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Colleges in the UK
Trading College
Teddington, South West London, London, TW11 8JD
Our MD Lee Sandford often gets asked to speak at major trading events around the world. His style is down-to-earth and straight talking. You'll learn from genuine traders, who trade their own money on
Gemal College
Finsbury Park, North London, London, N4 3EY
Awaiting you at Gemal College are highly qualified Tutors and a friendly classroom environment to help prepare our students for the competitive world of professional work or tertiary education.
St Helens College 14
St Helens, Merseyside, North West England, WA9 1TT
Are you looking for an Apprenticeship or a job and aged 16 - 24? Then a Traineeship may be just what you need to help you get started. Traineeships are new training programmes, designed to help you to
Lowestoft College
Lowestoft, Suffolk, East England, NR32 2NB
In 2007 Lowestoft College became part of University Campus Suffolk and is now one of five centres in the region to offer a range of Higher Education qualifications including Foundation and Honours
College Of Estate Management
Reading, Berkshire, South East England, RG6 6AW
The College of Estate Management is the leading provider of supported online learning for Real Estate and Construction professionals. We have been playing a key role in the property world for more
City College Plymouth
Plymouth, Devon, South West England, PL1 5QG
To be a College with a national reputation for promoting opportunity, enterprise and employability. To be the South West's leading provider of innovative, skills-based vocational education and
Bowling College
Bradford, West Yorkshire, Yorkshire and the Humber, BD8 7JF
Our aim is to offer a range of excellent courses for adults in the Bradford and surrounding areas. We believe that by providing a supportive and comfortable learning environment we can help our
College Grove Nursery
Wakefield, West Yorkshire, Yorkshire and the Humber, WF1 3RZ
College Grove Nursery is a substantial, mature property, which has been carefully converted to provide its present accommodation. It sits within spacious grounds incorporating gardens, lawns and 2 all
Furness College
Barrow in Furness, Cumbria, North West England, LA14 2PJ
The Group encompasses a number of individual companies and subsidiaries, each with its own specific focus, resourced by staff with specialist skills. While each company operates independently, they
Trent College
Long Eaton, Derbyshire, East Midlands, NG10 4AD
Trent College is a happy and flourishing co-educational, HMC, Independent Day and Boarding School. Together with our Junior School The Elms, we are a community of just over 1000 students, 150 teachers
Virtual College
Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales, SA15 4DN
The Virtual College is based at Coleg Sir Gâr, Llanelli, South West Wales. Coleg Sir Gar is one of the largest dual sector colleges in the UK (Which includes University of Wales: Trinity St
West Somerset College
Minehead, Somerset, South West England, TA24 6AY
Due to our outstanding facilities we are able to offer an incredibly broad and exciting curriculum which challenges and engages our students. We have a strong team of staff who are committed to
Wymondham College
Wymondham, Norfolk, East England, NR18 9SZ
Wymondham College is a unique state day and boarding school offering an educational experience unlike any other. We are an inclusive and caring community with a concern for the individual which belies
Thurston Community College
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, East England, IP31 3PB
I can't believe the time has come already for my son to be leaving school! I would like to thank you for your help and support over the past 3 years. He has really enjoyed his time as a member of your
Distinctions Hair & Beauty
Workington, Cumbria, North West England, CA14 4JN
You still have the chance to apply for our Apprenticeship Academy. We have additional opportunities with top local employers who are looking to hire the brightest students in West Cumbria.
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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