholastic aptitude.

Tertiary Entrance - Universities Admissions Index (UAI):

Graded on a scale from 0 - 100 (highest) in increments of 0.05.

New South WalesSecondary Education - Higher School Certificate (HSC):

In each two-unit course, marks range from 0 - 100 (highest), with50 repesenting the minimum standard expected. In addition,students’ performance places them into one of six bands whichprovide a description of the attainments typically demonstratedby students.

Tertiary Entrance - UAI:

Graded on a scale of 0 - 100 (highest) in increments of 0.05. Itprovides a measure of overall academic achievement in the NSWHSC, The UAI is a rank, not a mark, and it is designed to be usedonly for tertiary selection.

Northern TerritorySecondary Education - Northern Territory Certificate ofEducation (NTCE):

Subject achievement scores are reported in the range 0 - 20: 20(A) outstanding achievement; 19 - 17 (A) very high achievement;16 - 14 (B) high achievement; 13 - 11 (C) competent achievement;10 - 8 (D) marginal achievement; 7 - 3 (E) low achievement; 2 - 0(no grade) requirements not met.

Tertiary Entrance - Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER):

Subject achievement scores are scaled and an aggregatecalculated from the best four and a half subjects. The aggregateis converted to a TER, which is an indicator of how well thestudent has performed relative to others in the cohort. Gradedon a scale from 0 - 99.95 (highest) in increments of 0.05.

QueenslandSecondary Education - Student Education Profile (SEP):

Comprising a Senior Certificate and Tertiary Entrance Statement:

Graded in terms of Very High Achievement (VHA), HighAchievement (HA), Sound Achievement (SA), LimitedAchievement (LA), Very Limited Achievement (VLA).

Tertiary Entrance - Overall Position (OP) and Field Positions(FP):

OP: a student’s overall rank order on a 1- 25 scale (1 highest).

FP: a student’s rank order in specific fields of study on a 1 - 10scale (1 highest).

South AustraliaSecondary Education - South Australian Certificate ofEducation (SACE):

Levels of performance are graded as: 20 (A) outstandingachievement; 19 - 17 (A) very high achievement; 16 - 14 (B) highachievement; 13 - 11 (C) competent achievement; 10 - 8 (D)marginal achievement; 7 - 3 (E) low achievement; 2 - 0 (no grade)requirements not met.

Tertiary Entrance - Tertiary Entrance Rank (SA TER):

Subject achievement scores are scaled and an aggregatecalculated from the best four and a half subjects. The aggregateis converted to a TER which is an indicator of how well thestudent has performed relative to others in the cohort. Gradedon a scale from 0 to 99.95 (highest) in increments of 0.05.

TasmaniaSecondary Education - Tasmanian Certificate of Education(TCE):

University entrance subjects are graded on a 22-point scale, withsome adjustment between subjects for relative difficulty:Exceptional Achievement (average range 22 - 20), HighAchievement (average range 19 - 13), Commendable Achievement(average range 12 - 7) and Satisfactory Achievement (averagerange 6 - 1).


Percentile ranking of students within the cohort. Graded on ascale from 0 - 100 (highest) in increments of 0.05.

VictoriaSecondary Education - Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE):

Levels of performance are graded A+ - E and UG (ungraded).


Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL):

A vocational qualification broadly comparable to the VictorianCertificate of Education. Not all institutions in Victoria willaccept VCAL.

Tertiary Entrance - Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank(ENTER):

A percentile ranking within the cohort. Graded on a scale 0 - 100(highest) in increments of 0.05.

Western AustraliaSecondary Education - Western Australian Certificate ofEducation (WACE):

Statement of Results records achievement including TertiaryEntrance Examination score. Subjects graded A - E with A beingthe highest grade.


A percentile rank from 0 - 99.95 in bands of 0.05 indicating astudent’s place in the total final year school leaving age cohort inWA.

Education SystemAll aspects of primary and secondary education are theresponsibility of the individual State or Territory government.Systems have distinctive features and are comparable in leadingto a reasonably broad matriculation-type examination in most.These examinations, together with school-based assessment, areseen as the appropriate basis for entry into a three-year degree ora four-year honours degree in Australia. Each State and Territoryhas its own education department which is responsible forpublicly funded secondary education. Each determines its ownpolicies and practices on such matters as curriculum and awards.Secondary schooling is five or six years, finishing with Year 12.

Access to Higher EducationAustralian universities are autonomous self-regulating highereducation institutions (HEIs). The sector also includes non-university institutions. Australian universities accept seniorsecondary certificates as outlined above as a general basis forentry to university programmes in conjunction with specifiedprerequisites and tertiary entrance ranking. University entrancerequirement is most usually linked to the school leaving certificatesystem in its own State or Territory, but students can apply touniversities outside their own region. For example, in New SouthWales, the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) calculates a UAIreported out of 100 at intervals of 0.05. Cut-offs (UAIs) forprogrammes at different universities are a reflection of availableplaces and demand. On this basis, cut-off points for the Universityof New South Wales in 2004 were law 99.35, science 80.00, arts85.30, architecture 90.10, commerce 96.00 and computerengineering 90.00. The South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre(SATAC) calculates TER. Current cut-off points at the University ofAdelaide are: arts 75.05; commerce 89.10; computer science 69.10;electrical and electronic engineering 83.15; law 98.15. For entry tothe following programmes at the University of Queensland in 2004,the following Queensland OPs were required: arts OP7, commerceOP4, engineering OP6, information technology OP8, law OP2.

AUSTRIAEvaluation

Reifezeugnis/MaturazeugnisAcceptable as a group qualification satisfying general entrancerequirements.

Grading SystemReifezeugnis/Maturazeugnis

1 sehr gut (very good)

2 gut (good)

3 befriedigend (satisfactory)

4 genuegend (pass)

5 nicht genuegend (failure)

Candidates must achieve grade 4 or better in every subject.

Education SystemFour years of primary education (Volkschule) and four years ofjunior secondary (Hauptschule or AHS - Unterstufe) is followedby a further four years in a specialised academic secondaryschool (Allgemeinbildende Höhere Schule - AHS) categorisedaccording to subject specialisation. The school leavingexamination, Reifeprüfung (or Matura), may consist of fourwritten subjects, depending on the type of school, and an oralexamination in three different subjects or three written and fouroral examinations. German, mathematics and a modern foreignlanguage are compulsory in the Matura examinations. It ispossible also for students to write a ‘scholarly’ paper in the firstsemester of Grade 12 and, in addition, take three written andthree oral examinations. In practice, only exceptional studentschoose this option. The modern foreign language, compulsoryfrom Hauptschule onward, is most commonly English but neednot be so. A comparable Reifeprüfung, with different subjectsand curricula, and one additional school year, may be achievedin a Higher Vocational School (Berufsbildende Höhere Schule -BHS).

Access to Higher EducationHolders of a Reifezeugnis have free and open access to universityand Fachhochschule in Austria. The first degree,Bakkalaureus/a, lasts at least three to four years (six to eightsemesters).

BAHRAINEvaluation

Tawjahiya (Secondary School Leaving Certificate)Acceptable at 60% or better in lieu of GCSE on a subject forsubject basis (except English Language).

Would need to be supplemented by GCE A Levels, ScottishHighers or Advanced Highers, or a bridging course.

Grading SystemMarking varies between subjects; the maximum and minimummarks per subject are shown on the certificate, but see belowunder Educational System.

Education SystemArabic is the medium of instruction in schools. Six years ofprimary education (with English introduced in third year) admitsto three years of intermediate education. The IntermediateSchool Certificate or its equivalent is a prerequisite toproceeding to three years of secondary education culminating inthe Secondary School Leaving Certificate. In secondaryeducation there is a choice of curriculum between literary,science, commercial, applied or technical. The award of theSecondary School Certificate involves a credit-hours system andrequires 156 credit-hours in all specialisations except technical,which requires 180.

Access to Higher EducationAdmission to three-year degree courses in Bahrain is on thebasis of the Secondary School Leaving Certificate with anaverage mark of 60% or more.

BANGLADESHEvaluation

Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC)Acceptable in lieu of GCSE on a subject for subject basis (exceptEnglish Language).


Bachelor of Arts, Science and Commerce (Honours)Satisfies the general entry requirements for entry into a UKHigher Education Institution (HEI).


Bachelor of Arts, Science and Commerce (Ordinary)Approaches GCE Advanced standard.

LLB (Honours)Considered between GCE Advanced and British Bachelor degree.

See also Overseas Examinations of UK Awarding Bodies(Appendix A).

Grading System

HSCLetter Grade Grade Point Marks Obtained

A+ 5.00 100 - 80

A 4.00 79 - 70

A- 3.50 69 - 60

B 3.00 59 - 50

C 2.00 49 - 40

D 1.00 39 - 33

F 0.00 32 - 0

Education SystemFive years of primary education may be followed by three yearsof junior secondary and two years of secondary (Class 10,Secondary School Certificate). Two further years (highersecondary) lead to the Higher School Certificate (HSC) in Class12. The medium of instruction is predominantly Bengali, butEnglish is used in a small number of schools. English is taught asa compulsory subject at secondary and higher secondary levels.

Access to Higher EducationThe HSC gives access to undergraduate studies in universities,colleges and other institutions of HE in Bangladesh. Such studiesinclude two-year pass degrees, three-year honours degrees, four-year engineering, agricultural and business administrationdegrees, and five-year medicine and architecture degrees. Passdegrees can be undertaken only in affiliated colleges, althoughthe degree is granted by a university on the basis ofexaminations administered by the university.

BELGIUMEvaluation

French-Speaking Community

Certificat d’Enseignement Secondaire Supérieur

Diplôme de l’Examen d’Admission

Diplôme d’Acces aux Etudes Supérieures

Flemish-Speaking Community

Brevet van de Aanvullende Secundaire Bereopsschool(secondary education programme)

Getuignschrift van Hoger Secundair Onderwijs

German-Speaking Community

Abschlu§zeugnis der Oberstufe desSekundarunterrichtsAll acceptable as group qualifications satisfying general entrancerequirements.

Grading SystemVarious, with details on certificates, but most commonly:10(maximum) ... 1

Education SystemThe federal structure of Belgium is intricate, but in generalterms, the educational systems may be interpreted by referenceto the three main linguistic communities. Since 1989, the Dutch-speaking (Flemish), French-speaking and German-speakingcommunities have had a very considerable measure of autonomyin educational policy. Nonetheless, there are certain broadnational guidelines. Six years of primary education is followed by

six years of compulsory secondary education leading to theschool-leaving certificate: Diploma van SecundairOnderwijs/Certificat d’Enseignement SecondaireSupérieur/Abschlu§zeugnis der Oberstufe desSekundarunterrichts. The sixth-year secondary certificates haverecently been reappraised and made more demanding.Secondary education is arranged in four distinct sections:general, technical, artistic and vocational. The certificate willrecord the specialisation.

Access to Higher EducationThe Flemish Parliament adopted a new HE Act in April 2003,implementing the principles of the Bologna Declaration.

The general admission requirement for a Bachelor programme isthe Flemish secondary school leaving certificate (Diploma vanSecundair Onderwijs). Entry examinations must be passed byany student who wishes to take up study in dentistry, medicineand fine arts (Diploma van het Toelatingsexamen). From 2004/5,there will be no further entry examinations for civil engineering,civil engineering/architecture or nautical sciences.

Some professional Bachelor degrees (180 ECTS) give access tosubsequent Bachelor programmes (at least 60 ECTS), possiblyafter a preliminary examination. The ‘Hogescholen’ boardstipulates which Bachelor degrees give access to theseprofessionally oriented specialisation programmes.

Academic Bachelor degrees (180 ECTS) give access to Mastersprogrammes (at least 60 ECTS). Some Master degrees will giveaccess to subsequent Masters programmes (at least a further 60ECTS), possibly after a preliminary examination. The universityboard stipulates which Masters degrees give access to thesespecialised and advanced Master programmes.

Professional Bachelor degrees give access to some Masterprogrammes after a bridging course (schakelprogramma). Theprogramme of the bridging course is determined by theuniversity board and will be between 45 and 90 ECTS. TheMaster degrees give access to doctoral programmes, possiblyafter a preliminary examination (dependent on field of study).

BRAZILEvaluation

Certificado de Conclusao de Ensino FundamentalBelow GCSE standard.

Certificado de Ensino MédioAcceptable in lieu of GCSE on a subject for subject basis (exceptEnglish Language).

Certificado de Conclusao de Segundo GrauAcceptable in lieu of GCSE on a subject for subject basis (exceptEnglish Language).

Exame Nacional Do Ensino Médio (ENEM)The ENEM is a test designed to enable the Ministry of Educationto assess national standards. It is not a qualification, but is beingincreasingly used in Brazil to gain university entrance.

Programa De Avaliacão Seriada (PAS)The PAS is a university entrance examination gained over the lastthree years of secondary education.

VestibularUniversity entrance examinations which are broadly equivalentto GCSEs.

Grading SystemMarking systems vary between states. However, in general terms:

Certificado de Ensino MédioEither graded on a scale of 10 (maximum) to 1, with a pass markof 5, or

SS 10 - 9

MS 8 - 7

MM 6 - 5


MI 4 - 3

II 2 - 1

SR 0

ENEMOften given a percentage weighting with the Vestibular for thepurposes of university entrance.

VestibularMinimum score for entry into HE in Brazil is 3 in Portuguese, 3 inone other subject, and a score greater than 1 in all othersubjects.

Education SystemOrganisation of the educational system in Brazil is decentralised:local authorities have responsibility for primary education(Primeiro Grau); states are responsible for secondary education(Segundo Grau); and the Federal Government has responsibilityfor HE. The Ministry of Education issues guidelines for curricularcontent at primary and secondary level, but there are stillenormous regional variations. In addition to the state system,there is a broad network of private schools and HEIs. Themedium of instruction is Portuguese.

Brazilian education is organised in two main blocks. The first isbasic, compulsory education from age seven to 14, oncompletion of which, successful students are awarded theCertificado de Conclusao de Ensino Fundamental. This isfollowed by a further, voluntary three years of secondaryeducation. The school leaving qualification is the Certificado deEnsino Médio.

Access to Higher EducationDemand for HE and competition for places is high. Entrance toHE is based on the Certificado de Ensino Médio (or Certificadode Conclusao de Segundo Grau) and an additional entrance exam(Vestibular). The first degree, Bacharel, Licenciado or aProfessional title usually take from three to six years dependingupon the specialisation.

BRUNEIEvaluation

GCE O LevelGrades 1 to 6 equivalent to GCSE grades A, B, C.

Brunei-Cambridge General Certificate of EducationAdvanced (BC-GCE A) level examinationEquates to Advanced GCE standard.

Matriculation (phased out in 1991/92)Satisfies general entrance requirements.

Education SystemThe education system of Brunei provides schooling in a 7+3+2+2pattern, representing primary, lower secondary, upper secondaryand pre-tertiary levels respectively. At the age of five, the studentwill start pre-school education. Students will proceed to primaryschool for six years, at the end of which, they sit the PrimaryCertificate of Education (PCE), continuing on to three years oflower secondary school and two years of upper secondaryschool. In the third year of secondary school, students take theJunior Secondary Assessment/Penilaian Menengah Bawah (PMB)and in the fifth, GCE O Levels (or Normal, N levels for the lessacademic students). There are two languages of instruction,Malay and English. Students who have adequate and relevant Olevel results may proceed to the pre-university level. At thislevel, most students follow a two-year course leading to theBrunei-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Advanced(BC-GCE A) level examination. Education is not compulsory inBrunei.

Access to Higher EducationStudents who have completed the PMB, the N level or the BC-GCE O Level examinations can pursue vocational education in aTechnical or Engineering College offering two- to five-year crafts

or technician programmes. Those who complete A level courseswith adequate and relevant passes may be eligible for entry toThe University of Brunei Darussalam or other tertiaryinstitutions or be awarded scholarships for further studiesabroad.

BULGARIAEvaluation

Diploma za Zavarsheno Sredno Obrazovanie (Diplomaof Completed Secondary Education)Acceptable as a group qualification satisfying general entrancerequirements.

Diploma za Sredno - Spetzialno Obrazovanie (Diplomaof Completed Secondary Education)Awarded by technical secondary schools and acceptable as agroup qualification satisfying general entry requirements.

Grading System6 otlichen (excellent)

5 mnogo dobur (very good)

4 dobur (good)

3 sreden (sufficient)[minimum pass mark]

2 slab (poor)

Education SystemMost pupils complete the eight years of primary education.Secondary education is usually three years, leading to the awardof the Diploma, with the exception of technical and languageschools, to which students apply after their seventh year atprimary school and then study for a further five years. With veryfew exceptions, admission to these schools is gained through acompetitive examination.

Access to Higher EducationThe Diploma of Completed Secondary Education is a prerequisitefor entry to HEIs in Bulgaria, but admission is related also tocompetitive entrance examinations organised each year by theMinistry of Education, Science and Technologies in co-operationwith the universities. One outcome of recent political changes,however, has been a rapidly growing measure of universityautonomy and some institutions may allow a certain number ofstudents who have failed the entrance examination, but whohave high marks in the Diploma, to enrol. The length of the firstdegree course varies, according to subject, from four and a halfto six years.

CAMEROONEvaluation

BaccalauréatAcceptable as a group qualification satisfying general entrancerequirements provided that an overall grade of at least ‘bien’ hasbeen achieved.

Cameroon GCE Ordinary LevelAcceptable at grade C or better in lieu of GCSE on a subject forsubject basis.

Cameroon GCE Advanced LevelAcceptable at grades A - E in lieu of GCE A Level on a subject forsubject basis.

Grading System

Baccalauréat20 - 18 excellent (excellent)

17 - 16 très bien (very good)

15 - 14 bien (good)



11 - 10 passable/moyen (pass)


Cameroon GCE Ordinary Level A - C (pass), D - F (fail)

Cameroon GCE Advanced Level A - E (pass), F (fail)

Education SystemThe Republic of Cameroon has a unique educational system inAfrica with English and French as the languages of instruction inboth educational sub-systems. Six years of primary educationlead to national examinations in which a pass is a prerequisitefor secondary education. Secondary education in the English-medium system involves a first cycle of five years leading to OLevel and a second cycle of two further years to A Level. In theFrench-medium system, the first cycle leads to the Brevetd’Etudes du Premier Cycle and the second to the Baccalauréat,which is a group examination requiring passes in all eight/ninesubjects.

Access to Higher EducationAdmission to the six universities in Cameroon is based on theBaccalauréat or two A Levels and a minimum of four O Levels.However, each university is entitled to impose its own entryqualifications which may be quite specific, especially in relationto bilingual degrees. The initial qualification after a minimum ofthree years is the Licence or BA/BSc.

CANADAEvaluationWith one exception (Quebec), the Certificates or Diplomasawarded by provinces on the completion of secondary schoolstudies (usually in Grade 12) are acceptable in satisfaction ofgeneral entrance requirements. The following are examples ofthe level of achievement considered appropriate to meetminimum requirements.

Alberta:65% in five Grade 12 subjects (four being core subjects and theother an option)

British Columbia:67% in five Grade 12 subjects (preferably 5 grade Bs)

Manitoba:Five credits at 300 level and at least 65% in four subjects

New Brunswick:65% in six acceptable subjects at Grade 12

Newfoundland:70% in six acceptable subjects at 3,000 level Grade 12, or 60% innine 3,000 level subjects

North West Territories:65% in five acceptable subjects at Grade 12

Nova Scotia:65% in five acceptable subjects at Grade 12

Nunavut:65% in five acceptable subjects at Grade 12

Ontario:70% in six 4U or 4M courses (see below)

Prince Edward Island:65% in five acceptable subjects at Grade 12

Saskatchewan:65% in five acceptable subjects at Grade 12

Yukon Territories:Minimum of five Bs in acceptable subjects at Grade 12

For Quebec, the Diplôme d’Etudes Collègiales (DEC) awardedafter two years of study at a ‘collège d’enseignement général etprofessionnel’ (CEGEP) is acceptable as satisfying generalentrance requirements.

Grading SystemMost of the provincial Certificates or Diplomas provideindividual subject marks on a percentage basis (50% pass), oftenlinked with a literal grade.

Diplôme d’Etudes Collégiales:

On a percentage basis (60% pass).

Education SystemThere is no single system of education in Canada. Publiceducation is the responsibility of the provinces and althoughsystems resemble each other in a number of aspects, eachprovincial and territorial system has different characteristics.Elementary education in most provinces covers the first eightyears of compulsory education and is followed by four years ofsecondary education. Most provinces do not set uniformexaminations. Examinations are set, and marks and credit areawarded, by the local school.

In some provinces, the award of standing is shared between theDepartment of Education and the local authorities.

In most provinces, pupils must have completed 12 years of studyto be awarded the Certificate or Diploma marking the end ofsecondary education.

Access to Higher EducationCanadian universities have individual admission requirementsbased primarily on the secondary school qualifications awardedin their own province. Most universities require a Grade 12qualification with a minimum average mark which varies fromprovince to province, but which is usually in the range 60 - 75%.Faculties with limited enrolments, usually ‘professional’ faculties,will require higher averages. The most obviously distinctivearrangements have related to Quebec and Ontario.

In Quebec, ‘out of province’ students will gain university entrywith a Grade 12 qualification, but admission is usually on thebasis of the Diplôme d’Etudes Collègiales (DEC), a two-yearbroad-based course designed as a bridge between secondaryschool and university. The contents of the CEGEP’s programmesinclude a beginning of specialisation usually taught in the firstyear of the North-American four-year bachelor programmes.Most of the bachelor programmes in Quebec are three-yearprogrammes; these are more specialised than elsewhere in NorthAmerica. Some universities in other provinces allow admissionon the basis of two semesters’ study (one year) for the DEC andwill award advanced standing for the completed DEC.

In Ontario, changes in the educational system during 1999/2002have made the province less distinctive, as secondary educationis now completed in four years instead of five. The first studentscompleted the reformed Ontario Secondary School (OSS)programme in 2003. Under the new system, in order to earn anOntario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), a student starting inGrade 9 in the 1999/2000 school year, or in subsequent years,must earn a minimum of 30 credits, pass a provincial secondaryschool literacy test and complete 40 hours of communityinvolvement activities. To enter university, students mustcomplete a minimum of six Grade 12 University Preparation (4U)Courses or University/College Preparation (4M) Courses. Anoverall average of 60% in six Grade 12 4U or 4M courses will benecessary for consideration for admission to an Ontariouniversity. College prep courses will not be accepted foruniversity admission. Most universities and/or programmes havehigher admissions averages - many programmes at the Universityof Toronto, for example, require averages in the 85 - 90% range.There are also prerequisite courses that must be completed, andminimum academic averages are required for most universityprogrammes.

The first degree, Bachelor, in arts, science or engineering,involves three years of study for an ordinary degree and fouryears for an honours degree.


CHINAEvaluation

Senior High School ExaminationConsidered to be between GCSE and GCE A Level standard.Those students with high grades may be considered foradmission to access or foundation level programmes.

Vocational Secondary School Diploma (Zhixiao)Considered to be comparable to BTEC First Diploma/NVQ level 2.

University Entrance ExaminationConsidered to be between GCSE and GCE A Level standard.Those students with high grades may be considered foradmission to access or foundation level programmes.

Grading System

Senior High School ExaminationNine subjects are taken and graded A - D (with A being thehighest).

A 100 - 80%

B 79 - 70

C 69 - 60

D Fail

University Entrance ExaminationFive core subjects with each paper being marked out of apossible 150, giving a total mark of 750.

Education SystemPrimary and secondary education in China comprises threestages: six years of primary school, three years of junior middleschool, and three years of senior middle school. Primary andjunior middle school education is compulsory, and commencesat age six. To progress from junior middle school, students mustpass locally organised entrance examinations. Results of theseentrance examinations are used to stream students into ageneral academic route or a technical and vocational route.

The technical and vocational schools offer the VocationalSecondary School Diploma which includes general knowledge,basic technology and a subject specialism. Senior secondaryschools offer the Senior High School Examination which isusually taken in five or six subjects. As it is taken across thecountry, but organised on a provincial basis, curricula andstandards may vary.

Access to Higher EducationGraduation from Senior Secondary School is a prerequisite forsitting the University Entrance Examination, the upper age limitfor which is 25 years.

The University Entrance Examination format can vary betweenprovinces, but is taken nationwide. There are five core subjects,of which Chinese, mathematics and politics are compulsory.Competition for university places is high, and a mark of 500 - 550,depending on the provincial arrangements, out of a possible 750is required for entry into university.

HE is structured into four-year Bachelor programmes (xueshi),three-year Masters programmes (shoshi) and three-yearDoctorates (boshi).

CROATIAEvaluation

Matura (Secondary School Leaving Diploma)Acceptable as a group qualification satisfying general entrancerequirements.

Medunarodna maturaA baccalaureate style qualification offered by some Gimzazijawhich satisfies the general entry requirements for UK HE.

Grading System

5 (maximum) ... 2 (minimum pass) ... 1

Education SystemCroatia has, since 1991, operated a distinctive educationalsystem with modifications in all aspects of curriculum andadministration. Eight years of primary education, with a foreignlanguage introduced in year five, is usually followed by fouryears of secondary education which may take place in agrammar school (Gimnazija), a vocational school or an artschool. Grammar school entry is by a competitive examination.The grammar school may be classified as general, linguistic,classical or scientific, with appropriately different curricula. Theschool leaving examination is taken in two compulsory subjectsand one optional subject. The medium of instruction is Croatian.

Access to Higher EducationAdmission to HE in Croatia is on the basis of the SecondarySchool Leaving Diploma and a competitive entrance examinationoperated by the relevant individual university faculty.Undergraduate courses are of at least four years in duration andmay lead to the award of a Diploma.

CYPRUSEvaluation

Greek-Cypriot System

Apolytirion (School Leaving Certificate)Acceptable in lieu of GCSEs (Grades A - C) on a subject forsubject basis (except English Language), where a mark of at least10 has been achieved.

Some HEIs may additionally require one or two UK advancedlevel qualifications to satisfy specific entry requirements; othersaccept the Apolytirion as satisfying general entry requirementsprovided a minimum mark of 17 has been attained.

Turkish-Cypriot System

Devlet Lise Diplomasi (State High School Diploma) and

Lise Bitirme Diplomasi (Private High School FinishingDiploma)Considered to be at a standard of at least GCSE level. Studentswith an overall average of four (under the new system, or eightunder the old system) may satisfy the general entryrequirements of some UK HEIs.

Grading System

Greek-Cypriot SystemGraded 1 - 20 (with 20 being the maximum), pass mark 10.

Turkish-Cypriot SystemNew system - graded 1 - 5 (with five being the highest), passmark 2.

Old system - graded 1 - 10 (with 10 being the maximum), passmark 5.

Education SystemThe educational system in Cyprus is rigidly divided between theself-governing Greek-Cypriot community in the south, and theself-governing Turkish-Cypriot community in the north.

Greek-Cypriot SystemEducation is co-educational and compulsory until the age of 15.Primary education lasts for six years, followed by a further sixyears of secondary education. Secondary education is dividedinto two cycles of three years; three years Gymnasion, followedby three years Lykeion. The Lykeion offers three distinctprogramme curricula, all of which lead to the leaving certificate,the Apolytirion. They are the LEM (subject selection Lyceum),the technical and vocational programme (STVE) and the EniaioLykeio (comprehensive upper secondary school). There is a corecurriculum at primary and Gymnasion level; at Lykeion level,students take additional options, generally in four or five


subjects. The final examinations in the Lykeion class areexternally organised.

Turkish-Cypriot SystemThe education system in Northern Cyprus follows the samemodel as Turkey, and will have equivalent standards to that onthe Turkish mainland. Primary education is compulsory from theage of six - 11. Secondary schooling is not compulsory, althoughmost students do complete both three years’ middle (Ortaokul)and three years’ upper secondary school (Lise). At the secondyear of upper secondary education, in addition to studying acore curriculum, students are divided into either the sciencestream or the arts stream. In the third year, the science stream isfurther divided into natural sciences and mathematics. The finalexamination is administered internally, which may lead tovariations in standards between schools.

Access to Higher Education

Greek-Cypriot SystemTraditionally, candidates have mainly proceeded to study atuniversities in Greece. However, HE has been available at theUniversity of Cyprus since 1992. Admission is on the basis of theApolytirion and a competitive entrance examination. Universityentrance examinations are organised by the Examination Serviceof the Ministry of Education and Culture and are known asEisagogkikes Exetaseis. There are additional private tertiaryinstitutions which must register with the Ministry of Educationand Culture. Registration, however, does not imply recognition oftheir degrees.

Turkish-Cypriot SystemStudents who have successfully completed the Lise BitirmeDiplomasi will need also to sit the University EntranceExamination to gain entry to university. HE is offered by theUniversity of the Eastern Mediterranean where English is themedium of instruction for all undergraduate courses. The HigherEducation Council of Turkey accredits some courses offered bythe University.

CZECH REPUBLICEvaluation

Vysvedceni o Maturitni Zkousce/MaturitaAcceptable as a group qualification satisfying general entrancerequirements.

Grading System1 vyborny (excellent)

2 chvalitebny (very good)

3 dobry (good)

4 dostatecny (pass)

5 nedostatecny (fail)

Education SystemNine years of basic education is followed by four years of uppersecondary education. The upper secondary course in general,technical and vocational schools leads to the traditionalmatriculation examination, Maturitni Zkouska or Maturita. At ageneral secondary school (gymnázium), the Maturita, whichinvolves both written and oral examinations, is taken in twocompulsory subjects (Czech language and literature and achosen foreign language) and two optional subjects. The mediumof instruction is Czech.

Access to Higher EducationThere are now 24 public institutions, four state institutions and34 private institutions of HE in the Czech Republic. While theMaturita, awarded after passing the secondary school leavingexamination, remains fundamental, these institutions haveconsiderable autonomy to fix admission numbers and specificentrance requirements. Depending on the type of course, thefirst degree of Bakalar may be achieved in three or four years ofstudy. The Masters programme involves one to three years’study after a Bachelor study programme, or four to six years

after the Maturita. HE institutions other than universities providemainly bachelor study programmes in related research,developmental, artistic or other creative fields.

DENMARKEvaluation

Folkeskolens Afgangsprøve (After Class 9 or 10)

Folkeskolens 10 - klasseprøve (formerly FolkeskolensUdvidede Afgangsprøve) (After Class 10)Acceptable in lieu of GCSE on a subject for subject basis (exceptEnglish Language).

Studentereksamen

Hojere Forberedelseseksamen (HF)

Hojere Handelseksamen (HHX)

Hojere Teknisk Eksamen (HTX)Acceptable as group qualifications satisfying general entrancerequirements.

Grading System13 exceptionally independent and

excellent performance

11 independent and excellent performance

10 excellent but not particularly independent performance

9 good performance, a little above average

8 average performance

7 mediocre performance, slightly below average

6 just acceptable performance

5 hesitant and not satisfactory performance

3 very hesitant, very insufficient and unsatisfactory performance

0 completely unacceptable performance

The percentage distribution of marks of general upper secondaryschool (gymnasium) candidates in the Studentereksamen and ofHF candidates in 2000 was as follows.

Mark Gymnasium% HF%

13 00.9 00.5

11 07.2 05.2

10 14.1 11.0

9 19.5 16.9

8 21.2 19.7

7 18.1 19.3

6 11.1 13.8

5 05.9 09.4

3 01.8 03.9

0 00.1 00.5

Average Mark 08.06 07.59

No of Marks 156,634 62,044

Education SystemNine or ten years in a basic comprehensive school (Folkeskole),with English Language compulsory from the third year, may befollowed by three years at a gymnasium culminating in theStudentereksamen (Upper Secondary School LeavingExamination), which consists of oral and written examinationsadministered by the Ministry of Education. A total of 10examinations must be taken in order to pass the completeexamination, of which up to three may be taken after the firstand second years. Another general upper secondary course,which is taken over two years building on to the 10th (voluntary)


year of the Folkeskole, leads to the HF (Higher PreparatoryExamination). To pass the Studentereksamen or the HF requiresa minimum average of 6.0 in the marks for both the year’s workand the examination. The HHX and the HTX are broadlycomparable final examinations from a business college and atechnical college respectively.

Access to Higher EducationThe four examinations noted above are the usual universityentrance qualifications in Denmark. Usually, a university courseconsists of a three-year programme leading to a Bachelor’s degree,followed by a two-year programme leading to a Master’s degree.The university sector includes 12 universities, some of which aremulti-faculty universities, while others specialise in specific fields.In addition, there are a number of specialist university-levelinstitutions in fields such as architecture, art and music.

EGYPTEvaluation

Thanaweya A’ama (General Secondary SchoolCertificate)

Al-Azhar General Secondary School CertificateAcceptable at 70% or better in lieu of GCSE on a subject forsubject basis (except English Language).

Will need to be supplemented by acceptable qualifications thatare widely used for entry to HE, eg GCE or SQA awards.

Diploma (Two years)Comparable to the BTEC National Diploma/Advanced VCE.

Grading SystemThe minimum pass mark is 40% except for Arabic and Religion,where 50% is required.

Education SystemAll school education is under the centralised control of theMinistry of Education. An eight-year system of ‘basic education’is followed by three years of secondary education culminating inthe School Certificate examination in 13 subjects. Candidates arerequired to take the examination over two years. The second andthird years of secondary education are considered as two stagesof the Thanaweya A’ama. There is a core of compulsory coursesplus electives, which must include at least one course from artsand one from science, chosen according to the student’sintended career. The medium of instruction is Arabic apart fromlanguage schools which use both Arabic and English.

Al-Azhar schools are open only to Muslim children and placeadditional emphasis on religious education. Boys and girls arestrictly segregated. Completion of secondary education leads tothe award of the Al-Azhar General Secondary Certificate.

Access to Higher EducationEntry to university in Egypt is based on the results of the SchoolCertificate and is highly competitive. Admission is controlled bythe Placement Bureau of the Ministry of Higher Education. Anaverage mark of 70 - 75% is required to meet matriculationrequirements and some university faculties (eg engineering andmedicine) may demand average grades of 90%. The first degreemay take from four to seven years depending uponspecialisation.

ESTONIAEvaluation

Riigieksamid (State Examinations)

Gümnaasiumi Lõputunnistus (Secondary School LeavingCertificate)Passes in five graduation examinations (a minimum of two beingfrom state examinations) may be considered acceptable assatisfying general entrance requirements of UK HEIs (with theexclusion of English language proficiency requirement).

Grading SystemAll state examinations are assessed on a 100-point scale. Forforeign languages, the 100 points are composed of 20 points fororal examination and 80 for written examination. Scores of 20(the pass mark) and above are regarded as positive and aredetailed on the students’ Riigieksamitunnistus (StateExamination Certificate). This is only valid in conjunction with aSecondary School Leaving Certificate. The marking system usedat general secondary level is as follows, with 3 as the pass mark.

5 Very good

4 Good

3 Satisfactory

2 Unsatisfactory

1 Failure

Education SystemCompulsory basic education, commencing at the age of seven,takes nine years resulting in the Põhikooli Lõputunnistus (BasicSchool Leaving Certificate). General secondary education lastsfor three years culminating in year 12 with the Riigieksamid,administered by the State Examination and Qualification Centre(since 1998, at least three examinations are required to completesecondary education).

Access to Higher EducationThe general requirement for HE study is the GümnaasiumiLõputunnistus (secondary school leaving certificate) or anequivalent recognised qualification attesting the completion ofsecondary school education. In addition, since 1997, it has beencompulsory for secondary school students to pass the stateexaminations (Riigieksam) administered by the StateExamination and Qualification Centre. The state examinations aretaken by all pupils of grade 12 and they usually qualify asentrance examinations to HEIs. Estonia has adopted a 3 + 2system in accordance with the Bologna Declaration. Aftercompletion of three (until 1999 - four years) study, students areawarded a Bakalaureusekraad, which is comparable to BritishBachelor degree standard. The present HE system in Estonia isbinary and consists of academic and non-academicqualifications.

ETHIOPIAEvaluation

Ethiopian School Leaving CertificateComparable to GCSE grades A to C on a subject for subject basiswhen grade C has been achieved, with the exception of EnglishLanguage.

Ethiopian Higher Education EntranceExamination/Ethiopian General Education CertificateExaminationTaken at the end of Grade 12. These examinations wereintroduced in 2003/4; evaluation has not yet been possible.

Bachelor DegreeConsidered to be between the standard of GCE A Level andBritish Bachelor degree. May be given advanced standing withinUK HE.

Grading SystemEthiopia uses a norm reference which varies from year to year.Subjects are marked as a percentage, with 50 as the minimumpass-mark.

A 100 - 90 excellent

B 89 - 80 very good

C 79 - 60 satisfactory

D 59 - 50 average

E below 50 fail


Education SystemThe Minister of Education is the Chief Executive in charge ofoverall educational policies of the country. Ethiopia hasrestructured the educational system. The 6+2+4 school systemhas been phased out and replaced by an 8+2+2 school system.The change in the primary school curriculum was completed inSeptember 1999; the new curriculum covers different mothertongue languages as a medium of instruction in various primaryschools throughout the country. At the end of lower secondaryschool in grade 10, students sit for the Ethiopian School LeavingCertificate Examination. After completing grades 11 and 12 (pre-college or preparatory), students sit for the Ethiopian GeneralEducation Certificate Examination.

Access to Higher EducationThe Higher Education Sector of the Ministry of Education isresponsible for co-ordinating HE activities. The medium ofinstruction is English. Students are admitted on the basis of theirperformance in the Ethiopian Higher Education EntranceExamination. Only those with high scores are admitted due tothe limited capacity of HEIs. In order to improve the opportunityfor access to those students with poor educational facilities, adiscrimination scheme is applied for admission. However,students still have to fulfil the minimum entrance requirements.

FAROE ISLANDSEducation SystemThe education system in the Faroe Islands is based on that ofDenmark. The upper secondary school leaving certificate isreferred to in Faroese as Studentspr-gv.

FINLANDEvaluation

Ylioppilastutkintotodistus/Studentexamensbetyg(Finnish National Matriculation)Acceptable as a group qualification satisfying general entrancerequirements.

Grading SystemYlioppilastutkintotodistus/Studentexamensbetyg (FinnishNational Matriculation)

7 (L) laudatur (outstanding)

6 (E) eximia cum laude approbatur (excellent)

5 (M) magna cum laude approbatur (very good)

4 (C ) cum laude approbatur (good)

3 (B) lubenter approbatur (satisfactory)

2 (A) approbatur (barely satisfactory)

0 (I) improbatur (below satisfactory)

Note: 1 is not used.

It is anticipated that the grade distribution will be approximatelyas follows: grade L 5%, E 15%, M 20%, C 24%, B 20%, A 11%, I 5%.

Education SystemOn completion of nine years of comprehensive school(peruskoulu/grundskola) students can continue studies either inthe three-year general upper secondary school(lukio/gymnasiet), or in upper secondary vocational education,which takes two and a half to three years and leads to basicnational vocational qualifications. In the lukio, after passingcertain compulsory courses in different subjects, the generalupper secondary school student can take the correspondingtests in the national Matriculation Examination(ylioppilastutkinto/studentexamen). These tests, fourcompulsory and one or more optional, can be taken in up tothree consecutive examinations (which are arranged in spring

and in autumn). On completing the upper secondary schoolcurriculum, for which an Upper Secondary School LeavingCertificate (lukion päästötodistus/gymnasiets avgånsbetyg) isawarded, and after passing at least all the compulsory tests inthe examination, the student gains the Matriculation Certificate,ie ylioppilastutkintotodistus/studentexamensbetyg.Approximately 95% of general upper secondary school studentsstudy English at some level and about 90% of candidates take anEnglish test in the Matriculation Examination. Although theSwedish-speaking population is a small minority (c 6%), the Stateguarantees equality of educational opportunity and bothlanguage groups have their own institutions from pre-school touniversity.

Access to Higher EducationThe Matriculation Examination gives the general eligibility touniversity studies. In addition, students with a polytechnicdegree, a post-secondary level vocational qualification or ahigher vocational diploma, and any student completing a three-year secondary level vocational course may also apply. Anumerus clausus is in use in all fields and universities or theirfaculties apply differing selection procedures. Most commonly,students are ranked according to their grades in theMatriculation Examination (and the Upper Secondary SchoolLeaving Certificate) plus entrance tests. In practice, studentsapplying direct from school compete not only against each other,but also against applicants who passed the matriculationexamination at an earlier date and applicants with otherqualifications. Overall, only about 20% are admitted the sameyear as they pass the Matriculation Examination, but there areconsiderable differences between disciplines in this respect.Student selection by universities has improved to acceleratestudy placement on the basis of an evaluation of the selectionprocess. The aim is that by 2008, 55% of new students will beUpper Secondary school graduates of the same year. During2003, the universities also compiled their own student selectionstrategies to improve study placement, to reduce the number ofselection units and to lighten selection procedures. In line withthe Government programme, in 2003, the Ministry of Educationappointed a rapporteur to survey selection co-operation amonguniversities. First-cycle degrees of Bachelor level(kandidaatti/kandidat) consist of 120 credits (minimum).Second-cycle Masters degrees (maisteri/magister) consist of atotal of 160 or 180 credits, or a Bachelor’s syllabus plus 40 - 60credits. The aim is that 75% of enrolled students will study for anMA degree and, as a rule, take the BA degree first. The minimumduration of full-time studies for a first cycle degree is three years;for a second-cycle degree it is five years, or two years after aBachelor’s degree.

In order to strengthen the position of Finnish universities in theEuropean HE area, Finland is reforming the degree structure anddevising an international strategy for the Finnish HE system.Quality assurance in universities and polytechnics is also beingstrengthened. The new two-cycle degree system will be adoptedby Finnish universities in August 2005.

FRANCEEvaluation

Brevet des Collèges (Lower Secondary SchoolCertificate)Generally considered to be comparable to four GCSEs belowGrade C.

Baccalauréat Général

Baccalauréat Technologique (BTn)

Option Internationale du Baccalauréat (OIB)

Brevet de Technicien (BT) (Technician’s Certificate)Comparable to BTEC National Diploma/Advanced VCE standard.May be considered to satisfy the general entrance requirementsof UK HEIs.


Baccalauréat Professionel (Vocational Baccalauréat(BacPro))Approximating the BTEC National Diploma/AVCE standard.Aimed at entering directly into employment, this may not beregarded as sufficient for general entrance requirements to UKHEIs, but may be considered suitable for FE courses.

Brevet de Technicien Supérieur (Higher Technician’sCertificate)Considered comparable to BTEC HND/N(S)VQ level 4.

Grading System

Baccalauréat Général and other Baccalauréats20 (maximum) ... 0, 10 being the minimum pass

20 - 16 très bien

15 - 14 bien

13 - 12 assez bien

11 - 10 passable/moyen

In the Baccalaureat General, the statistics for the percentage ofcandidates achieving specific “Mentions” has hardly changed atall over the last few years, and has remained always as follows:Très Bien maximum 2%, Bien maximum 8% and Assez Bienmaximum 22%.

Education SystemThere are five years of primary education and seven years ofsecondary education, the last three years being at a lycée, ofwhich the final two are in preparation for a specific Baccalauréat.There are three series in the Baccalauréat Général - (L) emphasison literature, history and geography, philosophy and languages;(ES) emphasis on economics, social sciences and history andgeography; (S) emphasis on mathematics, physics, chemistryand biology. Usually the more able students take theBaccalauréat Général in which at least eight academic subjectsare studied. The immediate award of the Baccalauréat, usuallyregarded as a prerequisite for HE, requires a weighted meanmark of 10 or more in written and oral examinations. Lesssuccessful candidates, whose mean mark is between eight and10, may sit a second set of examinations. The Certificat de Find’Etudes Secondaires (CFES) is awarded to pupils who obtain amean mark of between eight and 10 in the Baccalauréatexaminations. The Option Internationale du Baccalauréat is theinternational version of the Baccalauréat Général taken bybilingual students (see separate entry, Appendix D). TheBaccalauréat Technologique has eight series, of which the fourbest known are (STT) secretarial skills, accountancy andbusiness; (STI) science and industrial technologies; (STL)science and laboratory technologies; and (SMS) medical andsocial sciences - and can also lead to university entrance.

Access to Higher EducationIn theory the Baccalauréat admits to all faculties in Frenchuniversities, but in practice, the specialisation can be importantand thus a ‘science-type’ Baccalauréat is almost essential formedicine and the Baccalauréat Technologique admits to certainfaculties only. It is expected that competitive entranceexaminations, which involve two years post-Baccalauréat study(the Classes Préparatoires), will continue to be normal foradmissions to the ‘Grandes Ecoles’. The first phase of universitystudies leading to the Diplôme d’Etudes Universitaires Générales(DEUG), usually after two years of study, is being phased out.The Licence is awarded after three years of study, and theMaîtrise, which was awarded after a further year, is beingreplaced by the Master which takes a further two years of studyafter the Licence.

GAMBIAEvaluation

School Certificate/O LevelAcceptable at grades 1 - 6 in lieu of GCSE on a subject for subjectbasis.

West African Examinations Council (Advanced Level)Acceptable in lieu of GCE A Level on a subject for subject basis.

West African Senior School Certificate Examination(WASSCE)Regarded as being below the standard of UK A Levels. Thosestudents with high grades may be considered for admission to abridging programme.

Grading System

School CertificateA1 excellent

B2 very good

B3 good

C4 - C6 credit/minimum acceptable pass

D7 pass

E8 pass

F9 fail

A Level:

A - E (pass), F (fail)

WASSCEA1 excellent

B2 very good

B3 good


D7 pass

E8 pass

F9 fail

Education SystemGambia has now adopted the 6+3+3 educational structure whichhas become common to West African Anglophone countries. Sixyears of Lower Basic (Primary) education and three years ofUpper Basic (Junior Secondary) education lead to the GambiaBasic Education Cycle Examination. A further three years ofsecondary education culminate in the WASSCE. The examinationconducted by the West African Examinations Council is basedupon continuous assessment (30%) and external examinations(70%). English is the medium of instruction. The SchoolCertificate and A Level examinations, a legacy from the previoussystem, were phased out by 1999.

Access to Higher EducationThe University of Gambia was inaugurated in September 1999.Admission to a four-year degree is on the basis of passes atcredit level (at grade 6 or better) in five subjects includingEnglish in the WASSCE.

GERMANYEvaluation

Realschulabschluss; Mittlerer SchulabschlussAcceptable at grades 1-4 in lieu of GCSE on a subject for subjectbasis (except English Language).

Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife (Abitur)

Zeugnis der Fachgebundenen Hochschulreife

Zeugnis der FachhochschulreifeAcceptable as group qualifications satisfying general entrancerequirements.

Grading System

Realschulabschluss1 sehr gut (very good)

2 gut (good)

3 befriedigend (satisfactory)


4 ausreichend (adequate)

5 mangelhaft (poor)

6 ungenügend (very poor)

Abitur (see below)15, 14, 13 sehr gut (very good)

12, 11, 10 gut (good)

9, 8, 7 befriedigend (satisfactory)

6, 5, 4 ausreichend (adequate)

3, 2, 1 mangelhaft (poor)

0 ungenügend (very poor)

Both poor and very poor constitute a fail.

Education SystemThe role of the Federal government in education is limited andspecialised. Legislative and administrative responsibility restsfirmly with the Länder (states). There is a broad uniformity inthe educational systems of the sixteen Länder, althoughnomenclature and periods of study may vary. Secondaryeducation usually covers eight or nine years to Grade 12/13. TheRealschulabschluss is awarded in Grade 10 (examinations aretaken in some Länder). The Zeugnis der Fachhochschulreife isusually achieved after 12 school years at the Fachoberschule, avocational secondary school (Grades 11/12). The Zeugnis derAllgemeinen Hochschulreife is awarded in Grade 12/13 andrepresents the assessment of the two final years of secondaryschooling including final examination (Abiturprüfung). Subjectschosen from three subject areas must be represented andstudied throughout the school career up to, and including, theAbitur examination itself: I languages, literature, arts; II socialsciences; III mathematics, natural sciences, technology. At leasttwo subjects are taken as main intensive courses(Leistungskurse) of which one must be German or a foreignlanguage or mathematics or a natural science; the other subjectsare taken as basic courses (Grundkurse).

The Abitur examination comprises at least four and at most fivecomponents (in most Länder, three written examinations and oneoral). The first and second written examinations are in subjectstaken as main intensive courses; the third written examinationand the oral one are taken in one of the subjects taken as basiccourses. Depending on the legislation in place in some Länder, afifth subject can be examined in either written or oral form, orparticular achievements (eg a year paper or results of a project)may be incorporated into the Abitur examination. The finalgrades of the Abitur are based on the marks obtained in theexaminations and on class performance in all subjects (up to 10)during the last two years of secondary education. For marks upto the Realschulabschluss, a six-point scale is used in whichgrade 1 is the highest and grade 4 is adequate. Marks on thisscale are converted to the 15-point scale, used for Grades 11 - 13and for the Abitur examinations. The overall result (theassessment of two years’ work and the examinations) involves amaximum of 840 points, of which at least 280 must be achievedto pass. The overall result is also given in terms of an averagegrade according to the six-point scale.

English (in some Länder, French) is compulsory toRealschulabschluss level but need not be a major component ofthe Abitur examination. Nonetheless, one foreign language mustbe studied during the final two years to the Abitur level and ispart of the overall result.

Access to Higher EducationIn general, the Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife admits toall faculties of institutions of HE in Germany - Universitäten,Fachhochschulen, Musikhochschulen, Kunsthochschulen. TheZeugnis der Fachgebundenen Hochschulreife admits only to aspecified range of subjects at Universitäten and to all faculties ofFachhochschulen (universities of applied sciences). The Zeugnisder Fachhochschulreife admits to all faculties ofFachhochschulen only.

In those cases where applications are significantly in excess ofthe number of places available, a system of restricted entry,numerus clausus, operates. The range of subjects may changeannually. Where central entry restrictions apply since the winter

semester 2002, 51% of the available places are commonly filledon the basis of Abitur grades and 25% on the basis of the waitingperiod since the admissions qualification was acquired. Theremaining 24% of applicants for restricted courses are chosen bythe universities themselves, eg based on Abitur grades orinterviews or professional experiences.

Traditionally, the first qualification at Universitäten is theDiplom/Erstes Staatsexamen/Magister. The Diplom (FH) is thefirst degree at Fachhochschulen. The standard period of study(Regelstudienzeit) to obtain a first degree may vary according tothe course chosen and the type of institution of HE. Eight to 10semesters are laid down for most courses of study leading to theDiplom degree, Magister degree or Staatsexamen, six years andthree months for medicine. On an average, however, studentstake one or two years longer to finish, ie many students onlyattain the degree after studying for five years or more. In 1998, anew scheme of first- and second-level degree programmes wasintroduced to be offered parallel to or in lieu of the traditionalprogrammes. Within this two-tier system, the first qualificationafter three to four years is the Bakkalaureus/Bachelor. Graduatesecond degree programmes (one to two years) lead toMagister/Master degrees. For acceptance in the labour marketand international co-operation, it is necessary to ensuretransparency and clarity by restricting the number of differentqualification designations. In designating degrees, no distinctionis made between the profile types “more practice-oriented” and“more research-oriented”. These degree programmes are offeredby Universitäten and Fachhochschulen. The total standardperiod of study for consecutive Bachelor’s and Master’s studycourses is a maximum of five years.

GHANAEvaluation

West African School Certificate (WASC/O level)Acceptable at grades 1 - 6 in lieu of GCSE on a subject for subjectbasis. (Last diet in state schools May/June 1994.)

West African Higher School Certificate (WAHSC/GCEAdvanced)Acceptable at grades A - E in lieu of GCE A level on a subject forsubject basis. (Last diet in state schools May/June 1996.)

Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination(SSSCE)


Grading System

WASC1 excellent

2 very good

3 good

4 - 6 credit/minimum acceptable pass

7 - 8 pass

9 fail

WAHSCA - E (pass), F (fail)

SSSCE/WASSCEA1 excellent

B2 very good

B3 good


D7 pass

E8 pass

F9 fail


Education SystemBefore the radical revision of state education began in 1987, sixyears of primary education and (following a Common EntranceExamination) five years of secondary education led to the WestAfrican School Certificate examinations (WASC) and two furtheryears to the WAHSC. The current education structure is 6+3+3.Six years of primary school is followed by three years of juniorsecondary school leading to the Basic Education CertificateExamination (BECE), which is below GCSE standard. Thosepupils then admitted to senior secondary school follow one ofseven options: agricultural science, business, general arts,general science, home economics, technical, and visual arts; andafter three years take the Senior Secondary School CertificateExamination (SSSCE). The senior secondary school leavingexamination is currently being harmonised throughout thesphere of the West African Examinations Council as the WestAfrican Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). TheSSSCE has two components: continuous assessment (30%) andexternal examination (70%). English is the medium of instruction,except in the initial years of primary school when a locallanguage is used alongside English.

Access to Higher EducationAdmission to university in Ghana is on the basis of five passes(including English) in the WASC and three passes in the WAHSC,including at least one pass at Grade D or better, for a three-yeardegree course. As the changes in the system of schoolexaminations become widespread, it is expected that admissionwill be increasingly on the basis of a University EntranceExamination in addition to the SSSCE results with passes in coreEnglish, Mathematics and Science, and three elective subjects.The first degree will then be a minimum of four years in length.

GREECEEvaluation

Apolytirion of GymnasioAcceptable at marks of 11 or better in lieu of GCSE on a subjectfor subject basis (except English Language).

Apolytirion of Eniaio Lykeio (Previously Apolytirion ofLykeio)Acceptable as a group qualification satisfying general entrancerequirements at a mark of 17 or above, normally for entry into afoundation year. Students with exceptional records ofachievement may be considered for entry to year one of degreeprogrammes.

Grading SystemGymnasio 20 (maximum) ... 10 (minimum pass) ... 1

Eniaio Lykeio 20 (maximum) ... 10 (minimum pass) ... 1

Education SystemEducation in Greece is compulsory for all children aged six to 15years old. Compulsory education comprises six years of primaryeducation (Dimotiko), followed by three years of lowersecondary (Gymnasio). Three-year post-compulsory educationconsists of two school types: Eniaia Lykeia (Upper SecondarySchool) which culminates in the Apolytirio of Eniaio Lykeio, andthe Technical Vocational Educational Schools (TEE). TheApolytirio of Eniaio Lykeio is based on the performance of thestudent’s final two years, which includes the average of two oraland one written examination for each year. Main subjects areexamined throughout Greece by a written external examination;other subjects are internally examined and set by the individualschools. The second and third years of the Eniaia Lykeia havethree option streams: theoretical (ancient and modern Greek,Latin and history); science (mathematics, science and biology);and technological (mathematics, science, informationtechnology). The curriculum of all three streams has a commoncourse of general education. Assessment is based on oral andwritten tests over the year and on the official national end-of-year examinations held during the penultimate and the final yearof Eniaia Lykeia, on specific subjects.

Access to Higher EducationWith a pass (with a minimum mark 9.5 out of 20) in theApolytirion of Eniaia Lykeia, pupils are eligible to enter Greekuniversities and Technological Education Institutes/ions (TEI).University entry is highly competitive. Scores are lower for TEIentrants. Entry to HE is based on:

• the pupil’s yearly oral performance during the final twoyears, plus the marks obtained in the national writtenexamination; and

• the marks obtained in the special subjects depending on thepupil’s choice of stream.

HONG KONGEvaluation

Hong Kong Certificate of Education (HKCEE)Acceptable at grade C or better in lieu of GCSE on a subject forsubject basis (except English Language (Syllabus A)).

Hong Kong Advanced Supplementary CertificateComparable to UK Advanced Supplementary l(AS) level.

Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE)Grades A - E equate to GCE Advanced Level. However, formathematics and some science subjects, the level of attainmentrequired for the award of a given grade is recognised as beinghigher than that awarded in the UK. For these subject areas,many UK HEIs regard a grade D in the HKALE as acceptable inlieu of a grade C at A Level from a UK awarding body.

Associate DegreeSatisfies the general entrance requirements for UK highereducation. Candidates holding the Associate Degree may beconsidered eligible for entry into the second year ofundergraduate degree programmes.

Grading System

HKCEE, Hong Kong Advanced SupplementaryCertificate, HKALEGraded A - F, of which grade A is the highest and F the lowest.Results below grade F are designated as Unclassified (UNCL).Previous to 2002, sub-grades were used, ie A(01), A (02), B(03),B(04) etc.

As a general guide to performance, the following figures providepercentages in the grades achieved in selected high-entrysubjects for day school candidates in 2003:

HKCEEHKCEE HKALEPercentage Percentageawarded awardedGrade Grades Grade Grades A A-C A A-C

Biology 4.7 31.8 3.0 20.2

Chemistry 4.3 30.2 4.0 25.5

Chinese Language 3.0 18.3 - -

Chinese Language and Culture - - 2.6 21.8

Computer Studies 3.9 27.8 3.2 27.4

Economics 2.8 21.0 3.5 20.8

English Language (Syllabus B) 2.3 10.4 - -

Mathematics 3.6 29.6 - -

Pure Mathematics - - 5.4 29.5

Physics 4.2 27.9 4.8 26.8

Use of English - - 0.9 15.0


Associate DegreeUses a Grade Point Average system, the scale for which variesbetween awarding institutions.

Education SystemPrimary education starts at age six and is compulsory. It isfollowed by a further three years of compulsory juniorsecondary education. After an additional two years of secondaryeducation, the HKCEE (average number of subjects is seven) istaken. The HKALE qualification can then be taken after a furthertwo years of selective senior secondary education. These majorpublic examinations are conducted by the Hong KongExaminations and Assessment Authority.

With the exception of language-related subjects, all subjects canbe taken either in English or Chinese with the syllabuses,examination papers and marking systems common to bothmedia. The experience of the English language may, therefore,vary according to the educational route taken. Since 1998, theGovernment has been promoting the use of Chinese as themedium of instruction, with the aim of students being biliterate(ie Chinese and English). The language in which the subject isundertaken is not recorded on the certificate. In the HKALE, theUse of English examination at grade E or above, may provideappropriate evidence of proficiency in the English language.

Access to Higher EducationThe HEIs offering three-year degrees in Hong Kong admit mainlyon the basis of HKALE passes in at least two subjects, or one ALevel and two AS Levels. Entrants are also required to have agrade E or better result in both Use of English and ChineseLanguage and Culture. Degree study may also be pursued at theuniversities on the basis of other overseas qualifications, at thediscretion of individual universities.

The Associate Degree is a three-year programme of study whichmay be a terminal qualification, or act as a bridging programmeto further higher education. An Associate Degree is normallyregarded as one-third of a three-year university degree.

HUNGARYEvaluation

ÉrettségiAcceptable as a group qualification satisfying general entrancerequirements.

Grading SystemSchool Evaluation General Higher

Maturity Exam Maturity Exam

5 - jeles (excellent) 100 - 80% 100 - 60%

4 - jó (good) 79 - 60 59 - 47

3 - közepes (average) 59 - 40 46 - 33

2 - elégséges (pass) 39 - 20 32 - 20

1 - elégtelen (fail) 19 - 0 19 - 0

Education SystemSince the major reforms in 1993, an 8+4 system of primary andsecondary education has predominated (but not to the exclusionof other variants such as 6+6 and 4+8). Admission to secondaryeducation, both academic and vocational, is based on selectiveexaminations. The school leaving examination (Erettségi vizsga)taken at age 18 combines written and oral assessments andconsists of at least five subjects, of which four are prescribed(Hungarian language and literature, mathematics, history and amodern language) and one is optional. From the 2004/5 academicyear, secondary school students have the option to take eithergeneral “középszintü” or higher “emelt szintü” maturityexaminations, both in the prescribed and the optional subjects.

Access to Higher EducationAdmission to degree courses is selective. The Secondary SchoolLeaving Certificate is a prerequisite for admission. From theacademic year 2004/5, entrance examinations are no longer beingheld. Admission generally depends upon: a) assessments fromfive subjects in each of the third and fourth years of the

secondary school (maximum 50 points), with the additionalpoints calculated from the overall result of the maturityexaminations (maximum 10 points); and b) the result of thematurity examination(s) in the subjects required by the HEinstitution (maximum 60 points). As a general rule középszintümaturity examination is required for admission, while for thehigher level emelt szintü, additional points are awarded. Furtherpremium points must be added, eg for the state accreditedforeign language examinations. Of the combined basic maximumof 120 points, the acceptable minimum for admission varies bycourse, but cannot be less than 72 points.

ICELANDEvaluation

Stúdentspróf (Matriculation Examination)Acceptable as a group qualification satisfying general entrancerequirements.

Sveinspróf (Journeyman’s Examination)May be considered acceptable in lieu of BTEC NationalDiploma/N(S)VQ level 3/Advanced VCE.

Grading SystemUnit credit system:

Minimum credits for Stúdentspróf: 140

Individual subject grades: 10 (maximum) ... 5 (minimum pass)... 1.

Exceptionally, grade 4 in a subject may be regarded as a pass.

Traditional class system:

Subject grades: 10 (maximum) ... 1.

Average of all subjects - minimum grade 5;

Pass for individual subjects - grade 4 but exceptionally grade 1, 2or 3 may be regarded as a pass in not more than two subjects.

Education SystemTen years of compulsory education may be followed by fouryears of upper secondary schooling leading to a matriculationexamination (Stúdentspróf). This can be awarded on the basis ofinternally set fourth year examinations or from the accumulationof internally set unit-credits. There are three academicprogrammes of study leading to the matriculation diploma:languages, social sciences and natural sciences. In addition tothese three main subjects, an ICT programme of study has beenrun on an experimental basis since 1999. Icelandic is the mediumof instruction. English language is a compulsory subject fromGrade 5 (age 10). Within any given academic programme ofstudy, three groups of courses are offered: core subjects, electedfields and free selection.

Vocational education is offered in comprehensive schools,industrial-vocational schools and specialised vocational schools.The length of course varies but the most prevalent are four-yearcourses. Many forms of vocational education give the studentslegal certification for certain types of employment. This applies,for example, to the skilled trades where students must finish theJourneyman’s Examination (Sveinspróf). Within vocationaleducation, students can choose between training for a skilledtrade or training in another area, for example, in the field offisheries, the travel industry, health or commerce.

Access to Higher EducationUniversity admission in Iceland is generally open to those whohave passed the Studentspróf but some institutions operate asystem of restricted entry. Such a system is in effect in a fewfaculties at The University of Iceland. First degrees (BA and BSc)require three to four years of study. Those students who havecompleted vocational education of three-four years of study(including the Sveinspróf) would be required to undertakeadditional studies prior to being eligible for study at HE level.


INDIAEvaluation

Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ISCE)May be considered acceptable at grades 1 - 6 in lieu of GCSE on asubject for subject basis (except English Language).

All India Senior School Certificate Examination (SSC)

Higher Secondary School Certificate

All India Senior Secondary School Certificate

Indian School Certificate (ISC)Students with high scores (75%) at Standard XII from the CentralBoard of Secondary Education and the Council for the IndianSchool Certificate Examination may satisfy entry requirements,provided an appropriate standard of English has been attained.

Higher Secondary School Certificate; IntermediateCertificateAt least 80% from state boards of education may satisfy entryrequirements, provided an appropriate standard of English hasbeen attained. It should be noted that there is no national levelquality assurance system (see Educational System below).

Grading System

SSCExternally assessed subjects are given numerical scores, with33% being the pass mark. All students that pass the SSC aregiven a rank order with A - 1 representing the top eighth, rangingdown to D - 2 representing the bottom eighth of candidates thathave passed within the cohort. E indicates a failed candidate.

ISC

1 (maximum) - 8 (pass) - 9 (fail)School examinations are marked on a percentage basis and theaward is indicated in grades 1 to 8. All subjects are assessedexternally. The pass mark is at 40%. The Certificate is awardedwith grade 1 to 8.

Education SystemEducational responsibilities are split between the UnionGovernment and state governments. Differences exist betweenstates, but the most common pattern is of 10 years of generaleducation (Standard X) followed by two years of highersecondary education (at Junior or Intermediate Colleges in someregions) and terminating in examinations for one of the variousschool-leaving certificates (Standard XII). There may also be two-to two-and-a-half-year pre-schooling available. School courses arecommonly taught in the medium of Hindi, the regional languageor English. In many cases, whilst flexibility is offered byexamination boards, due to the pressure of numbers in schools,students may be streamed with little option to mix subjects. Forthe ISC, there is no streaming of students or clustering based onnumbers. Students are free to select their combination ofsubjects, apart from English which is compulsory. The schoolyear runs from April to March with examination results availablein May/June. A high proportion of achievement is based onexternal final assessment.

It should be noted that there is no national quality assurancesystem in place in India and that the National Council ofEducational Research and Training has highlighted that a“widespread disparity in standards of examinations among thirtyfour boards conducting examinations at the end of Classes X andXII has been experienced and no common or national standardsof achievement are available for equating them.”

The ISC involves 14 years of schooling. The award of a PassCertificate in the ISC requires a pass in four or more subjects,including English, at one sitting. In the ISC, English is the mediumof instruction.

In addition to undertaking Indian qualifications, some centresmay offer students the opportunity to sit A Levels throughattending after-school classes. Students may have also takenCollege Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) SATs (see entry for

United States of America). The International Baccalaureate isbecoming increasingly popular (see Appendix C).

Several school examination boards have started to offervocational courses to students, for example, Certificate ofVocational Education Examination. However, as the learningculture is geared towards HE, only a small proportion of studentschoose to take this option.

Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) offer craft and skillsprogrammes, of between one and three years duration, toinstruct students in skilled labour.

The National Institute of Open Learning provides distanceeducation at the secondary and senior secondary levels acrossthe whole country.

Access to Higher EducationIn theory, university admission in India is open to all studentspassing a Standard XII examination from a recognisedExamination Board in at least four subjects. In practice, however,with over 300 universities, 14,000 colleges and 10 millionstudents, there is fierce competition. Places are awarded withreference to academic merit in the 12th-year examinationsand/or in special university entrance examinations, which areoften linked to particular degree courses such as business,medicine and engineering. First degrees, both Honours and Pass,of a duration of three years are generally undertaken at collegesaffiliated to a specific university. Undergraduate professionaldegrees, for example, medicine, engineering and architecture,can be between four and five years’ duration. Due to thegeography of the country, some HEIs offer students multimodalstudy, including remote teaching utilising computer-aidedinstruction and multimedia packages. The National Assessmentand Accreditation Council (NAAC), an autonomous body,provides quality assurance for HE.

A couple of state governments have enacted a PrivateUniversities Bill. This has resulted in a number of institutionsbeing granted permission to operate as private universities. TheUniversity Grants Commission (UGC), which regulatesuniversities in India, has been charged with regulating these newinstitutions. Though a large number of students are registeredwith private universities, state sector universities do notrecognise the qualifications offered by these institutions. TheUGC is expected to evolve a mechanism to regulate privateuniversities with relevant documentation anticipated to bepublished by December 2004.

Further Education is available in polytechnics, which studentscan enter on the basis of their Standard X results, to undertakeup to three- or four-year (sandwich) diplomas. Whilst there islateral articulation with degree courses from these diplomas,many students progress directly into employment. The NationalBoard of Accredition (NBA), a body under the All India Councilfor Technical Education (AICTE), provides quality assurance fortechnical programmes at polytechnics, and regional and stateengineering colleges. BTEC HNCs and HNDs are available at anumber of institutions.

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) providesdistance learning across the whole of India. Courses offeredrange from preparatory programmes to PhD level.

INDONESIAEvaluation

Surat Tanda Tamat Belajar Sekolah Menengah Umum(STTB SMU) (Upper Secondary Certificate ofCompletion)Acceptable in lieu of GCSE on a subject for subject basis (exceptEnglish Language). Would need to be supplemented by GCE ALevels, Scottish Highers or Advanced Highers, or a bridgingcourse.

Education SystemEach province (33 in number) has a Regional Office forEducational Affairs, but the Ministry of Education and Culturehas overall control of education. In 1994, the Ministry instituteda nine-year basic education programme, which has become


compulsory.Thereafter, progress to the senior secondary level(SMU) is selective on the basis of a special evaluation organisedby the Regional Offices. In the third and final year of seniorsecondary education, students are streamed into one of threesubject areas: natural sciences, social sciences or languages,with a view to prospective specialisation at university level. TheNational Final Examination (Ujian Akhir National or UAN) is takenat the end of the three years of SMU study, and successful pupilsreceive the STTB SMU. Bahasa Indonesia is the medium ofinstruction, although in some areas, a regional language may beused in the early primary years of elementary school.

Access to Higher EducationAdmission to public higher education in Indonesia is mainly bythe UMPTN (Entrance Examination to State Universities) in eitherSciences or Social Sciences. Alternatively, a special (PMDK)invitation may be extended to high-rank SMU students. The firstdegree, Sarjana satu, is awarded on a credit basis (144 - 160credits) and is expected to be achieved in eight semesters (fouryears).

IRANEvaluation

Diplom-Metevaseth (National High School Diploma)Considered to be above GCSE standard (grades A, B, C) on asubject for subject basis, provided minimum marks of 50% havebeen obtained (except English Language). Would need to besupplemented by GCE A Levels, a SQA Award or equivalentqualification.

Pre-University CertificateAcceptable as satisfying general entrance requirements in relatedsubjects, provided a minimum mark of 60% has been obtained,subject to English Language proficiency.

National Entrance Examination (Kunkur)Acceptable as satisfying the general entrance requirements,subject to English Language proficiency.

KardaniAcceptable in lieu of BTEC National Diploma/NVQ Level 3/AVCEor equivalent qualification.

Grading SystemGraded on a scale of 20 (maximum) to 0, where 10 is a minimumpass. Grades can also be expressed as letters:

A 20 - 17.0

B 16.9 - 14.0

C 13.9 - 12.0

D 11.9 - 10.0

Education SystemA strict adherence to Islamic principles permeates every aspectof an educational system which is firmly state-controlled.Schools are strictly segregated between male and femalestudents. The first eight years of education are compulsory. Theeducation system comprises a five-year primary education cycle,followed by a three-year middle (guidance) cycle and asecondary education cycle, which has been reduced from four tothree years (grades 9 - 11). English is available as a secondlanguage from grade 7. There are qualifying examinations at eachbreak point and national examinations are conducted at the endof each grade of the secondary cycle. There are three mainbranches of the secondary cycle: theoretical, vocational andtechnical. Students must complete 96 units within the threeyears to be awarded the High School Diploma. Candidates forHE must undertake a post-Diploma preparatory year. Onsuccessful completion of this, they are awarded the Pre-University Certificate and become eligible to sit the universityentrance examination (Kunkur). Farsi (Persian) is the medium ofinstruction throughout.

Access to Higher EducationAdmission is basically related to a candidate’s ranking in the

Kunkur, but there is a very complex range of quotas operatinginvolving criteria such as gender, military service andurban/rural balance. Pressure for places is very pronounced. TheKunkur is highly competitive, with university places available foronly 10% of applicants. The first degree, Licence/Kar-Shenasi,usually takes four years and is awarded on a credit system (153units and an overall GPA of 12 or better out of 20).

IRAQEvaluation

Sixth Form Baccalauréat (Adadiyah)Acceptable at 60% or better in lieu of GCSE on a subject forsubject basis (except English Language). Would require to besupplemented by GCE A Levels, Scottish Highers or AdvancedHighers, or a bridging course.

Education SystemThere are six years of primary and six years of secondaryeducation in Iraq. Secondary education is divided into two three-year phases: the Intermediate Cycle (on completion of whichstudents are awarded the Certificate of Intermediate Studies) andthe Preparatory Cycle (which leads to Sixth Form Baccalauréat).There is a measure of specialisation in scientific or literarystudies in the last two years of study. The Baccalauréatcommonly involves six subjects. Tuition is in Arabic throughoutsecondary education and mainly so in HE.

Access to Higher EducationThe Baccalauréat is the basis of admission to university study inIraq. The four-year general arts degree has a limited intake andcompetition is even stronger in the ‘professional’ areas.

IRELAND (EIRE)Evaluation

Ardteistimeireacht (Leaving Certificate)The Irish Leaving Certificate has been allocated points in theUCAS Tariff with effect for entry to HE from 2006 onwards. Thepoints are as follows.

Ordinary level: A1 - 39, A2 - 26, B1 - 20, B2 - 14, B3 - 7

Higher level: A1- 90, A2 - 77, B1 - 71, B2 - 64, B3 - 58, C1 - 52, C2 -45, C3 - 39, D1 - 33, D2 - 26, D3 - 20

For further information on the UCAS Tariff, please refer tohttp://www.ucas.com/candq/tariff/index.html.

Grading SystemA1 100 - 90 %

A2 89 - 85

B1 84 - 80

B2 79 - 75

B3 74 - 70

C1 69 - 65

C2 64 - 60

C3 59 - 55

D1 54 - 50

D2 49 - 45

D3 44 - 40

E 39 - 25

F 24 - 10

No Grade 9 - 0

Proportion of candidates falling within each range at the LeavingCertificate Examination 2001:

Grade Higher (%) Lower (%)

A1 9,228 (5) 5,591 (3)

A2 12,726 (6) 8,367 (5)

B1 14,322 (7) 11,131 (6)

B2 19,179 (10) 15,509 (9)


B3 23,000 (11) 19,993 (11)

C1 22,444 (11) 18,560 (10)

C2 23,781 (12) 20,058 (11)

C3 22,720 (11) 19,581 (11)

D1 17,415 (9) 14,862 (8)

D2 13,937 (7) 13,024 (7)

D3 12,553 (6) 14,014 (8)

E 7,731 (4) 11,897 (7)

F 1,869 (1) 5,170 (3)

NG 320 (0) 876 (0)

Total 201,225 (100) 178,815 (100)

Education SystemEducation is compulsory for children from the age of six to 16,which includes six years of primary and three years of lowersecondary education. On completion of three years of secondaryeducation (junior cycle), the Junior Certificate is usually taken, andthe Leaving Certificate after a further two or three years of study(senior cycle). The Junior Certificate is below GCSE standard and isnot used by the Irish universities for entrance purposes. TheLeaving Certificate has two levels, Ordinary and Higher. The Higherlevel covers the same ground as the Ordinary level but with greaterdepth. In general, the standard is somewhere between GCSE andGCE A Level. Pupils normally take six to nine subjects, of which sixor more would usually be at Higher level in the case of potentialuniversity candidates. Instruction in post-primary schools is inEnglish and Irish. Irish must be studied, but it is no longer acompulsory examination subject.

Access to Higher EducationAdmission to university studies in Ireland is predominantly on thebasis of the Leaving Certificate Examination taken after 13 yearsof schooling. The minimum entry requirement of the fourconstituent universities of the National University of Ireland (NUI)is six subjects, including Irish, English and a third language. Thereare variations between institutions but, in general, a minimum ofgrade C3 at Higher level in two subjects is required (threesubjects in the case of Trinity College Dublin) and a minimum ofgrade D in other specified subjects, including Mathematics in thecase of the three non-NUI Universities. The supply and demandsituation between university courses is broadly similar to that inthe UK. Overall demand exceeds supply in certain disciplines andcompetition is strong. This is reflected in stringent entryrequirements for areas such as medicine and law, which mayinvolve five or six passes at grade A in Higher level subjects.

In practice, a rank order of candidates who satisfy eligibilityrequirements is established by converting Leaving Certificategrades for the six best subjects into a points score. A detailedsystem, with possible additional bonuses, awards 100 points forGrade A1 at Higher level and 60 points for Grade C3. On thisbasis, examples of minimum levels at which places were offeredin 2001 include: University College, Dublin - veterinary 540,medicine 545, law 510, agriculture 320, and University of Limerick- language and cultural studies 370, applied mathematics/computing 395. University admission may also be obtained onthe basis of the National Certificate or Diploma awarded by theHigher Education and Training Awards Council (successor toNational Council for Education Awards - NCEA), which arebroadly comparable to the corresponding BTEC awards.Applicants over 23 years of age may seek admission on the basisof curriculum vitae.

ISRAELEvaluation

BagrutAcceptable as a group qualification satisfying general entrancerequirements.

Grading System10 excellent

9 very good

8 good

7 above average

6 average

5 below average

4 - 1 fail

Successful candidates must take a minimum of 20 study units inseven required subjects and in additional optional subjects. Therequired subjects are: Hebrew/Arabic, literature, bible, civics,history, English and mathematics. The additional optionalquestions are selected from prescribed lists, at least one ofwhich must be a five-unit subject. At least one option must alsobe a general culture subject. Students must not receive morethan one grade of 5 or below, and this is not permitted to be inHebrew or Arabic.

Education SystemSix years of primary education is followed by three years oflower and three years of upper secondary schooling. Themedium of instruction is Hebrew or Arabic. There is somespecialisation in the final two years. Although eight is theminimum number of subjects taken in the Bagrut examination, in12th grade, the number may be as high as 13. Pupils can take asubject at one of three levels, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 - basic, normal andhigh - points/units. The Matriculation Certificate is then awardedbased on the Bagrut examinations.

Since 1967, pupils on the West Bank (Judea and Samaria), havetaken the Jordanian Tawjihi and those in Gaza the EgyptianThanaweya (see separate entries).

Access to Higher EducationThe Matriculation Certificate is the basic requirement foradmission to HE in Israel. In practice, however, considerablymore than the minimum points are needed for university entry.University applicants must pass the nationally administeredPsychometric Entrance Examination (a multiple-choice aptitudetest), have proficiency in Hebrew, and in some cases beinterviewed. The Bachelor’s degree normally lasts three yearsbut is longer for professional specialisms (such as engineeringand similar BSc degrees).

ITALYEvaluation

Diploma di Esame di Stato (formerly Diploma diMaturità)

Opzione Classica/Linguistica/Scientifica/Tecnica/Professionale/Magistrale/ArtisticaAcceptable as group qualifications satisfying general entrancerequirements.

Grading System


Education SystemFive years of primary education is followed by eight years ofsecondary education of which the final five years (uppersecondary) are spent at a specialised secondary school, withcourses leading to one of the above-named Diplomas. ‘Classica’provides a general academic route; ‘Professionale’ is vocationallyorientated, more practical than technical; and ‘Magistrale’ isdirected towards social sciences, socio/psycho/didacticdisciplines. An Italian Diploma di Esame di Stato may berecorded as Sperimentale to identify experimental coursescarried out under the supervision of the Ministry of Education,University and Research. This has the same legal validity as anyother Diploma. Final examinations, which are organised by theMinistry of Education, University and Research, involve threewritten examinations and one oral examination in all subjects,and are taken in the last year of upper secondary school. Thefinal grade of the Diploma is calculated by combining the meanof the grades achieved in all subjects during the last three yearsof upper secondary school with the scores from the final yearexamination.


Access to Higher EducationIn theory all pupils who have completed a full five-year uppersecondary course and hold a Diploma di Esame di Stato haveaccess to university in Italy. In practice, however, there arerestrictions on admissions and entrance examinations are widelyused. Up to 2001, universities offered a two- or three-year degreecourse (Diploma Universitario) or a four- to six-year one(Laurea). From 2001/2, these qualifications are being phased out,to be replaced by the Laurea (L, three-year first degree course)and the 2nd Laurea (Laurea Specialistica - LS, 2 years post-L,second degree course).

JAPANEvaluation

Kotogakko Sotsugyo Shomeisho (Upper SecondarySchool Leaving Certificate)Acceptable in lieu of GCSE on a subject for subject basis (exceptEnglish Language). Would need to be supplemented by GCEAdvanced Levels, Scottish Highers or Advanced Highers, or abridging course.

Associate Degree from a Junior College (Jun-Gakushi)

Vocational Degree (Senmon-shi) from a VocationalCollegeAcceptable in lieu of BTEC National Diploma or NVQ Level 3award. Holders may be eligible for direct entry to HE, dependingon the subject.

Grading SystemA 5

B 4

C 3

D 2 minimum pass

F 1 fail

Education SystemCompulsory education in Japan comprises six years of primaryschool (from age six), and three years of lower secondaryschool. A revision of the 1947 Fundamental Law of Education iscurrently under discussion.

There are three types of basic educational institution: national -financed by central government; public - financed by localgovernment (prefectures, municipalities); and private - financedby private organisations.

There are competitive entry requirements for upper secondaryschool which, after three years, culminates in the internallyassessed Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate(Kotogakko Sotsugyo Shomeisho).

Recent reforms have introduced some schools which offerintegrated lower and upper secondary education within oneinstitution, amended curricular content to include electiveelements, and a reduced school week of five days instead of six.The aims of the reforms are to create a more flexible learningenvironment, to increase the scope of the curriculum and tofoster greater independence. One significant reform is theintroduction of English language teaching in primary schools.

Access to Higher EducationApplicants to national and public universities (Daigaku) in Japanwill be expected to have successfully completed 12 years ofschool education, attained an Upper Secondary School LeavingCertificate and taken a preliminary entrance examination, ie theNational Centre for University Entrance Examination, as well astaking the entrance examinations of individual institutions. Thescores obtained in these entrance examinations are accordedmore importance than school grades by universities. Mostuniversities operate an American-style grades and credit-basedsystem, leading to a four-year first degree (Gakushi).

JORDANEvaluation

Tawjihi (General Secondary Education Certificate)Acceptable at 60% or better in lieu of GCSE on a subject forsubject basis (except English Language). Would need to besupplemented by GCE A Levels, Scottish Highers or AdvancedHighers, or a bridging course.

Grading SystemPercentage scale with the minimum pass mark shown on thetranscript.

Education SystemThere are 10 years of compulsory education in Jordan, six atprimary level and four at lower secondary. This may be followedby two years of secondary education. The General SecondaryEducation Certificate (Tawjihi) is taken at the end of year 12.Instruction is in Arabic but English Language is compulsory fromyear 5 of basic education.

Access to Higher EducationUniversity admission in Jordan is on the basis of the GeneralSecondary Education Certificate at a minimum standard setannually. Much of the university teaching is in the medium ofEnglish. The first degree is credit-based and usually lasts for fouryears.

KAZAKHSTANEvaluation

Svidetel’ stvo o Srednem Obrazovanii (Certificate ofSecondary Education)Acceptable (if taken at Grade 11) in lieu of GCSE on a subject forsubject basis (except English Language).

Grading System5 Excellent

4 Good

3 Satisfactory/minimum pass

2 Unsatisfactory

1 Totally unsatisfactory

Education SystemCurrently the system consists of primary, secondary (lowersecondary and complete secondary) and HE.

The nine-year education period, covering primary and lowersecondary, is compulsory between the ages of six and 15.Secondary education is provided by general, vocational andspecialised secondary schools. Lower secondary education takesfive years, on completion of which, students are awarded theIncomplete Secondary Education Certificate. Following lowersecondary education, students may proceed to upper secondaryschool level or to vocational school. Courses at upper secondaryeducation last two years, leading to the Svidetel’ stvo o SrednemObrazovanii (Certificate of Secondary Education). Thisqualification gains access to HE in Kazakhstan. Successfulcompletion of vocational training is considered an alternativemeans of completing secondary education, and leads to adiploma. Students can also progress to secondary specialisededucation. Specialised education courses last between two andfour years, on completion of which, students are awarded theDiplom o Srednem Spetsialnom Obrazovanii (Diploma ofSpecialised Secondary Education).

Access to Higher EducationHE is provided at universities, polytechnics/technical institutesetc. Admission to HEIs (Vuz) in Kazakhstan is based on successin a competitive entrance examination and the completion ofsecondary education or the equivalent vocational/specialisttraining.

The initial qualification, Diplom, is usually completed in fiveyears. However, there is a parallel system operated in some


institutions: after three years of study, the Bakalavr is awarded,which is comparable to British Ordinary Degree standard. After afurther two years, the Specialist Diploma is awarded, which iscomparable to British Bachelor Honours, and is followed by anadditional year to obtain a Masters.

KENYAEvaluation

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE)Considered to be between GCSE and GCE A Level provided apass of C or above is achieved.


Grading SystemA, A- distinction/very good

B+, B, B- credit/good

C+, C, C- average

D+, D, D- fair

E poor

Education SystemA system culminating in A Levels was discontinued in 1989. Themain structural changes were to extend primary education byone year to eight years (completed about aged 14) and to reducesecondary education from six to four years. The medium ofinstruction is English. Under the new system, the KenyaCertificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), which isadministrated by the Kenya National Examination Council(KNEC), is sat in the fourth year of secondary education. Theexamination is taken in at least eight subjects.

Access to Higher EducationAccess to HE in Kenya is on the basis of the KCSE examinations.The overall minimum grade required for admission is B- in atleast 10 subjects. Admission is regulated by an aggregate ofpoints accumulated from specified subject clusters appropriateto the intended degree course. Points are awarded for foursubjects on a scale of A12 ... C+ 7 ... E 1. Cut-off points scoresvary from 31 for the Bachelor of Science (Agriculture), a four-year general degree, to 47 for the Bachelor of Medicine andSurgery or the Bachelor of Pharmacy. Admission to non-university HE studies is on the basis of KCSE for post-secondaryprogrammes. Apprenticeship programmes are organised byindustries for their employees. Progression depends on passing agovernment trade test at various levels.

KOREA (SOUTH)Evaluation

Inmungye Kodßng (High School Diploma)Considered to be between GCSE and GCE A Level standard.Those students with high grades may be considered foradmission to access or foundation level programmes.

Silop Kodßng Hakkyo (Vocational High School Diploma)Acceptable in lieu of BTEC First Diploma or NVQ level 2.

Grading SystemA (soo) 90% or above

B (woo) 89 - 80

C (mi) 79 -70

D (yang) 69 - 60

E (ga) below 60

There is no universal grading system in Korea. Assessmentdepends on the individual school and may use grades and/orpercentage marks.

Education SystemKorea has a 6+3+3+4 system of primary, lower secondary, uppersecondary and HE, the first nine years being compulsory. A

National Curriculum covers the 10 years from primary to the firstyear of upper secondary education. The medium of instruction isKorean, and English is a compulsory subject from the third yearof primary school.

Upper secondary education is divided into two streams:academic or vocational, which are taught at separate schools. Onsuccessful completion of academic high school, students areawarded the High School Diploma. Academic high schoolstudents must take all National Curriculum subjects plus electivesubjects, which make up a minimum total of 204 units.Vocational high school students take general academic subjectsplus vocational subjects, and are awarded the Vocational HighSchool Diploma on completion.

Access to Higher EducationEntry to a four-year first degree course in Korea is based on theapplicant’s high school transcript and results of the nationalCollege Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), but the ratio of eachelement for student selection depends on the individualinstitution’s decision. The subject areas of the newly revisedCSAT consist of five sections: verbal, mathematical, English,science, humanities and social science or vocational enquiryand foreign language - all are optional. The new CSAT adopts twoways of marking: one is raw mark and the other is standardmark.

Subject area Full (raw) Range mark (standard)

Verbal 100 0 - 200

Mathematical 100 0 - 200

English 100 0 - 200

Humanities andsocial science orScience or VocationalEnquiry 50 0 - 100

Foreign language orChinese 50 0 - 100

KUWAITEvaluation

Shahadat-al-thanawia-al-a’ama (General SecondarySchool Certificate)Acceptable at 60% or better in lieu of GCSE on a subject forsubject basis (except English Language).


Grading SystemThe grading varies between subjects; the maximum andminimum marks per subject are shown on the certificate. Themain grading system generally used by HEIs is:

Grade Percentage Result

A 100- 90 Excellent

B 89 - 80 Very Good

C 79 - 70 Good

D 69 - 60 Pass

F 59 - 0 Fail

Education SystemEducation in Kuwait is compulsory from the age of six to 14, atprimary (four years) and intermediate (four years) levels.Intermediate education culminates in the Intermediate SchoolCertificate. To progress to secondary education, students mustachieve a minimum of 50% in Islamic education, Arabic, EnglishLanguage, mathematics, science and social studies. Secondaryschooling lasts for four years, with the final two years beingstreamed. The General Secondary School Certificate is awardedprovided students achieve the pass mark of 50% in all subjects.Arabic is the medium of instruction and English Language iscompulsory throughout school education.


Access to Higher EducationAdmission to university in Kuwait is on the basis of the GeneralSecondary School Certificate. Individual departments set theirentry requirements in the examination as a whole (eg 75% inmedicine), and in addition require a competitive universityentrance examination. The Bachelor degree would usually takefour years, except in engineering (five) and medicine (seven).

LATVIAEvaluation

Atestats par visparejo videjo izglitibu (Certificate ofGeneral Secondary Education)Considered comparable to GCSE (grades A - C) with theexception of English Language.

Education SystemCompulsory education begins at age seven, with four years ofprimary education, followed by five years of lower secondaryeducation. The language of instruction is either Latvian orRussian. At age 15, after completion of compulsory education,students may choose to continue on a three-year programme ofupper secondary education, in either general, vocational orspecialist streams. General secondary education is aimed atstudents wishing to pursue their studies to HE level, andcomprises seven compulsory and seven chosen subjects taken atone of two curriculum levels - basic (pamatkurss) or advanced(profilkurss). At least one subject must be offered at advancedlevel. To be awarded the Certificate of General SecondaryEducation, students must pass five final examinations, includingtwo in compulsory subjects (Latvian language and literature, andone other set subject) plus three chosen subjects.

Access to Higher EducationThe Certificate of General Secondary Education, with marks of 4or better, gains access to HE in Latvia. However, competitiveentrance examinations may be held.

There are two separate systems of HE: academic andprofessional. Bachelor degrees, and professional programmesbased on academic degree standards, are attributed to“university type” institutions. Applied professional programmes,which do not lead to further academic studies, are styled as“non-university type”.

Bachelor degrees are usually of three years’ duration ofintermediate study with progression opportunities to Mastersstudy or professional qualifications.

LEBANONEvaluation

BaccalauréatAcceptable at a mark of 11 or better in lieu of GCSE on a subjectfor subject basis (except English Language). Would need to besupplemented by GCE A Levels, Scottish Highers or AdvancedHighers, or a bridging course.

Grading System20 - 18 excellent

17 - 15 very good

14 - 12 good

11 - 10 pass

9 - 0 fail

Education SystemFive years of primary education is followed by four years ofintermediate and three years of upper secondary education. ABaccalauréat is taken at the end of year 12. Media of instructionin state schools are Arabic/French or Arabic/English.

Access to Higher EducationThe Baccalauréat satisfies university entrance requirements inLebanon. The American University of Beirut (AUB), which is

linked to New York State University, also requires an Englishlanguage test and the AUB Scientific-Quantitative General Testfor admission to a four-year first degree.

LIECHTENSTEINEvaluation

BerufsmaturitätBTEC National Diploma/AVCE standard. May be considered tosatisfy the general entrance requirements of UK HEIs.

MaturaAcceptable as a group qualification satisfying general entryrequirements.

Grading SystemMatura

6 sehr gut (very good)

5 gut (good)

4 genugend (satisfactory)

3 mangelhaft (unsatisfactory) (= 1 Minuspunkt) (= 1 minus factor)

2 schwach (poor) (= 2 Minuspunkte) (= 2 minus factors)

1 seht schwach (very poor) (= 3 Minuspunkte) (= 3 minus factors)

In the oberschule and the realschule, an average mark of either3.5 or 4 is needed for promotion to the next grade. Ingymnasium, the promotion depends on the average mark, whichhas to be better than 4, and the amount of minus factors andinsufficient marks. Exceptions are possible in certain cases

Education SystemThe Department of Education holds responsibility for theeducation system, vocational training and adult education.Compulsory education is from the age of six to 15. Primaryschool (primarschule) is from the age of six to 11. Progression tosecondary school is on the basis of student performance in thefifth year at primary school. There are three types of secondaryschool: oberschule (lower secondary school up to age 14),realschule (intermediate secondary school up to age 14) andgymnasium unterstufe (grammar school up to age 15). At theupper secondary level, vocational schools and advanced levelvocational schools (berufsmitteschule) are available, in additionto the grammar school upper cycle (gymnasium oberstufe) and avoluntary 10th year at school (freiwilliges 10 schuljahr).

The curriculum in gymnasium is determined by the requirementsof the matura. Option groups available are: languages includingLatin; modern languages; art, music and education; business andlaw; maths and natural sciences.

Access to Higher EducationLiechtenstein possesses a limited tertiary education sector. Inaddition to this provision, Liechtenstein has contractualprogression arrangements with Switzerland, Austria andTubinger, Baden-Wurttemberg (Germany).

Entry to higher education is on the basis of the final examinationcertificate (Maturazeugnis or the Berufsmaturitatszeugnis). Incertain cases, practical traineeship, or an additional examinationmay be required before starting or during higher educationstudies.

There are three levels of higher education: Grundstudium (basicstudies) lasting at least three years, resulting in the award ofBachelor or Baccalaureate; Hauptstudium (advanced studies) ofbetween three and nine semesters, resulting in the award ofMaster or Magister Artium; and Doctor.


LITHUANIAEvaluation

Pagrindines mokyklos baigimo pazymejimas (PMP)(Certificate of Completion of Basic Education School)

Brandos Atestats (Maturity Certificate)Considered acceptable as a group qualification satisfying generalentrance requirements where good grades have been achieved.

Education SystemCompulsory education is from age six to 16. Primary school isfrom age six to 10, followed by basic secondary education. Aftereight years of general basic education have been completed,students are awarded a PMP. They may then progress to SeniorSecondary School, or Gymnasium, which is optional, offering atwo-year programme of studies leading to the Brandos Atestats(Maturity Certificate). Written examinations are taken in foursubjects, to include Lithuanian. This qualification allows accessto HE.

Access to Higher EducationHE institutions in Lithuania are of two types: universities andcolleges. HE establishments can be state or non-state. Basicuniversity level first stage (pagrindines studijos) last for three-and-a-half to four-and-a-half years, and lead to a Bachelor degree(Bakalaurs) or a professional qualification (Diploma). Admissionis based on the Brandos Atestats or equivalent qualification.University level second stage leads to specialised studies or theMasters degree (Magistras), lasting one-and-a-half to two years.Integrated studies are also offered, which combine both first andsecond stages, and must last from five to six years. Doctoralstudies may be pursued after completion of the first two stages,and last between three and four years.

Universites offer Masters and Doctoral programmes, whilstcolleges offer professional programmes, or non-graduateresearch. Studies are measured in credits (one creditrepresenting 40 study hours, and corresponding to 1.5 ECTScredits).

LUXEMBOURGEvaluation

Diplôme de Fin d’Etudes Secondaires

Diplôme de Fin d’Etudes Secondaires TechniquesAcceptable as group qualifications satisfying general entrancerequirements.


47 - 40 bien (good)


34 - 30 satisfaisant (satisfactory)

29 - 20 insufficant (unsatisfactory)

19 - 1 mauvais (poor)

For 1999/2000, 2000/1, 2001/2 and 2002/3 the pass-rate of theDiplôme de Fin d’Etudes Secondaires was respectively 86.0%,87.9%, 86.7% and 86.6%. Candidates awarded the Diploma weregraded as follows:

1999/2000 2000/1 2001/2 2002/3

très bien 11.4 9.5 9.2 10.5

bien 45.2 45.7 47.2 47.4

assez bien 32.3 32.7 34.3 32.8

satisfaisant 11.1 12.1 9.4 9.4

Students who achieve 50 points or more within the très bienrange may be regarded as outstanding. Less than one percentachieve 54 or more.

Education SystemAfter six years of primary education, academic secondaryschooling lasts seven years in two cycles of three and four yearsrespectively. Examens de fin d’études secondaires are taken atthe end of the second cycle in usually seven to nine subjects. Ineach subject, the mark awarded is a composite - one thirdassessments of the final year and two thirds the mark of the finalexamination. There is a comparable certificate/diploma fromtechnical secondary education which is awarded in threespecialisations: business administration, technological studiesand medically-related studies. German is the main medium inprimary education, but French is taught intensively throughoutsecondary education and becomes the main medium ofinstruction in the later years.

Access to Higher EducationLuxembourg does not have a complete university and pupils lookprimarily to Belgium, France and Germany for degree study. TheUniversity of Luxembourg offers one-year courses leading to oneof three Certificats d’Etudes, differentiatied by specialisation,and two-year courses, in several subjects, leading to a Diplômede Premier Cycle Universitaire. These cerificates areconsidered by many European universities to be equivalent toone and two years respectively of a university course andholders of them are awarded advanced standing.

MALAWIEvaluation

Malawi Junior Certificate Examination (JCE)Considered to be below GCSE standard.

Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE)Acceptable at grades 1 - 6 in lieu of GCSE (grades A, B, C) on asubject for subject basis. Would need to be supplemented byGCE A Levels, Scottish Highers or Advanced Highers, or abridging course.


Grading SystemMark Grade Comments

1 - 2 A Distinction

3 - 4 B Credit

5 - 6 C Credit

7 D Ordinary Pass

8 E Ordinary Pass

9 F Fail

Education SystemEducation is not compulsory in Malawi. Primary education startsat age six and lasts for eight years, during which the media ofinstruction are Chichewa and English. It culminates in thePrimary School Leaving Certificate. Secondary education takesfour years, the first two years of which are spent preparing forthe Malawi Junior Certificate Examination (JCE). Students whopass this examination may continue their secondary educationwith a further two years’ study. Secondary school culminateswith the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE).

Access to Higher EducationAdmission to the University of Malawi and the University ofMzuzu is based on the Malawi School Certificate of Educationwith a minimum of 20 points from six subject passes, includingEnglish Language. In addition, MSCE candidates are required topass a university entrance examination. Holders of theCambridge Higher School Certificate with at least three C gradepasses may be admitted with one year of advanced standing intofour-year general degree courses.


MALAYSIAEvaluation

Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM/Certificate of Education)Acceptable at grades 1 - 6 in lieu of GCSE grades A - C on asubject for subject basis.

Unified Examination Certificate (UEC)Offered by the Malaysian Independent Chinese SecondarySchools system. Widely recognised as being acceptable at grades1 - 6 in lieu of Scottish Highers on a subject for subject basis(except English Language).

Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM/MalaysiaHigher School Certificate)Acceptable at grades A to D in lieu of GCE A Level on a subjectfor subject basis.

Matriculation Certificate (Matrikulasi)Grade Point Average of 2.0 satisfies general entry requirementsfor UK HE.


Grading System

SPM1A, 2A Cemerlang (distinction)

3B, 4B, 5C, 6C Kepujian (credit/minimum acceptable pass)

7D, 8E Lulus (pass)

9G Gagal (fail)

UECA1, A2 Distinction

B3 - B6 Credit/minimum acceptable pass

C7, C8 Pass

F9 Fail

STPMA, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C Full Pass

C-, D+, D Partial Pass

F Fail

The STPM has introduced a new grading system whichcorresponds with that of the Matriculation system. The numberof grades available has been increased from seven to 11categories (as above). Each grade is equivalent to subject gradepoints: grades A to C have subject grade points between 4 and 2and are considered a full pass; grades C- to D have subject gradepoints of 1.67 to 1 and are considered partial pass; F isconsidered to be a fail.

Education SystemSix years of compulsory primary education is followed by fiveyears of secondary and two years of post-secondary education.The medium of instruction is in the national language, Malay,except for maths and science. English language is compulsory atthe secondary level and above. An English language syllabusdeveloped with Cambridge International Examinations is acompulsory element of the SPM. Entry to post-secondaryeducation is based on examination performance at the SPMstage. There are two types of pre-university programmes: theSTPM (1.5 years) and Matriculation (one year). The SPM andSTPM examinations are the responsibility of the MalaysianExaminations Syndicate and the Malaysian Examinations Councilrespectively under the aegis of the Ministry of Education.

The Malaysian Independent Chinese Secondary Schools System(MICSS) provides a six-year curriculum leading to the UnifiedExamination Certificate. Chinese is the main medium ofinstruction, but Malay and English are compulsory subjects. TheMICSS is recognised in Chinese-speaking areas of south-east Asiabut not in Malaysian public institutions.

Access to Higher EducationAdmission to three-year first degrees in Malaysia is mainly on thebasis of the STPM or university-run matriculation courses.Access to HE is now based on a system of merit, rather than thepreviously used quota system. Usual minimum requirements arepasses in two subjects at STPM, and a compulsory credit levelpass in Malay at SPM, but in practice, higher achievements arerequired due to the severe competition for places. All Malaysianpre-university students are required to sit the MalaysianUniversity English Test (MUET). This covers listening andreading comprehension, speaking and writing. It is graded on a 6-band scale with Band 6 considered as the Excellent User andBand 1 as the Very Limited User. The recommended minimumband for entry to a Malaysian first degree is Band 3 Modest User.Degree study is also possible from the level of SPM, in theUniversiti Teknologi Malaysia over a five-year period and also, inseveral university-level institutions on completion of a three-yearDiploma course at a state or private post-secondary college.With the introduction of the semester system, local universitiesare willing to offer credit transfers for relevant subjects taken inDiploma and other post-secondary courses.

MALTAEvaluation

Secondary Education Certificate Examinations (SEC)Acceptable in lieu of GCSE (grades A - C).

Matriculation Certificate Examination - Advanced Level(AM)Acceptable as a group qualification satisfying general entrancerequirements.


Education SystemPrimary education in Malta begins at age five, continuing for sixyears. Secondary education follows in two types of school -Junior Lyceum, which has a selective examination for entry, orSecondary School, with no qualifying entrance requirements.Both school types have a five-year course, divided into a firstcycle of common curriculum, followed by a second cycle ofcommon core and optional subjects. After completion of Form V,at age 16, all pupils sit the Secondary Education Certificate. Thisis offered by the Matsec Support Unit of the University of Malta.Since 2000, this consists of two papers - Paper I is a core paper,Paper II has A and B options for different abilities.

The Matriculation Certificate Examination is offered in the UpperLyceum, Sixth Forms and junior colleges (run by the Universityof Malta) on condition of six passes at SEC or six GCE O levelpasses in specified subjects. The Matriculation CertificateExamination covers subjects from both the humanities and thescience areas. Candidates offer six subjects in all, two of whichmust be at Advanced Level, and three at Intermediate Level, inaddition to Systems of Knowledge. Each subject is gradedseparately, as well as an overall grade awarded as an average ofall six subjects.

Access to Higher EducationThe University of Malta is Malta’s only HE institution.The mainentrance qualification is the Matriculation Certificate. Furtherrequirements are for passes in the SEC at grade 5 or better inMaltese, English and Mathematics. Some courses may haveadditional special requirements. Bachelor degrees last for threeyears (Ordinary Degree) and four years (Honours). Medicine is afive-year course, and law six years. Master’s degrees are of oneto two years’ duration. PhD studies last for three to six years.


MEXICOEvaluation

Bachillerato GeneralConsidered comparable to GCSE standard (grades A, B, C) on asubject for subject basis (except English Language).

Bachillerato TecnológicoConsidered comparable to BTEC First Diploma /N(S)VQ Level 2.

Educación Profesional TécnicaConsidered comparable to BTEC First Diploma /N(S)VQ Level 2.

Grading SystemMarking is on a scale of 0 - 10 (highest), with 6 as the minimumpass mark.

Education SystemCompulsory education in Mexico comprises six years of primaryeducation (starting at age six) and three years of lower secondaryeducation. Upper secondary education is non-compulsory andhas three main types: general upper secondary, technicalprofessional education and technological education. Generalupper secondary education (also known as the preparatorycycle) is offered to those students who have successfullycompleted primary and lower secondary schooling, and takesthree years. It leads to the award of Bachillerato General.Technical professional education leads to the BachilleratoTecnológico which can qualify the holder to enter a profession orHE. Technological education leads to a terminal qualificationcalled the Técnica. The medium of instruction is Spanish.

Access to Higher EducationThe usual entrance requirement is the Bachillerato. In addition,students normally take a university entrance examination.Courses leading to the Licenciado normally last four years, fiveyears for certain professional qualifications (eg engineering,dentistry, architecture) and six years for medicine. With the 1993educational reforms, the credit system is the same as that usedin the United States, which has been introduced into certaininstitutions. Admission to non-university HE studies wouldrequire Bachillerato Tecnológico.

MOROCCOEvaluation

BaccalauréatAcceptable as a group qualification satisfying general entrancerequirements provided that an overall grade of at least ‘bien’ hasbeen achieved.

Grading SystemBaccalauréat

20 - 16 très bien (very good)

15 - 14 bien (good)


11 - 10 passable (pass)


Candidates with 9/20 may be passed exceptionally by theexamination committee.

Education SystemThe education system is at present based on the Frencheducation system. Education is compulsory between the ages ofseven and 14. After six years of primary education, selection forsecondary education is by a broad-based entrance examination.Three years of junior secondary may be followed by three yearsof senior secondary education, usually at a lycée, whichculminates in the Baccalauréat in arts/economics/mathematics/sciences. Assessments counting towards the award of theBaccalauréat are made twice a year (February and June) in eachof three senior secondary years. Both Arabic and French areused in teaching.

Access to Higher EducationThe Baccalauréat is the basis of entry to university in Moroccobut there are restrictions on numbers admitted, especially to the‘professional’ areas where specific entrance examinations may bean additional requirement. Two years of study lead to theDiplôme d’Etudes Universitaires Générales (DEUG) and afurther two years to the Licence.

MYANMAR (PREVIOUSLY BURMA)Evaluation

Basic Education High School Examination/MatriculationConsidered comparable to GCSE standard (grade A, B, C) on asubject for subject basis (except English Language).

Technical Institute Diploma (three years)Considered comparable to BTEC National Diploma/N(S)VQ/Advanced VCE.

Grading SystemMarking is on a percentage scale; minimum average of 45% isnormally accepted as a pass mark.

Education SystemThe education system provides 10 years of schooling. Primaryeducation covers the first five years of education (standards 1 -5) beginning at age six. Secondary education lasts five years,divided into two cycles: three-year middle secondary and two-year higher secondary. Middle schooling covers standards 6 - 8,at the end of which, students take an internally set examination.On completion of middle school, students may continue theireducation at higher secondary or technical secondary school.Higher secondary covers standards 9 - 10; in year 10, studentscan take the Basic Education High School Examination(Matriculation). Both English and Burmese are compulsorysubjects in the matriculation examination. Technical schoolingprepares students for admission to technical institutions andemployment in industry as apprentices.

Access to Higher EducationAdmission is based on the matriculation results (or grade). SomeHE institutions require students to sit an entrance examination.Myanmar’s universities and colleges were reopened in late July2000 after being closed for most of the previous 12 years.

NETHERLANDSEvaluation

Diploma Hoger Algemeen Voortgezet Onderwijs (SeniorGeneral Secondary Education) (HAVO)Acceptable at grade 6 or better in lieu of GCSE on a subject forsubject basis (except English Language).

Voorbereidend Middelbaar Beroepsonderwijs(Preparatory Secondary Vocational Education) (VMBO)Acceptable at grade 6 or better in lieu of GCSE on a subject forsubject basis (except English Language).

Diploma Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs(University Preparation Education) (VWO)Acceptable as a group qualification satisfying general entrancerequirements.

Grading System

VWO10 uitmuntend (outstanding)

9 zeer goed (very good)

8 goed (good)

7 ruim voldoende (very satisfactory)

6 voldoende (satisfactory/pass)

5 binja voldoende (almost satisfactory/fail)


4 onvoldoende (unsatisfactory)

3 zeer onvoldoende (very unsatisfactory)

2 slecht (poor)

1 zeer slecht (very poor)

It should be noted that scores of 1, 2 ,3, 9 and 10 are rarelyawarded.

Education SystemPrimary education lasts eight years beginning at age four (withEnglish introduced in the seventh year), after which, pupils canchoose between various streams of secondary education. Two ofthese streams, HAVO and VWO, offer general secondaryeducation which prepares students for HE. The HAVO diploma isobtained after five years of study and is the minimum entryrequirement for admission to hogescholen (universities ofprofessional education), which offer HE in applied arts andsciences. The VWO diploma is obtained after completion of sixyears of study and is required for admission to universiteiten(universities). There are three types of VWO: Gymnasium;Atheneum and Ongedeeld (unified).

During the last two years of the HAVO and the last three years ofthe VWO (upper secondary education), students focus oncompleting the requirements of at least one of four subjectclusters (profielen). Each cluster specialises in a particular fieldof study in addition to satisfying general education requirements:science and technology; science and health; economics andsociety; culture and society. Each cluster is designed to preparestudents for related programmes of study at tertiary level andfulfils entry requirements to HE in the Netherlands. Somesubjects may be assessed internally in the penultimate year bymeans of examination, dissertation or project. All subjectsexamined nationally are taken at the end of the final year. Anaverage final grade of 6 is the lowest pass, but a maximum of twogrades of 5 may be compensated for by sufficiently high gradesin other subjects.

Access to Higher EducationThe VWO Diploma is the main entrance requirement for coursesat universities and institutions of comparable level in theNetherlands. University entrance is possible also on the basis ofa pass in the first year examination of a hogeschool. In additionto the HAVO diploma, admission to hogescholen is also possibleafter completion of a three- or four-year MBO (vocationaleducation programme), provided certain conditions are met.Students who complete HAVO or VWO are required to havecompleted one of the subject clusters listed above for admissionto HE. Admission to some courses (most commonly medicine,dentistry and veterinary science) is based on a weighted lottery,though institutions are allowed to select a certain percentage ofthe students themselves (decentralized admission). There arealso additional categories for mature students, foreign studentsand for students transferring from hogescholen.

As of the academic year 2002/3, a new system of HE has beenintroduced in the Netherlands. Universities now offer three-yearBachelor’s degree programmes, followed by Master’sprogrammes. Hogescholen offer four-year Bachelor’s degreeprogrammes, in some cases followed by Master’s programmes.

NEW ZEALANDEvaluation

University Entrance Bursaries and ScholarshipsApplicants may satisfy general entrance requirements byachieving:

(i) Provisional Entrance to a university in New Zealand and thesubsequent successful completion of the first year; OR

(ii) an appropriate standard in the University Entrance Bursariesand Scholarships examination and/or the required achievementin approved standards registered on the National QualificationsFramework (NQF).

Grading SystemA 100 - 66%

B 65 - 56

C 55 - 46

D 45 - 30

E 29 - 00

Percentage Grade Distribution - Major Subjects 2003 (subjectswith more than 2,000 candidates from a total candidature ofapproximately 29,400):

Subjects SP* A B C D E

Accounting 3.3 16.9 26.0 33.2 16.9 3.8

Biology 3.2 15.1 22.7 34.4 20.9 3.7

Chemistry 3.8 20.1 27.0 32.7 13.0 3.3

Classical Studies 3.4 13.5 23.3 35.0 20.5 4.3

Design 3.0 11.3 17.7 38.7 25.7 3.4

Economics 3.0 13.6 24.1 33.5 22.3 3.5

English 3.3 11.9 26.9 33.0 21.4 3.5

Geography 2.8 10.7 20.3 36.3 24.6 5.3

History 3.2 14.0 25.1 34.0 19.8 3.9

Mathematics with Calculus 3.4 18.7 23.1 33.6 16.4 4.7

Mathematics with Statistics 3.4 14.5 25.8 34.0 18.4 3.8

Painting 3.4 9.9 21.1 31.8 28.6 5.2

Photography 2.8 8.9 21.9 39.5 22.2 4.7

Physical Education 2.2 7.6 17.1 38.3 28.3 6.5

Physics 4.0 18.2 24.6 37.4 12.1 3.7

*Scholarship Performance

Education SystemThe education system for schools comprises 13 year levels.Children may start school at age five and the majority do so,although schooling is not compulsory until the age of six andremains compulsory until age 16. There is a compulsory nationalcurriculum for Years 1 - 10. Students progress to the next year ofschooling at the beginning of each school year, except for entryto Years 12 and 13 (in which case, each school decides its ownpolicy). Multi-level study in Years 11, 12 and 13 is common. Thismeans that the majority of students remain at school until year11, although retention rates at years 12 and 13 are reasonablyhigh. A small number of schools offer Year 14 programmes.

In 2003, the general education qualifications were:

• National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA)Level 1: Year 11 qualification;

• National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA)Level 2: Year 12 qualification;

• Higher School Certificate: a Year 13 course-completionqualification that is entirely internally assessed and thatrequires students to be undertaking a programme of studywith at least 60% of their study at Year 13 level. Its principalpurpose is to certify that five years of schooling have beencompleted, and that the holder has a basic preparedness(including basic English language skills) for tertiary study;

• University Entrance Bursaries and Scholarships (UEBS,commonly known as University Bursaries or Bursaries): Year13 assessed qualification. Students may enter from one to sixsubjects and may be awarded a subject Scholarship for avery high level of achievement in a Bursaries subject.Students who earn a total of 300 marks or more in no morethan five subjects are awarded an A Bursary, and studentswho earn a total of 250 - 299 marks in no more than fivesubjects are awarded a B Bursary. Each year, approximately20% of all candidates are awarded an A Bursary andapproximately 30% of all candidates are awarded a B Bursary.


A new qualifications system, the National Certificate ofEducational Achievement, began implementation at Year 11 in2002. NCEA Level 1 was implemented in 2002, Level 2 at Year 12level in 2003, and Level 3 in Year 13 in 2004.

The previous principal tertiary entry qualification, UEBS, wasavailable for the final time in 2003. The UEBS has now beenreplaced by Level 3 of the standards-based NCEA and the newNew Zealand Scholarships qualification. The NCEA is aqualification registered on New Zealand’s NQF. From 2004, schoolleavers will present results related to the NCEA and othernationally registered qualifications. These results are gained innationally registered unit standards and achievement standards,both of which establish learning outcomes and provideassessment criteria. A credit value is attached to each standard.Assessment for the NCEA is both school-based, or internal, andexternal, through examinations conducted by the QualificationsAuthority. Each achievement standard is examined eitherinternally or externally, and each subject grouping includesinternally and externally assessed standards. Unit standards areall internally assessed. Credit is awarded in each standard whenthe required level is achieved. High performance may berecognized in achievement standards through merit andexcellence levels. The Scholarships qualification will be fullyexternally assessed and is registered at level 4 on the NewZealand Register of Quality Assured Qualifications. While theassessments are based on the content of level 3 achievementstandards, the aim is to assess a student’s ability to apply higherlevel thinking associated with the synthesis and integration ofconcepts.

Access to Higher EducationStudents in Year 12 may apply for provisional entrance to aspecific university and course of study. One of the factorsconsidered for applicants is their achievement in the Year 12qualification. The provisional entry is confirmed on thesuccessful completion of one year of full-time study at university.Only a small number of students apply for provisional entry.Most commonly, students gain entrance to university either bygaining grade C or better in three Bursaries subjects and HigherSchool Certificate, or by gaining an A or a B Bursary. From 2004,entrance is gained on the basis of credits gained in level 3 NQFstandards in approved areas of study. Students will be qualifiedfor entrance to a university in New Zealand if they haveobtained:

• a minimum of 42 credits at level 3 or higher on the NQF,including a minimum of 14 credits at level 3 or higher in eachof two subjects from the approved subject list, with a further14 credits at level 3 or higher taken from no more than twoadditional domains on the NQF or approved subjects;

• a minimum of 14 numeracy credits at level 1 or higher inmathematics or Pangarau on the NQF;

• a minimum of eight literacy credits at level 2 or higher inEnglish or Te Reo Maori; four credits must be in reading andfour credits must be in writing.

Admission to some university degree programmes such asmedicine is restricted and usually requires achieving higher thana minimum specified standard.

A Bachelor’s degree requires either three or four years’ full-timestudy (depending on the particular qualification) or equivalent.Requirements for entry to non-university degree programmes orother tertiary courses are established by individual teachinginstitutions.

NIGERIAEvaluation

Senior School Certificate Education (SSCE)Regarded as being below the standard of UK A Levels. Thosestudents with high grades may be considered for admission to abridging programme.


Grading System

SSCE1 excellent

2 very good

3 good


7 - 8 pass

9 fail

WASSCEA1 excellent

B2 very good

B3 good


D7 pass

E8 pass

F9 fail

Education SystemSix years of primary education may be followed by six years ofsecondary education: three years in junior secondary school andthree years in senior secondary school. Senior secondaryeducation is evaluated by continuous assessment and by anational examination conducted by the West AfricanExaminations Council (WAEC), leading to the award of the WestAfrican Senior Secondary School Certificate. (This replaced asystem of O and A Levels in 1989.) The WASSCE, which is theversion of the senior school certificate now being harmonisedthroughout the WAEC’s member countries, is awarded on thebasis of 30% continuous assessment and 70% externalexamination. In the initial primary years, instruction is usually inthe medium of a local language, but thereafter, English mainly isused.

Access to Higher EducationWASSCE passes with credit in five relevant subjects, obtained atnot more than two sittings, together with an acceptable standardin the competitive University Matriculation Examinationadministered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB), secures admission in Nigeria to a degree course of notless than four years in length.

NORWAYEvaluation

Vitnemål - grunnskolen (Lower Secondary LeavingCertificate)Acceptable in lieu of GCSE on a subject for subject basis (exceptEnglish Language).

Vitnemål - videregående opplæring (Upper SecondaryLeaving Certificate)Acceptable as a group qualification satisfying general entrancerequirements, provided it is endorsed ‘generellstudiekompetanse’.

Grading SystemLower Secondary School 6 (maximum), 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Upper Secondary School 6 (maximum), 5, 4, 3, 2 (pass), 1, 0

Certificates contain two separate columns of grades. Grades inthe Vitnemål are given for overall achievement based oncontinuous assessment as well as performance in the finalexaminations in some subjects. Examinations are set by andassessed under the supervision of The Norwegian Board ofEducation. The examinations may be: written = S(skriftlig);


oral = M(muntlig); combined = K(kombinert); or practical =P(praktisk), as shown on the Certificate under Prøveform. Deltattmeans that the student has followed the teaching in this subjectbut chosen not to be assessed with a mark.

Education SystemThe Avgangsprøva (Vitnemål - grunnskolen) is taken at the end of10 years of compulsory education (nine for those born earlierthan 1991). Pupils then have a statutory right to proceed to threeyears of upper secondary school. They choose one from aselection of 15 foundation courses for their first year andspecialised advanced courses, I and II, for their later years. Threeof the available foundation courses prepare for academic HEmeeting the entrance requirements, while 10 are vocational.Pupils from vocational areas of study meet the HE entrancerequirements after the completion of a supplementary generalstudy course. Vocational courses lead to a tradesman’s orjourneyman’s certificate and are taken generally on a two-yearschool and two-year work placement basis. Both routes,academic and vocational, may leave the pupil eligible for theVitnemål - videregående opplæring (Upper Secondary LeavingCertificate). English is compulsory from the first grade of theprimary school.

Access to Higher EducationThe basic requirements for entry to all HE in Norway are usuallymet by the Vitnemål endorsed ‘generell studiekompetanse’. Foradmission to some faculties/studies, for example medicine andtechnological studies, there are additional requirements. From2001, universities and university colleges have the right to admitstudents without formal entrance qualifications on the basis ofage (25 years or more), and a combination of formal and non-formal learning. The relevant institution decides if the student isqualified. For students beginning their university or collegestudies up to, and including, the academic year 2002/3, thelowest level degree (cand. mag.) may be obtained after three-and-a-half to four years of study. An increasing number ofNorwegian students continue to the higher degree (cand. philol;cand. scient; cand. polit) which is usually achieved after twoadditional years. Public (ie State) University Colleges (nowserving about one half of all HE students) are integrated with theuniversity system and transfers are possible with full credit (theinstitutions are legally bound to grant full credit transfer unlessthere is overlap in the academic content of courses). Private HEcaters for a little less than 10% of students in HE. In HE, themarking system ranges from 1.0 (maximum) to 6.0 (4.0 =minimum pass), ie the reverse of the school grading system.

From the autumn of 2002, the degree system was changed toBachelor, Master and PhD degrees. A number of institutionschanged their programmes from 2002 with the rest of theinstitutions coming in line by the academic year 2003/4. TheEuropean Credit Transfer Scheme grading system will beadopted (A Excellent, B Very Good, C Good, D Satisfactory, ESufficient, FX Fail - more work required before the credit can beawarded, F Fail -considerable further work is required). In thetransition period, both degree systems and both grading systemswill be in use at the same time.

OMANEvaluation

Thanawiya Amma (Secondary School LeavingCertificate)Acceptable at 70% or better in lieu of GCSE on a subject forsubject basis (except English Language).


Grading SystemPercentage scale, with no minimum pass mark.

Education SystemSix years of primary education and three years of preparatoryeducation are followed by three years of secondary education,with an option to choose either science or arts stream from Year

2. The medium of instruction is Arabic, but English is taught fromPrimary 4. The Secondary School Leaving Certificate is a Year 12examination. Note, however, that with effect from the 1998/9school year, a new 10-year system of Basic Education has beenintroduced. Two cycles of four and six years respectively arefollowed by two years of secondary education. The medium ofinstruction is Arabic, but English is taught from grade 1. Only alimited number of schools currently operate the new structure,with more schools to be added each year until it replaces thecurrent system in 2007. The Secondary School Certificateremains a Year 12 examination, but its title is being reviewed.

Access to Higher EducationAdmission to university in Oman, for a Bachelor degree courseof a minimum of four years, is on the basis of the ThanawiyaAmma, in theory at an overall mark of 65%, but competition forplaces commonly ensures an entrance level of over 70% and of90% for medicine. Study in faculties other than Islamic studies ispreceded by a one-and-a-half-year preparatory course in Englishand science.

PAKISTANEvaluation

Intermediate/Higher Secondary School Certificate(HSSC)Acceptable at 50% or better in lieu of GCSE on a subject forsubject basis (except English Language). Would need to besupplemented by GCE A Levels, Scottish Highers or AdvancedHighers, or a bridging course.

Diploma of Faculty of Arts/Science (FA/FSc)Acceptable in lieu of GCSE on a subject for subject basis. Wouldneed to be supplemented by GCE A Levels, Scottish Highers orAdvanced Highers, or a bridging course.


Grading System

HSSCA1 100 - 80% outstanding

A 79 - 70 excellent

B 69 - 60 very good

C 59 - 50 good

D 49 - 40 satisfactory

E 39 - 33 pass

F 32 - 0 fail

Education SystemEducation is compulsory at primary and secondary levels.Primary education commences at age five and continues for fiveyears, largely in the medium of Urdu. It is followed by five yearsof secondary education, the last two years of which are streamedinto either science or general studies. A further two years at ahigher secondary/intermediate college leads to the Intermediate/Higher Secondary School Certificate or the FA/FSc. English iswidely used in higher secondary and university education.

Access to Higher EducationThe HSSC gives access to a two-year pass degree and three-yearhonours degree in Pakistan. Pass degrees are usually taken at anaffiliated college and honours degrees at a university.

POLANDEvaluation

Matura (Secondary School Certificate)Acceptable as a group qualification satisfying general entrancerequirements.


Grading System6 celujacy (excellent)

5 bardzo dobry (very good)

4 dobry (good)

3 dostateczny (satisfactory/pass)

2 mierny (mediocre)

1 niedostateczny (unsatisfactory)

Education SystemThe education system consists of primary schools, middleschools and secondary schools (general grammar, technicalgrammar and vocational schools. Tuition in state schools is freeand mandatory until the age of 18.

Following reforms introduced from 1999, pupils begin theireducation at the age of six in szkola podstawowa (primaryschool). This six-year period culminates in national testing, toprovide information on how much pupils have learned.Progression is on to gimnazjum (middle school); as a rule pupilsattend the school nearest their place of residence.

The three-year period at middle school concludes with anexamination, split into humanities, mathematics and naturalscience papers. Secondary schools are selected on the basis ofthe results of this examination. Students choose from three-yeargeneral education grammar schools (liceum), four-year technicalgrammar schools (technikum) or two-three-year vocationalschools (szkola zasadnicza).

Education at a vocational school concludes with a professionalexamination, which was externally assessed until 2004. Generaland technical grammar school culminates with the matura,which is predominantly internally assessed.

Access to Higher EducationOn passing the matura school-leaving examination, students maycontinue their education at an institution of tertiary education(university or college). Dependent on the type of institution, fieldand duration of study, students read for the Licentiate (normallythree years of study) or a Master’s degree (five to six years ofstudy). On graduation, holders of the master’s degree may begindoctoral or postgraduate studies.

PORTUGALEvaluation

Diploma de Ensino Secundário (previously known asCertificado do 12º ano)Acceptable as a group qualification satisfying general entrancerequirements provided that an overall grade of at least ‘bom’ hasbeen achieved.

Grading System20 - 18 muito bom (excellent)

17 - 14 bom (good)

13 - 10 suficiente (pass)

9 - 5 mediocre (poor)

4 - 0 mau (very poor)

Education SystemNine years of compulsory basic education is followed by threeyears of secondary education, which may comprise courses witha general, technical or professional emphasis. The emphasis willbe made clear by the school leaving certificate awarded in Year12 on the basis of national examinations. English is an optionalsubject.

Access to Higher EducationAccess to higher education is subject to a numerus claususaccording to the legislation in force. Students wishing to qualifyfor admission to HE in Portugal in 2004 must sit for a nationalcompetition (concurso nacional) for public institutions and alocal competition (concurso local) for private institutions. Inboth cases, students have to fulfil general conditions for accessto HE in Portugal:

• have successfully completed the 12th year of schooling orthe equivalent;

• have completed the national specific examinations inaccordance with the HE course the student wishes to attend;

• have obtained a minimum mark when required;

• have fulfilled the prerequisites for the HE course the studentwishes to attend, if required.

Students at polytechnic institutions may enrol in courses leadingto the degrees of bacharel (three years), or licenciado (fouryears); cursos bietapicos de licenciatura are also offered atpolytechnic institutions (these courses are organised into twocycles, the first one leading to the bacharel and the second oneleading to the licenciado degree; the first cycle has a duration ofsix semesters, while the second cycle has a two- to four-semesters’ duration).

The first degree obtained at a university is the licenciado degreewhich may last from four to six years.

QATAREvaluation

Thanawaya Aa’ma Qatari (Qatar General SecondaryEducation Certificate)Acceptable at 70% or better in lieu of GCSE on a subject forsubject basis (except English Language). Will need to besupplemented by acceptable qualifications that are widely usedfor entry to HE in the UK, eg GCE or SQA awards.

Grading SystemPercentage scale; the minimum overall pass mark is 50%.

Education SystemThe Ministry of Education administers the Qatar schooleducation system with central control of the curriculum.Education is free for Qatari nationals of both sexes. Six years ofprimary and three years of preparatory education lead to athree-year secondary course and examinations for the GeneralSecondary Education Certificate in grade 12. Education iscompulsory up to the ninth grade. Whilst the medium ofinstruction in state schools is Arabic, English is introduced asthe main foreign language in the first grade and is taught up tothe end of compulsory education. In recently opened scientificschools, the medium of instruction is English. Vocational trainingis available for boys at preparatory and secondary levels in a six-year course at a vocational school. A Diploma is awarded after asuccessful two-year training period. Special vocational coursesare available for adults to enable them to find employment.

Access to Higher EducationAdmission to university in Qatar is on the basis of the GeneralSecondary Education Certificate for entry to a four-year BEddegree and five-year BA/BSc degrees.

ROMANIAEvaluation

Diploma de BacalaureatAcceptable as a group qualification satisfying general entrancerequirements.

Secondary Vocational DiplomaComparable to BTEC National Diploma/NVQ 3/Advanced VCEDouble Award.

Grading System


Education SystemFollowing political change, the structure of school education wasreshaped by the Education Decree of 1999. Provision for evening


classes and extra-mural courses in later years may lead to slightvariations, but in general, the pattern is one of four years ofprimary and four years of lower secondary education(gymnasium). From the school year 2003/4, there will be fiveyears of lower secondary compulsory education and three yearsof non-compulsory upper secondary education (grades 9 to 12 inLyceum). Admission to upper secondary education is bycompetitive entrance examination. Upper secondary education isdivided into general, technical and vocational (theological,artistic and military) streams. The school-leaving diploma(Bacalaureat) is taken in five subjects of which two are chosenby the student. Each subject examination is internally assessed,and marked out of 100, then converted to the 10-point scale.Students in the vocational stream receive the VocationalDiploma. The pass mark for Bacalaureat examinations is 5 foreach subject and 6 for the final average.

Access to Higher EducationAccess to HE is based on ‘numerus clausus’. The average thecandidates obtain in the entrance examination is made up of themarks they get from the entrance examination +30% - 100% out ofthe average of the Bacalaureat examination (this will vary fromone university to another). All aspects of HE, including thecurriculum, admission requirements are centrally controlled.Holders of a Diploma de Bacalaureat are eligible to sit theentrance examination for HE establishments (Examen deAdmitere). The first degree, Diploma de Licenta (which isconsidered comparable to British Bachelor (Ordinary) standard)may be achieved after four, five or six years. For engineers andarchitects, there are Diplome de Inginer and Diploma deArhitect (comparable to British Bachelor (Ordinary) degreestandard). Students with high grades may be considered foradmission to postgraduate study.

RUSSIAEvaluation

Attestat o (Polnom) Srednem Obshchem Obrazovanii(Certificate of Secondary Education)Acceptable (if taken at Grade 11) in lieu of GCSE on a subject forsubject basis (except English Language). Would need to besupplemented by GCE A Levels, Scottish Highers or AdvancedHighers, or a bridging course.

Diplom o Srednem Professionalnom Obrasovanii(Secondary Vocational Education Diploma)Comparable to NVQ level 2


4 good

3 satisfactory/minimum pass

2 unsatisfactory

1 totally unsatisfactory

Education SystemThe first nine years of education are compulsory and compriseprimary education (from age six to 10) and senior school (age 11to 15). Students completing this basic education are eligible toenter senior secondary school (lyceum or gymnasium) orvocational secondary school (technikum) for a further two years.Secondary education leads to the award of Attestat o (Polnom)Srednem Obshchem Obrazovanii (Certificate of SecondaryEducation) for general education, and Diplom o SrednemProfessionalnom Obrasovanii (Secondary Vocational EducationDiploma) for vocational education. The Attestat o (Polnom)Srednem Obshchem Obrazovanii has a considerable element oforal examining and all subjects taken must be passed to qualifyfor the Certificate. Although instruction in one of a large numberof local languages may occur in the early primary years, Russianlanguage dominates in secondary and HE.

Access to Higher EducationEntry to HE in Russia is based on possession of the schoolleaving certificate and upon a competitive entrance examination.

The initial qualification, Diplom, is usually completed in fiveyears. However, there is a parallel system operated in someinstitutions: after three years of study, the Bakalavr (since 1991)is awarded, which is comparable to British Bachelors (Ordinary)degree standard; following a further two years, the SpecialistDiploma (since 1991) is awarded, which is comparable to aBritish Bachelor (Honours) degree, followed by an additionalyear to obtain a Masters.

SAUDI ARABIAEvaluation

Tawjihiyah (General Secondary Education Certificate -GSEC)Acceptable at 60% or above in lieu of GCSE on a subject forsubject basis (except English Language). Would need to besupplemented by acceptable qualifications for entry to HE in theUK, eg GCE A Levels.

Secondary Vocational School Diploma/SecondaryCommercial School Diploma/Secondary AgriculturalDiplomaAcceptable in lieu of BTEC First Diploma or NVQ level 2qualifications.

Grading System

GSEC100 - 90% excellent

89 - 75 very good

74 - 60 good

59 - 50 pass

49 - 0 fail

Education SystemEducation in Saudi Arabia is free, but not compulsory. Generaleducation comprises six years of primary school, three years ofintermediate school and three years of secondary school.Education is strictly segregated along gender lines at all stages,but boys and girls will follow the same curriculum and take thesame exams. Religious and cultural education form a significantelement of the curriculum. Arabic is the medium of instruction,apart from technological and scientific courses at HE level.

Throughout their education, students must pass end-of-yearexams each year to progress to the next stage. Primaryeducation commences at age six. On successful completion offinal year primary education examinations, students are awardedthe General Elementary School Certificate. Students thenprogress to intermediate school where they study for threeyears, culminating in the Intermediate School Certificate(Shahadat Al-Kafa’at Al-Mutawassita).

In the first year of general secondary school, students follow acommon curriculum. At the end of this year, they are streamedon the basis of end-of-year examinations to follow a scientific orliterary curriculum. Students obtaining 60% or above in the end-of-year examination can choose which curriculum to follow.Those obtaining below 60% must follow the literary stream.Secondary education culminates with the General SecondaryEducation Certificate (Tawjihiyah). At secondary level, studentscan also attend technical/vocational schools which award theSecondary Vocational School Diploma, the SecondaryCommercial School Diploma or the Secondary AgriculturalDiploma.

Access to Higher EducationUniversity admission in Saudi Arabia is based primarily on theresults of the GSEC, although some faculties may administertheir own university entrance examination in addition. There areplans to develop and introduce a universal university entranceexamination within the next two years. An average GSEC mark of80% is necessary for entry into medicine courses and 65% forothers.


SIERRA LEONEEvaluation

School Certificate/GCE O LevelAcceptable at grades 1 - 6 in lieu of GCSE on a subject for subjectbasis.

Higher School Certificate/GCE A LevelAcceptable at grades A - E in lieu of GCE A level on a subject forsubject basis.


Grading System

School Certificate1 excellent

2 very good

3 good


7 - 8 pass

9 fail

Advanced School Certificate:A - E (pass), F (fail)

WASSCEA1 excellent

B2 very good

B3 good


D7 pass

E8 pass

F9 fail

Education SystemBefore the recent major changes in the educational system wereimplemented, six years of primary education and six years ofsecondary led to the West African School Certificateexaminations at Ordinary Level and GCE A Level. Under the new6+3+3 structure, after six years of primary education, pupils takea National Primary School Examination (NPSE) before proceedingto three years of junior secondary education, at the end ofwhich, the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE),which is below GCSE standard, may be taken. The results in theBECE give access to three years of senior secondary educationand a WASSCE evaluated on the model of 30% continuousassessment and 70% terminal assessment. The WASSCE wasconducted for the first time in 2000 while the SC/GCE O Levelwas phased out in 1999 and the A Level in 2000. Some privateschools continue to offer the London GCE O and A Levels in theshort term. The medium of instruction is English.

Access to Higher EducationAdmission to a four-year degree in Sierra Leone is on the basis ofpasses (at grade 6 or better) in five subjects, including English,in the WASSCE. Good GCE A Level results will achieve advancedstanding. On the basis of WASSCE results, the same passes (atgrade 6 or better) in five subjects form the entry requirement.

SINGAPOREEvaluation

Singapore/Cambridge GCE Ordinary LevelAcceptable at grades A1 - C6 in lieu of GCSE grades A, B and C ona subject for subject basis.

Singapore/Cambridge GCE Advanced LevelAcceptable at grades Distinction and A - E in lieu of GCE A Levelon a subject for subject basis.

Grading System

Singapore/Cambridge GCE Ordinary LevelGraded A1, A2, B3, B4, C5, C6, D7, E8, F9, with A1 being thehighest.

Singapore/Cambridge GCE Advanced LevelA - E (pass), F (fail). There is also a Distinction grade for the top5% of candidates.

Education SystemCompulsory education was introduced from the start of theacademic year 2003. Six years of primary education is followedby four or five years of secondary education. Students arestreamed according to academic ability from Year 4 onwards.The majority of students complete secondary education andstudy for GCE O Levels, either through a four-year ‘express’course, or a five year ‘normal’ course. The medium of instructionis English, with pupils also offering their mother tongue(Chinese, Malay or Tamil) as their second language. GCE O and ALevels are provided by the University of Cambridge LocalExaminations Syndicate. The Singapore Ministry of Education isresponsible for subjects examined in the mother tongue.

Access to Higher EducationEligibility for higher education is based on GCE A Level results.Applicants must have passed at least two GCE A Level subjectsin one sitting. Universities also accept Polytechnic Diplomaholders with good academic performance. In general, theselectivity and competition for places in HE mean that standardsare high. Most Bachelor (honours) degrees take three or fouryears, or five years for medicine. English is the medium ofinstruction at universities and polytechnics. Singapore has threeuniversities, four polytechnics and an Institute of TechnicalEducation. Entry to polytechnic education is at GCE O Levelstandard. The Diplomas awarded by polytechnics require two orthree years full-time study and are comparable to BTEC HigherNational Diploma level.

SLOVAKIAEvaluation

Vysvedcenie o Maturitnej Skúske/MaturitaAcceptable as a group qualification satisfying general entrancerequirements.

Grading System1 vyborny (excellent)

2 chválitebny (very good)

3 dobry (good)

4 dostatocny (pass)

5 nedostatocny (fail)

Education SystemSchooling for the duration of 10 years is compulsory. Nine yearsof basic education is followed by a four- or five-year secondaryeducation course in a gymnasium, a secondary vocational schoolor a secondary specialised school. All these secondaryeducation courses lead to the matriculation examination,Vysvedcenie o Maturitnej Skúske or Maturita. The gymnasiumcurriculum involves a broad-based core and some specialisationin science, humanities or mathematics, but the matriculationexamination is usually taken in only four subjects, of which one,mother tongue and literature, is compulsory. In addition tomarks for individual examination subjects, a “cumulativeassessment” by the Examination Board considers achievementsthroughout the secondary course, grading students as havingpassed with honours; passed very well; passed; or failed. Themedium of instruction is Slovak or Hungarian.


Access to Higher EducationThe Maturita remains a prerequisite for HE in Slovakia, but eachfaculty of the 25 institutions has considerable autonomy andthey may use more specialised and selective admissionsprocedures, commonly involving written examinations. The firstdegree of Bakalár takes three or four years of study and may befollowed by a two-year programme leading to a Master’s degree.Medicine and veterinary medicine involve six years of study.

SLOVENIAEvaluation

Maturitetno Spricevalo (Secondary School LeavingCertificate)Acceptable as a group qualification satisfying general entrancerequirements

Education SystemCompulsory education is from age six to 15. There is a gradualimplementation from 1999 to 2009 to a nine-year schoolingsystem of primary to lower secondary school. Upper secondaryeducation in Slovenia consists of general, vocational andtechnical education. There are two types of gimnazija: generaland specialised. Programmes last four years, at the end of which,students are awarded the Maturitetno Spricevalo (SecondarySchool Leaving Certificate).

Instruction is offered in Italian, Hungarian and Slovenian to servethe regions accordingly.

Access to Higher EducationHE is provided by universities (there are three universities inSlovenia), faculties, art academies and professional colleges.There have been a number of changes in their legislation up to2003, to create single institutions from separate faculties.

Non-university HE offers technical/vocational programmes overtwo years, leading to a Diploma, distinct from the more academicuniversity levels. Entrance to university requires the Matura oran equivalent.

Universities offer professional or academic programmes.Professional programmes usually last three to four years,culminating in the Diploma, with the opportunity to progress tofurther degrees if desired.

Academic programmes last from four to six years and lead to theDiploma examination. A further year of study - the AbsolventskoLeto - enables students to achieve the full requirements for thefirst degree (dissertation).

The second stage of university is postgraduate study, leading toSpecializacija, Magisterij and Doktorat Znanosti.

SOUTH AFRICAEvaluation

Senior Certificates/Matriculation EndorsementStandard Grade: Acceptable at grades A - D in lieu of GCSE on asubject for subject basis.

Higher Grade: Acceptable at grades A - D in lieu of qualificationswidely used for entry to UK HE, eg GCE or SQA awards. Passes infive subjects at Higher Grade may satisfy general entryrequirements.


B 79 - 70

C 69 - 60

D 59 - 50 minimum acceptable

E 49 - 40

F 39 - 34

FF 33 - 30

The official pass mark in most Higher Grade subjects is 40% andin all second language Higher Grade and Standard Grade subjects

33.3%. The mean mark in any subject is usually about 55. Only asmall proportion of candidates score an A in any subject (fromas little as 2% to a maximum of about 10% in subjects taken byhighly select groups). A further 8 - 15% are likely to gain a B andabout 20 - 25% achieve a C grade. The Senior Certificate is agroup certificate and records an aggregate mark. (See also Accessto Higher Education below.)

Education SystemFollowing from the new constitution of 1996, the Department ofEducation has the responsibility for all general educationalpolicy to be implemented by nine provincial educationdepartments and two independent providers. Nine years ofcompulsory education constitute the general education andtraining phase and, from November 2006, it is expected to becertified as the General Education and Training Certificate(GETC) on successful completion. This phase is followed bythree years of non-compulsory senior secondary educationleading to examinations for a Senior Certificate at the end ofGrade 12. The Senior Certificate will be replaced by the FurtherEducation and Training Certificate (FETC) probably phasing infrom Grade 10 from January 2006. It is expected that the lastsenior certificate examination will be concluded in 2007 and thefirst FETC will be conducted in 2008. The whole system is in theprocess of major change. A specific GETC for adult learners hasbeen developed for award from 2002. A statutory body, theGeneral and Further Education and Training Quality Assurer(known as Umalusi) is responsible for quality assuring the GETCand FETC. While the FETC is still being planned, the SeniorCertificate remains in place. Currently the various SeniorCertificates involve a minimum of six subjects selected from sixdifferent groups, of which two official languages are compulsory.Subjects may be taken at either Higher or Standard Grade or atN3 level for the National Senior Certificate, a vocationalqualification. The Senior Certificate indicates an aggregate bandcalculated out of 1,800 without endorsement or out of 2,100 forendorsement on the basis of six subjects. For a Senior Certificateto be awarded, a candidate must achieve an aggregate of 720marks (approximately 40%) and 950 marks for universityadmissions and endorsement (approximately 45%). As from 2001,senior certificates are awarded with distinction (1,680+ marks)and merit (1,260+ marks). A relatively small percentage ofcandidates, 2.9%, obtained their certificates with distinction anda further 12.9% with merit in the November 2003 examination.For the numerus clausus degree programmes, an aggregate of1,440 would as a rule qualify the holder for university admission.

Access to Higher EducationThe certification of the minimum requirement for admission touniversity in South Africa was administered from 1992 by theSouth African Certification Council (SAFCERT), which validatedthe various Senior Certificates. SAFCERT has recently beenreplaced by Umalusi. Umalusi also awards a matriculationendorsement, provided the candidate meets certain specificministerially approved minimum requirements determined bythe South African Universities’ Vice-Chancellors’ Association(SAUVCA, statutorily known as the Committee of UniversityPrincipals (CUP)) through its substructure known as theMatriculation Board. These include passing in at least fivesubjects at one sitting with an average mark of 45% or better;having at least four of the subjects passed at the Higher Grade;and including passes in two official languages at the HigherGrade (of which one must be a university medium ofinstruction). The Matriculation Board of SAUVCA also issuescertificates of complete or conditional exemption from theendorsement requirement to candidates who qualify in terms ofministerially approved regulations. Individual institutions mayhave additional requirements and many set specific facultyrequirements. Different points systems are used by individualinstitutions, but a typical points system for admission awardsHigher Grade passes at A - E, 6 - 2 points and Standard Gradepasses 4 - 2 points. Institutions specify a minimum points score,over and above matriculation endorsement for admission. Theseminima will range from 23 to 33 on this scale. Other scales areused by various institutions. The Bachelor degree may be takenover three years’ specialisation, followed by a further year forhonours candidates.


SPAINEvaluation

Graduado en Educación Secundaria (GES)Acceptable in lieu of GCSE on a subject for subject basis (exceptEnglish Language).

Título de Bachiller (BACH)Acceptable at an average mark of 6 or better as a groupqualification satisfying general entrance requirements.

Grading System10 Distinction

9 Outstanding

8 and 7 Very Good

6 Good

5 Pass (allows access to Spanish universities)

Under 5 Fail

Subject marks are usually an average of three internalassessments. This average grade, expressed in words, as above,is shown on the certificate. The specialisation will be noted andalso a mean mark covering all subjects taken in the two years ofthe Bachillerato.

Education SystemThe Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport controls thegeneral policy, inspectorate, validation and curriculumdevelopment, but there is considerable devolution in detail to 17‘autonomous’ communities. The Graduado en EducaciónSecundaria is taken at the end of 10 years of compulsoryeducation (six years of primary and four years of secondary).This is at age 16. Pupils may then embark on a two-year courseleading to the Título de Bachiller. The Baccalaureate studies areorganised in three broad specialities (modalidades): arts;humanities and social studies; and natural science, health andtechnology. Pupils may also embark on a two-year vocationalcourse (different specialities) leading to the Título de Técnicode Grado Medio.

Access to Higher EducationHolders of the Título de Bachiller are qualified for admission touniversity in Spain, which effectively means that they canattempt the entrance examination (Selectividad), a group of sixor seven tests, set jointly by the universities of each autonomouscommunity. The final mark for university entry is made up of 40%from the Selectividad and 60% from the last two years at school.The Selectividad is not needed for Vocational Studies ofadvanced level, which can also be followed after the Bachillerand lead to a Técnico Superior degree after two years of study.The level of achievement in the Título de Bachiller and theSelectividad are prerequisistes to university entry. First degreestudies take three years and lead to the Título de Diplomado,Ingeniero Técnico or Arquitecto Técnico. Four, five or six yearsof study are required for the Título de Licenciado, the Título deArquitecto or the Título de Ingeniero.

SRI LANKAEvaluation

Sri Lanka Ordinary LevelAcceptable at credit and distinction levels in lieu of GCSE on asubject for subject basis (except English Language).

Sri Lanka Advanced LevelAcceptable at grades A, B and C in lieu of GCE A Level on asubject for subject basis.

Grading System

O Level100 - 75% D Distinction

74 - 50 C Credit

49 - 35 S Pass

34 - 0 F Fail

A Level100 - 75% A Distinction

74 - 65 B Very good pass

64 - 55 C Credit

54 - 40 S Ordinary pass

39 - 0 F Fail

Education SystemFive years of primary education and six years of secondaryeducation culminate in the Sri Lanka O Level. A two-yearcollegiate course leads to A Levels in four subjects. Sinhala andTamil are the media of instruction. English is taught as asecondary language from the fourth year of primary education,but is not compulsory.

Access to Higher EducationEntrance to university in Sri Lanka is at A Level standard for athree-year general or four-year honours degree. Candidates arerequired to have three A Level passes and a mark of not lessthan 25% in a fourth A Level subject. Professional courses tendto be taught in English, which is used also in the later stages ofmost other degrees.

SUDANEvaluation

Sudan School Certificate (SSC)Acceptable at 50% or better in lieu of GCSE on a subject forsubject basis (except English Language). Would need to besupplemented by Advanced GCE, a SQA Award or an equivalentqualification.


B 79 - 70

C 69 - 60

D 59 - 50

49 and below is a fail

The percentage is calculated from the four compulsory subjectsplus the three highest optional subjects.

Education SystemEducation in Sudan comprises eight years of basic education andthree years of secondary education. The three-year academicsecondary school course ends with the School Certificateexaminations. Certificates are awarded provided students havepasses in four compulsory subjects (Arabic, English,mathematics and Islamic or Christian religion), plus one or moreoptional subjects or three compulsory passes (including ArabicLanguage), plus two or more optional subjects. The third year ofsecondary education involves a choice between arts and sciencestreams. The medium of instruction is Arabic, but Englishlanguage is compulsory from the beginning of secondaryeducation and is widely used for secondary teaching in the southof the country.

Access to Higher EducationPasses at 60% in the SSC examinations qualify candidates forentry to a four-year general degree in Sudan, althoughprestigious institutions require higher marks (70 - 80%),especially in competitive areas such as medicine where 88% isrequired. The National Council of Higher Education is thegovernment body responsible for HE.


SWEDENEvaluation

Slutbetyg från GrundskolaAcceptable at grade G or better in lieu of GCSE on a subject forsubject basis (except English Language).

Fullständigt Slutbetyg från Gymnasieskolan

Slutbetyg från KomvuxAcceptable as a group qualifications satisfying general entrancerequirements, provided three years at upper secondary schoolcompleted.

Grading System

Slutbetyg från GrundskolaThe 5 (maximum) ... 1 system was previously used in theSlutbetyg från Grundskola, but a new grading system wasintroduced in 1997. Grades are criteria-related and a top grade ofMVG (Excellent) is given only when there is an indication ofexceptional results.

Mycket väl godkänd MVG Excellent

Väl godkänd VG Very Good

Godkänd G Pass

Icke Godkänd IG Fail

Education SystemAfter a nine-year compulsory course of comprehensiveeducation, with English introduced in grade 3, 90% of all pupilsproceed to upper secondary school (gymnasium), having chosento pursue one of the 16 national programmes available. Two ofthe programmes - natural science and social science - focus moreon university entrance. There are no formal external schoolleaving examinations. The Slutbetyg från Gymnasieskolan(school leaving certificate), awarded usually after three years ata gymnasium, gives a mark in each course, including compulsoryand optional courses. A subject can include several courses.Courses are judged by continuous internal assessment with thesyllabuses and criteria for the various grades defined nationally.The certificate will specify the programme undertaken: F forcompleted, U for extended or R for reduced. The document willalso show the points required for the particular programme andthe points achieved by the candidate (Elevens studieplan). Aschool leaving certificate (Slutbetyg Fullständigt programme)requires at least 2,150 points. Slutbetyg från Komvux (localgovernmental administrated adult education) requires 1,970points. New regulations for upper secondary school in Swedenare changing the points system with the new Slutbetyg beingissued from 2003. A points total of 2,500 will be required and thesubject courses will be altered to 50-, 100- or 150-point courses.

Access to Higher EducationProvided pupils have Fullständigt Slutbetyg with pass in at least90% of the courses and they fulfil the general requirements inSwedish and English, they qualify, in theory, for universityadmission in Sweden. In practice, high marks are needed andspecific requirements must also be satisfied for someprogrammes. Competition is usually keen and a numerus claususoperates for all study programmes. A general first degree,Kandidat, is achieved by accumulating credit points (120, with atleast 60 in one subject) and takes three years (180 ECTS points).

SWITZERLANDEvaluation

Eidgenossisch Anerkanntes KantonalesMaturitätszeugnis

Certificat de Maturité Cantonal Reconnu Par LaConfédération

Attestato di Maturità Cantonale Riconosciuta par laConfederazione

Maturitätszeugnis; Certificat de Maturité (Baccalauréatin Vaud Canton)

Attestato di MaturitàAcceptable as group qualifications satisfying general entrancerequirements.

Grading System

6 (maximum), 5, 4: satisfactory

3, 2, 1: insufficient

A Federal Maturity Certificate involves examination in ninesubjects, of which seven are compulsory. One assessment is anindependent research paper. Compensation betweenassessments is permitted, but there must be no more than threegrades below 4. A candidate is allowed two attempts to achieve amaturity certificate.

Education SystemConsiderable educational autonomy rests with the 26 cantons.Systems thus vary in many quite basic respects, especiallybetween cantons in different linguistic regions. There is,however, considerable agreement upon nine years of compulsoryeducation followed by three or four years of upper-secondaryeducation leading to the school leaving qualification, a CantonalMaturity Certificate and/or a Federal Maturity Certificate, thename identifying the first language as German, French or Italian,as noted above. The structure and duration of schooling up tomaturity certificate varies from canton to canton, but it must beof at least 12 years’ duration.

Access to Higher EducationThe Cantonal Maturity Certificate is the basic qualification foruniversity admission. Most such certificates are specificallyendorsed as ‘federally recognised’; those which are not are oftenspecialised (eg artistic or pedagogic) and have uncertaincurrency, especially outside the specific canton. A Federallyrecognised Maturity Certificate is required for entry to medicine,dentistry, veterinary medicine and pharmacy. There is a numerusclausus for studies in medicine and veterinary medicine. Thefirst degree, Diploma/Licentiate, is obtained after a minimum offour years.

At present, all Swiss universities are in the process ofintroducing Bachelors and Masters degrees in order to bringtheir system into line with the Bologna Declaration.

SYRIAEvaluation

Al Shahada Al Thanawiya/Baccalaureat (SecondarySchool Leaving Certificate)Acceptable at 60% or better in lieu of GCSE on a subject forsubject basis (except English Language). Would need to besupplemented by GCE A Levels, Scottish Highers or AdvancedHighers, or a bridging course.

Grading System

Literary stream: 240 (maximum) ... 102 (minimum pass)

Scientific stream: 260 (maximum) ... 104 (minimum pass)

Education SystemSix years of primary education and three years of preparatoryeducation lead, on the basis of a selection examination, to athree-year course, at the end of which, pupils take the SecondarySchool Leaving Certificate. The first year of the secondarycourse is general and a choice must then be made betweenliterary and scientific streams. Arabic is the medium ofinstruction.

Access to Higher EducationUniversity admission in Syria is on the basis of the SecondarySchool Leaving Certificate. First degrees are of four to six yearsin length.


TAIWANEvaluation

Senior High School DiplomaAcceptable at grade C or better in lieu of GCSE on a subject forsubject basis (except English Language). Would need to besupplemented by GCE A Levels, Scottish Highers or AdvancedHighers, or a bridging course.


B 79 - 70

C 69 - 60

D 59 - 50

Education SystemA school system on the US model has six years of primaryeducation, three years of junior high school and three years ofsenior high school. The Senior High School Diploma may becompleted in Year 12 and the award requires marks of 60 orabove in all prescribed subjects and a total of 196 credits fromthe three years of senior high school. Chinese is the medium ofinstruction but English is a compulsory subject from Grade 5onwards.

Access to Higher EducationAdmission to a four-year general degree in Taiwan is primarily onthe basis of the Joint College Entrance Examination (JCEE) and ishighly competitive in some areas. Alternatives include a specialexamination for outstanding students recommended by highschools and the exemption from entrance examination of giftedstudents.

TANZANIAEvaluation

Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE)Acceptable at grade C or better in lieu of GCSE on a subject forsubject basis.

Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education (ACSE)Acceptable at grades A - E in lieu of GCE A Level on a subject forsubject basis.

See also Overseas Examinations of Awarding Bodies (AppendixA).

Grading SystemCSE A Excellent

B Very Good

C Good

D Satisfactory

F Fail

ACSE A Excellent

B Very Good

C Good

D Fair

E Satisfactory

S Basic/SubsidiaryPass

F Fail

Both the CSE and the ACSE are awarded as group certificates infour divisions.

Division I II III IV

CSE (2000) 2.52% 3.46% 9.96% 46.85%

CSE (2001) 2.84% 3.65% 11.81% 45.56%

ACSE (2000) 6.27% 17.80% 42.55% 21.57%

ACSE (2001) 7.40% 20.20% 38.05% 24.20%

Education SystemSeven years of primary education, in the medium of Kiswahili,leads to the Primary School Leaving Certificate. This is aprerequisite for secondary education in which the medium ofinstruction is English. The Certificate of Secondary Education(CSE) is taken after four years. Fifty percent of the marks arederived from continuous assessment carried out by the schools.Successful candidates proceed to a two-year programmeterminating in the Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education(ACSE).

Access to Higher EducationMinimum entrance requirements to first degree courses inTanzania are:

• CSE (or equivalent) with passes in five appropriate subjectsobtained prior to the sitting of the ACSE (or equivalent) andtwo principal level passes in appropriate subjects at thesame sitting with total points not below 5 based on thefollowing scale A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, E=1, F=0; or

• two principal level passes (in appropriate subjects) not atthe same sitting, provided they are both of grade C or above;or

• an appropriate equivalent Diploma/Certificate of not lessthan second class/credit level and approved by the Senate.

THAILANDEvaluation

Mathayom Suksa 6 (M6)Acceptable at grade 1 or better in lieu of GCSE on a subject forsubject basis (except English Language). Would need to besupplemented by GCE A Levels, Scottish Highers or AdvancedHighers, or a bridging course.

Grading System

M64 excellent

3 good

2 fair

1 pass

0 fail

Education SystemThe educational system in Thailand is undergoing major reform.Previous to 2002, the school system followed a six-year primary,three-year lower secondary and three-year upper secondarystructure, the first nine years being compulsory. At uppersecondary level, schools were divided into two streams, generaland vocational. Students in the general stream follow acurriculum that includes 30 units of compulsory subjects and atleast 45 units of elective subjects. At the end of upper secondaryschool, pupils sit for the Higher Secondary School Certificate(Mathayom Suksa 6). Following reform, the system will bedivided into four key stages: primary education grades 1 - 3;primary education grades 4 - 6; secondary education grades 7 - 9;and secondary education grades 10 - 12. The first nine years willremain compulsory. There will be a new emphasis on vocationalqualifications, with which students can either enter theworkforce or continue to HE.

Access to Higher EducationPrior to the reforms, admission to a four-year degree at mostuniversities in Thailand required an M6 certificate, with a pass inthree main subjects (including Thai language and Englishlanguage) and a pass in a highly competitive common writtenentrance examination, administered by the Ministry of UniversityAffairs. The entrance examination is taken in two sections: aspecialised subject and a general paper. There are two entranceexamination sittings each academic year, in October and inMarch. Some specialised subjects are not included in the March


sittings (including Thai music performance, international musicperformance and architecture skills). For 2004, 25% of the GradePoint Average in the M4, M5 and M6 examinations was includedin the total grade of the entrance examination. However, someinstitutions, particularly private universities, have additional orseparate entrance procedures which involve examinations andinterviews.

Following the reforms, students can progress from vocational aswell as academic routes. Three programmes of HE will beoffered: Academic (for general secondary education graduates tostudy at Bachelor, Master and Doctorate levels); Professional(for general secondary education graduates to study at Bachelorand Graduate Diploma level, and which emphasises such subjectareas as Health and Medical Science); and Technology (for bothgeneral and vocational secondary school graduates to study atDiploma or Bachelor level, and which is aimed at producingtechnicians).

TUNISIAEvaluation

BaccalauréatAcceptable as a group qualification satisfying general entrancerequirements provided that an overall grade of at least ‘assezbien’ has been achieved.


15 - 14 bien (good)


11 - 10 passable (pass)


Education SystemNine years of compulsory basic education (école de base) maybe followed by four years of more advanced and specialisedstudy leading to the Baccalauréat examinations. For the finalthree year period, a choice is made to specialise in Lettres,Sciences Mathématiques, Mathématiques Techniques, SciencesExperimentales or Sciences Economiques. The medium ofinstruction is Arabic for literature and human sciences, whileFrench is used for scientific subjects.

Access to Higher EducationThe Baccalauréat is the basis of admission to a four-year firstdegree (Maîtrise) in Tunisia. Arabic and French are the media ofinstruction at university level.

TURKEYEvaluation

Devlet Teknik Lise Diplomasi (State Technical four-yearHigh School Diploma)

Devlet Meslek Lise Diplomasi (State Vocational HighSchool Diploma)Considered to be between BTEC First Diploma and BTECNational Diploma and of similar standard to State High SchoolDiploma. Caution should be taken as these diplomas may be lesssuitable as a preparation for academic study.

Devlet Lise Diplomasi (State High School Diploma)

Lise Bitirme Diplomasi (Private High School Diploma)Considered to be at a standard of at least GCSE level. Studentswith an overall average of four (under the new system, or eightunder the old system) satisfy the general entrance requirementof some British HEIs.

Grading System100 - 85% 5 A (very good)

84 - 70 4 B (good)

69 - 55 3 C (average)

54 - 45 2 D (pass)

44 - 0 1 E (fail)

Education SystemEducation is compulsory from the age of six. Eight years of‘basic’ education allows entry to secondary education whichcovers general (three years), vocational (three years) ortechnical education (four years). Three-year courses lead to theLise Diplomasi and four-year courses to the Devlet LiseDiplomasi. In the second year of secondary education, studentscan choose to specialise in natural sciences, literature andmathematics, the social sciences, foreign languages, art orphysical education. The Lise Diplomasi is awarded locally on thebasis of a wide range of assessments, including written and oralexaminations, homework and extra-mural activities. Vocationalsecondary school prepares students for entry into a professionor HE.

Access to Higher EducationAdmission to HE is centralised and based on Lise Diplomasi anda Student Selection Examination (OSS). A minimum score of 120qualifies a student for entry to four-year undergraduateprogrammes and a score of 105 -119 qualifies a student for two-year HE programmes. The OSS is made up of one verbal and onequantitative ability test. The two-year programmes lead to theaward of Onlisans Derecesi/Diploma (pre-licentiate or AssociateDegree); the four-year programmes to the award of a LisansDiploma. Entry is highly competitive. Applicants may express apreference, but both the institution and the course offereddepend upon the results of the entrance examination. There isparticular pressure for places in engineering, medicine,economics and business-related courses.

UGANDAEvaluation

Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE)Acceptable at grades 1 - 6 in lieu of GCSE on a subject for subjectbasis.

Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE)Acceptable at grades A - E in lieu of GCE A Level on a subject forsubject basis.

Grading System

UCE1, 2 distinction


7, 8 pass

9 fail

UACEA - E pass

F fail

In nine high-entry subjects at A Level, in recent years, an averageof 0.8% of the candidates achieved grade A and an average of11.7% were awarded grades A - C. (The Uganda NationalExaminations Board suggests that candidates who take UACEand also University of London A Levels achieve comparableresults, especially in science and mathematics.)

Education SystemAfter seven years of schooling, at about age 14, the PrimaryLeaving Examination serves as a qualifying test for post-primaryinstitutions. Four years of lower secondary education leads tothe UCE examination in not less than eight subjects, which mustinclude English. UCE results are the basis of selection foradvanced secondary education. The UACE is taken after a


further two years in at least three subjects and a General Paper.English is the medium of instruction throughout the educationalsystem.

Access to Higher EducationAdmission to a three-year degree course in Uganda wouldusually involve a minimum requirement of six UCE and two UACEpasses.

UKRAINEEvaluation

Atestat pro Povnu Zagal’nu Sersdniu Osvitu (Certificateof Complete General Secondary Education)Acceptable in lieu of GCSE on a subject for subject basis (exceptEnglish Language). Would need to be supplemented by GCE ALevels, Scottish Highers or Advanced Highers, or a bridgingcourse.


4 good

3 satisfactory

2 unsatisfactory

Education SystemFollowing independence in 1991, the Ukraine has pursuededucational reforms which it is anticipated will lead to adecentralised and distinctive system by 2005. At present, nineyears of compulsory school education may be followed,currently by about one-half of the year-group, by usually twoyears (grades 10 and 11) in an upper school, although someschools have an additional year (grade 12). At the end of theupper school course, the Atestat is taken.

Access to Higher EducationAdmission to HEIs in the Ukraine, which have as yet been lessobviously reformed from the Soviet model than the schools, ison the basis of the Certificate of Complete General SecondaryEducation and highly competitive entrance examinations andinterviews. Two systems currently co-exist. The first is theDyplom, which is usually completed, depending upon theinstitution and the subject specialisation, in four to six years.The second, which was more recently introduced, offers severaldegree levels.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES(Abu Dhabi; Ajman; Dubai; Fujairah; Ras al-Khaimah; Sharjah;Umm al Qaiwain)

Evaluation

Tawjihiyya (Secondary School Certificate)Acceptable at 70% or better in lieu of GCSE on a subject forsubject basis (except English Language). Would need to besupplemented by GCE A Levels, Scottish Highers or AdvancedHighers, or a bridging course. Dependent on the syllabus offered,HEIs may consider that the depth of study involved approachesGCE A Level standard on a subject for subject basis.

Grading SystemThe maximum score available in each subject is shown on theSchool Certificate and varies according to the subject’s weightingin calculating the overall assessment of the award.

Education SystemAfter six years of primary education, a selection examinationadmits to three years of preparatory education and three yearsof secondary education, ending in examinations for theSecondary School Certificate. Since 1998, a 20-year reformprogramme, called Vision 2020, has been embarked upon underwhich there may be reforms to the structure of the schoolsystem. Arabic is the medium of instruction.

Access to Higher EducationUniversity admission in the United Arab Emirates is on the basisof the Secondary School Certificate with an overall average markof 60 - 80% depending upon the course of study. Some coursesmay also require an interview. The Bachelor degree is awardedon the basis of credit units in a semester system and wouldcommonly be of four years in length.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICAEvaluation

High School Graduation DiplomaOn its own, at a minimum, can be considered acceptable in lieuof GCSE (grades A, B, C) provided an average grade C is obtainedin subjects which have counterparts in the GCSE syllabus (seeEducation System below).

College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) TestsMinimum of 550 in both verbal and mathematical elements of theSAT I and a minimum of 550 in any subject-specific SAT II taken isregarded as satisfying general entrance requirements.

Advanced Placement Tests (AP)Grades of 3 and above in at least two, and preferably three,subjects are regarded as satisfying general entrancerequirements. In general, the standard of the AP Tests is aboutGCE AS level or a SQA Award grade.

Associate DegreeSatisfies the general entrance requirement for British HEIs. Maybe given advanced standing by institutions.

Grading System

CEEB SAT Tests800 - 700 exceptional

699 - 600 high

599 - 480 above average

479 - 420 average

419 - 200 generally unacceptable

AP Tests5 extremely well qualified

4 well qualified

3 qualified

2 possibly qualified

1 no recommendation

Education SystemEducation has no national structure, curriculum, governing lawor Ministry of Education in the United States. Education is theresponsibility of the individual states and the educationalstructure varies, notably in primary and middle school. The mostcommon structure includes four years of high school with a totalof twelve years overall. The High School Graduation Diploma isawarded on the basis of satisfactory completion of requiredcoursework with an average of grade C or better. The individualsubjects of the Diploma are graded A (excellent) - B - C - D (pass)- F (fail). High School Diplomas are based on internal assessmentwith no standardisation, but may be regarded as providing usefulsupplementary evidence for purposes of admission to HEcourses in the UK. If requested by the pupil, a school will supplya transcript; this gives an indication of the kind of high schoolattended, the level of courses taken and of grades achieved.

The majority of schools also permit students to participate in theAdvanced Placement programme of the College Board. Thisprogramme allows students to take college-level introductorycourses in selected subjects. Examinations are offered in eachsubject at the end of an academic subject. Achieving Grade 3 orabove in a subject can result in universities offering advancedstanding in that subject.


Access to Higher EducationIn addition to the High School Diploma, many universities in theUSA require the SAT I and SAT II for entry to the first year of abroadly-based four-year degree. Universities of high standingwould expect Honours and College Preparatory courses to betaken in high school; they would expect a combined SAT score ofaround 1,300 or above for entrance.

Candidates taking AP Tests who obtain scores of 3 or above inthe prescribed number of subjects (usually three or four) may beplaced in the second-year course for a given subject atuniversity/college. However, for this purpose, the moreprestigious institutions require scores of 4 or above.

The Associate Degree is the first award which can be made aftersecondary education. Holders of this qualification may apply toBachelors degree programmes in the United States, but notpostgraduate programmes.

UZBEKISTANEvaluation

Attestat o srednem obrazovanii (Certificate ofSecondary Education)Acceptable in lieu of GCSE on a subject for subject basis (exceptEnglish Language).

Grading System100 - 86 % Excellent

85 - 71 Good

70 - 56 Satisfactory

55 or less Unsatisfactory

Education SystemFour years of primary education is followed by five years oflower secondary and a further two years in a specialisedacademic secondary school or a professional college. Uzbek isthe medium of instruction in the majority of schools, althoughRussian is still widely used. English has replaced Russian as theforeign language of choice for most students. There is a widerange of HE institutions in Uzbekistan, although those locatedoutside the capital are generally more poorly resourced.

Access to Higher EducationOn completion of their secondary education, students sit anationally administered multiple-choice examination for entryinto HE. Application can be made to only one university in agiven year. A pass mark is set by each university and studentsachieving this are eligible for government scholarships.Increasing numbers of fee-paying or ‘contract’ students are alsobeing accepted.

VENEZUELAEvaluation

Bachillerato

Título de BachillerComparable to GCSE standard (grades A, B, C) on a subject forsubject basis (except English Language).

Técnico MedioComparable to BTEC First Diploma standard.

Técnico SuperiorConsidered comparable to BTEC National Diploma standard.

Grading SystemThe grading is on a scale of 20 - 1, with 10 as the minimum passmark.

The academic year is divided into three or more periods. Gradesare given for each period. At the end of the year the grades areaveraged to form a previa grade.

Education SystemThere are nine years of basic compulsory education combiningprimary and secondary from the age of 6 to 14. At secondary level(age 14 to 16), students can choose diversified secondary and trainfor the Bachillerato in science, arts and/or humanities; or they cantrain for the Técnico Medio at an Educacion Media Profesional.Studies are divided into industrial husbandry, commercial andhealth sectors. The medium of instruction is Spanish.

Access to Higher EducationAdmission to university level and non-university level studies(technical/vocational type) requires students to have obtainedthe Bachillerato with the minimum mark of 10, and sit the Pruebade Apitúd Académica aptitude test.

VIETNAMEvaluation

Lower Secondary SchoolGenerally considered to be below the standard of GCSE.

Tot Nghiep Pho Thong Trung Hoc (Upper SecondarySchool Graduation Certificate)Considered to be between GCSE and A Level standard.

Grading System10 - 9 Uu/xuat sac Excellent/Outstanding

8 - 7 Kha Good

6 - 5 Trung binh Average

Less than 5 Khong Fail

Education SystemThe system comprises 12 grades of which the first five are, inprinciple, compulsory. The language of instruction is Vietnamese,although some ethnic minority students receive pre-school andprimary instruction in their own language while learningVietnamese.

Upper school - on completion of a nine-year basic education,pupils can either continue their studies at upper secondaryschool or move to vocational training. Upper secondaryeducation lasts three years, covering Grades 10 - 12. Uppersecondary schools admit those who have completed basiceducation and prepare pupils for further education. The syllabusat upper secondary schools is a continuation of that at the basiceducation schools. Examinations are taken at the end of eachterm. On successful completion of upper secondary schooleducation, pupils are awarded the Bang Tot Nghiep Pho ThongTrung Hoc (Upper Secondary School Graduation Certificate).

Vocational schools offer courses to both lower secondaryleavers (grade 9) and the upper secondary leavers (grade12).Primary graduates must study for two to three years to completethe programme, while secondary graduates may only need oneto two years. There are currently three separate strands ofvocational training and technical education: SecondaryVocational Education (three to four years); Secondary TechnicalEducation (two-and-a-half to four years); Vocational Training (sixmonths to two years). Secondary vocational schools specialise inagriculture, construction, industry, trade and services, cultureand arts or transport and communications.

Secondary Technical Schools aim to produce middle leveltechnicians. They admit graduates of lower secondary or uppersecondary education, for three to three-and-a-half or two to two-and-a-half years respectively. Graduates from some programmesmay apply for HE and be exempt from the first year of a degreecourse. Vietnam has an arcane and little used system of vocationalclassification that rates students at skill levels from 1 (lowest) to 7(highest); skilled students and technicians are at grade 3 and 4.There is no systematic vocational qualification system.

Access to Higher EducationAdmission is made on the basis of completed upper secondaryeducation and a national entrance examination. Post-schooleducation is provided by universities, teacher training colleges,teacher training institutes and colleges. There are also some


“community founded” (or “people founded”) universities offeringHE.

Associate Degree (Cao Dang): this is the first university-levelqualification awarded after three years of study. The Tot NghiepDai Hoc (Degree) is comparable to a British Bachelor (Honours)degree and is awarded after four to six years of study.

WEST INDIES/CARIBBEANIn this context, the West Indies is taken to be the followingEnglish-speaking Caribbean Commonwealth territories whichhave a considerable measure of shared educational tradition andpractice:

Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize,Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana,Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts/Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and theGrenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands.

Evaluation

Caribbean Examinations Council, Caribbean SecondaryEducation Certificate (CSEC)Acceptable at the General or Technical Proficiency levels on asubject for subject basis in lieu of GCSE, provided that grade IIIor better has been achieved. Would require to be supplementedby Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE), GCE ALevels, Scottish Highers or Advanced Highers, or a bridgingcourse.

Caribbean Examinations Council, Caribbean AdvancedProficiency Examination (CAPE)Acceptable at the two-unit level in lieu of GCE A Levels on asubject for subject basis.

Overseas Examinations of UK Awarding BodiesSome prospective candidates for HE in the UK will have preparedon the basis of GCSE and A Level examinations (see Appendix A).

Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education(BGCSE)Acceptable at grade C or better in lieu of GCSE on a subject forsubject basis. Would require to be supplemented by GCE ALevels, Scottish Highers or Advanced Highers, or a bridgingcourse.

College of the Bahamas Associate Degree ProgrammeAcceptable as a group qualification satisfying general entrancerequirements.

Barbados Community College Associate DegreeProgrammeAcceptable as a group qualification satisfying general entrancerequirements.

Bermuda Secondary School Certificate (BSSC)Acceptable in lieu of GCSE on a subject for subject basis,provided that a grade-point average of 2.0 has been achieved.Would require to be supplemented by GCE A Levels, ScottishHighers or Advanced Highers, or a bridging course.

Bermuda College University Transfer Programme(Diploma in Arts and Science)Acceptable as a group qualification satisfying general entrancerequirements.

Grading System

CSECI, II, III (minimum acceptable) ... VI

There is no pass/fail mark.

CAPEI Excellent

II Very Good

III Good

IV Satisfactory

V Acceptable

VI Limited

VII Very Limited

BGCSESeven grades, A - G

College of the Bahamas Associate Degree4.00 - 3.45 Distinction

3.44 - 2.85 Credit

2.84 - 2.00 Pass

Barbados Community College Associate DegreeLetter Mark Definition Grade Point

A* 100 - 90 Exceptional

A 89 - 80 Excellent 4.0

B+ 79 - 75 Very Good 3.5

B 74 - 70 Good 3.0

C+ 69 - 65 Fairly Good 2.5

C 64 - 60 Satisfactory 2.0

D 59 - 50 Passing 1.0

F 49 - 00 Failing 0.0

BSSCA 4.0 outstanding

B 3.0 very good

C 2.0 good

D 1.0 satisfactory

E 0.0 unsatisfactory

Bermuda College University Transfer Programme(Diploma in Arts and Science)

Individual subjects:

A Excellent 4.0

B Good 3.0

C Satisfactory 2.0

D Pass 1.0

E Fail

Overall classification: Grade Point Average (GPA): 3.50 minimumaward for Distinction, 3.00 minimum for Merit, 1.50 minimum forDiploma

Education SystemAlthough there are local variations, the common structurethroughout the West Indies/Caribbean is six years of primaryeducation followed by five years of secondary education leadingto the Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary EducationCertificate (CSEC) or to GCSE or their equivalent. A further oneto two years may lead to the Caribbean Advanced ProficiencyExamination (CAPE) and two years may lead to A Levels of UKAwarding Bodies.

CAPE was first administered in May/June 1998, by the CaribbeanExaminations Council (CXC). CAPE syllabuses are structured asone- or two-unit courses. A one-unit course consists of threemodules, 150 credit hours, that include contact time and timespent on projects and other assignments. The unit is based oncontent, knowledge and skills drawn from specific subject areas.A two-unit course consists of two one-unit courses designed tocover a well defined subject area and to contain the core contentof the A Level and additional content considered to be relevantto the needs of the region in a global environment. Each unit isseparately examined and certified by internal and externalexaminations. English is the medium of instruction throughoutthe West Indies/Caribbean educational system.

Access to Higher EducationThe University of the West Indies, which has campuses inBarbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, and the Universityof Guyana admit to a three-year degree on the basis of at leastsix CAPE units, including two one-unit courses, CaribbeanStudies and Communication Studies, or two two-unit courses in a


single area. They also admit on the basis of at least two GCE ALevel and three GCSE/CSEC passes.

Alternatively, entry may be on the basis of five GCSE/CSECpasses into a four-year degree, beginning with a preliminary year.Qualifications gained are BSc; BA; MSc; MA; (Honours andOrdinary); Doctorate.

The United Kingdom National Academic Recognition InformationCentre (UK NARIC) has advised UK universities that six CAPEunits will be accepted. As universities in Canada and the UnitedStates accept students on the basis of the CSEC, CXC isdiscussing with these institutions the award of credits andadvanced standing to persons with CAPE certification.

YUGOSLAVIA (SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO)

Evaluation

Secondary School Leaving DiplomaAcceptable as a group qualification satisfying general entrancerequirements.

Grading System


Education SystemIn Serbia and Montenegro, primary education encompasses theeight years of compulsory education, usually between the agesof seven and 15. A foreign language, which could be English, maybe introduced as early as the third year, notably in Belgrade, anda second foreign language may be taken in year five. Four yearsof secondary education allows some specialisation andinvariably includes a vocational element. The award of theDiploma is based on assessments throughout secondary school.The medium of instruction is Serbian.

Access to Higher EducationThe Secondary School Leaving Certificate is the basic requirementfor admission to HE in Yugoslavia. Students with a highvocational/technical content have restricted currency and mayhave to sit entrance examinations. In any event, some institutionsoperate a numerus clausus. Two to three years of study may leadto the Diploma Viseg Obrazovanje (Diploma of Higher Education)and four to six years of study to a full degree, the Diplom VisokogObrazovanja (Advanced Diploma of Higher Education).

ZAMBIAEvaluation

Zambia School CertificateAcceptable at grades 1 - 6 in lieu of GCSE on a subject for subjectbasis. Would need to be supplemented by GCE A Levels, ScottishHighers or Advanced Highers, or a bridging course.


Grading System1, 2 Distinction

3, 4 Merit

5, 6 Credit/minimum acceptableperformance level formerlyrequired for a GCE O level pass

7, 8 Satisfactory

9 Unsatisfactory

Grade boundaries are fixed for each examination session by anAwards Committee based on the examiners’ recommendations,background information about the candidates and performancestatistics. The grade boundaries will, therefore, vary fromsubject to subject and, within a subject, from year to year.

Education SystemThe medium of instruction is English. There are seven years ofprimary education, two years of junior secondary education andthree years of senior secondary education culminating in the jointexamination for the Zambia School Certificate and GeneralCertificate of Education (Ordinary Level). All the requirements forthe School Certificate must be satisfied at the same examinationsitting. To qualify for the award of a School Certificate, acandidate must reach a satisfactory general standard as judgedby their best performance in six subjects and either:

• pass in six subjects (including English Language) with creditor better in at least one of these; or

• pass in five subjects (including English Language) with creditor better in at least two of these.

Candidates who do not meet the requirements for the award of aSchool Certificate are awarded a General Certificate of Educationin the subjects in which they attain grade 8 or above. TheZambia School Certificate is equivalent to the School Certificateformerly issued by the University of Cambridge LocalExaminations Syndicate to candidates in Zambia. TheExaminations Council of Zambia does not offer A Levelexaminations but it is possible for students to prepare for ALevels of a UK Awarding Body.


Access to Higher EducationMost degree programmes last for four years, except forengineering and veterinary medicine which take five years, andthe degree in medicine which takes seven years. Admission touniversity degree programmes is on the basis of a minimum offive passes at credit level in the joint School Certificate andGeneral Certificate of Education examinations. Entrants with GCEA Level passes in relevant subjects may be given exemption fromthe first year of university courses.

ZIMBABWEEvaluation

Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE)Ordinary Level pass acceptable at grade C or better in lieu of GCSE.

Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education (ACSE)Acceptable at Grades A - E in lieu of GCE A Level on a subject forsubject basis.

Education SystemPreviously, a system of O and A Levels was administered byCambridge International Examinations (CIE). Responsibility for OLevels was localised in November 1999, and A Levels inNovember 2002. The examination system is now organised bythe Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC).

The school system is made up of seven years of primaryeducation for ages six to 13. After four years of lower secondaryschool, pupils attain CSEs, and after a further two years, theyattain ASCEs. The language of instruction throughout the schoolsystem is English.

National examinations are held in Grade 7, followed byprogression to lower secondary school. In Form 2 of secondaryschool, students take the Zimbabwe Junior Certificate. CSEs aretaken in Form 4 at the end of lower secondary education.Students are required to achieve at least five passes at CSE inorder to progress to upper secondary school. ACSEs are taken atthe end of Form 6.

Access to Higher EducationAdmission for three- and four-year degrees is based on five CSEpasses and three ACSE passes in relevant subjects. A relevantHigher National Diploma may also be considered. Entry intouniversities is highly competitive. Admission to polytechnics andteacher training colleges is based on five CSE passes, includingEnglish Language.



APPENDIX A – OVERSEAS EXAMINATIONS OF UK AWARDING BODIES

A number of UK Awarding Bodies offer examinations overseas,particularly in Commonwealth and former Commonwealthcountries. However, over the last 20 years, the administrativearrangements in many countries have changed to permit theparticipation of new indigenous Examination Boards (Councils)leading to a smaller presence of UK Awarding Bodies.Examinations are offered by the Assessment and QualificationsAlliance (AQA) (formerly the Associated Examining Board andNorthern Examination and Assessment Board), EdexcelInternational (formerly the University of London Examinationsand Assessment Council and BTEC), Cambridge InternationalExaminations (CIE) (formerly the University of Cambridge LocalExaminations Syndicate (UCLES)), NCC Education and TrinityCollege London.

International General Certificate of SecondaryEducation (IGCSE)/International Certificate ofEducation (ICE)/GCE Alternative Ordinary (AOLevel)

Acceptable at Grades A, B or C in lieu of GCSE on a subject forsubject basis.

IGCSE examinations can be taken in individual syllabuses and areassessed on a seven-point scale of grades: A-G. From 1994, therehas been an additional grade of A starred (A*) to reflect a levelof performance above grade A, and to reward outstandingachievement. If a student passes seven IGCSE examinations, fromparticular groupings, they will qualify for the InternationalCertificate of Education (ICE) Diploma. The Diploma is awardedat Distinction, Merit and Pass. Fuller information is availablefrom UCLES/CIE. Alternative Ordinary papers, designated AOlevel, are provided in many subjects and intended primarily forcandidates of greater maturity than is normally expected atOrdinary level.

Higher International General Certificate ofSecondary Education (HIGCSE)

The HIGCSE, an as yet restricted development, has a closeaffinity to the IGCSE, but involves a further year of study. Thecurriculum is essentially an extended IGCSE (core andsupplement), with additional content studied in greater depth.HIGCSE is graded 1 (high) to 4. Grades 1-3 have been acceptedfor undergraduate admission in the Republic of South Africa. Atpresent, this certificate is limited to southern Africa, notablyNamibia.

Advanced International Certificate of Education(AICE) Diploma

The AICE Diploma offers an international pre-universitycurriculum and examination system, which emphasises the valueof broad and balanced study for academically able students.

It is a Group Award that requires the study of subjects drawnfrom three curriculum areas (Mathematics and Science;Languages; and Arts and Humanities) plus the option of researchprojects. The AICE Diploma draws upon the full portfolio ofCambridge’s post-16 provision (A level, AS level and a smallerhalf-credit programme in Mathematics or English unique toAICE). The individual choice of subjects within these areas isintended to provide a flexible, comprehensive and integratedcurriculum programme.

A candidate needs to take and pass subjects equivalent to aminimum of six credits to obtain the AICE Diploma. The creditrating of counting qualifications is A Level = 2, AS Level = 1, AICEHalf Credit = 0.5 and Research Projects = 1.

The AICE Diploma is awarded on the basis of a points system, asshown in the following table.

Three levels of AICE Diploma are awarded: Pass, Merit andDistinction. Candidates scoring 320 points and above will beawarded a Distinction, 220-315 points a Merit and 120-215 pointsa Pass. Where a student takes more than the minimum number ofsubjects for the AICE Diploma, the best results which satisfy thesubject group requirements will count towards the award.

Cambridge International Examination (CIE):GCE Advanced and Advanced Subsidiary Level/Higher School Certificate (GCE A and AS Level)

Acceptable at grades A-E in lieu of UK GCE A and AS level on asubject for subject basis.

Cambridge Skills and Career Awards (CSCAs)

CSCAs assess the practical application of career-basedknowledge across a range of business-focused areas. AdvancedSkills and Career Awards are equivalent to A level, and StandardSkills and Career Awards are equivalent to GCSE.

The awards are modular in structure, and to achieve a full awardat a given level, candidates need to pass both the compulsorycore modules and the requisite number of optional modules.Assessment methods include written examinations andassignments, all externally assessed by Cambridge.

Awards satisfying university matriculation requirements in lieu ofA level are:

• Career Award in Business (Advanced Level);

• Career Award in Travel and Tourism (Advanced Level);

• Diploma in Computing.

Successful CSCA candidates are awarded two levels of certificate:Pass or Distinction, where Distinction level may be taken asperformance equivalent to the award of higher A level grades(Cambridge suggests an equivalence to 100 UCAS points orabove). Three types of certification can be awarded – Full Award,Core Module and Modular. Institutions are advised to accept onlythose applicants presenting a full Career Award.

The Career and Skills Awards in IT Skills and ICT are of a morepractical application, and candidates presenting thesequalifications can be considered to have fulfilled their IT KeySkills requirements.

AQA

AQA-approved centres overseas may prepare and enter theirinternal candidates for any AQA specification for which they canprovide the teaching and necessary supervision and/orassessment. The specifications and examinations offeredoverseas are the same as those offered in the UK and areavailable for GCSE, Advanced Subsidiary and A level GCE, andEntry Level. For specifications that include coursework, stafffrom the centre must attend an annual teacher standardisationmeeting held in the UK. AQA does not accept entries fromoverseas centres for VCE and GNVQ.

AQA does not accept entries for any of its examinations fromprivate candidates overseas; only the internal candidates ofoverseas centres may be entered by those centres.

Double Credit Full Credit Half CreditStudy Study StudyA Level AS Level AICE Half CreditGrade Points Grade Points Grade PointsA 120 A 60 A 30B 100 B 50 B 25C 80 C 40 C 20D 60 D 30 D 15E 40 E 20 E 10


Edexcel International

Candidates may enter for any of the following examinationsthrough an approved Edexcel International Centre, eitherthrough their school or through their local overseas authority(normally the British Council) as a private candidate.

A Level and Advanced Supplementary Level

Students are still able to sit A level examinations in Accounting,Ancient History, Law and Sinhala. All other subjects are availableas GCE Advanced and GCE Advanced Subsidiary examinations(see below). Pass grades are A-E.

GCE Advanced and GCE Advanced Subsidiary

These qualifications, now established around the world, areeither exactly the same as the UK specification or have analternative specifically designed for international students. Passgrades are A-E and are accepted by HEIs in the same way asthose taken by students in the UK.

General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)

The London Examinations GCSE is the same qualification as thattaken in the UK, and is popular with both expatriate and localstudents. These courses can only be followed at centresapproved by Edexcel International to offer GCSE qualifications,and as such, are not available to private candidates.

International General Certificate of SecondaryEducation (IGCSE)

Edexcel International is introducing a suite of IGCSEqualifications, which started with mathematics in 2004 and ICTavailable for examination from 2005. IGCSEs can be consideredacceptable at grades A*, A, B or C in lieu of GCSEs on a subjectfor subject basis.

BTEC National Certificates and Diplomas

BTEC National Certificates and Diplomas are unit-based awardswhich assess a student’s ability to apply knowledge andunderstanding to practical, real-life situations. Each unit isgraded Pass, Merit or Distinction and students must pass everyunit in order to achieve the award, although students who havenot completed the full suite of units are still eligible to transfercredits as appropriate.

BTEC National courses are accepted as equivalent to GCEAdvanced qualifications by UK HEIs, and as such, allow studentsto enter the first year of undergraduate programmes.

BTEC Higher National Certificates and Diplomas

BTEC Higher National Certificates and Diplomas are advancedunit-based awards, which assess a student’s ability to applyknowledge and understanding to practical, real-life situations.Each unit is graded Pass, Merit or Distinction and students mustpass every unit in order to achieve the award, although studentswho have not completed the full suite of units are still eligible totransfer credits as appropriate.

BTEC Higher National courses are accepted by many HEIs asequivalent to the first two years of study of a degree course.

Coverage

The following list comprises the more important countries, interms of the number of candidates, in which examinations of UKBoards are taken. Fuller information is available from the Boardsat the addresses given in Appendix G.

Bahamas Bangladesh Barbados Bermuda

Botswana Brunei Cyprus Egypt

Gambia Gibraltar Guyana Hong Kong

Jamaica Kenya Lesotho Malawi

Malaysia Malta Mauritius Pakistan

Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Swaziland

Tanzania Trinidad Zambia

NCC Education

NCC Education offers a wide range of flexible IT education andtraining qualifications for IT professionals, IT users, career-seekers, academics and management personnel. Thesequalifications are delivered through a global network of NCCEducation Approved Partners. NCC Education has trainingpartners in 40 countries and over 200,000 people worldwide areassessed annually to NCC Education’s standards. NCC Educationformulates its own academic syllabi for qualifications fromCertificate to Postgraduate Qualifications in consultation withindustry and academia. At first-degree level, NCC Educationworks directly with London Guildhall University and theUniversity of Portsmouth, and in collaboration with many otherUK universities.

Guaranteeing the Quality of NCC Education Qualifications

NCC Education ensures the integrity of its qualifications acrossthe world by utilising a number of key tools.

• The examination processes are all bound by a QualityAssurance system certified to ISO 9000 by Lloyds Register.

• Every qualification has its own Board of Examiners, whichguarantees and maintains the level of the qualification. Eachboard is made up of IT and academic professionals and eachboard member is external to NCC Education. Each boardmeets four times annually.

An academic board oversees the procedures exercised by theBoards of Examiners and Academic Quality Committees. Itexercises ultimate responsibility for NCC Educationqualifications and ratification of results of candidates inexaminations, and is made up of university and IT industryprofessors external to NCC Education. Any organisation wishingto offer NCC Education qualifications must meet the strictrequirements of the NCC Education quality assurance systemand quality control mechanisms.

• NCC Education does not franchise its qualifications – allpartner organisations must achieve Approved Partner status.

• NCC Education qualifications blend academic and vocationalelements so that graduates can choose to enter the ITindustry or continue their academic studies culminating inacademic degrees. There is a clearly defined pathwaythrough the qualifications.

• NCC Education employs a mixture of assessment styles, all ofwhich are attested by the quality assurance system. Thereare written examinations, which are set and marked in theUK, and candidates complete a major practical project. Thereis also assessment by practical assignment.

• NCC Education utilises examiners in the UK and employsregional moderators in each of the 40 countries in which itcurrently operates. The moderators visit and work with allNCC Approved Partners and provide regular feedback to NCCEducation on the quality of the education and trainingprovided by them.

• The quality assurance system guarantees that the level ofquality provided by an NCC Approved Partner is appropriate.


Trinity and Assessments in the Performing Arts

Trinity College London is an international examinations board,active in 50 countries, offering qualifications from introductoryto diploma level across the communicative and performing arts.

Trinity’s graded examinations in Music for 32 instruments coverkeyboard, strings, woodwind, brass, percussion and voice. Theyspan eight grades, plus a First Concert Certificate and an Initial‘taster’ examination, which assess performance and technicalskills from beginner to accomplished performer. Those who wishto go further can take a Performer’s Certificate and Associate,Licentiate and Fellowship Diplomas in music performance,composition, directing – including employment-relatedqualifications in all these areas – and in theory, classroomteaching and individual tutoring.

Trinity’s Drama and Speech syllabus goes well beyond thetraditional areas of elocution and public speaking to givestudents the widest choice from Drama, Musical Theatre andPerformance Arts to Speech and Effective Communication. Thereis even a sequence of examinations devoted solely toShakespeare. There are assessments for individuals, pairs orgroups, from beginner to Diploma level. Trinity provides theNational Diplomas and Certificates within the UK Government’sDance and Drama Awards Scheme for the highly talented.

The schemes of assessment for all these qualifications are basedupon a clearly defined syllabus of incremental standards and

repertoire (coupled with candidate choice). Wherever possible,the examiners go to the candidates’ own institutions or localities,enabling the candidates to perform at their best. Trinityexaminers are fully qualified and professionally active, and areobliged to attend training and standardisation events every year.

Trinity is officially recognised as an independent award-givingbody regulated by the UK Qualifications and CurriculumAuthority. Grade examinations in Music received formalaccreditation in September 2000, followed by Speech and Dramaexaminations; National Diplomas in Professional Dance, Actingand Stage Management; qualifications in spoken English forSpeakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Integrated Skills inEnglish; and examinations in Drama, Musical Theatre,Performance Arts, Speech and Effective Communication.

Trinity’s graded examinations span Entry to Advanced Level inthe UK National Qualifications Framework. Trinity diplomas areplaced at Levels 4 and 5. The full range extends from primaryeducation to postgraduate research.

National Qualifications Framework Trinity Grades

Advanced - Level 3 Grades 6, 7 & 8

Intermediate - Level 2 Grades 4 & 5

Foundation - Level 1 Grades 1, 2 & 3

Abbreviated Code Full Title of Award Course Information Achievement/Grade

ICCS International Certificate in Introductory academic programme Pass/FailComputer Science aimed at those looking for a

foundation course

IDCS International Diploma in Core academic programme: Pass, Merit or DistinctionComputer Studies undergraduate entry into an

international IT programme

IAD International Advanced Diploma Core academic programme aimed Pass, Merit or Distinctionat IDCS graduates and professionalswith previous IT experience

APPENDIX B – EUROPEAN BACCALAUREATE (EB)

The European Baccalaureate (EB) is a group diploma awardedonly by the 12 European schools of the European Union (seebelow), which provide free education for children of its staff.

Article 5 (2) (b) of the Statute of the European Schools, aninternational treaty to which the UK has acceded, provides thatholders of the EB shall:

“have the same right as nationals with equivalent qualificationsto seek admission to any university in the territory or theContracting Parties”.

In this context “university” applies to all HEIs.

Structure

The EB examines the final two years of a seven-year secondaryeducation cycle. A significant element of study is alwaysundertaken in the first foreign language, including History andGeography from Year 3. With the exception of the mother tongue,the syllabuses in the 14 language sections are identical, and thesame standards of attainment are required of all. Not all schoolsare able to offer all language options. If an option course cannotbe offered in Language I, it may be offered in either the workinglanguage of the student concerned, or in the language of theschool’s host country.


Compulsory Optional ComplementarySubjects Subjects Activities

Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5(2 periods) (4 periods) (3 periods) (2 periods)

Language I (4 periods) Biology Latin* Advanced Language I Practical Physics

Language II (3 periods) History Ancient Greek* Advanced Language II Practical Chemistry

Mathematics (3 periods) Geography Geography Advanced Mathematics^ Practical Biology

or Philosophy Philosophy Computing

Mathematics (5 periods) Language III Elementary Economicsº

Religion/Ethics (1 period) Language IV Sociology

Physical Education History Art º(2 periods) Economics Music º

Physics Physical Education

Chemistry

Biology

Art

Music

*Students may take these subjects only if they have taken them in Years 4 and 5.^Advanced Mathematics may only be taken in conjunction with 5-period Mathematics.ºNot allowed if already chosen in Column 3.

Secondary Years 6 and 7

• Students must take all subjects in Column 1.

• Biology, History, Geography and Philosophy must be chosenin either Column 2 or 3.

• Biology is compulsory unless Physics or Chemistry is chosenin Column 3.

• Students must choose at least two four-period subjects toensure their weekly timetable consists of at least 31 periods.They may choose an additional course from Column 5,bringing their timetable to a maximum of 35 periods perweek.

Assessment

The EB is a group diploma and candidates are awarded a finaloverall mark expressed as a percentage. Candidates who achievean overall mark of 60% or above are awarded the Baccalaureate.The final mark is the result of:

a) Internal assessment of all subjects studied during Year 7 bymeans of:

• internal school examinations – 25%;

• continuous assessment – 15%.

b) Final written exams set by the Examining Board, in themother tongue, first foreign language and two electivesubjects – 36%.

c) Four final oral exams set by the teacher and an externalexaminer appointed by the Examining Board, in mothertongue, first foreign language, History or Geography, and afourth compulsory or elective subject – 24%.

Complementary activities cannot be offered in the final writtenor oral examinations; they contribute only to internalassessment. At least two of the four orals are in one of thecandidate’s foreign languages. There are no individual subjectpass certificates, but individual subject marks are calculated atall stages, and are indicated on the final Baccalaureatecertificate. Students receive the Diploma, which is their formalrecord of achievement, and the marks for each subject at aboutthe same time in early July. The subject results are in simpletabular form.

Administration

The European Schools are administered by a Board ofGovernors, which consists of representatives of the memberstates, and a representative of the European Commission. TheEB is administered and directly supervised by an externalExamining Board appointed annually by the Board of Governors.The Examining Board is chaired by a university professor and iscomposed of examiners from each of the European Unioncountries. These representatives must meet the requirementslaid down in their home countries for appointment to theExamining Board.

Acceptability

While British students make up the majority of applicants to UKHE, applications are made by students of other nationalities whomay have completed their studies in a language other thanEnglish. The substantial compulsory element of the EB shouldalso be taken into account when making admissions decisions.Candidates will have continued some subjects which would havebeen discarded in a three-GCE-A-level choice. Offers to EBstudents are generally expressed in terms of gaining a Diplomamark of 60% (the pass mark) or above, or by specifying the finalEB score and marks in selected individual subjects.

Further information

The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) has produced abooklet entitled The European Schools and the EuropeanBaccalaureate, which provides guidance for admissions tutors onthe assessment of applications from holders of the EB. Copiesmay be obtained from the European Schools Team of the DfES(see Appendix G for contact details).

The European schools are located in Belgium (Brussels I, II, IIIand Mol), Germany (Frankfurt, Karlsruhe and Munich), Italy(Varese), Luxembourg, the Netherlands (Bergen), Spain(Alicante) and the UK (Culham).

No GCSEs or other national examinations are taken at theEuropean schools.

The EB should not be confused with the Option Internationale duBaccalauréat (OIB), which is part of the French Baccalauréatdesigned for bilingual candidates, or the InternationalBaccalaureate.


Middle Years Programme (MYP)

The Middle Years Programme (MYP) offered by the InternationalBaccalaureate Organization (IBO) provides a framework ofacademic and life skills for students aged 11-16. The five-yearprogramme follows on from the Primary Years Programme andserves as a preparation for the Diploma Programme.

The MYP provides a framework of concepts and skills in thetraditional disciplines, and pedagogy aimed at increasing thestudent’s awareness of the relationships between subjectsthemselves and of their interaction in real life.

The “areas of interaction” are at the core of the programme,enhancing the students’ understanding through contribution byall subjects. They are grouped as: approaches to learning;community service, health and social education, environmentand homo faber. These pervade and recur throughout the fiveyears of the MYP, through the eight subject groups, and alsothrough interdisciplinary teaching and projects, whole schoolactivities and the MYP personal project. The areas of interactionare not directly assessed nor awarded individual grades, sincethey are perspectives rather than subjects, although they inspirethe students’ choice of personal project and form part of itsassessment. The personal project may be an essay, artisticproduction or other form of expression.

The curriculum model for MYP:

• Arts – visual arts and performing arts;• Humanities – history and geography;• Language A – student’s best language, usually the schools

language of instruction;• Language B – a modern foreign language learned at school;• Mathematics – course includes the five branches of

mathematics: number, algebra, geometry and trigonometry,probability and statistics, and discrete mathematics;

• Physical Education – course includes health and fitness,individual and team sports;

• Sciences – biology, chemistry, physics;• Technology – computer and design technology.

Teachers assess students’ work with guidance from IBOaccording to prescribed, published criteria that state final levelsof achievement in each discipline. All MYP schools areresponsible for organising their own student assessment andreporting procedures according to the objectives of theprogramme. Schools can opt for the MYP certificate,accompanied by a record of achievement issued by the IBO.These are formal documents limited to schools that elect to havetheir own assessment of student validated by IBO through arigorous process of external moderation.

The IBO also provides all schools with a portfolio of achievementfor each student. This allows the school to document thestudent’s accomplishments at the end of the course. The portfolioincludes papers from IBO describing the programme. The schoolmay add its own certificates, academic results and awards, a self-evaluation by the student, information about community service,the personal project and extracurricular achievements.

Award of International BaccalaureateCertificates

A candidate who is not offering the full Diploma may register forexamination in one or more subjects, provided that therecommended number of teaching hours (Higher Level (HL) 240,Standard Level (SL) 150) has been completed for each subject.Such a candidate is classified as a certificate candidate andreceives a certificate recording the result(s) obtained.Candidates who have registered for the full Diploma, but whohave not fulfilled all the requirements for the award will receive acertificate indicating the results obtained in individual subjects.

Certificates are not available for the Extended Essay, Theory ofKnowledge, or Creativity, Action, Service (CAS).

A Diploma candidate who wishes to offer more than the sixsubjects required for the Diploma may register as an extra-certificate candidate for the subject(s) at either HL or SL.

International Baccalaureate DiplomaProgramme

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is aninternational academic qualification administered by theInternational Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO). It is a two-yearpre-university programme designed to promote internationalunderstanding within a context of intellectual rigour.

All students, irrespective of their particular interests, arerequired to follow six subjects in a range of disciplines. Three ofthese must be at Higher Level (HL) and three at Standard Level(SL). The recommended teaching time for each HL is 240 hours,and for each SL it is over the two-year period of the programme.The examined subjects must include two languages, one subjectfrom Individuals and Societies, an Experimental Science,Mathematics, and one option. All subjects are required toincorporate international perspectives. The IBO has threeworking languages, English, French and Spanish, and examinationpapers are all available in each of these languages.

The six subjects are bound together in a coherent form by theTheory of Knowledge course followed by all students, and by anExtended Essay which encourages research skills. A furtherrequirement is that candidates be involved in Creativity, Action,Service (CAS), which contributes to their humanitarian/international education.

Only an authorised member school can enter candidates for IBqualifications. The programme is a two-year course, although amaximum of two SL examinations may be taken in thepenultimate year according to policies adopted in schools.

The IB has now been accredited within the NQF. The IB isrecognised by UK HEIs as fulfilling the minimum matriculationrequirements for entry. The IBO recommends that institutionsmake offers to applicants based on a total points acquisition bythe candidate.

Offers to IB students that are expressed in terms of gaining theDiploma and with specific grades, usually in HL subjects, shouldnot be made by equating IB grades to GCE A level grades. Theequivalence is not valid. Additionally, neglecting the overallscore does not take account of, and give credit for, the breadthof study required in the IB Diploma Programme.

Candidates choose their programmes of six subjects from thefollowing:

Group 1 – Language A1

The candidate’s best language or mother tongue, includingthe study of a selection from world literature in translation.

Group 2 – Language A2, Language B, Ab initio

Language A2For bilingual candidates or candidates with a high level ofcompetence in the target language. The course is based onthe study of both literature and language.

Or

Language BA foreign language learning course for students with previousexperience of learning the language. The main focus of theprogramme is on language but a variety of texts also formspart of the course.

Or

APPENDIX C – INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE MIDDLE YEARSPROGRAMME, CERTIFICATE AND DIPLOMA


Ab initioA foreign language learning course over two years at SL forstudents with no previous experience of learning the targetlanguage.

Classical GreekLatin

Group 3 - Individuals and Societies

Business and ManagementEconomicsGeographyHistoryIslamic HistoryInformation Technology in a Global Society (SL)PhilosophyPsychologySocial and Cultural Anthropology

Group 4 - Experimental Sciences

BiologyChemistryDesign TechnologyEnvironmental Systems (SL)Physics

Group 5 - Mathematics

Computer Science (elective)Mathematics (HL)Mathematical Methods (SL)Mathematical Studies (SL)Further Mathematics (SL)All students must do a course in Mathematics

Group 6 - Arts

MusicTheatre ArtsVisual Arts

Or

School-based syllabus (SBS)

A syllabus designed by the school according to its ownneeds, interests and expertise, and approved by the IBO. Acandidate may choose only one such subject.

Or

A candidate may offer, instead of a Group 6 subject, a thirdmodern language, a second subject from Individuals andSocieties, a second subject from Experimental Sciences orFurther Mathematics SL.

All Diploma Programme candidates will also undertake:

• Theory of Knowledge - a 100-hour course taught over twoyears, which is an interdisciplinary requirement intended tostimulate critical reflection on knowledge and experience.

• Extended Essay - a substantial piece of independent researchwork about 4,000 words long. It must be written in a DiplomaPrograme subject.

• Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) - the CAS programme isprovided by the school.

Assessment

Assessment in the IB varies widely across the disciplines andincludes multiple choice, essay, data analysis, short answer andstructured questions. In most subjects the teachers contribute25% of the marks through internal assessment. Candidates notcompleting all the requirements for a Diploma may be awardedcertificates for individual subjects.

Assessment procedures are kept constantly under review toensure both integrity and quality. Their validation includes,amongst other activities, question paper and marking schemereview by external advisers, standardisation of examiners,marking, moderation, grade awarding and arbitrationprocedures, an Enquiry Upon Results service, and publicreporting of statistics.

Grading

The recommendation for the award of the final grade in eachsubject is normally the responsibility of the Chief Examiner. Agrade will not normally be awarded for a candidate in anysubject for which any of the required assessment componentshave not been completed. The grading scheme for IBexaminations is as follows:

All assessment components for each of the six subjects and theadditional Diploma requirements must be completed in order toqualify for the award of Diploma.

The Diploma will be awarded to a candidate whose total score is24, 25, 26 or 27 points, provided all the following requirementshave been met:

• numeric grades have been awarded in all six subjectsregistered for the diploma;

• an approved programme of CAS has been completed;• grades A (highest) to E (lowest) have been awarded for both

Theory of Knowledge and an extended essay, with a grade ofat least D in one of them;

• there is no grade 1 in any subject;• there is no grade 2 at HL;• there is no more than one grade 2 at SL;• overall, there are no more than three grades 3 or below;• at least 12 points have been gained on HL subjects

(candidates who register for four HL subjects must gain atleast 16 points at HL);

• at least 9 points have been gained on SL subjects (candidateswho register for two SL subjects must gain at least 6 pointsat SL);

• the final award committee has not judged the candidate to beguilty of malpractice.

The Diploma will be awarded to a candidate whose total score is28 points or above, provided all the following requirements havebeen met:

• numeric grades have been awarded in all six subjectsregistered for the diploma;

• an approved programme of CAS has been completed;• grades A to E have been awarded for both Theory of

Knowledge and an extended essay, with a grade of at least Din one of them;

• there is no grade 1 in any subject;• there is no more than one grade 2 at HL;• there are no more than two grades 2 at SL;• overall, there are no more than three grades 3 or below;• at least 11 points have been gained on HL subjects

(candidates who register for four HL subjects must gain atleast 14 points at HL);

• at least 8 points have been gained on SL subjects (candidateswho register for two SL subjects must gain at least 5 pointsat SL);

• the final award committee has not judged the candidate to beguilty of malpractice.

A maximum of three examination sessions is allowed in which tosatisfy the requirements for the award of the IB diploma.

Acceptability

The IB has now been accredited within the NationalQualifications Framework. The IB is recognised by UK HEIs asfulfilling the minimum matriculation requirements for entry. TheIBO recommends that institutions make offers to applicantsbased on a total points acquisition by the candidate.

Offers to IB students that are expressed in terms of gaining theDiploma and with specific grades, usually in HL subjects, shouldnot be made by equating IB grades to GCE A level grades. The

1 very poor 5 good

2 poor 6 very good

3 mediocre 7 excellent

4 satisfactory


APPENDIX E – INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION PROGRAMMESInternational Foundation Programmes are usually one-yeardiploma courses designed especially for international studentswho wish to study for a degree in the UK. The programmes’design depends on the individual institution, although the aim isthe same: to bridge the gap between those students whoseschool-leaving and/or English language qualifications require anextra year’s study to be appropriate for entry to a UKundergraduate degree course.

Foundation programmes usually include a set number of subjectmodules (for example, Economics, Business, Law, Politics) and anumber of compulsory modules (for example, English Language,Academic Writing, University Studies, Project). Some institutionswill also include one or two other modules from Year 1 of theundergraduate curriculum.

HEIs that offer their own Foundation programmes, may takefoundation students on as undergraduates if their performancemeets the entrance requirements for the institution. Someprogrammes will guarantee progression, while others mayspecify overall grades and/or a certain mark for specific courses.HEIs will often accept students from other Foundationprogrammes, provided that they are suitably validated.

Programmes can range from 30–36 weeks and can be geared to anumber of different degree destinations so that students are ableto start their studies prepared for the specific academicdemands of their chosen degree.

Some institutions will cater specifically for students within theEuropean Union, while others may concentrate mainly on thoseoutside it. All courses will be tailored to those students who wishto obtain recognised and accredited qualifications that satisfythe general entrance requirements for a British degreeprogramme.

Foundation programmes are also available through FE colleges,which are often linked to a local university and validated by

them. Additionally, an increasing number of private languageschools run Foundation programmes. HEIs should ensure thatthe programmes have been suitably validated.

International Foundation Programme – Scotland

(Prior to September 2003 the Scottish International Programme(SIP))

The programme is an established and recognised course foroverseas students hoping to enter Scotland’s unique system ofhigher education.

The purpose of the Foundation Programme is to enable overseasstudents to obtain the grades needed to enter their chosencourses, by way of the Scottish Qualifications Authorityqualifications and Foundation examinations.

Prospective university students sit SQA Highers and theFoundation English examination during the Academic SummerProgramme.

Students who do not achieve all the required Higher grades havethe opportunity to take the Foundation examinations. Theseexaminations are accepted by the Scottish institutions of highereducation as the equivalent of Highers, and give Foundationstudents a second opportunity to achieve the necessary grades.Foundation students can enter higher education with acombination of Higher and Foundation results.

The opportunity to upgrade Higher grade results through theFoundation examinations is a special feature of the FoundationProgramme, and is available only to Programme students. Ineffect, it allows Programme students to resit their examinationsin the same year as they attempt Highers.

Contact information for IFPS is given in Appendix G.

APPENDIX D – OPTION INTERNATIONAL DU BACCALAURÉAT The Option International du Baccalauréat (OIB) is an integralpart of the French Baccalauréat and is thus acceptable as agroup certificate satisfying general entrance requirements. It is afully bilingual (or multilingual) programme available to studentsin a small number of designated French state schools. Severalnational options are available, including British, American andSpanish. The international options are administered byeducation authorities in the various countries; for the Britishoption, the responsible authority is the University of CambridgeLocal Examinations Syndicate.

The international option enables candidates studying in theacademic streams of the French Baccalauréat to substitutespecially created language/literature and history-geographycourses, in the appropriate language and taught by foreignnational teachers, for the equivalent Baccalauréat courses. Thecourses, and the examinations to which they lead, are geared tothe standard set in the foreign country. Students in theinternational option fulfil all the requirements of the FrenchBaccalauréat and may apply for admission to French universities(see entry for France).

The British option examinations are set and moderated byexaminers appointed jointly by the University of Cambridge

Local Examinations Syndicate and the French Ministry ofEducation. Each option subject is examined by a four-hourwritten paper and an oral examination.

Candidates for the Baccalauréat will have studied at least sixacademic subjects and will receive marks for individual subjects,as well as an overall assessment of performance in theBaccalauréat as a whole.

Grading System

20 (maximum) ... 0, 10 being the minimum pass

In practice, the top mark-band (20-16) is awarded to about 1% ofcandidates, identifying students of outstanding ability.

Further information about the OIB can be obtained fromUniversity of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (seeAppendix G).

20-16 très bien 13-12 assez bien

15-14 bien 11-10 passable/moyen

equivalence is not valid. Additionally, neglecting the overallscore does not take account of, and give credit for, the breadthof study required in the IB Diploma Programme.

Further information

Expected entry requirements for IB applicants for 2005 entry aregiven in the CD-ROM associated with University and CollegeEntrance: The Official Guide and in Course Search on the UCAS

website. More detailed information about the IB and advice canbe obtained from the IBO (see Appendix G for contactinformation).

The IB Diploma Programme should not be confused with theOption Internationale du Baccalauréat (OIB), which is part of theFrench Baccalauréat designed for bilingual candidates andavailable in a number of European languages (see Appendix D).


APPENDIX F – ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

In the case of a candidate whose mother tongue is other thanEnglish, the following may be acceptable as evidence ofproficiency in English.

Anglia Examinations Syndicate

• ProficiencyPass or better

Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA)Certificates in English Language Skills (ESOL)

• Set 2Corresponds to NQF Level 1. Performance is not graded butcandidates do receive marks (within 5%) achieved in reading,writing, listening and speaking

Cambridge English for Speakers of OtherLanguages (ESOL)

• First Certificate in EnglishGrade B or better (National Qualifications Framework (NQF)Level 1)

• Certificate in Advanced EnglishGrade C or better (NQF Level 2)

• Certificate of Proficiency in EnglishGrade C or better (NQF Level 3)

• Business English Certificate VantageGrade B or better (NQF Level 1)

• Business English Certificate HigherGrade C or better (NQF Level 2)

• Certificate in English Language Skills A combination of reading, listening, oral interaction andwriting certificates. Higher level corresponds to NQF Level 2,and Vantage level to NQF Level 1. There are two passinggrades: Pass and Pass with Merit.

Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)

• GCE O Level English Language (Syllabus numbers 1119,1120, 1123, 1124, 1125, 1126)Grade C or better

• IGCSE First Language English (Syllabus number 0500)Grade C or better

• IGCSE English as a Second Language Grade C or better

City and Guilds Pitman Qualifications

• English for Business CommunicationLevel 2 First Class Pass, or Level 3 pass for morelinguistically exacting courses

• ESOL and Spoken ESOLHigher Intermediate level (NQF Level 2)

• Communication in Technical EnglishPass (no longer awarded)

Edexcel

• International GCE O Level English LanguageGrade C or better

• International London Test of English – AdvancedRecognised by most UK HEIs for entry to undergraduatecourses; indicates a highly competent level of Englishlanguage expertise.

• International London Test of English – ProficientFor those seeking admission to postgraduate study in the UK;indicates a very high level of English language competency.

• IGCSE English LanguageGrade C or better

English Speaking Board: English as an AcquiredLanguage (EAL)

• The Higher Certificate has replaced the Advanced Level 3.

• The Adv 2 (previously Advanced Level 2) is a lower levelqualification, which may also be acceptable as evidence ofproficiency in English.

Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination: Use ofEnglish

• Grade E or better

Hong Kong Certificate of Education (HKCEE)

• English Language (Syllabus B)Grade C or better

International English Language Testing System(IELTS)

• Regulated by Cambridge ESOL, the British Council and theInternational Development Program Education Australia.Most UK HEIs require an overall score of 5.0 – 7.0, dependingon the content of the course. The test report form isrecommended as valid for two years, and candidates receivea band score for each of the following skill areas: reading,writing, listening and speaking. Applicants should offeracademic rather than general reading and writing modules.

Institute of Linguists

• Diploma in English for International CommunicationTests English language skills at degree-equivalent level. Lastaward will be made in 2004.

London Chamber of Commerce and IndustryExaminations Board

• English for Business (EFB) Pass at Level 3

• English for Commerce (EFC) Pass at Level 3

• Spoken English for Industry and Commerce (SEFIC) Pass at Level 3

• English Language Skills Assessment (ELSA) Reading &ListeningTest Score of 383/500

Michigan English Language Assessment Battery(MELAB)

• A score of 80 or above for admission to UK HE, and 90 orabove should be required for programmes with high literarycontent. An 80 on the MELAB roughly corresponds to aTOEFL score of 567 (paper based) or 229 (computer based),and a MELAB score of 90 roughly corresponds to TOEFL 630(paper) or 267 (computer).


NEAB University Entrance Test in English forSpeakers of Other Languages (UETESOL)

• Pass required: graded on a scale of A to D, candidatesrequire a minimum of two Cs and three higher grades topass. Especially relevant for those studying physical or socialsciences. Last awarded 2002.

Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore: ComputerisedEnglish Language Proficiency Test (CELPT)

• Band score of 7 or above. Last awarded July 2003.

Oxford

• ARELS Examination (Higher Level)Credit or Distinction. Last awarded 2001.

• Examination in English as a Foreign Language (HigherLevel)Pass. Last awarded 2002.

Trinity

• ESOLEvidence of spoken English ability at the following levels:Grades 7 – 9 (NQF Level 1)Grades 10 – 12 (NQF Levels 2 and 3)

• Integrated Skills Test in English (ISE)Level II (NQF Level 1)Level III (NQF Level 2)

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

• In the paper-based test, a score of 550 or above (600 orabove is recommended for degrees with a literary content).Comparable scores for the computer-based test are 213 orabove, and 250 and above.

University of Cambridge Local ExaminationsSyndicate (UCLES)

• Certificate of Communicative Skills in English (CCSE) A combination of reading, writing, listening and oralinteraction certificates, each at Level 3 or above. Lastawarded 2001.

University of Reading

• Test in English for Educational Purposes (TEEP)Following a major revision project during 1999/2000, theTEEP was relaunched in 2001 when it was decided to moveto a wider reporting range in order to reflect the changingnature of HEI admissions. The revised TEEP consists ofpapers in reading, listening and writing. These three arereported on the performance certificate, both asindependent scores and as an overall composite score. Anadditional paper is taken into account when estimating theoverall composite score. Band score of 6.0 or above.

APPENDIX G – ADDITIONAL SOURCES

Accredited Institutions of Post-Secondary Education andPrograms; (published annually), American Council on Education,One Dupont Circle, Washington DC 20036, USA. Telephone: (202) 939 9300 Website: www.acenet.edu/home.html

American Colleges, Barron’s Profiles of; (published annually).ISBN 0-8120-3979-3. Barron’s Educational Series Inc, 250 WirelessBoulevard, Hauppage, NY 11788, USA. Telephone: 1 800 645 3476 Website: www.barronseduc.com

Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA), Stag Hill House,Guildford, Surrey GU2 5XJ.Telephone: 01483 506 506 Fax: 01483 300 152 Email: [email protected] Website: www.aqa.org.uk

The Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE), ALTESecretariat, 1 Hills Road, Cambridge CB1 2EU. Telephone: 01223 553925 Fax: 01223 460278 Email: [email protected] Website: www.alte.org

Australian Curriculum, Assessment and CertificationAuthorities (ACACA); Leaving School 1998. This editionpublished on behalf of ACACA by the Board of Studies, GPO Box5300, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia. Email: [email protected] Website: www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/acaca

The British Council, 10 Spring Gardens, London SW1A 2BN.Telephone: 020 7389 4383 Fax: 020 7389 4292 Email: [email protected] Website: www.britishcouncil.org.uk

Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), formerlyUniversity of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES),Syndicate Buildings, 1 Hills Road, Cambridge CBl 2EU. Telephone: 01223 553554 Fax: 01223 553558 Email: [email protected] Website: www.cie.org.uk

Caribbean Examinations Council The Garrison, Barbados. Email: [email protected] Website: www.cxc.org

Canadian Universities, Directory of; (published annually),Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC), 350Albert Street, Suite 600,Ottawa, Ontario K1R 1B1, Canada. Telephone: (613) 563 1236 Fax: (613) 563 9745 Email: [email protected] Website: www.aucc.ca

Central Application Office (CAO), Tower House, Eglinton Street,Galway, Ireland.Telephone: 00 353 091 509800 Fax: 00 353 091 562344 Email: [email protected] Website: www.cao.ie

City and Guilds International (C&G), 1 Giltspur Street, LondonEC1A 9DD. Telephone: 020 7294 3505 Fax: 020 7294 2425 Email: [email protected] Website: www.city-and-guilds.com

College Entrance Examination Board, Diversity, Accessibilityand Quality; (third edition, 1995). An introduction to educationin the United States, College Board Publications, Box 886, NewYork, NY 10101-0886, USA. ISBN 0-87447-424-8 Email: [email protected] Website: www.collegeboard.com

Commonwealth Universities Yearbook; (published annually),Association of Commonwealth Universities, 36 Gordon Square,London WClH OPF. Telephone: 020 7380 6700 Fax: 020 7387 2655 Email: [email protected] Website: www.acu.ac.uk

Edexcel International, Stewart House, 32 Russell Square, LondonWC1B 5DN. Telephone: 0870 240 9800 Fax: 020 7758 6960 Email: [email protected] Website: www.edexcel.org.uk

Eire Department of Education, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1,Ireland. Telephone: 00 353 1 8734700 Fax: 00 353 1 8746409 Email: [email protected] Website: www.gov.ie/educ/


English Speaking Union of the Commonwealth; English as aForeign Language, Framework Project Chart; ESU, DartmouthHouse, 37 Charles Street, London WlX 8AB. Telephone: 020 7529 1550 Fax: 020 7495 6108 Email: [email protected] Website: www.esu.org

European Schools Team, Department for Education and Skills,Level 4A, Caxton House, 6-12 Tothill Street, London SW1H 9NA.Telephone: 020 7340 4385 Fax: 020 7340 4121

Eurydice, Eurydice Unit for England, Wales and Northern Ireland,National Foundation for Educational Research, The Mere, UptonPark, Slough, Berkshire SL1 2DQ. Email: [email protected] Website: www.eurydice.org

Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority, 13th Floor,Southorn Centre, 130 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong.Website: http://eant01.hkeaa.edu.hk/hkea/new_look_home.asp

International Foundation Programme – Scotland ChristineBlack, IFPS, 77 Southpark Avenue, Glasgow G12 8LE. Telephone: 0141 3570123 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.studyinscotland.co.uk/

INCA, International Review of Curriculum and AssessmentFrameworks Project, National Foundation for EducationResearch, The Mere, Upton Park, Slough, Berkshire SL1 2DQ.Email: [email protected] Website: www.inca.org.uk

International Association of Universities, IAU/UNESCOInternational Handbook of Universities; (published triennially);World Guide to Higher Education; UNESCO, 7 Place de Fontenoy,Paris 75700; Information Centre on Higher Education, UNESCOHouse, 1 rue Miollis, 75732 Paris Cedex 15, France. Telephone: (33 1) 45 68 26 12 Fax: (33 1) 47 34 76 05 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.unesco.org/iau/whed.html

International Baccalaureate Organization, Peterson House,Malthouse Avenue, Cardiff Gate, Cardiff CF23 8GL. Telephone: 02920 547777 Fax: 02920 547778 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ibo.org

NCC Education, The Towers, Towers Business Park, WilmslowRoad, Didsbury, Manchester M20 2EZ. Telephone: 0161 438 6200 Fax: 0161 438 6240 Email: [email protected] Website: www.nccedu.com

Singapore/Cambridge, Examinations and Assessment Branch,Ministry of Education, Kay Siang Road, Singapore 1024. Website: http://www.moe.gov.sg/

South African Qualifications Authority, 659 Pienaar Street,Brooklyn, Pretoria, South Africa.Email: [email protected]

Trinity College London, 89 Albert Embankment, London SE17TP.Telephone: 020 7820 6100 Fax: 020 7820 6161 Email: [email protected] Website: www.trinitycollege.co.uk

West African Examinations Council, IVA-WAEC-UK, PO Box 39676, London W2 3YW.Telephone: 020 7233 8486 Website: http://www.waecheadquarters-gh.org/

www.ucas.com

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04 197 int quals 2005 - webspacewebapps.apiit.edu.my/ucas_country_education_guide.pdflevel study. it...

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