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Colleges in the UK
St Joseph's College
Crystal Palace, South East London, London, SE19 3HL
We are a warm and caring Lasallian community. St Joseph's provides a stimulating and challenging environment for students to study, learn, grow and develop into young adults who are ready and prepared
Oldham Sixth Form College
Oldham, Greater Manchester, North West England, OL8 1XU
As a non-selective institution, the College often accepts students that other local sixth forms turn down, giving them the opportunity to work and succeed alongside students with much higher levels of
Thomas Knyvett College
Ashford, Surrey, South East England, TW15 3DU
Welcome to Thomas Knyvett College, one of the most improved comprehensive schools in the country and in the county of Surrey having achieved 60% of Year 11 students gaining 5 or more A*-C grades
Holy Trinity College
Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, BT80 8QB
Holy Trinity's website has been designed by pupils and staff, to provide information about life in the college and what it has to offer. As the college continues to develop so too does this website.
MLS International College
Bournemouth, Dorset, South West England, BH1 2EN
Since its foundation in 1987, MLS International College has been committed to delivering quality programmes in English Language and English for Special Purposes. Our programmes are designed to meet
Elizabeth College
Nine Elms, South West London, London, SW8 4UG
All children deserve a top notch education, but making that happen for your children does not have to mean expensive private schools or living in the most elaborate neighborhoods. Going to college is
Cirencester College
Swindon, Wiltshire, South West England, SN 267
Twenty-two Cirencester Sixth Form College Career Academy students graduated in a special ceremony in Bristol on May 5th. They were supported by their proud parents and lecturers at the South West
Essex International College
Canary Wharf, East London, London, E14 9TS
We thank you for reviewing our website. Essex International College (EIC) is a private college that endeavours to provide an integrated system of study, using specialist vocational programmes linked
C E S
Codsall, Staffordshire, West Midlands, WV8 1EJ
The College Engineering Supply has been associated with the supply of materials and castings for Education, and Industry since 1957; for the past 16 years we have included the supply to Model
College Court
Leicester, Leicestershire, East Midlands, LE2 3UF
Conveniently located within easy reach of the M1 and M69 motorways and only 1.7 miles from Leicester Train station, where guests can travel only 70 minutes from central London. East Midlands Airport
Cecil Jones College
Southend on Sea, Essex, East England, SS2 4BU
Students are becoming actively involved in school improvement, discussing teaching and learning, whether this be through research in school, observing and feeding back on learning in lessons or
Eltham College
Eltham, South East London, London, SE9 4QF
At Eltham College every pupil is known and valued as an individual. With excellent facilities, pupils are encouraged to perform at their highest level; in academia, sport, and our celebrated music,
New College Worcester
Worcester, Worcestershire, West Midlands, WR5 2JX
Meet one of our Year 10 students Amy and find out what she gets up to at NCW, how life has changed since she joined the College and the kinds of IT equipment she uses to access her work. This film has
Heanor Gate Science College
Heanor, Derbyshire, East Midlands, DE75 7RA
Heanor Gate is a specialist science college situated in Southern Central Derbyshire. We are committed to achieving excellence in education within a caring environment. Heanor Gate has been a
Ashford College
Ashford, Kent, South East England, TN23 4RL
Welcome to Ashford College, a local college offering a number of full and part-time qualifications for residents in and around Ashford and East Kent. Our courses have been designed to suit the
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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