Yale University



In case you are wracking your brains to find out the college with the best rankings, your first instinct is likely to be flipping through the studies and reports that rank colleges. College rankings are done based on some standard criteria and higher the number of points, higher will be the rank of the college.

Many factors like type of courses, selective admission procedures, size of their endowment and the number of faculty members are considered while ranking an institution. College rankings can change from year to year and to know about the latest rank positions, you need to browse through the online university directory, which allows you to choose the best college that can cater to your specific needs.

However, very few colleges offer data on how much their students learn, something that is of most importance from the student's point of view. A student may find the student retention and graduation rates more relevant than the ranking of the college. Once you get the rank list, you can thoroughly research those colleges and try to arrive at your own rankings based on what's important to your success. If you have any specific academic goals, ranking systems could drop reliable clues in this regard.

Yale is one such institution that enjoys a top ranking in the US and is one of the eight schools that make up the prestigious Ivy League. Rooted in tradition and character Yale has played a formidable role in the collegiate learning in the United States. Touted as the third best college in the whole of the United States, Yale has an impeccable track record and an alumni list that features some of the best known personalities.

Yale University has upheld the intellectual freedom and service to the society and has survived serious calamities such as the American Revolution. Regarded in high esteem, Yale University has evolved to be a center for high quality education that is recognized by the global community.
Yale is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the US and dates back to 1701. It offers a bevy of Degree and Non-degree programs in architecture, art, Bio medical science, Drama, European Studies, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and many more. Students can apply directly at Yale University, considered as a gateway to higher education.

University of Chicago


Chicago is one of the great American cities which developed in the last century. Like many other cities which are spread over the fifty American states the city is also home to one of the state universities. The university goes by the name of University of Chicago. But it not a state own institute but a private university in the city. It is foundations were laid by American Baptist Society, like other private institutes the university was sparked off with a donation. This grand educational complex was founded in 1890. The university management was setup in 1891 and the official classes began in 1892. Over the years the university has gained importance as a vital organization. It is of those few educational institutes which has produced a large number of Nobel Prize winners and Rhodes prize winners.

The university offers a wide range of educational programmers which consists of humanity sciences and proper sciences. The university has 49 major academic programmers and further more a catalog of 22 minor programmers. While considering the 5 major divisions of the university's educational disciplines then, social sciences, biological sciences, physical sciences, Humanities Sciences and the final category of New Collegiate Division. The first four divisions are very clear about the courses being offered but the fifth segment covers all such courses which cannot fit in first four sessions but still are taught in university.

All undergraduate students at the University of Chicago take a list of planned courses provided by the university officials. These are defined as core courses and are compulsory in order to complete a degree. All classes of such courses consist of 25 students and are lead by a fully fledged teacher who is reputed as a full time professor.

Like all other educational organizations the university of Chicago also has got a library system which consists of 6 libraries on campus, these six libraries have a collection of 8.5 million books at the disposal of students, teachers and researchers. It is ranked as the 12th largest library system in the whole of United States. Regenstein Library is largest of the six; this segment of the library system has been declared as the largest in the United States, including the expansion added in 2010. The university also a ver. large number of extracurricular activities, as extracurricular activities are also considered to an important part of the student life in universities. The University of Chicago also has small groups and organizations which deal with such segments such as religious groups, cultural events, sports teams and academic clubs. Or nay organization which students might have interest in. Almost 400 such societies or organization exist in the university which are registered and are working.

The university of Chicago is one the most reputed educational centers in the united states as it offer a very vast variety of educational programmers which enable hundreds of students to graduate or attain the status of masters annually

University of Oxford


Life at Oxford

Oxford is a home to many a student community whose number varies between 25,000 and 35,000. It is a small city, slightly larger than a big-sized town. On the streets of Oxford, you can see a perfect blend of the old British and the rising towers of modern day architecture. The University and the college gardens and parks along with the riverside walks reflect the serene appearance of the typical British countryside. Oxford has the credit of housing the oldest Botanic garden in the country.

Academic year

Each academic year at Oxford can be split or divided into three terms, also known as full terms. They are as follows:

Michaelmas Term: It lasts from October to December

Hilary Term: It lasts from January till March

Trinity Term: It lasts from April till June.

Admission

The first and foremost criterion that you need to meet while applying to the Oxford University is that you should not have applied to the Cambridge University in the same year. This measure has been taken up to ensure that the volume of screening is brought down and the applicants are split between the two universities.
The admission process for the undergraduates is taken up by each of the 39 individual colleges of the university. Some of the screening processes involved include those of interviews conducted for the candidates, written work submitted by them and written tests prior to the interview.
For graduates seeking admission to postgraduate programs, the admission process is first conducted by the university department and then by the college with which they are associated.

Oxford's Reputation

The many salient features of this historical university make it attractive to both researches and students from well within the local community as well as to those across the border. Oxford tops the list in many achievements that make it one of the best universities in the world.
1. The Times has rated the university as the number one in the UK for the last five years.
2. In the World University Rankings, Oxford has been rated the third position after Harvard and Cambridge.
3. Oxford is a prestigious member of the following groups and networks:
The Russell group which is a congregation of British Universities that do research in various diversified fields.

The Coimbra group, which is a network of top universities in Europe.

The League of European Research Universities
Oxford - A True International Experience

The best thing about Oxford is something that cannot be understood, comprehended or perceived by reading about them. You need to be there in order to experience them. It is a truly remarkable and unforgettable experience on its own.
It is a global village where you get to see people who come from diversified background from across the globe. You get to know a lot about their cultures. It is for the same reason one will not mind to pay a fortune to be there for this truly global international experience.
Oxford really deserves the reputation that enjoys today with the world community. The mode of instruction that is used here is one of the best of its kind and has been evolved after years of research and effort that have gone into the field of education. The instructional method is highly engaging and effective unlike the usual classroom lectures. Learning is clubbed with fun and it makes it one of the most memorable moments in your life. Oxford always has done its part in accelerating and adding mileage to the career of those who are associated with it.

Famous Oxonian's

As the history of Oxford goes, many famous celebrities have taken up their education here or have taught at this university. This would include twenty-five former Prime Ministers of the UK, 46 Nobel prize-winners, six kings, three saints and eighty-six archbishops. Would you like to be the next on the list?

University of Cambridge

Located 50 miles north of London, Cambridge is a fascinating mix: a historic medieval town that is the birthplace of some of the most recent scientific advances; a place with high-technology science parks and ancient cobbles, with bustling streets and tranquil green spaces. It has a mix of city life, with its pubs, clubs, music venues, restaurants; and at the same time it's small enough that you don't have to spend much money getting from place to place.
Considered to be one of the oldest universities in the world, the University of Cambridge will be celebrating its 800th anniversary in 2009. Since 1904, there have been 81 affiliates of the university that have won the Nobel Prize, which is more winners than any other institution. Frederick Sanger is one of only four individuals to win a Nobel Prize twice; he won in 1958 and 1980, both times for Chemistry.

International Students 

The University of Cambridge is one of the most selective universities around the world. Of the prospective applicants, only 25% become students, and of those only about 10% are international students. Still, of the over 17,000 students attending Cambridge, almost 3,000 of them are international students from different countries around the world, but while academic strength is definitely a prerequisite, it does not guarantee acceptance.
Cambridge's website for international undergraduate applicants offers information for students from China, Malaysia, Mauritius, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and the Indian Subcontinent. For applicants from other countries, the website offers general information; among this is information on choosing courses and a college, entrance requirements, English language requirements, tuition fees, college fees, living expenses, and how to apply from overseas.

Academics

The University of Cambridge offers over 90 courses of study for undergraduate and graduate students ranging from arts to science and technology. A sample of courses includes Aerospace Engineering, Biology, Classics, Education, Egyptology, English, Genetics, Information and Computer Engineering, International Studies, Latin, Law, Medicine, Oriental Studies, Philosophy, Physics, Psychology, Spanish, Theology, Veterinary Medicine and more.
There are 31 colleges in Cambridge. Three are for women (New Hall, Newnham and Lucy Cavendish) and two admit only graduates (Clare Hall and Darwin). The remainder house and teach all students enrolled in courses of study or research at the University.

Undergraduate Admissions

When you apply to the University of Cambridge, there are two forms to complete. One being through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), the second being a Cambridge Application Form (CAF). Both forms will go to a Cambridge College that will consider your application.
Entrance requirements for undergraduate students include the following:
- Matriculation requirements, which are minimum requirements for all applicants regardless of age or major: English, a language other than English, an approved mathematical or scientific subject, and two other approved subjects;
- GCSEs and GCE A levels for UK Students;
- International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, SATs, European Baccalaureate, or any other advanced qualification for students from other countries;
- Applicants under the age of 18 must contact the Admissions Tutors of Colleges you are considering before applying;
- English Proficiency for International Students. This can be accomplished by getting acceptable scores on any of these tests: IELTS, GCSE, Cambridge Certificate, European Baccalaureate, Abitur, International Baccalaureate, or French Baccalaureate.
A unique aspect of Cambridge's application process is its "Deferred Entry" process. About one in five students coming to Cambridge takes a gap year before starting their studies. Depending on the major you're applying for, many Colleges generally prefer applicants to take a year break to apply or improve their skills, earn money, travel, and generally gain maturity and self-reliance.

Graduate Admissions

General entrance requirements for graduate students include the following:
- A 2i honours degree from a UK university or its equivalent from an overseas university (bachelor's degree for US students);
- English proficiency tests - the IELTS is the preferred method. If you are not able to take the IELTS test, then the TOEFL exam along with the TWE (Test of Written English) are accepted. Minimum requirements include a 7.0 overall score in the IELTS or 600 in the paper-based/250 in the computer-based TOEFL exam with a 5.0 TWE score;
- GRE or GMAT scores depending on your academic field of study. Please consult your graduate program since some departments may have other requirements.

Undergraduate Tuition Fees

UK Students: £3,070 per year
International Students: £9,054, £11,862, or £21,954 per year depending on their course of study
No student has to pay their tuition fees while they are studying at Cambridge. You can choose to do so if you wish, but you can also take out a student loan for fees and defer payment until you graduate. The student loan for fees is paid back in installments once you graduate and are earning a minimum salary.
Also, all international overseas-fee-status and Islands students have to pay College fees in addition to University tuition fees. The College fee varies slightly between Colleges, but is typically in the range £3,300 to £4,400 per year. The financial support available for overseas students is limited. Few full scholarships are available at the undergraduate level.

Graduate Tuition Fees

UK Students: £3,250 per year
EU Students/Exchange: £3,250 per year
International - Arts: £9,054 per year
International - Science: £11,862 per year
International - Medicine: £21,954 per year
LLM & Theology Diploma UK and EU Students: £3,240 per year
LLM & Theology Diploma International Students: £9,054 per year
MBA - All Students: £28,000 per year
College Fees: £2,050 per year
Graduate programs offer a wide range of scholarships and financial assistance for domestic and international students.