Coming to study in the UK is your opportunity to gain the skills, outlook and confidence you need to fulfil your potential. To ensure you choose the course that is right for you and for what you want to achieve, it is best to read as much as you can about the range of courses, colleges and universities available and compare them. It is also important to check the course entry requirements. You can do this using our course search tool, or the course profiles on the institutions' websites. If you have any questions, you can contact the university directly, who will be very happy to help you find the information you need.

• Undergraduates

Applying for an undergraduate course in the UK is simple; there is one place where you can register and apply to all of the UK universities and colleges – you register and apply through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).

• Postgraduates

Postgraduate courses in the UK have their own specific entry requirements and application processes, so check the individual course websites for instructions on how to apply.

Your university or college will contact you (usually via email) to tell you whether or not you have received an offer to study. If you applied via UCAS it's easy to track the status of your application at any time.

If you are accepted with an unconditional offer, then congratulations! You have a place and you can accept straightaway.

If you are accepted with a conditional offer, the place is yours as long as you meet a few extra requirements. This could be achieving certain exam grades or English language test scores.

For some courses you may be asked to come for an interview before you receive your offer, either on the phone or sometimes in person. Check the course information before you apply to find out whether this is required.

Now is the time to arrange funding. You may be eligible for one of the many scholarships available to help with the cost of your studies.

As an international student, you are likely to need a visa to take up your study place in the UK.

Once you have your offer and your visa, it's time to get packing! You can now begin to look at things like flights, accommodation and anything else you will need to help you make the most of your time in the UK.