Think foreign education and chances are that you're thinking of the US. Choosing the right college destination has become confusing as ever. Here are some of the key differences between studying the in the US and UK.

"I have been researching the courses offered at universities for a long time now. I had to make a decision between universities in the UK and US and finally, after a year of deliberation, I have decided to go ahead with City University, London," says Soham Sheth, a B-school aspirant. Why did Soham decide to opt for the UK? One of the main reasons why Soham opted for the UK was because of his academic profile. With a GMAT score of around 600, work experience of three to five years and a three-year Bachelor's degree, he stood a good chance of admission in City University London (Cass Business School), one of the top ten UK business schools. However, this very profile would not have qualified Sheth for admission to any top ten B-school in the United States. UK universities tend to receive a smaller number of applicants from India as compared to US B-schools and are in comparison less competitive. Hence, many students prefer applying to UK B-schools as compared to American or Canadian business schools.

Another important reason why students prefer studying in the UK is the duration of the academic course. Most master's degrees in England can be completed in one year. Therefore, students opting to study in the UK, save both time and money (an exception to this rule is the London Business School, which offers a two-year MBA program). However, do all students and parents view this shorter duration as an advantage? "I tend to be suspicious of schools that claim they can teach you everything you need to know about a specific field in just one year," says Deepak Mathur, a prospective student's parent. David Standen, ex-Director of Admissions of a leading business school refutes the above argument saying, "No business person I know would do a two-year MBA. Two-year MBAs are for potential business people, but actual business people know the value of their time."

Agrees Anurag Saxena, a University of Edinburgh alumnus, "Well, the basic reason for me to consider the UK as compared to the US was for its one-year MBA curriculum. However, the fundamental differences between universities in the US and the UK made it difficult for me to find direct parameters of comparison between universities in both countries. For eg, the average experience (and hence, age) for an MBA in the UK is likely to be more. While US schools heavily depend upon GMAT scores, schools in the UK lean towards taking a more a holistic view. Ideally, it made sense to pursue an MBA after an optimum amount of work experience because I was able to evaluate the leadership skills I possess with those that I was lacking. However, the fact that most MBAs in the UK are taught in one year made the program extremely challenging. The curriculum kept us engaged and teaches us effective time-management skills. We were exposed to an invigorating learning environment where everyone strived hard to achieve optimum results in the least time. It challenged me intellectually and showed me a brand new way of looking at the world around me, allowing me to experiment with new ideas."

As per application requirements, students applying for business courses appear for the GMAT. However to study in the UK, students do not have to fulfill a GMAT requirement and this makes Indian students suspicious as to why a school does not have a high GMAT requirement.

British universities believe that they do not need to evaluate GMAT scores because the GMAT does not test the parameters that interest their admission officers the most. Their philosophy is that standardized testing tries to fit everyone into the same mould, whereas they are more interested in individuals. Therefore, while students admitted to UK business schools tend to be more mature and have more work experience than their counterparts in other parts of the world, they also tend to have lower GMAT scores. "Our job is to produce rounded and knowledgeable citizens for the 21st century, not to process stereotypes, "says Prof Hopwood, Dean, Said Business School.

While some MBA and business students prefer the UK as their favored destination, undergraduate students generally prefer studying in a US university; primarily due to the course flexibility available. In the US, undergraduate students can choose the classes included in their academic curriculum and even design their own major.

However, in the UK, the choices available to students are restricted- if a student decides to change his/ her course of study after one year, in all likelihood they would have to repeat the year, whereas in the US, students have two years to determine their major.

Besides, in order to study in the UK, students have to apply using a UCAS form, which allows them to apply to only six universities, while there are no restrictions to the number of colleges one can apply to in the US.

One of the most important reasons Indian students have traditionally applied to UK universities has been because universities in the US required applicants to have an equivalent of a four- year bachelor's degree, whereas UK universities accepted applicants with a three-year bachelor's degree.

As a result, students would complete a one-year Master's degree in the UK and then move on to a second master's degree in the US or Canada. However, with the US relaxing rules on the 16th year requirement, students can now apply to a university in the UK because they prefer the academic program and not just to complete a requirement.

The available career opportunities are by far is the most important factor for applicants to determine which country they wish to study in. In the recent past, the British government has made working in the UK easier for foreign nationals. Therefore, international students are now eligible for various work permits and should not disregard the UK because of the belief that getting a job upon graduation will be impossible.

Furthermore, obtaining the US visa was often viewed as an impossible feat due to which many students applied to the UK as a backup. In sharp contrast, the UK visa was viewed as an easier alternative to the US or for that matter, any other country's visa.

However, with the US student visa now becoming relatively easy to obtain, students should stop applying to the UK with the sole purpose of a backup. Instead, one should apply to the UK only if one is serious about courses and universities, and not just because dad said that getting a US visa is difficult.

Students have a plethora of opportunities open to them and the only way they can decide where to go is by making a thorough assessment of their career goals. In that manner they will choose the right program, at the right university, and in the right country.