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Colleges in the UK
Brooksby Melton College
Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, East Midlands, LE13 0HJ
Here at BMC we are committed to providing the very best routes for your future. Our specialist vocational qualifications are the perfect way to develop your skills, knowledge and confidence and most
North Lindsey College
Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, East Midlands, DN17 1AJ
We are the largest provider of post-16 education and training in North Lincolnshire, offering a wide range of further education programmes, both vocational and academic, and apprenticeship courses at
College Of Business & Development Studies
Bradford, West Yorkshire, Yorkshire and the Humber, BD7 2EA
The College of Business and Development Studies has successfully launced a new course on 11th November 2013 in Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Sector [PTLS]. Please contact student services if you
Sutherland Cranial College
Stroud, Gloucestershire, South West England, GL6 7QW
Special price of £950 for Module 2 Osteopathy in the Cranial Field Course in September 2015. Limited graduate bursaries of £150 available on a first come first served basis. Please check under the
London Brookes College
Hendon, North West London, London, NW4 4AP
This Sliding Bar can be switched on or off in theme options, and can take any widget you throw at it or even fill it with your custom HTML Code. Its perfect for grabbing the attention of your viewers.
R C U
Preston, Lancashire, North West England, PR1 3LS
RCU began its journey 21 years ago, back in 1993. At that time it was an exciting new start up providing research and market intelligence to support Further Education colleges in the North West of
Trinity College Chapel
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, East England, CB2 1TQ
Trinity College Chapel was built during the reigns of Mary and Elizabeth I, and was intended to be the place where the Master, Fellows and Scholars of the College made their daily acts of worship, as
The West Of England School & College
Exeter, Devon, South West England, EX2 6HA
Aim: The education and care of young people with visual impairment and/or complex needs and their transition into school, college and beyond. Vision: To provide a specialist centre for education,
Mercy College Belfast
Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, BT14 7QR
As a school founded on the principals of the Mercy Order, we are inspired by the vision of Catherine McAuley, who founded the Religious Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy in 1831, and the teaching
Portsmouth College
Portsmouth, Hampshire, South East England, PO3 6PZ
Owing to the very high numbers of application received we will now be running two separate Introduction Days for prospective new students: Friday 26th June (as previously advertised) and Monday 29th
Alton College
Alton, Hampshire, South East England, GU34 2LX
Alton College staff maintain and develop outstanding links with industry which benefit students as they bring these specialist skills and expertise into the classroom. Curriculum Manager for Creative
Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College
Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, West Midlands, ST4 2RU
Our Governors are members of the City of Stoke-on-Trent College Corporation, a legal entity whose role is to shape the overall direction of the College, ensure that senior management set high and
1st Premium College
Birmingham, West Midlands, West Midlands, B28 9HH
1st Premium College is committed to providing the most accessible and affordable education in the UK private education sector, bringing together the elements of a Post Graduate Diplomas, Graduate
Goole College
Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, Yorkshire and the Humber, DN14 6SR
Students join us at Goole College for a variety of reasons, they may wish to gain qualifications to develop their chosen careers or progress to higher education. Other studentss are interested in
Oakwood Court Collage
Torpoint, Cornwall, South West England, PL11 2BJ
At Oakwood Court College every student matters and their future independence and success is at the forefront of all that we do. It is a friendly place to live, work and learn offering a great variety
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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