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Colleges in the UK
Oathall Community College
Haywards Heath, West Sussex, South East England, RH16 2AQ
Oathall musicians went along to watch Ensemble Reza's cellist Sarah Carvalho-Dubost and guest bassoonist, Susana Dias for a lunchtime concert at the Haywards Heath Methodist Church in Perrymount Road
Trinity Specialist College
Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, West Midlands, B75 7JB
Trinity Specialist College is a Further Education day placement centre providing a forty-eight week provision for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and Autistic Spectrum
Redborne Upper School & Community College
Ampthill, Bedfordshire, East England, MK45 2NU
Redborne is a very successful 13 - 18 Upper School of over 1,400 students, 400 of whom are in the Sixth Form. We were graded as "outstanding" in our most recent OFSTED inspection and have been
London Regal College
Shoreditch, East London, London, E1 1RD
London Regal College has undergone a review for educational oversight by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and has received its final report, which is available in full at:. The
Stroud College
Stroud, Gloucestershire, South West England, GL5 4AH
South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (SGS) is the new college formed by the merger between Stroud College and Filton College. These two successful colleges merged in February 2012, to give our
Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College
Darlington, County Durham, North East England, DL3 7AU
A scheme to help students develop their employability skills has proven to be a triumph once again. Darlington Cares - a partnership of the town's employers whose skills and expertise are matched to
London College Of United Knowledge
Canary Wharf, East London, London, E14 5NR
To transform the way knowledge is delivered LONDON COLLEGE OF UNITED KNOWLEDGE - LCollegeUK is a training UK-based firm that aims to provide education and training of quality for all in a phased
Thomas Telford School
Telford, Shropshire, West Midlands, TF3 4NW
Thomas Telford School is a City Technology College, sponsored by The Mercers' Company and Tarmac Holdings Limited. It was established in 1991 to pioneer new methods of education, to raise standards
Feversham College
Bradford, West Yorkshire, Yorkshire and the Humber, BD3 0LT
We are proud of our Islamic girls school which provides an outstanding quality of education in a positive learning environment. We work with the College Directors, staff and parents to ensure students
Bellerbys College Cambridge
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, East England, CB2 1LU
Bellerbys College Brighton is a truly modern interpretation of an English boarding school, where the needs of the international student are at the forefront of everything we do. We provide a caring
Wellington College
Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, BT7 3HE
The Religious Studies Department wish to promote the College motto UNA DISCAMUS: Let us Learn Together. We want to ensure that all students have the opportunity to maximise their potential in the
The Media College
Leigh, Greater Manchester, North West England, WN7 4JY
The Media College are a specialist provider of advanced and higher apprenticeships, workforce development and funded training in the Creative & Digital Sector, who work with employers of all sizes
Al-Noor College
Birmingham, West Midlands, West Midlands, B11 4RU
Welcome to Al-Noor College, the Secondary Girls School is situated in the centre of Sparkhill, as an integral part of local community. Tough the school has been formed as an Independent organization
Gidea Park College
Gidea Park, East London, London, RM2 5JR
Consequently there is a history and presence which enables us to maintain a homely atmosphere and family values. The main building, in pleasant, secluded grounds, houses the junior school and
Fife College Students' Association
Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, KY11 8DY
If you have applied for a course at Fife College and are waiting for a response, we just wanted to let you know that it is taking us a bit longer than normal to issue interview dates and offer letters
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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