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Colleges in the UK
College Chambers
Southampton, Hampshire, South East England, SO15 2ET
As one of the leading sets on the south coast, College Chambers is committed to providing a first class professional service for solicitors, professional clients and individuals. Our excellent
North London Business School
Tottenham, North London, London, N17 9HY
First of all we welcome you to North London College. We hope that your time of study here will be a pleasant and rewarding experience for you. We aim to see that you receive an outstanding learning
Stanley College London
Harrow on the Hill, North West London, London, HA1 2DR
SCL UK is a dynamic and diverse community that is committed to intellectual excellence and the development of new knowledge. We aim to offer the best possible education and training opportunities to
The Sixth Form College Solihull
Solihull, West Midlands, West Midlands, B91 3WR
The word 'aspire' represents our learning culture. We are proud of the experience of learning we are able to offer our students in their time with us. Not only do so many score outstanding examination
Victoria College
Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, BT9 6XS
Welcome to Victoria College Belfast and thank you for your interest in our school. The College is a leading non-denominational school in South Belfast providing an outstanding educational experience
Thomas Bennett Community College
Crawley, West Sussex, South East England, RH10 5AD
Welcome to Thomas Bennett Community College, a thriving and exciting school. At Thomas Bennett our continual drive to improve academic standards is the foundation upon which success is built; this
Williams College
Wealdstone, North West London, London, HA3 7TS
Dear Students, Following a decision yesterday before a Judge at the Royal Court of Justice, The College Tier 4 licence is revoked no further application from none EU students can be acceptable. Dear
Southend Adult Community College
Southend on Sea, Essex, East England, SS1 2UP
I am delighted to welcome you to our website; if you are an existing or former student it is good to see you accessing the site again. If you are new to the College I hope you find the site easy to
Bishop Perowne C Of E College
Worcester, Worcestershire, West Midlands, WR3 8LE
As the new Headteacher of Bishop Perowne C of E College, my vision is to make it a school of choice in the area and an exceptional learning environment that goes 'the extra mile'. I have come from
Bilborough Sixth Form College
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, NG8 4DQ
Bilborough Sixth Form College caters for students aged 16 to 19 years old, wanting to study AS and A-levels, BTEC or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in an academic, supportive
Sunderland College
Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, North East England, SR6 0AN
Sunderland College is a world class provider of education, with four campuses located across the city. We offer one of the region's largest range of school leaver, adult and higher education courses
UK College Of Hypnosis & Hypnotherapy
Horsham, West Sussex, South East England, RH12 1BF
Thank you for your interest in training with the UK College. From introductory workshops and diploma training for complete beginners, to conversion routes to accreditation and CPD courses for
Faversham College & Tutor Centre
Faversham, Kent, South East England, ME13
Centre Manager Olga Preston has been a qualified teacher for 15 Years and has for the last five years run a successful tutor centre in Southend on Sea, helping many students to gain a higher level at
Northampton College
Northampton, Northamptonshire, East Midlands, NN1 3DE
At Northampton College you will receive the best in education and skills development in state of the art facilities. We aim to ensure that you can reach your potential. This means that we are
Huddersfield New College
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, Yorkshire and the Humber, HD3 4GL
Situated on the edge of the Pennines, perfectly placed for students from either Kirklees or Calderdale, Huddersfield New College is a specialist sixth form college which caters exclusively for young
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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