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Colleges in the UK

Havant College

Havant College

Choosing a college is a big decision - almost certainly the biggest you've made since your GCSE options. At Havant Sixth Form College, we know just how important the next couple of years are for you. We have been successfully preparing students for progression to universities and jobs for over 50 years. Many of you will be the first cohort to be taught and assessed within the new linear A Level syllabuses. less

Hatfield College Boat Club

Hatfield College Boat Club

Hatfield College Boat Club (HCBC) was founded in 1846 and has been progressing and expanding ever since. The club has enjoyed many successes over the years. Recently the Women's Squad has achieved considerable success under the coaching of Jamie Watson, qualifying for the Academic IVs at Women's Henley in 2013 and 2014. less

College Arms

College Arms

The College Arms, is one of the few remaining real Country Inns left in England, we are a family run business, recently taken over by a Mother and Son team who bring vast international hospitality knowledge to this beautiful Inn. Full of History, The 16th Century building is full of Charm and Character, furnished with parquet, and flag stoned floors, real oak furniture, and huge inglenook fireplaces. less

Bournemouth City College

Bournemouth City College

Our vision is to promote knowledge at an international level. Learning a new language helps to develop the process of seeing the world from another perspective and is a genuine route to international understanding and to boost career prospects and enable people to increase their knowledge and confidence so that they can truly fulfil their potential. less

Roundview College

Roundview College

Coming in your face from our newly refurbished IT Department telling you to put on your seatbelts for what I'm certain can be our greatest year ever here at Roundview College. I can just picture the moment now when you all burst through those front doors for the first time; your fresh young faces dripping with possibilities as you all rush up to tell me about your summers and then we do high fives and laugh. I've had a lovely bit of time off myself. less

Somerset College Of Arts & Technology

Somerset College Of Arts & Technology

Located in Taunton the County Town of Somerset, in the heart of the South West, Somerset College offers an extensive range of Further and Higher Education courses as well as skills training in a warm, friendly and welcoming environment. Our success speaks for itself with fantastic achievements and great careers for our students. less

Sedgefield Community College

Sedgefield Community College

At Sedgefield Community College we seek to promote high standards of literacy in all of our subjects across the school. We believe that it is vital for students to leave Sedgefield Community College well equipped with the literacy skills they will need to be successful throughout their life. less

Shrewsbury Sixth Form College

Shrewsbury Sixth Form College

Whether you are visiting as a potential student, parent or member of staff, or are simply interested in finding out more about us, I hope you will find the site interesting and useful. This is a great opportunity to let you know what the College is about. Shrewsbury Sixth Form College is a highly successful college which offers full-time courses for over 1500 students aged 16-19 years. The majority of students study at the College for two years. less

Bilston Community College

Bilston Community College

Bilston Community College Trust was established with the main aim of welfare of the general public in the Community and as an independent college of higher education and corporate training which specialises in a range of vocational and professional open courses and Multi-Languages and skills course to meet the demand of public and Community. Bilston Community College Trust is a registered educational charity and has a strong heritage in learning. less

Slemish College

Slemish College

We have a strong tradition of being committed to child-centred learning and this encourages us to deliver creative and innovative approaches throughout all aspects of school life. We have the highest standards and expectations for our students, whether it be nurturing our gifted and talented to aim for academic excellence or fostering more practical strengths in vocational areas. less

Hartlepool College Of Further Education

Hartlepool College Of Further Education

5.0
2 Reviews

Many employers recognise that their future lies in quality Apprenticeships. Hartlepool College of Further Education believes this too, and we're one of the biggest providers of Apprenticeships in the Tees Valley and County Durham, supporting over approximately 900 Apprentices. Apprenticeships are a programme of structured learning and work experience encompassing almost all vocational areas. They offer trainees a broad spectrum of work and not just individual skills. less

Carmel College

Carmel College

Over the years, Carmel College has gone from strength to strength and has gained a national reputation for quality. The last Ofsted inspection rated Carmel as "Outstanding in all aspects of its provison." The college also has Beacon Status for outstanding performance. less

Stockton Sixth Form College

Stockton Sixth Form College

5.0
2 Reviews

Stockton Sixth Form College has built an exceptional reputation for academic achievement over many years and, as the only specialist sixth form college in Stockton on Tees, has over 40 years' experience delivering A-level, BTEC and GCSE qualifications to students aged 16-19 from across the region. Ofsted judged Stockton Sixth Form to be a 'Good' college across all areas in its latest report, noting "high success rates across all levels of study" and "very effective support for students". less

Moorlands College

Moorlands College

Attending Moorlands can be dangerous - it may transform your life. As you set aside quality time to immerse yourself in God's Word and learn from experienced practitioners, ultimately it can be nothing short of life-changing. Moorlands offers you the opportunity to grow in your faith and to equip yourself with the tools needed not just for a job but for life long ministry. less

The London College UK

The London College UK

At The London College (UK), we understand that we are working towards the future of our students. We believe that education is not only something that a student would learn in the classroom but a good education is what they will practise outside the classroom. Our vision is to provide full support to all our students to make them a successful person. 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
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