(UKIERI) aims to substantially improve educational links between India and UK ensuring in the longer term we become each other's partner of choice in education. The three main strands of the initiative are � Higher Education and Research, Schools and Professional and Technical Skills. Students who attend universities in England usually do a three year course to earn a bachelor's degree, whether it be an ordinary degree or an honours degree. There are also sandwich courses which offer work placement whereby student work for a short period of time in a relevant industry before completing their studies. Taking a sandwich course may make the degree last a year longer than otherwise. English universities specialise subjects throughout the entire degree. The Oxbridge universities (Oxford University and Cambridge University) which are amongst the world's oldest universities are generally ranked at or near the top of all UK universities. Academic degrees are usually split into classes: first class (I), upper second class (II:1), lower second class (II:2) and third (III), and pass (below third class).