UK Education Information

Secondary education

For parents, sending a child to study abroad is a difficult and stressful decision that requires a lot of careful consideration. Issues such as the quality of education and a safe environment are of paramount concern. Fortunately, the UK is home to a wide range of quality schools with a strong tradition of providing a warm welcome to international students.

During this exhibition parents will be able to talk to school representatives directly to get the information they need to make an informed choice that is right for their child.

QUALIFICATIONS

At sixteen, students take exams in a wide range of subjects in order to obtain the following qualifications: The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), International GCSE (IGCSE) or vocational GCSE

Following their GCSE’s, students can choose which subjects they wish to continue to study in the form of a one year course in order to obtain Advanced Supplementary qualifications (AS-Levels). A further one-year of study leads to the Advanced Level Qualifications (A-Level). Alternatively, after GCSE’s students can take either the two year International Baccalaureate (IB) course or study for more vocational qualifications such as General National Vocational Qualifications (GNVQ’s) or Vocational A-Levels. All of these courses provide access to University and further study.

BRITISH BOARDING SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

Boarding schools provide educational opportunities for young people from the ages of three to eighteen, usually leading to GCSEs, AS-levels, A-levels, or the IB. Colleges cater mainly for students between sixteen and eighteen, and offer a similar range of qualifications, as well as English language tuition and a number of career based qualifications. You can study GCSEs, A-levels and other equivalents at boarding schools, tutorial colleges and FE institutions all over the UK.

Career Based Training

Career based training in the UK, often known as vocational training, is about teaching you the things you need to know to pursue the career you want to follow.

These practical courses are taught in a college environment; some leading to entry to university degree courses and others enjoying the status of professional qualifications in their own right.

The UK offers some of the world's most widely recognised career based qualifications in such subjects as business studies, computing, engineering, art and design, as well as hotel and catering, tourism and fashion design.

Examples include the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) Diploma and qualifications offered by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). You can study career-based courses at tutorial colleges, FE and HE institutions.

English as a Foreign Language

Each year, over six hundred thousand people travel from around the world to study English in the UK, where it's easy to find the right course, register and feel at home. There are more English language courses to choose from in the UK than anywhere else in the world.

You can take English for business or tourism, medical work, fashion design, engineering, or for international trade - or simply to prepare yourself for further study or to work in the global economy. English courses are offered by private language schools, boarding schools, tutorial colleges, further education (FE) institutions and higher education (HE) institutions.

Around three hundred and seventy schools, colleges and universities in the UK are accredited by the British Council. This means that their English language programmes have been inspected and have met the quality standards of the scheme.

Degree Programmes

A UK degree is a passport to brighter career prospects and higher earnings. Of all the qualifications available today, a degree from the UK shows that you have acquired the kind of proactive, problem-solving skills sought after by today's top companies. UK HE institutions offer internationally recognised qualifications acknowledged to be of the highest academic standard. A degree will be invaluable for your current or future career, equip you for postgraduate study or give you access to a profession. If you don't yet have the entrance requirements for undergraduate study, access and foundation courses will help you get there. You can study degree courses at: FE and HE institutions.

Postgraduate Programmes

A postgraduate degree is awarded after the successful completion of either a taught course or a period of research. Taught Master's programmes give students a deeper knowledge of a specialist subject. They can act as a way of moving from one discipline to another (e.g. from science to IT) or as preparation for research.

A research degree is the ultimate opportunity for you to pursue your own specialist interests. Research is exciting as it involves producing something original that contributes to the further understanding of a particular subject. Whether at Master's or Doctoral level, research programmes involve individual supervision by a faculty member who is a specialist in the subject. This emphasis on personal guidance and independent study is a key characteristic of research degrees in the UK. A British research degree will give you the high-level problem-solving skills that are suited to careers in business and management, applied research, and higher education. You can study postgraduate courses at HE institutions and some FE institutions

MBA Programmes
Choosing to study for a MBA in the UK is a giant step towards investing in your future employability by improving your range of management skills. The MBA is designed for well-qualified managers who wish to add to their practical experience by gaining an in-depth understanding of up-to-date approaches to management and its development. The UK is the biggest provider of MBAs in Europe. There are well over a hundred MBA schools in the UK, with more than three thousand international and European Union students choosing to enrol on full-time MBA programmes in the UK every year. You can study for a MBA at HE institutions.

Distance Learning
You can also choose to study many UK qualifications through distance and supported open learning. This approach can be ideal if you can't afford to take time out for full-time study. On distance and supported open learning programmes, you work through the course at home in your own time, with the help of printed study materials and often also videos, CD-Roms, audio tapes and web-based resources. You communicate with your tutor - and sometimes with other students - by mail, e-mail, web chatroom and/or fax. On some courses, you may also need to attend some classes at a local educational institution in your own country or come to the UK for a brief period.

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