Students receive free medical and

subsidised dental and optical treatment

under the National Health Service.
Also, full access to a professional
counselling service.
A university careers service
network with an enviable
reputation throughout the world
to help with the decision on what to
do on completion of your studies.
The fact that degree courses here are
more intensive, and thus shorter, than
those in many other countries has an
obvious financial advantage, not only in
study and living costs, but also in the
opportunity to enter, or re-enter, the
employment market sooner.
The education system in the UK is divided
into four main parts, primary education,
secondary education, further education and
higher education. Children in the UK have to
legally attend primary and secondary education
which runs from about 5 years old until the
student is 16 years old.
The education system in the UK is also split into "key stages"
which breaks down as follows:

Generally key stages 1 and 2 will be undertaken at

primary school and at 11 years old a student will
move onto secondary school and finish key stages 3
and 4.
Students are assessed at the end of each stage. The
most important assessment occurs at age 16 when
students pursue their GCSE's or General Certificate
of Secondary Education. Once students complete
their GCSE's they have the choice to go onto further
education and then potential higher education, or
finish school and go into the working world.
Our overview of the education system in the UK is divided into
five main sections:

Primary Education

higher education institutions and organizations, and

help students who want to study abroad.
We use our expertise in higher education to build trust
and understanding with other countries by:
Supporting the development of higher education
policy and practice in the UK and internationally
through events and research publications;
Building partnerships between institutions
through a number of programs which fund
research collaborations across countries and
disciplines;
Promoting the mobility of academics and
students through grants and in certain cases,
scholarships.

Secondary Education
From age 11 to 16, students will enter secondary school for
key stages three and four and to start their move towards
taking the GCSE's - learn more about secondary education in
the UK and what it will involve. Primary and secondary
education is mandatory in the UK; after age 16, education is
optional.

ondary education in the UK normally starts for

most students at the age of 11 years old.
Though not common, in some parts of the UK
there are middle schools which run up to 12 or
13 years old.
For international students coming into the UK for secondary
education, it is common to either enter at the age of 11 or wait
until the age of 13 and have one year in the school before
starting the two-year GCSE program which will run from 14 to
16 years old.
From the age of 11-14, students will study a broad range of
subjects such as Music, Maths, Sciences, English, etc. When
you reach 14, you generally enter into your first year of a 2
year process known as your GCSE (or SCE for those who are
in Scotland). GCSE's are a set of exams that test your
knowledge and skill.

Most schools follow the same method when it

comes to GCSE's and you will take the following
core subjects:

Primary education begins in the UK at age 5 and continues

until age 11, comprising key stages one and two under the UK
educational system. Please visit the British Council page for
more information on primary education.

We connect the UK and US school sectors to enrich

education, promote global citizenship, to foster
dialogue and international partnerships between

English
Maths
Sciences (either combined or separate Biology,
Chemistry and Physics)

Students typically then select an additional 4 or 5 subjects in

more. Students at independent schools may take anywhere up

which to take GCSE's, and they can be subjects like French,

to 5 A-levels.

German, Business Studies, Design and Technology, Music,

Sports Science, Geography, History and many other options.
At state schools students typically take 5 to 10 GCSE's,

The International Baccalaureate is also now offered by more

schools in the UK as an alternative to A-levels, however this is
still ve

depending on the student's ability and drive. For independent

schools, which are usually a lot more results driven, it is not
uncommon for students to take as many as 11 or 12, focusing
more on academic subjects compared to the arts subjects.

Vocational Qualifications
For students who are not so academically minded, they still
have the option to further their education by studying a

GCSE's take a total of 2 years and mark the end of compulsory

vocational course that will provide them with a more hands on

education for students in the UK. Once they have completed

experience and education.

their GCSE's students then have the choice to either move into
further education (with a view to higher education) or can leave

The most popular vocation programs include:

school and look for work.

BTEC Awards

Further Education

National Vocational Qualification (NVQ)

Once a student finishes secondary education they have the

option to extend into further education to take their A-Levels,
GNVQ's, BTEC's or other such qualifications. UK students
planning to go to college or university must complete further
education.

en students reach the age of 16 and have

completed their GCSE's they have a few
options to choose from:
Find work
Academic Qualifications
Vocational Qualifications

City and Guilds Qualification

Apprenticeships
As most international students coming into the UK will be
taking academic programs with the aim of gaining admittance
to a degree program we will not provide that much information
here but please see the links above to learn more.

Higher Education
Probably the most important subject area on this site, this
explains more about the higher education system in the UK
and how it works for international students. Most international
students will enter directly into the UK higher education

If students opt for carrying on with their education this will take

system, after completing their home countrys equivalent to the

two forms, either by pursuing further academic qualifications or

UKs further education.

by following a more vocational pathway.

UK has a vast variety of higher education

opportunities to offer students with over 100
universities offering various degree programs
for students from the UK and around the world.
In the UK about one-third of all students go on
to some form of higher education and this
number is well over 50% for students from
Scotland. This makes competition for places
very fierce and so it is advised to apply early
for courses.

Academic Qualifications
Most schools in the UK have what is called a "6th Form" for
students to enter after they have taken their GCSE's. As an
alternative, there are many "6th Form Colleges" that will offer
the same courses from students at schools that do not have a
6th form. Here students typically study A-levels, further
academic qualifications required of students before they enter
higher education and a degree program.
A-levels, like GCSE's, follow a two-year program and there are
two components to them, full A-levels and half AS-levels.
Generally A-levels comprise of 6 modules, and an AS-level 3
modules.
Students will generally take between two to three A-levels, but
depending on your academic ability and drive you may take

In the UK most undergraduate degree programs take three

years to finish; however, the sandwich course is increasing in
popularity, which is four years and involves one year in the
work place (normally in your third year). In Scotland the
courses are four years in length for undergraduate programs.
For graduate or masters programs they are generally shorter in
length and undertaken after graduation of your undergraduate

program. Some professional degrees like medicine, veterinary,

law etc. have longer programs that can be as much as five
years.

Entry Requirements to Study

in the UK
Depending on what program you are looking at, the entry

From 2007, universities in the UK are allowed to charge

requirements will vary for international students. Although this

students from the UK up to 3,070 per year (depending on the

page will provide you with some useful information with which

school and location). For students from the EU, you will also

to arm yourself about what is needed to gain entry into UK

only have the pay the same fees as students from the UK, but

courses, you should inquire specifically to any course that you

international students from the rest of the world will have to pay

are considering.

the full school fees which will vary depending on the school.
These fees for international students can range anywhere from
4,000 per year right up to 18,000 per year or more.

What you will find in common throughout all courses and

schools is that you will need to show competency in the
English language.

Choosing the right school is

dependent on a large number of
factors such as:

Location of the school?

How much does it cost?
Size of the school?
Access to home comforts? Place of
worship, home foods?

It can be a hard task working out which

school is best for you, so start early, take
your time and research as much as you can
to help in your decision. You will also find
the following resources useful in your
search:

English Language
For most schools and courses, your level of
understanding and competency in English
will be key to your acceptance in a major
program such as a degree program. You will
need to make sure you have a good level of
English understanding and you can do this
by taking one of the following commonly
accepted tests of English ability:
TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign
Language
IELTS - International English Language
Testing System
UCLES - University of Cambridge
Local Examinations Syndicate

UKCOSA - Advice for International

Students
List of UK Universities and Websites
UCAS Application Website for the UK

Entry Requirements

If you need assistance with locating an English as a Second

Language school (ESL School) please see the ESL
directory for a comprehensive listing of schools around the
world.

GCSE Entry Requirements

Entrance to take your GCSE's will depend very much on the

Each level of education in the UK has varying requirements

school with which you are attending as you will generally need

which must be satisfied in order to gain entry at that level -

to register with a school for your GCSE education years (14 to

learn more about the education entry requirements for the UK.

16 years old). Apart from the schools requirements, the main

each level of education in the UK has varying

requirements which must be satisfied in order to
gain entry at that level - learn more about the
education entry requirements for the UK.

requirements by the exams boards in the UK is that you have a

good level of english ability as the exams will be taken in
English - see English requirements above.

A-level Entry Requirements

Like with GCSE's it will be very dependent on the school you

processes and takes all applications for university admission in

wish to attend as to what the requirements are to study A-

the UK.

levels there. For example, a 6th Form College may require that
you have at least 5 GCSE pass grades of C or above, compare
this to an independent school who may require 10 GCSE pass
grades of B or above. So this will be very much dependent on
the school.
You also need to consider that A-levels are a much higher level
of work and so a very good understanding of the English

You will need to apply through UCAS and

work with their program which is as follows:
September 1st Applications open for the next year
January 15th EU Nationals Application Deadline
June 30th Main application deadline

language will be needed to work at this level. Some people say

that A-levels are harder than most degrees programs as they

June 30th to September 30th Clearing Process

prepare you for higher education.

A few things to note here:

Vocational Course Entry

Requirements
As with GCSE's you will generally not need any formal

If you are planning to apply to Oxford or Cambridge the

application process is a little different and different dates
will apply to your application process so please contact
the university directly for exact information.

qualifications to enter basic vocational course. Literacy skills

and proficiency in the English language would be the only

You are encouraged to get your application in as early as

requirements, but again you should check with the school or

possible as the most popular courses will fill up very

institution that is running the program as they may have their

quickly.

own requirements.

University Entry Requirements

Students who did not achieve sufficient grades will often

have to look for another place and this process is called
clearing.

Each course in the UK sets it own entry, so they vary

considerably. Most degree programs in the UK will require that
the student have passed either A-levels and attained certain
grades, for example 4 B grades, or equivalent grades in a

Applications need to be made to UCAS and

you will need to make sure you gather all the

BTEC or GNVQ. So within a university different courses will

information together in order to apply - this

have different requirements and universities as a whole may

will include:

have certain requirements that all students will have to meet.

Test scores and requirements the University has for

For example, the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge

international students (please check with the university

generally require all students to attend an interview, other

you wish to attend as they will guide you on this)

universities will not require this.

Also, as an international student coming to the UK you can still
attend University even though you may not have taken A-levels
and have not been educated in the UK system, but you will
need to contact the administrator of that program to find out

A personal statement
A reference letter
Payment to UCAS

what credentials from your home country you will need to

There are two key resources that you should use as you gather

provide.

information for studying in the UK and they are the UCAS

So, how do you keep track of what is required for a course and
how to you apply? In the UK, this is done through

website and the international office at the university you want

to attend.

the University and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS) which

We also encourage you to interact with our resources and post messages, leave comments and help us build our UK student
community. You can learn a lot from fellow students, and your participation makes our resources better: