Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I apply for a course directly to the University?
Yes, you can apply directly but you stand to lose out on our services. These services are offered to you completely free of charge and with many years of experience by our counsellors you will be able to get invaluable support. Besides, you do not pay for any services- all the way from counselling to admission and career support after you commence your study. (link to our services should be here- the academic and career tower link- when visitors click services it should lead to the towers or a video etc that we are including in the website- it should be so catchy that they see the wisdom of applying through us)
2. Why are services offered by ScotsGrad free? Is there a catch?
There is absolutely no catch. We are paid for our services by the university and therefore we extend our services completely free of charge. Our offerings of services are unmatched by any of the education counselling providers to the UK in India. Moreover, no other education counselling provider offers a psychometric profiling to make you understand your personality well enough before you leave for the UK. This is an enormous value add to your relationship building not just during your course but also in your corporate life.
3. What is so good about Lumina spark psychometric profiling?
Lumina spark psychometric profiling is a premier and well reputed personality assessment tool which consists of 144 questions for you to know your own personality and how this helps in creating a relationship with your colleagues. This is a product offered to the corporate world and you get a head start by building a relationship with your colleagues on the programme. We will also run a 3 hour zoom training in which we dissect your report for you to clearly understand who you are and how different can others be from your own personality and what you need to do to build relationship.
4. How is ScotsGrad different from other overseas education companies?
We are differentiated in a number of ways, firstly; we absolutely mean counselling- we ensure what you want to study is really what you want to study. This statement may sound too obvious but not quite the case. Our experience of many years of student interactions has taught us that what students have in mind is not exactly interpreted in the courses that they select from the search.
We have a number of situations when through our counselling a student has decided to study a completely different course, not because of our advice but because we have a conversation on career and ask the right questions. Secondly; we provide support even after you leave for the UK. We have given projects to our students as well we support you by ensuring you are in the right direction in seeking support from career services as well as any support you need from us for guidance and brainstorming. To learn more of our services click here
5. How long do I have to wait before I hear from the university after I apply for a course?
It normally takes anywhere between 2 and 3 weeks to get a reply. Occasionally there may be a delay and also depends on the time in which you make your application. The admission team is usually busy in the month of March to June so we recommend you apply early and also it would help in the any scholarships that may have an early deadline.
6. If my application is rejected, can I make an appeal?
When a rejection takes place, a university admissions panel is very careful in their decision, so they do not hastily make a rejection. However, you may choose to appeal if you have a valid reason; It is not advisable to make an appeal without a change in the circumstances; for example; a vital piece of academic or work experience has been missed out in your application.
7. Can I apply to more than one University?
Yes, you can. Presently because the Universities in the Uk do not normally charge an application fee, students apply for make unnecessary number of applications. It is not advisable to have 8 offers in hand and not sure where to do and what to do. It is most ideal to apply for the 3 or maximum 4 courses and it is most sensible that they are related courses. If you are applying for two completely different disciplines, it means you are still unsure of your career direction. You must speak with us before that to have clarify before you make applications.
8. What happens after I get my offers?
It is important that even before you make an application, you clearly make a decision on your intention to study in the UK for the course applied for. After your offers have reached you, you need to fulfil the conditions as laid out in the offer letter; for example it may be a certain percentage of overall pass in the undergraduate degree or an English language requirement or any other conditions laid out in the offer letter. It is normal to receive a conditional offer. Unconditional offers are issued once the conditions are met.
You have to now make a decision to accept one of the offers and turn down the offers that you do not wish to accept.
9. What if I do not inform the University of my unwillingness to accept the offer, is there any application?
You will not be penalized if you do not formally turn down the offer. However, from an ethical standpoint it is important that you respect the university to have acted upon your application and made a formal offer. Therefore, we at ScotsGrad would ensure that your own reputation as well as ours will be safeguarded and we shall turn down the offer. If you are not reachable for a reasonable period of time, we would turn down your offer on your behalf.
10. What is CAS?
CAS is Confirmation for Admission for Studies. A document that is issued by the University that you have chosen to study. It is only issued when you have made a deposit payment and you can only apply for the Tier 4 student visa with a CAS. It is the one document without which you cannot apply for your visa online.
11. Can I apply for two CAS from two different universities?
Technically yes, you can get your CAS from two different universities but remember it means you have probably paid a deposit to two universities. You need to now seek the process of refund from one of it. We recommend that you do not go into this situation, but even if you do, remember you can apply for your Tier 4 student visa only with one CAS. The visa that is stamped on your passport would carry the name of the University and the course in which you are
12. Can I apply for a Student visa (UKVI Tier 4) without a CAS?
No you cannot.
13. How early can I apply for a UKVI Tier 4 student visa?
Normally the CAS is issued approximately 3 months prior to start of the course and once it reaches you, you are now ready to apply provided you have met the financial conditions.
14. What are the financial conditions for Tier 4 student visa?
We will guide you in your visa processing. The UKVI however describes in detail in their website on the financial conditions to be met. When you reach the stage of applying for your course through ScotsGrad we shall support you. In brief, you should have sufficient funds of your first year of academic study along with living expenses
15. Do I get less scholarship or loose scholarship if I apply through ScotsGrad?
This is completely false. There have been many intances where we have seen people misleading prospect students in this regard. We at ScotsGrad have been successful in obtaining even 10,000 GBP scholarship for our students. On the contrary, we know best about what are the possible scholarships you can apply for, may be eligible for, so we never avoid speaking about scholarships.
16. Are Russell group universities superior to other Universities in the UK?
No. It is important to recognise that there is a good list of high ranking universities in the UK who are not part of the Russell group but have their own standing and reputation not only in the UK but also in the world. Their rankings may feature in the Top 100 in the world while they may not be part of the Russell Group.
Russell Group is an organisation of a select few universities who have created a consortium
for communication and best practice sharing. It is more like member states forming an alliance for a common cause. It is important to remember that a good list of universities who are ranked higher; department wise as well as overall ranking are not within the Russell Group.
Therefore, in your decision making, there are number of parameters to consider which are department ranking, course uniqueness and syllabus content, the curriculum relevance to industry, meeting your specific career aspirations and to balance all of this with the budget you have allocated for your study.
