Category Archives: Colleges & Universty

College Grant Money Can Be the Difference in Getting an Education

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You can take out loans for college either from the government or from private institutions. You may qualify for certain scholarships as well. If it is possible, getting college grant money can be helpful and it does not leave you with payments to make after you are finished school.

People that can demonstrate the financial need may be eligible to receive a Pell Grant. It is a kind of grant that is intended for students that come from families that would not be able to pay for college education on their own. It takes into account how much the family will be able to contribute by determining income levels, expenses and the number of students that a family will need to put through college. The amount that you receive from this Federal grant can depend on where you go to school, how much your family can contribute and what percentage of a full course load you have. It does help, but it will not pay for school by itself so you should also look and other sources of college grant money.

You may also be eligible to receive college grant money from the state where you are planning to go to school. The grant money available is different in every state so you will need to do some research on your own to figure out what may be possible for you. You can get some help from the financial aid department of the college that you plan to attend. They can also walk you through the forms, and they will usually have the necessary applications for you to complete.

College grant money is also available in the form of scholarships for minorities. These come from a number of different sources like private organizations or large corporations so you should use the Internet to search for anything that might be available to you.

Colleges in London: Your Only Choice

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If you are looking to study in London, you may be feeling slightly bewildered by the number of Higher Education Institutes promoting their services to you. Research shows that in 2008/9 426,175 students were registered in colleges in London. London is home to 60 publicly funded universities and colleges which are assessed by the UK Quality Assurance Agenc. In addition to these publicly funded Educational organisations, exist a multitude of specialist Independent colleges offering courses ranging from Diplomas in Fashion Drawing to Masters of Business and Administration.

Locating the Best Colleges in London

As a prospective International student it is possible that you have found your chosen college in London using the internet. Please beware of bogus colleges and do the maximum amount of research possible before parting with any cash!

Be certain that the qualifications delivered by the college are valid. Many bogus colleges in London draw in students from overseas by alleging to have the same qualification awarding powers as UK universities.

UK Recognised Higher Education Awarding Bodies

The UK Higher education system maintains its acclaimed global reputation by adhering to strict regulations. In order for an HEI to be recognised as a university with awarding powers it is required to undergo review by ACDAP, a division of the UK QAA.

The HEI can only issue certified qualifications independently and be listed as a Recognized Body by the DBIS after it has been approved by ACDAP.

Beware of Sham Colleges in London

As a rule Independent colleges do not have the authority to issue their own UK degrees, unlike universities, and are not obligated by law to be monitored by an external quality agency. If you are a prospective International student about to apply to any of the private colleges in London, please make the following checks before signing anything.

Cautionary Indicators

* Do not approach any private college without accreditation from an independent external quality agency such as the British Accreditation Council (BAC).

* Check that the college is listed on the register of Listed Bodies by the DBIS, and linked with a Recognized Body, or official university.

* Ensure that the college is partnered with an internationally recognized awarding body by checking on UK NARIC.

* Ensure the college provides accredited qualifications from approved awarding organisations such as Edexcel by checking the Register on the OFQUAL website.

* Do not choose a college which is not authorized by the UK Border Agency to enrol international students.

* Visa letters (CAS letters) can only be issued by registered colleges with a valid Tier 4 licence from the UK BA.

With so much scope for opportunity and self-development, your time spent studying in London could be life-changing, so to ensure you take the best choice from your short-listed colleges in London make sure you ask the right questions and do your research.