A Question or Two

[yud]

Wow I have not been on in a while, but any way I need some information on British higher education

in about two year I will need to start working on a masters, and I found the University of Greenwich (anyone hear of them?).  So here in the questions...

How can I tell if they are a good school (in the US I would just look at US News & World Report rankings)?

Is there a diffrence between a Masters in the US and UK?

[Jmora]

I'm not english, so I don't have the inside knowledge, but you can try these things:
the guardian university guide for british universities.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/universityguide?INTCMP=SRCH
there are also world rankings from the times educational supplement (only use 2011, before that they were far less objective ie. allowing professors to rank their own institutes as the best):
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/
and of course the shanghai rankings (the most influential and most objective):
http://www.arwu.org/index.jsp

[AimlessWanderer]

I AM English, and STILL have no indside knowledge 

But ... try these ...

http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/
http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/
http://www.whatuni.com/degrees/home.html

As for Greenwich, global datum for all maritime navigation at 0 degrees longitude, and home of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) adopted as the basis of Universal Co-ordinated Time for all global time zones ... nah sorry mate never heard of it 

Seriously though mate I'd have no idea how good or not the uni might be, but the links above should see you right  There's official league tables and all sorts of other stuff in there 

[Neil]

Wow I have not been on in a while, but any way I need some information on British higher education

in about two year I will need to start working on a masters, and I found the University of Greenwich (anyone hear of them?).  So here in the questions...

How can I tell if they are a good school (in the US I would just look at US News & World Report rankings)?

Is there a diffrence between a Masters in the US and UK?

Difference, yes but nothing straight forward....

The UK goverment's Dearing Report from '97 says...
The American high school diploma compares in standard with GCSE and the associate degree with GCE A-level and Advanced GNVQ, the bachelors degree with a UK pass degree or higher national diploma and the masters degree with a bachelors honours degree from a British university."

In reality though that's a massive over simplification,  some US universities masters being more diificult/thorough than the UK equivalent and vice versa.

[yud]

Wow I have not been on in a while, but any way I need some information on British higher education

in about two year I will need to start working on a masters, and I found the University of Greenwich (anyone hear of them?).  So here in the questions...

How can I tell if they are a good school (in the US I would just look at US News & World Report rankings)?

Is there a diffrence between a Masters in the US and UK?

Difference, yes but nothing straight forward....

The UK goverment's Dearing Report from '97 says...
The American high school diploma compares in standard with GCSE and the associate degree with GCE A-level and Advanced GNVQ, the bachelors degree with a UK pass degree or higher national diploma and the masters degree with a bachelors honours degree from a British university."

In reality though that's a massive over simplification,  some US universities masters being more diificult/thorough than the UK equivalent and vice versa.

Thanks Neil, You people are very confusing I can see why we left 235 years ago

As for Greenwich, global datum for all maritime navigation at 0 degrees longitude, and home of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) adopted as the basis of Universal Co-ordinated Time for all global time zones ... nah sorry mate never heard of it 

Really?  I thoght they were talking about Greenwich Village in New York   _{I did know that}.

Thanks for the links guys

[Neil]

...
Thanks Neil, You people are very confusing I can see why we left 235 years ago
...

I proud tradition, that I try my very best to uphold

[dks]

Also bear in mind that a masters degree on a topic from one UK university is (at least legally) valued equally as a similar (very) topic masters degree from another UK university, though their syllabi may be a bit different. To attain your masters you will be examined by someone from another university, something done to ensure even standards between all UK universities.
What this means is that you can get into a less popular university, if you do not have the grades or the money for a top tier university and still come out with a degree of equal validity and weight.
Most masters degrees will be accredited by a professional organisation and as long as two UK degrees are recognised and accredited for the same job title then they will be equal and will have to be accepted as such by a UK employer. It will be wise to contactt the organisation responsible for the accreditation of the masters degree you intend to pursue, beforehand, so that they can give you more guidance on the matter.
I am not too familiar with the US system (or the UK one for a few years, so take what I say with a pinch of salt) but I believe there is more credit recognition in the US (previous experience on the topic, sports experience?) than in the UK.
The impression I get is that a UK degree will be more targeted (less off topic subjects) and thus easier to get it recognised in the US by the relevant authorities.
Also, beware of degrees that cover too many topics, promising that you will be able to work in all areas they cover, as usually you find out that they do not cover  each topic enough and you end up being stuck with a useless degree.

Or maybe I am wrong; I have not looked into these for a few years... Anybody with fresher knowledge??