UK Education System

Education system in the UK is reputed to be among the best and is respected all around the world as it offers flexibility in academic understanding and career opportunities. It has an excellent combination of traditional excellence with innovative styles of teaching. Apart from having a world-class education system, students who study here have a chance of meeting with people of different nationalities, sharing backgrounds and exploring new perspectives. The educational system in England, Northern Ireland and Wales are similar to each other. It is important to know complete details of the learning and teaching styles, before enrolling for a course there. During the period of the course, you gain excellent communication and behavioral skills. The UK education system has been categorized into four segments: primary, secondary, further and higher education. Read below to know more in detail about Great Britain and its education system.

Education System In England

Primary Education: In the UK, primary education is given to a child at the age of 5 and it continues until 11. The first key stage is for infants and the other is for juniors.

Secondary Education: Students from the age of 11-16 years are given secondary education. They follow a general syllabus which leads to the GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education). After passing this exam, there is selection of subjects. Lessons are given together with assignments which need to be completed in order to pass this level. Both primary and secondary education is compulsory until the age of 16.

Further Education: After secondary education, students have the option of acquiring qualifications such as A-Level and GNVQ. If you are planning to go in for higher studies then it is mandatory that you complete this level first. The most common one is Advanced Level (General Certificate of Education in Advanced Level Certificates) which is considered an entry level for getting admission into a university for higher studies. Here, students study three to four subjects based on their interests and can choose from Business, Science, Arts and Humanities.

Higher Education: After completion of further studies in the UK, you can opt for higher studies. As an international student, applying to the universities is a time consuming process. You have to visit the University and College Admissions Service (UCAS), which is an agency of the Central Government that manages the application procedure of every university. Various universities offer programs for study and job opportunities. Also, foreign students need to write the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), if their first language is in English.

other Educational Programs

Postgraduate Degree: In the UK, the postgraduate program can be completely research based or with a combination of theoretical classes. It prepares students to specialize in a particular field or even, go in-depth into a subject by means of a Doctorate program. For pursuing post-graduation, it is important to have a Bachelor's degree.

Ph.D. Programs: During the course of this program, students undertake an original research project with the help of a supervisor.

For completion of each level of education, there are specific requirements to be fulfilled. Hope this article helps you understand the education system of UK in a proper manner.