The United Kingdom (UK) is reputed for its excellent quality of education, interactive teaching methodology, top ranking universities and great student satisfaction. Universities in the UK consistently rank in the world university rankings such as the QS World Rankings, Times Higher Education Ranking, and Academic Ranking of World Universities. Further, degrees earned from the country are globally recognised and preferred by employers all over the world.
Standing at the zenith of research and development, the UK offers students vast scope to build critical and analytical thinking. Here’s why an overview of the education system in the UK.
How does Education System in UK Work ?
The responsibility of education in the UK is delegated to four jurisdictions – England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. All of these regions have different forms of education systems, qualifications and individual laws/regulations. The major differences can be found in general and secondary education resulting in each region having its own credit frameworks and qualifications.
Study levels
The education system in the UK consists of four stages:
- Primary education
- Secondary education
- Further education
- Higher education
The United Kingdom’s national curriculum has a set of compulsory subjects which are Math, Science and English, while other foundation courses such as history, geography, ICT, arts, physical education and modern foreign languages are taught at varying stages between key stages 3 and 4. The Welsh, English and Northern Irish schools follow the national curriculum strictly, with Wales adding the welsh language to its list of compulsory core subjects. All students get assessed on a national scale at the end of each key stage, with the General Certificate of Secondary Education being awarded to a successful student at the end of their secondary school studies. At which point, the option is made open for the student to either take their education further through tertiary institutions or simply look for employment.
Higher Education
This is the category that comprises of all kinds of post-secondary standard qualifications from Diploma courses, to Undergraduate Degrees, to Post-Graduate Masters and Doctorates. This is the main domain of interest of international students, who will be classified as eligible if they successfully concluded the equivalent of all the previous stages discussed in this article in their home countries. This category is explained in expansive details in our other articles concerning International Students.
Academic Year
The standard academic year in the UK begins around the month of September – October. The deadline for applications for courses commencing in September is generally in the preceding January of that year. Two other intakes available for programs in the UK are January and April, which are usually smaller than the September intake. Pathway programs may have additional dates to offer. Always check for the intakes available for your course of preference.