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Colleges in the UK
New College Stamford
Stamford, Lincolnshire, East Midlands, PE9 1XA
Stamford College offers education and training to over 2,000 students every year providing a huge range of courses to suit everyone – A Levels, vocational, part-time adult courses, apprenticeships,
Woodhouse College
North Finchley, North London, London, N12 9EY
Our students are able and hard-working. They have done well at GCSE and aim to do likewise at A level. Almost all go on to university. The College acts as a bridge from school to university, giving
Western Tutorial College
Bristol, South West England, South West England, BS4 5BE
We are the only institution in Bristol that offers a range of A-level and GCSE subjects over 1 year. If you need to retake one or more units to gain entry to your desired university, or (after
The Yorkshire College Of Beauty Therapy
Leeds, West Yorkshire, Yorkshire and the Humber, LS19 7EP
We offer world class training for future beauty therapists. If you are considering a career in beauty therapy-look no further than the Yorkshire College of Beauty. We are a world-renowned CIDESCO
Presidency London College
Harlesden, North West London, London, NW10 6RF
Presidency London College is an independent training provider based in North Kensington, London. Our health care courses cover a variety of topics, including dental nursing, and phlebotomy. We also
The First Aid Training College
Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, Wales, SA32 7RH
How many times have you or your staff listened as an instructor has read off a set of notes without much background knowledge, experience or interest? It's time to bring back some enjoyment to your
Aldgate College London
Shoreditch, East London, London, E1 1LN
Aldgate College London is a new establishment based in the East of London providing courses and qualifications to students from all over the world. We have a pivotal role to play in raising the skills
Online Business School
Coventry, West Midlands, West Midlands, CV4 8JZ
Online Business School offers the world's most affordable UK university programmes. We are known to provide flexible online pathways to an affordable degree. Study online with us having the comfort of
UK College of Business and Computing
Acton, West London, London, W3 0XA
UK College of Business and Computing (UKCBC) in Park Royal, West London is an approved independent higher education institution. Along with 4 other UKCBC campuses based in London and Essex, our Park
TSPA College - Performing Arts
Thamesmead, South East London, London, SE2 9BS
We offer specialist performing arts, post-GCSE, with industry West End professionals as tutors and the highest standards of training available. Established in 2014, we saw there was a need for funded,
Walsall College
Walsall, West Midlands, West Midlands, WS2 8ES
Walsall College is an Outstanding provider of vocational courses in the West Midlands offering full time, part time and higher education courses as well as Apprenticeships and Business Training.
Jamea Al Kauthar
Lancaster, Lancashire, North West England, LA1 5AJ
Welcome to Jamea Al Kauthar Islamic College for Girls. Established in 1996, we are dedicated to welcoming students into an excellent academic atmosphere that is spiritually enriching and physically
Bishop Auckland College
Bishop Auckland, County Durham, North East England, DL14 6JZ
Bishop Auckland College offers students the opportunity to select from a comprehensive programme of full-time courses in a wide range of disciplines. The College also provides a full range of adult
Ashbourne College
Holland Park, West London, London, W8 4PL
Ashbourne is one of the best private A level colleges in London. Its students achieve 50%+ A*A grades, with similar percentage going on to Russell Group universities, including Cambridge, UCL and
Albemarle Independent 6th Form College
Marylebone, West End, London, W1K 7FE
Albemarle is one of the best sixth form colleges in London with it's vast range of: GCSE, iGCSE, AS and A-Level courses up for grabs, inviting to international students, Albemarle is your ideal sixth
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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