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Colleges in the UK
Marine Safety Training Centre
South Shields, Tyne and Wear, North East England, NE33 1LQ
We are renowned for the friendly and welcoming atmosphere we offer to all of our students, but there is so much more to South Tyneside College. We look forward to welcoming you and allowing you to see
De La Salle College
Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, BT11 8LT
In keeping with this philosophy we welcome boys of all abilities. We work hard to facilitate the transition from primary school to secondary level education for all our pupils. John Baptist de la
Paulet High School & 6th Form College
Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, West Midlands, DE15 9RT
Paulet High School was established in 1975 to cater for children of all abilities, mainly from the Stapenhill area of Burton upon Trent. In common with other High Schools in the town, it owes its name
Yorkshire College Of Music & Drama
Leeds, West Yorkshire, Yorkshire and the Humber, LS2 9BN
Whether you're a beginner, or an experienced musician, the Yorkshire College of Music and Drama offers expert individual tuition for both adults and children in a friendly, relaxed environment. Do you
Wrekin College
Telford, Shropshire, West Midlands, TF1 3
For a small school, our sporting prowess is remarkable. We aim for very high standards in our core sports and offer a very wide range of options - up to twelve different sports in any term. Our
Accounts & Finance College
Woking, Surrey, South East England, GU21 5AB
This qualification will start you on the path to a successful accounting and finance career. Our training will give you the practical skills and financial expertise to follow a rewarding career in
Dr J Osborn
Cullompton, Devon, South West England, EX15 1FE
We are committed to preventative medicine and healthy living, and to providing fully integrated care for all your health needs. In addition to all the care you would expect from any general practice,
English Euro College
Teignmouth, Devon, South West England, TQ14 8BX
The English Euro College not only offers the opportunity to learn another language, but also to learn about the cultures and customs of another county. We are a seasonal language school situated in
Shimna
Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland, BT33 0HD
Shimna Integrated College was founded in 1994, on the day of the first IRA ceasefire, which was closely followed by the first Loyalist ceasefire. Local parents founded Shimna in order to provide an
Shiplake College
Reading, Berkshire, South East England, RG9 4BW
The College is privileged to be supported by a highly experienced, knowledgeable and diverse board of governors. Between them, the governors cover numerous areas of relevant expertise, which the
The College Practice
Kentish Town, North West London, London, NW5 1PA
Whether you're a professional sportsman or a mother of four, we are here to help you stay happy, healthy and active. All our practitioners are trained to an excellent standard and have an active
Leeds Martial Arts College
Morley, West Yorkshire, Yorkshire and the Humber, LS27 0QH
Leeds Martial Arts College was opened in 2002 by Sensei Paul Lynch. After retiring from International Competition (13 British Championships plus 1998 World Champion and 2000 European Champion) Sensei
Ernest Bevin College
Tooting, South West London, London, SW17 7DF
From September we will be introducing a new uniform at Ernest Bevin College. It will consist of a blazer with silver piping on the lapels and a new Phoenix logo embroidered on to the chest pocket.
Moon Hall College & Burys Court
Reigate, Surrey, South East England, RH2 8RE
Welcome to Moon Hall College, which incorporates also Burys Court Prep School. We are an integrated school from Year 2 to GCSE. We specialise in helping dyslexic children but not to the exclusion of
Dereham 6th Form College
Dereham, Norfolk, East England, NR20 4AG
Welcome to Dereham Sixth Form College, a vibrant learning community where we constantly strive to offer students the highest possible standards of teaching and learning alongside a rich and varied
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Many students from abroad, when visiting a foreign country for an exchange year or to simply enroll at a Bachelor or Masters degree course, or another type of an educational course, often find it difficult to figure out the educational system of the country hosting them as students. And this is totally normal and understandable. At the end of the day, the majority of the countries in the world follow their own educational system that may be similar to other countries in the world, but not necessarily exactly the same.
This is a common case when it comes to the term “college” in the UK. When students from the USA and many other countries in the world are asked to define what college is, they will quickly explain to you that college is the same thing as university. However, is it the same in the UK? Did you know that college in the UK is something different from university? Today we are about to explain the basic differences between a college and an university in the UK, so stay tuned if you are interested in this topic.
The Difference Between University and College in UK
Confusion about a foreign educational system is a common thing students from abroad face and they may feel intimidated by that. However, there is no place for worries, because things are often easy to explain and get used to. This applied for the difference between a college and a university in the UK. In many countries both terms are pretty much interchangeable and mean the same thing. Other countries simply never use the term college and they have universities only. However, when it comes to the UK, there are both a college and a university as a part of the educational system and they mean something different. Well, if you are an exchange student in the UK or going there to study for a degree, you will soon find out that the country has a pretty unique educational system and the college is not the only thing different here.
Before explaining more in-depth the difference between a university and a college in the UK, let’s get some basic understanding about the educational system in the country in general, about a university, and about a college. It is a very good and important beginning if you are interested in studying in the UK and getting a degree, because there are different options and opportunities and you can choose the one that best suits and meets your requirements and needs as a student. Both a university and a college can help you develop in different ways and achieve different goals. Therefore, it is important to understand the difference between a college and a university and make the right decision, depending on your plans for the future.
In general, the UK educational system is divided in five major stages as it follows: Early years, Primary years, Secondary School, Further education, Higher education. The first three stages of education in the UK are the base of what the world knows as compulsory education. What happens at the end of secondary school is that students will sit for GCSE or A-Levels exams and next they will be free to make the decisions and choices about their future. This is the first stage, where the difference between a college and a university in the UK is very apparent. Basically, the main thing that differs a college and a university in the UK is that both terms determine a different level of education in the country.
In the most common way around the world, students will move from secondary school to a university, if they wish so. However, the UK educational system throws one more option for students in the whole mix and this is the college. UK students face a few opportunities by the end of this period and they can either decide to simply find a job right away and not to follow further education plans, they can enroll at a higher education, which is a university, if they have taken their A-Levels, or they can choose to enroll at a further education course and gain particular set of skills needed to land a specific job and start a specific career, which in the UK is referred to as a college. With these options in mind, it is safe to say that there are a bunch of differences when we compare a college and a university in the UK. The main one is that both terms are used for different levels of education, however, both a college and a university will differ in the context of degrees, duration, study curriculums, and more.
What Makes a University Different Than a College
When it comes to the UK, national universities can offer two types of degrees – undergraduate degrees and postgraduate degrees. Some universities in the country can also offer some further and specific educational courses, such as foundation degrees.
College in the UK Explained
A college is an educational institution that offers further education courses that will lead to specific qualifications and degrees. With that in mind, a college is usually assumed to offer more practical skills and qualifications. College qualifications in the UK include the following: diploma, foundation degrees, GCSE, Higher National Certificate, Higher National Diploma, International Baccalaureate.
In general, college courses in the country are designed in a way that students can obtain a certain level of skills and qualifications in a particular field. By finishing college, students are able to get a job or gain academic preparation for continuing their education at a university. A college course will also be more focused on providing students with a set of more practical skills. Therefore, a college in the country is often chosen by students, who want to obtain skills and become employable in a shorter period of time. A college will usually offer a part-time and flexible studying option besides the full-time studies that normally list last for one to two years.
The Benefits of Studying in a College
Almost two hundred thousand people in the UK are attending a college every year according to recent studies. So what makes so many people decide to continue their studies at a college? Is it beneficial to study at a college? However, it is important to mention that more students in the country prefer to attend a university over a higher education college. But still, their many benefits when it comes to a college, including:
• Lower tuition fees for a college
• Less overloaded college classes
• Study at college from home and reduce expenses
• Flexible college study programs
• Opportunity to continue with a university degree after college
• More individual support at college
College Tuition Fees
When it comes to higher education in the UK, it is pretty much costly and expensive, therefore, a college is a good option if you are on a budget. Enrolling and studying at a UK college will cost you significantly less. So if you don’t have the money for university tuition and you don’t want to rely on a student loan, a college is a good solution. College students in the UK are further encouraged by being provided with a range of merit-based and need-based bursaries.
The difference between university and college in UKWhat makes a university different than a college
College in the UK explained
The benefits of studying in a college
College tuition fees