Education in the UK

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Education in the UK is internationally recognised for its quality and variety. With a history dating back almost 800 years, the British way of learning has inspired education systems the world over and is still among the most valued and successful. Overseas students from all over world come to the UK for a first-class education where they receive a warm welcome, experience the culture and the experiences that come from living in the UK. This all is an education in itself. The UK has two distinct systems of courses and qualifications: one for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and one for Scotland, each compatible with the other. Having completed a compulsory education from the age of five, 16 year-olds may start work, remain at school or study at a Further Education (FE) college or undertake Work-Based Training such as General National Vocational Qualifications (GNVQs), which provide skills and knowledge required in vocational areas such as business, engineering or health and social care.

The academic qualifications on offer alone involve thousands of courses at more than a 180 higher education institutions. Hundreds of vocational qualifications also offer specialist skills in every sector of commerce and industry. The degrees and qualifications from UK higher education institutions are known around the world as high quality and world class. The standard of excellence is set by some of the older universities with recognizable names, like Oxford and Cambridge, but the tradition carries through to many of the universities and colleges throughout the UK. When looking for work in the future, this is a great selling point in your favour! The cost of education for an international student in the UK can be lower when compared with USA and other countries. Some courses in the USA can be $25,000 plus a year in tuition alone. Tuition for the majority of UK higher education institutions is in the region of £6,000 to £7,000 a year - considerably less! You can also save a lot of money because your degree will generally take less time to complete in the UK than in other countries. Most degree programs in the UK require a three-year course and a masters program is typically between one and two years.

Learning here isn't a one-way process in which you simply receive information from your teachers. Instead, you'll be encouraged to read widely, to research thoroughly and to question what you learn at every opportunity. Classes and lectures are often supplemented by small, informal group tutorials in which you will be free to exchange ideas and opinions with your teachers, a process which, in turn, stimulates new ideas and new avenues for discussion. The result is that you emerge from a UK education not only with a thorough understanding of your subject but also with analytical abilities and problem-solving skills that are much prized by employers in later life. The UK operates a unique quality assurance system that ensures accountability in all areas. From student support services to the quality of the teaching staff, every school, further education and higher education establishment is subject to rigorous scrutiny by government.