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Colleges in the UK
ADT College
Putney, South West London, London, SW15 2UT
Ashcroft Technology Academy is the new name for the highly successful ADT City Technology College. The new Academy is sponsored by Lord Ashcroft, KCMG, who was also the founder sponsor of ADT College.
The Isbourne College
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, South West England, GL50 1TH
Drawing on the Isbourne Holistic Centre's 20 years experience as the pioneering charity for self development and wellbeing education in the South West of England - as well as the
London College Of Style
Fulham, South West London, London, SW6 4TJ
The London College of Style is a centre of creative excellence, teaching and inspiring a generation of outstanding fashion and personal stylists. Located in London, one of the world's most inventive
St George's College, Weybridge
Addlestone, Surrey, South East England, KT15 2QS
St George's College, Weybridge and St George's Junior School, Weybridge are independent Roman Catholic co-educational schools which welcome those of other Christian traditions allowing all to develop
Chessington Community College
Chessington, South West London, London, KT9 2JS
I am delighted to have been appointed Headteacher of Chessington Community College. There is such potential here in all the young people I have seen and I am energised by the possibilities of this new
ST. John S College Day Nursery
Portsmouth, Hampshire, South East England, PO5 2DG
As PrincipaL it gives me great pleasure to lead and be part of a unique and exceptional school. St John's College is a school for all ages which seeks to realise each child's full personal potential -
Baysgarth School
Barton upon Humber, Lincolnshire, East Midlands, DN18 6AE
Thinkuknow is a place which anyone can use to report if they feel uncomfortable or worried about someone they are chatting to online, as well as online safety advice for young people and adults.
Alexander Cromwell College
Wembley, North West London, London, HA0 1AN
Alexander Cromwell College has successfully passed the ISI-Education Oversight Inspection. Alexander Cromwell College is the trading name of Alexander Cromwell College Ltd, UK Reg. Images used on the
Community College
Norwood Green, West London, London, UB2 4EA
Community College based in Southall, strives to provide exceptional standards of learning. Indian Music - Shabad Kirtan, Bhajan, Ghazals, Geet and Filmi Songs. More courses will be available in the
College Veterinary Surgery
Maidstone, Kent, South East England, ME15 6SX
Firstly, let me introduce myself, my name is Sally White and I am the practice owner and full time Veterinary Surgeon. I would like to take this opportunity to extend a welcome to both existing and
New College
Wellington, Shropshire, West Midlands, TF1 1NY
Whether it's University, a higher level apprenticeship or a job, New College Telford provides all the support you need to help you be a successful and achieve your ambitions. When you first apply to
Saint Francis Xavier Sixth Form College
Balham, South West London, London, SW12 8EN
SFX is a top performing 6th Form College based in Balham, South London with 1 out of 3 students achieving grades A*- B in 2014. We offer over 50 courses including; Level 3: AS and A levels, UAL/BTEC
FCL College
Wembley, North West London, London, HA0 2AL
Whatever your career choice, you'll progress further and faster with qualifications under your belt. Employers look for people with practical business skills. They want people who have used their
Kaplan International College Bournemouth
Bournemouth, Dorset, South West England, BH4 9EF
Kaplan Test Preparation, Kaplan Test Prep Europe: Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests for university and graduate school admissions and English-language proficiency, as well
Garth Hill College
Bracknell, Berkshire, South East England, RG42 2AD
Garth Hill College serves the community of North Bracknell and surrounding areas for pupils aged 11-19 years of age. We offer a good range of traditional academic and vocational courses, and a strong
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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