U.K. has an advanced economy as well as one of
the leading educational systems in the world. High standard and quality service
are a feature of British colleges. It boasts of world renowned historic universities
like Oxford and Cambridge.
Further Education
In U.K., education and training
after the school leaving age of 16 is termed Further Education (FE). There are
over 600 F.E colleges across UK. F.E. colleges may be known by different names,
such as college of further and higher education, college of technology, sixth-form
college, institute or tertiary college. F.E colleges don't offer degrees. They
provide excellent access opportunities either for going on to a university after
a year's preparation or for completing a course which provides the right qualification
for finding a job. Degrees awarded by F.E colleges include A-levels, International
Baccalaureate or Bachelors, one year access courses, GNVQ (General National
Vocational Qualification).
Higher Education
Higher Education are courses
having an entry requirement, normally obtained after 2 years of Post -GCSE (General
Certificate of Secondary Education) or Post-S- grade study-A levels and AS-levels,
Scottish Highers, Advanced General National Vocational Diploma or General Scottish
Vocational Diploma at Level III.
Higher Education courses are
available in Universities and University sector colleges and institutes.
Most of the universities specialise in degree courses and a large number also
offer Higher National Diploma (HND). Some of the larger University sector
colleges and institutes provide degree and HND courses and smaller
ones specialise in one or a group of subjects.
Application Procedure
In most universities and colleges
Academic year starts in September. Application procedure must begin at least
one year before then. Entry is usually based on examination grades. In addition
to qualifications relevant to your chosen subject you may have to show how well
you can use the English language.
For a Further education course
in a college, application forms are obtained directly from the institution.
For higher education (degree and diploma courses) there is a central system
known as UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admission Service). UCAS - This organisation
is the clearing house for application for first degrees to most higher education
courses in the U.K. Application forms can be had from the following address.
Universities and Colleges Admission
Service
Fulton House
Jessop Avenue
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire GL50 3SH
Tel:+44 1242 227788 (applicants)
Tel:+44 1242 222444(other enquiries)
Fax:+44 1242 263557
For Oxford and Cambridge Universities
the closing date for receipt of application forms is 15 October Whereas in other
universities application should be made before 15th December.
There
are some courses held in colleges which are outside the UCAS system. They are
some HND (Higher National Diploma) and Degree courses (mainly music and drama
courses), Postgraduate courses and some specialist and professional courses.
Application for these courses should be made directly to the institutions concerned.
