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Colleges in the UK

Oxford House College

Oxford House College

We think learning English should be easy, fun and rewarding! Our students seem to agree with us - we started teaching in 1974 and have been growing ever since! Oxford House College is now one of the UK's most popular accredited English language schools. Every year, more than 7,000 international students like you come to Oxford House College to improve their English language skills, education and career prospects. less

Oxford College Of English

Oxford College Of English

Oxford College of English has over 35 years experience in teaching and running English language courses. We offer students from all over the world the opportunity to enrol on a first class language course and improve their English. With a mixture of our own schools and partner schools, we are sure to have an English course that will deliver the results you are looking for. less

Manchester College Of Engineering

Manchester College Of Engineering

At the Manchester College of Engineering And Technology we endeavour to provide the very highest level of teaching. Our college has international provenance and has drawn on decades of practice and understanding of our founders that have established recognised educational establishments across the Atlantic in Canada. less

London College Of Information Technology

London College Of Information Technology

We have all it takes to attract students to pursue their education with complete peace of mind: flexible online classes, easy enrollments, mobile classrooms, experienced faculty, affiliated universities, 24/7 available consultancy services, state-of the-art student area, financial aid and credit transfer facility. Our efficient educational processes do not only educate students but also make them able individuals and show them the path to success and recognition in the corporate world. less

The Faith Mission Bible College

The Faith Mission Bible College

For more than 110 years the Faith Mission Bible College has been equipping men and women from all over the world for a wide variety of Christian ministries. At FMBC, we are committed to the Bible as God's word to people today. Our courses are designed to help you develop rigorous skills in thinking and studying the Bible to prepare you for lifelong ministry and mission. less

Alpha College

Alpha College

At Alpha College, Our aim is educational excellence. We focus on giving students opportunities to excel. We help them to realize and maximize their potential. Every student is an individual and each individual is important to us. Our teaching methods are exemplary as well as practical. We are each student's home away from home. Today's student is tomorrows future and we want to bring out their best and put those best skills forward. less

Salford City College

Salford City College

Salford City College is one of the largest and most successful colleges in the North West of England. Each of our centres strive towards the same high values and quality standards. This success is down to our commitment to ensure that students choose the right course and are given all of the support and guidance that they need in order to achieve their full potential. Our recent Beacon Award success is testament to this success. less

Central Manchester College

Central Manchester College

Established since 1987, White Rose Beauty College is today the largest and most prestigious beauty therapy training provider in the UK. Training over two thousand learners a year, across six centres of excellence, the White Rose centres are all located in stunning accommodation have central locations with cutting edge facilities. We offer the highest quality of training. less

Hyde Community College

Hyde Community College

We are a 'state of the art' 21st century school delivering 21st century education. Hyde 11-18 Community College is located near to Flowery Field train station in Hyde and is nearby to Junction 3 of the M67 motorway. It is also possible to zoom in and out using the + and - icons on the left. less

Oxford College International

Oxford College International

Oxford College International is a privately run school situated in the beautiful city of Dublin. As one of Dublin's top schools of English, and one of Ireland's top tourist areas, our school offers a variety of professional ESL (English as a Second Language), BE (Business English) and Exam Preparation courses year round. less

Alexander Technique College

Alexander Technique College

The Brighton Alexander Technique College is a Carrington style-training course, evolving our practice from the renowned skills of Walter & Dilys Carrington. The training course has been running for over 20 years and Carolyn combines the richness of her experience with fresh and innovative ways of teaching. I am a student just about to leave and start my own teaching practice. Carolyn's school stays true to the teaching of Alexander. less

Lansdowne College

Lansdowne College

At Lansdowne College we aim to instil a love in learning in our students and prepare them for life beyond school. We take time to understand what motivates them and believe that all students should be encouraged to excel. Our comprehensive range of A-level, GCSE and Foundation courses, and expert teaching, provides students with the best possible learning environment. Most students join us straight from GCSEs for a two year A-level course, and 95% of Lansdowne students go to university. less

Inspire Middlesex College

Inspire Middlesex College

Hayes, West London, London, UB3 4AZ

Make the right choices and enrol at Inspire Middlesex College today to enhance your career aspirations in Pharmacy. Our Staff is committed to treat all equally and fairly and adapt their teaching or assessment methods to accommodate the individual's need. less

Manor Green College

Manor Green College

Manor Green College has four Campuses providing a range of interventions across all the key stages to students who are unable to access education in the mainstream for a variety of different reasons. We aim to ensure that each of our students has access to a high quality learning experience that stimulates and re-engages them with the determination to progress and the ambition to succeed. less

Central Sussex College

Central Sussex College

Whether you're a potential plumber, a promising physicist, an aspiring apprentice, a budding florist or a high-flying accountant, Central Sussex College has a course to suit you. As one of the largest training providers in the South East, we currently have over 11,000 students studying full and part time at our campuses throughout central Sussex. less

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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 UK
What makes a university different than a college
College in the UK explained
The benefits of studying in a college
College tuition fees