Among the top colleges and Universities on the World, many are situated in the UK. As an obvious fact, UK has become the choice of higher education for many students throughout the world.
If you also dream to study in a reputed institute in the UK for higher education, then, first of all, you need to know about the higher education system in the UK. Let’s have a glance in the UK higher education system.
Types of institutions
UK higher education system consists of colleges and universities which are degree-awarding bodies, and other institutes prepare the students for degree-awarding programs. They are called “listed bodies.”
Recognized bodies, i.e. – Universities and Colleges
There are around 160 universities and colleges in the UK that offer a wide range of courses for all its students.
The universities and institutions are governed by recognized bodies which are permitted bodies to award bachelor degree, post graduate degrees, and doctorate degrees and associated any degrees if designed by the institutions.
Listed bodies
The listed bodies do not have the power to provide Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, but they provide different vocational courses and set of skills that directly lead to employment.
Academic year
Higher education in the UK is a brilliant option exploring beautiful techniques, method and systems. It consists of a specific pattern of the academic year and issues certificates of various categories of courses exploring students towards a brilliant career in future. UK’s academic calendar may consist of two semesters a year (September/October and January) or three semesters a year (September/October, January, and May). Different universities are holding different examination patterns. But most of the universities take an application for admission during autumn.
Undergraduate Degree
Higher education in the UK consists of wide categories of degrees like Foundation degree, Bachelor’s degree, Diploma of Higher education (DipHE), Higher National Diploma (HNDs) and Certificate of Higher Education.
Foundation course
Foundation courses are designed in such way that anybody wants to do any specialization in some specific subjects like science or arts can avail these courses, without any entry specifications, so that they get direct employment. These courses are also known as “Year 0’ Programmes.”
Diplomas and HNDs
Normal main qualifications are available for the students also. HNDs or Higher National degrees are available for those who are intended to do an extra level of qualification.
Bachelor’s degree
Graduation courses for 3-year degree courses are offered as B.A. for arts and B.Sc. for science students.
Postgraduate degree
Higher education systems in the UK also offer 4-year masters or post-graduation courses often termed as sandwich courses due to its merge of one extra one-year specialization with industry or abroad. After completing degree courses also, one can avail this scope of doing master’s degree.
Doctorate degree
Another type of Master’s degree is the MRes (Masters in Research). This course prepares the students for doctoral courses. There is also an option open to a doctorate degree and is applicable for only those who are having 1st class marks in post graduations. These are actually research fields, and one can complete doctorate within 3 or 4 years.
So, keep your cool and start applying for the best UK universities for higher education. You never know, you may get admitted to any college or university that you desired to study in for long.
