Is college a secondary school in the UK?

The UK education system is divided into early years, primary education (up to Year 6), secondary education (Year 7-11), pre-university or further education (Year 12-13), and higher education consisting of undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

What is college called in the UK?

In the UK, a university is an institution in which students can study for undergraduate and graduate degrees. Law protects the university title. This means that for an educational institution to call itself a university, it's necessary for them to meet certain requirements.

What is the UK equivalent of secondary school?

Secondary education is divided into Key Stage 3 for ages 11–13 and Key Stage 4 for ages 14–15. At the end of Year 11 (at age 15 or 16, depending on their birthday) students typically take General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) exams or other Level 1 or Level 2 qualifications.

What level of school is college in the UK?

In the UK, higher education (what Americans call "college") is known as “university.” “College” actually has another meaning in the UK — it's where many students go for two years after completing compulsory schooling at 16 in order to prepare for exams to get into university.

Is college in England called high school?

The term high school is more frequently used in Scotland, which is where the term originates. The main difference between high school and college in the UK is that one is part of the statutory education system and the other is part of the optional further education (FE) system.

The UK Education System - What You Need To Know

What type of education is college in the UK?

Further education includes study after secondary school. College is for people of all ages, with courses free for students aged 16 to 18. 1.6 million students go to college in England each year to develop their career, progress to university, engage in further education or increase their employability.

What is secondary school in UK compared to US?

High school in America is equivalent to Secondary school in England. The key difference is that the English “high school” starts at 6th grade opposed to 9th grade as it is in the United States. This forces students to develop a level of maturity much earlier in their educational career.

Do British people say secondary school?

'Officially' it's called secondary school, in the UK. That said, many people in the UK will refer to it as 'high school'.

What do Brits call high school?

The closest equivalent is a 'secondary school', and indeed some English secondary schools have 'high school' in their name. But the school system in England does not quite line up with the system that most Americans would be familiar with. The schools are: Infant school: Ages 4–7.

Do British people call college university?

In Britain, college means something totally different to what it means in the US, where it's another word for university. UK colleges are for students aged between 16 and 18, who graduate from there to go to university, which is shortened to just uni.

Is UK college like high school?

For the major part, high schools offer statutory education for students who are of the age between 11 and 16 albeit some also have sixth form centers, which offer courses for students, aged 16 to 19. The colleges also offer adult education courses which makes it an automatic choice for the adult students of all ages.

Do Brits say college?

The Basics: College in the US vs. the UK. One of the most significant linguistic differences between American and British postsecondary education is the term that each nation uses to identify it: Americans generally understand postsecondary schooling as “college,” while Brits understand it as “university.”

What is the difference between a college and a university in the UK?

In contrast to the university which tends to be equally focused in practice and theory, college courses in UK pay more attention to provide you with more practical skills. That is mainly because most students in UK choose the college to become employable in a short time.

Is us or UK education harder?

Curriculum: In the UK, students typically study fewer subjects in greater depth, with a greater emphasis on exams at the end of each academic year. In the US, students are often required to take a broader range of subjects, with more opportunities for elective courses and continuous assessment throughout the year.

What is the difference between high school and secondary school in UK?

“High school” is the American name for secondary school, which normally refers to a school where children are aged between 14 and 18. However, some UK schools have “high school” in their names. In the UK, the term “college” normally describes a further education institution for children aged 16 to 18.

Can a 15 year old go to college instead of school UK?

Details. Further education and sixth-form colleges are able to enrol students aged 14 to 16 on a full-time study programme and receive funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency ( ESFA ).

What do British people call middle school?

Secondary School is made up of Key Stage 3 and 4. In the UK, this is the equivalent of Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9). There is no “middle school”, but that's the rough idea.

What year is college in England?

Full-time education is compulsory until age 18 in the UK. After completing secondary school at age 16, British students go on to attend a Further Education (FE) college for two years, referred to Year 12 and Year 13 of their education journey.

What is secondary school called in USA?

United States: High school (North America) (usually grades 9–12 but sometimes 10–12, it is also called senior high school) is always considered secondary education; junior high school or intermediate school or middle school (6–8, 7–8, 6–9, 7–9, or other variations) are sometimes considered secondary education.

How many years is college in UK?

A full-time bachelor's degree normally takes three years to complete. Part-time options are also available at many universities so that you can work alongside your studies or learn at a more relaxed pace.

What do they call college majors in England?

In the UK a qualification like this would most often be a degree with honours in “<major subject> with <minor subject>. So, for example, I have a BA (Hons) in social science with philosophy.

Is college better in US or UK?

The quality of education in the UK or USA is not inherently better; it depends on the university and program. Both countries boast prestigious institutions, so focus on program specialisation, faculty, research opportunities, and location when assessing educational quality.

What age do Brits graduate college?

As a general rule, most students graduate from high school when they are 18 years of age. If they proceed directly into college, and complete the curriculum requirements in the normal four year allotment of time, they will graduate from college, at the age of 22.

Is it more expensive to go to college in the US or UK?

Generally speaking, however, the cost of college education in the UK tends to be less expensive than in the US. In the UK, most undergraduate degree programs take three years to complete, while in the US, they typically take four years.