One of the most developed, thoughtful and best in the world is the education system in England, despite its some conservatism. It was formed over several centuries, and still obeys the strict quality standards that have been formed over all this time.

English education at all levels - school, secondary vocational (after school) or university - is rated quite highly by both the students themselves and their future employers. It is thanks to such popularity and high appreciation that many countries have adopted the main aspects of the UK educational system.

Features of the educational system of England

One of the first important documents regulating this issue was the "Law on Education" of 1944.. It mainly concerned school education, but also determined the entire educational system in principle.

In England, education is compulsory for all citizens aged 5-16. Education up to 5 years depends on the opinion of the parents, and after 16 years - the student himself. You can study for free at public educational institutions in England or for a fee at private schools (almost always these are boarding houses where students also live during their studies).

In general, the education system in England consists of four levels:

• primary education or Elementary School - for children 5-11 years old,
• secondary education in England or Secondary School - for students aged 11-16,
• post-secondary education or Further Education - for students aged 16-18,
• higher education.

Some educational levels can be completed in some educational institutions without moving from one to another, and some - only in specialized institutions. Below we will consider in detail the main levels of education in England.

Preschoolers in England

Before starting school, 3-4 year olds can go to nursery or kindergarten. There, kids are developed with the help of games, they begin to learn to count, write and read. There are so-called full-cycle schools where children are trained from 3 to 18 years old. Preschool institutions, like all others, can be private and public.

For children from the age of 5, preparatory classes are organized in private or public elementary schools, and this education is already mandatory.

Schooling in England

Most children in England go to school at the age of 5 training courses, after which at the age of 7 they begin to study at elementary school and at the age of 11 they go to secondary school. Moreover, secondary education can be obtained either in the same institution where you studied before, or in a college.

While the child is studying at the primary level, the subjects are chosen by the parents. Children study English, history, mathematics, geography, art, music and some other disciplines.

Secondary education in England is only compulsory until the age of 16., then the student decides for himself whether to stop studying and start working or continue studying in order to study at the university. All schools prepare children for the General Certificate of Education (GCSE) or Certificate of Vocational Qualification (GNVQ).

Education in schools in England provides for a 38-week academic year. The trimesters are separated by holidays, 6 weeks in the summer and 2-3 weeks each for the Christmas and Easter holidays. There is also a week break in the middle of each trimester. Usually training in schools provides for her attendance 5 days a week.

Schools can be divided by gender: there are mixed educational institutions, where boys and girls study together, and there are separate schools - separately for girls and boys. Adherents of separate and blended learning always have their own compelling arguments that determine the benefits of one or another type of school.

After graduation

In England, in order to enter a university or continue to study at a college for higher education, the usual GCSE certificate is not enough, and therefore students undergo the so-called post-secondary education in order to pass the A-Level exam.

To pass the A-Level exam, a two-year course of study is provided, during which exams are taken at the end of each academic year. First, 4-5 subjects are selected for study, and when moving to the second year of study - 3-4 disciplines. Choosing the right subjects, the student himself determines his further specialization.

Usually students from other countries who come to study in England begin their studies with the A-Level program.

An alternative to this course for foreign students is the Foundation program, an intensive study that lasts only a year. At the same time, students pay attention to one or two subjects, as well as learning the language in order to understand the English academic university vocabulary in the future.

Vocational education (Further education) in England includes vocational training courses or certain courses leading to a bachelor's degree. In general, the term professional education» designate courses for those graduates who complete their studies after the age of 16.

Higher education institutions in England

After successful delivery A-Level exam graduates can go to receive professional or higher education. In fact, final exams are also entrance exams.

Higher education in England can be obtained at a university, institute or polytechnic college, where the achievement of a scientific or doctoral degree is expected. This includes bachelor's degree courses, postgraduate programs and MBA programs.

English higher education is paid both for foreigners and for its citizens, however, the fee for it is different for some and others (for foreigners the cost is higher). In England there are about 700 educational institutions where you can get degrees.

Universities in England are divided into unitary and collegiate. Unitary universities include departments and faculties, while collegiate universities unite several dozen colleges. The latter include the most famous and prestigious Oxford and Cambridge universities.

In higher education institutions English students start studying in October. Trimesters usually last about 8-10 weeks. Summer holidays always start on June 1st and last until September 30th. As in Russian universities, the main forms of work are seminars, lectures and laboratory works. Tutorials are also held, where for small groups of students (2-10 people) a tutor (teacher) conducts his own classes.

If you successfully study at the university, you can get the first or higher academic degree. To obtain the first degree, the course of study lasts 3-4 years, in the field of medicine - 6 years. After receiving the first degree - bachelor - and continuing studies or performing research work, it is possible to obtain a master's degree.

The Doctor of Science degree is awarded for outstanding, invaluable contributions to science. Inventions or research for practical application are also rewarded by universities with the award of a doctorate.

The UK education system is perhaps one of the most conservative in the world. This is partly due to her age - the appearance of the first secondary schools in the country and Oxford University dates back to the 12th century. From that time to this day, discipline and a high level of teaching quality remain the main hallmarks British educational system. However, this does not mean that it does not undergo any changes. Against, English system education not only keeps pace with the times, but often is ahead of it: the pursuit of excellence and respect for traditions here coexist perfectly with the latest educational programs and practices.

Pre-school education in England

Preparation for school in the UK it starts in kindergarten. From 2 to 5 years old, children learn to read, write and count. The academic load is small, the emphasis is on discipline and general education. At the same time, the state finances only 15 hours of kindergarten classes per week, so if you plan to give the child away for a longer period, you will have to pay extra from your own budget. V preschool institutions parents give their children at will, and only the school stage is obligatory - from 5 to 18 years.

The secondary education system of England

Secondary education in England includes four main steps(Key Stages): primary from 5 to 7 years and from 7 to 11, secondary for children from 11 to 14 and from 14 to 16. Set compulsory subjects(Core Subjects) varies by age. V primary school children study English, mathematics, history, geography, music, industrial technology and art. From the age of 11, Core Subjects include English, mathematics and science (basics of chemistry, biology and physics). The rest of the subjects, the student, together with their parents, chooses based on their own preferences. From 14 to 16 years old, students prepare for the GCSE exam (General Certificate of Secondary Education - Certificate of Secondary Education).

In 2015, the English legislation on compulsory education has changed: previously it was limited to the age of 16 years. Today's students have to spend another 2 years at their desks. Those who plan to get to work as quickly as possible go to vocational colleges. After 2 years of study, they receive GNVQ "s (certificate of secondary specialized education) or BTEC"s (diploma of secondary technical education). Those who are interested in further admission to the university stay at the school for sixth form. During this period - 16 to 18 years old - students are preparing for the delivery of A-levels in selected subjects.

According to the type of funding, UK schools are divided into public and private. Unlike many countries, the gap between public and private educational institutions in England is not so great: the level of secondary education in the country is monitored at the state level. Although, of course, private schools are distinguished by stronger training: the presence of a material and technical base, a high level of teaching staff, and intimacy of classes, and even historical heritage, which boasts a considerable part of boarding schools. Many of them have been working for more than one century, and the oldest ones did - they appeared in the XII century under the Catholic churches.

It is worth noting that historically in England there was a separate education. Some private schools have maintained this approach to this day: many Britons believe that it is easier for boys and girls to focus on their studies. Public schools are mostly mixed.

The grading system in British schools is alphabetic: from A * (excellent) to U (extremely unsatisfactory). In some private educational institutions, they also give a second mark - for diligence, from 1 (active work and interest in the subject) to 5 (the student does not try at all). Double assessment is very convenient for both the student and his parents. It seems to restore justice, because it often happens that some subject is not given, despite great efforts, and bad grades finally demotivate.

Academic year in the English school is divided into trimesters, the duration of each is 12 weeks. The number of lessons depends on the age of the students, but always includes art and sports. Much attention is paid to general education: schools try to develop leadership qualities, curiosity in children, nurture free individuals who know how to make choices, defend their point of view, strive for professional development, and at the same time be worthy members of society who have the right to be called true ladies and gentlemen. It is noteworthy that educational traditions are especially strong in private boarding schools for boys.

In general, the secondary education system in England is assessed positively, although the level of student preparation shows last years some reversibility. Thus, according to the monitoring of the assessment of the quality of education in PISA schools (Programme for International Student Assessment) for 2015, the UK got 15th place. In 2009 - only 24, and in 2000 - 7. According to experts, the fluctuations are mainly associated with a less stable level of teaching in the public school sector. As for private establishments, their figures remain fairly consistently high from year to year.

UK higher education system

The system of higher education in Great Britain is considered one of the most perfect in the world - this is demonstrated both by the world rankings of higher educational institutions and the demand for specialists who graduated from the universities of Foggy Albion. It is believed that it was the British educational model that formed the basis of the Bologna educational system.

The higher education sector in the country includes:

• classical universities and university colleges(University Colleges), in which great attention is paid to research activities.
• polytechnics(Polytechnics) and colleges of higher education(Colleges of Higher Education), where specialists in applied specialties are trained.

Education includes 3 stages: bachelor's degree (3 years of study, with the exception of Scotland), master's degree (1-2 years) and doctoral studies (2-3 years). The academic year consists of 3 trimesters. Classes are held both in the classical format of lectures and seminars, and in the form of independent work and tutorials (works in small groups with a mentor-tutor). The progress of students is assessed by intermediate work (essays, term papers, projects) and by the results of final exams. The system for calculating the average score depends on the university and can be either a point score or a percentage.

Despite the inherent conservatism of the British, they are constantly working on improving the education system introducing innovative teaching methods and actively using modern technologies. So, under the influence of market needs, so-called "sandwich courses" appeared in many universities - periods industrial practice, which can last up to a year and are considered part of the training.

But, of course, British higher education institutions are mainly famous for their strong academic preparation, which has absorbed the best of the centuries-old history of education in this country. Students from all over the world come here for quality, ready to pay a lot of money for a coveted diploma: a year of study at an English university costs from 10,000 to 25,000 pounds sterling.

Understanding the importance of higher education not only in terms of reputation, but also economic benefits, the government regulates the quality of education at the state level. To do this, the country has the Educational Quality Assurance Authority (QAA), which checks the “academic standards” and “academic quality” of universities. Thus, a student of any educational institution in the UK can be sure that he will receive an up-to-date education, and his diploma will be quoted in any country in the world.

The UK education system successfully combines adherence to traditions and advanced educational technologies. Its goal is not so much the encyclopedic knowledge of students in any field, but the comprehensive development of the individual, the focus on obtaining knowledge and Professional Development. It is not surprising that graduates of British educational institutions are so in demand in the global labor market and show excellent career growth.

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It is impossible to imagine the UK developed in all areas without a clear, verified over the years educational process. Despite some conservatism in the educational field, one cannot but admit that it is one of the best in the modern world.
Speaking about education in the United Kingdom, it should be understood that in fact there are 2 different systems- one in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the other in Scotland. Both of these systems are thoroughly developed and fully meet the needs of society.

Features of the educational system

For more than 70 years, the education system in the UK has been governed by the Education Act, signed in 1944. This important document is more about school education, but it also notes many aspects of the entire educational system as a whole.

Education in the UK is divided into 5 stages:

• preschool - for children 3-4 years old;
• primary - for students 5-11 years old;
• secondary - for students aged 11-16;
• after school - for students aged 16-18;
• higher - for students from 18 years.

Education for children aged 5 to 16 is compulsory. Whether it is worth studying for a child under 5 years old, his parents decide, and whether it is necessary to get an education after 16 years old, the citizen himself decides. The system is designed in such a way that students can complete some educational levels in one educational institution, while others require training in specialized institutions.

Preschool education

Pre-school education in the UK is an integral part of the full cycle educational school, and often kindergartens are part of primary schools. Children aged 3-4 years can attend kindergartens or nurseries at the request of their parents. There, kids are taught to write, read and count, they develop them comprehensively with the help of games. There are public and private preschool institutions.
British pre-school education is limited to ages 2-7, but in fact most children are in a nursery from 2 to 4 years old, after which they are sent to primary school.
For services kindergarten with a full-time job, you must pay or give the child to a free nursery, but they are designed for only 2-3 hours a day. The average cost of a British preschool education significantly higher than in other European countries, so the country provides parents with special loan programs.

elementary School

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, primary school education can start at different ages:

• from 4 to 11 years old (Primary School) with a 7-year period of study;
• from 7 to 13 years old (Junior School) with a 6-year period of study.

In Scotland, the primary school entry policy is somewhat different in that the formation of school groups depends on which month of which year the child was born:

• children born from March to August go to school from 5-5.5 years old;
• children born between September and February go to school at 4 years - 4 years and 11 months.

Experts believe that the Scottish system of forming school groups is more flexible.
Primary school teaches geography, history, mathematics, English, music, art and industrial technology. All these subjects in elementary school are chosen by parents for their children.
Pupils in UK schools study for 6 semesters or terms, starting classes in September and ending in July. The academic year lasts 38 weeks, there are also holidays of 2-3 weeks for Christmas and Easter holidays, as well as 6 weeks in the summer. In the middle of each trimester, children are given another 1 week break. In most cases, education in schools is 5 days.
Schools have their own examination systems. In the Primary School, this is SATS, which is held 2 times: one 2 years after the start of training and another one at the end of the educational stage. The Junior School conducts an exam "11+" - it is the final one for training. Both of these exams are required for the transition from primary to secondary school.

secondary school

General features

At the age of 11-13, children go to secondary school and study there until the age of 17. This period of study is also compulsory for all UK citizens. Upon graduation, students receive GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) - a certificate of secondary education. There are also schools in the country that issue GNVQ (General National Vocational Qualification) - a certificate of professional qualification.
Immigrant children are also enrolled in secondary schools from the age of 11-13, but most often they are assigned to boarding schools.
After 2 years of high school, all students take the 13+ Common Entrance Examination or Common Entrance Examinations in subjects such as:

• English (British and international);
• mathematics (calculation in the mind, with and without a calculator);
• geography, history;
• Latin and Greek writing;
• chemistry, physics or biology;
• Irish and Welsh (for Northern Ireland and Wales respectively);
• foreign languages to choose from.

Based on the results of the exam, students receive a pass to further education in secondary school. In the period of 14-17 years, students prepare for the General Certificate of Secondary Education exams - this is the final test for obtaining a certificate of secondary education. The list of examination subjects is repeated by analogy with "13+" with the addition of several more disciplines.
School education in the UK is characterized by strict discipline, for example, for absenteeism or poor academic performance, a student can be expelled from school.
If parents wish to homeschool their child, they must obtain official permission from the Board of Education.

Private schools

Private schools in the UK are called public schools - this is educational organizations full or partial board, which is less common. They are closed institutions of an educational type, where students are fully supported, that is, they study and live there. These schools have become traditional in the United Kingdom and are a prominent feature of British private education.
Private schools undoubtedly have advantages over public ones - they have more subjects studied, a strong material base, the teaching staff has highly qualified. All this has led to the fact that graduates of private British schools are more likely to enter a higher educational institution.

Secondary special education

In addition to schools, in the United Kingdom there are institutions called Tertiary Colleges, where students can receive vocational education, that is, a specific profession (the English equivalent of our vocational schools). Education in such institutions is an alternative to the A-Levels programs, which will be discussed later, but unlike them, Tertiary Colleges suggest the following professional activity, that is, a less flexible approach to further possible learning.
For institutions of this type, a private change in educational programs is typical.

Post-secondary education

After graduating from high school, every Briton has two paths to choose from: either go to work or continue their studies at a college or university. If a person chooses the second, then he must receive additional preparatory education, that is, take two-year A-Levels courses. They represent the study of profile 4-5 disciplines in the first year and another 3-4 disciplines in the second year. The student himself chooses which disciplines to study, since they determine his future specialization.
Every year, students must take exams, but they are not clearly regulated, the student himself can choose those subjects that he wants from the total number of proposed disciplines.
If a foreigner comes to the UK for higher education, then his journey begins with A-Levels courses. For foreigners, a more simplified, but more intensive option (only for 1 year) is possible under the Foundation program. Its peculiarity is that the student pays his attention to only 1-2 specialized subjects and in-depth study of the language in order to understand academic English university vocabulary in the future.

Higher education

General information

The last stage of students is higher education, which students become at the age of 18. It starts at the bachelor's level, which lasts 3-4 years (in the field of medicine - 6 years). If a bachelor's degree takes 4 years of a student's time, then in the 4th year they offer knowledge for the first level of a master's degree.
Anyone who has received a bachelor's degree can continue their education at the following educational levels:

• Master (1-2 years of study).
• Postgraduate (3 years of study).

Colleges in the United Kingdom are of three types:

• Classical (they are accredited and can issue a bachelor's degree).
• Technical (have a narrowly focused training program and provide practical basic training in a specific working specialty).
• Further education (gives special professional education, for example, in the field of mechanical engineering, design).

There are two types of universities in the UK:

• Unitary (they include faculties and departments).
• Collegiate (several dozen colleges are united in them), for example, Cambridge and Oxford universities.

Higher education for all residents of the UK, including foreigners, is paid. However, citizens of the country have some privileges in payment, while foreign students must pay the full cost of study. There is support for students in the country in the form of scholarships and grants, which can be received by especially gifted students.
The start time of classes in higher educational institutions is the month of October. The academic year is divided into trimesters, which in turn last for 8-10 weeks. The main forms of work in colleges are lectures, seminars and laboratory work. In addition, there are also tutorials for groups of students of 2-10 people, for which the teacher (tutor) conducts his own classes. Holidays for students last from June 1 to September 30.

Features of higher education in the UK

Over 600 UK colleges (both public and private) offer young people professional specialties in different areas. Prospective students can choose between studying at an institute, a university or a polytechnic college (here it is supposed to receive an academic or doctoral degree). Doctoral degrees are awarded to students for an invaluable and outstanding contribution to science or for special inventions, research for practical applications.
University students are offered a choice of a large number of electives, they have access to scientific laboratories and modern libraries. A educational program so flexible that it allows, as a result of successfully completed training, to receive 2 academic degrees in different directions at once.
In the United Kingdom, it is welcome and extramural education in higher educational institutions. In this case, the student learns on his own, focusing on specially designed educational packages. At the same time, he has the opportunity to communicate with teachers and consult with them by e-mail or online.
Education in the UK can be called elite, so many high-ranking parents from different countries of the world are trying to help their children enter British universities. In spite of high cost training, students gain in-depth knowledge, master secular manners, and most importantly, acquire valuable connections in the field of business and politics. UK university diplomas are the most prestigious in the world; every year up to 3.5 million students study here, of which more than 400 thousand are foreigners.
The success of the developed educational system in Great Britain is also evidenced by the fact that its principles were adopted in Canada and Australia.

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Higher education institutions in the UK occupy the top lines in all rankings of the best universities in the world. Nobility, wisdom, conciseness, intelligence, good breeding - all this is inherent in the British, which is why they deserved the honor and respect of all countries without exception several centuries ago. British universities are famous for the highest quality education, which is considered one of the most prestigious in the world, so it is here that the most worthy of the worthy study.

Education system

Studying in the UK starts early. Three-year-olds are sent to Nursery school, which is an analogue of our kindergarten, but a significant part of the time is devoted to education and development. From the age of 5, children go to a two-year preparatory school for elementary grades- Pre-preparatory school), from 7 to 11 years old - primary school (Primary, Elementary or Preparatory school). From the age of 11, secondary school begins, where children study until the age of 16 and, as a result, take the final exams for a certificate of secondary education - GCSE. This certificate is sufficient to start self-employment, but does not give the right to enter higher education institutions.

And finally, two last class preparation for entering the university: A-Level. By this moment, schoolchildren have already decided where they will enter and choose 3-5 disciplines, which they study intensively for two years. A-Level final exams are also considered university entrance exams. Requirements for assessments depend on the prestige of the university and the competition. For example, for admission to Cambridge, all subjects must be passed to maximum score. Higher education in the UK, as in most countries of the world, is divided into a bachelor's program (3-4 years) and a master's program (1-2 years).

Secondary education for UK citizens is compulsory and free. A-Level and university studies are paid, both for citizens of the country and for foreigners.

Education in the UK

Schools in the UK

The choice of a school in the UK is treated very responsibly, often with an eye to the future profession, since there are many specializations even at the level of secondary education, and the earlier you start, the more likely you are to enter a prestigious university.

First of all, schools are divided into public and private, boarding schools are also distinguished among private ones. The educational standards in the country are very high, so Public School inferior to private only in technical equipment. Also, in private schools, there are fewer students in the class, and teachers have more opportunities to give individual attention to each. In boarding houses, children live on the territory of the school under the supervision of educators (the minimum period of study is 1 year), there are separate boarding houses for boys and girls. Many private schools and boarding schools have links with the country's leading universities and purposefully prepare for admission.

The British education system was formed many centuries ago and is still considered one of the best, it is successfully adopted by other countries.

Great choice in the UK special schools. For example, grammatical with a bias in academic knowledge. It trains future teachers and researchers. There are applied schools - for those who intend to master a working specialty.

All training takes place in English, there are no Russian-language schools for foreigners in the UK. For admission, you need a certificate with grades from Russian school and a certificate confirming knowledge of English (TOEFL or IELTS).

For foreign students who plan to enter British universities, there are international colleges - International Colleges, where only foreign students aged 14-18 are accepted, where they make up for the British high school program and prepare for admission. As a rule, after college there are no problems with admission.

The cost of education in a British public primary school for foreign students is from 5,000 GBP per year, in private schools, and even more so in boarding houses, it is more expensive: from 7,000 GBP per year. The A-Level program costs from 10,000 GBP per course. Prices on the page are for November 2018.

The last school stage is a special preparation for the university, which lasts 2 years after graduation from high school (for those who did not go to professional education). Young people again have the right to choose about five subjects that correspond to their further specialization at the university. After this preparation, the doors of the country's best universities open to schoolchildren.

Higher education

The UK Department of Education provides applicants with the right to choose: university, technical institute or college.

Colleges of higher education provide a bachelor's degree. By and large, these are professional courses, after which young people become specialists in a particular field. The disadvantage of such education is that students who have completed their studies at the college do not have the opportunity to enter the magistracy, graduate school and MBA.

Technical institutes are valuable for those who have chosen for themselves any narrow specialization, since it is better to immediately study at a specialized university. In ordinary universities, students study general subjects for two years, and in subsequent years they study specialized subjects. Moreover, British students have the opportunity to attend lectures and seminars from other faculties in order to pass the exam and receive a double diploma. The best British universities are the famous Cambridge and Oxford.

study in British universities traditionally 4-5 years, in some faculties, for example, medical and architectural - up to 7 years.

Higher education is paid for both its citizens and foreigners. Students who are citizens of the country can study on debt, which they begin to repay only after receiving a diploma and getting a job with a minimum wage of 21,000 GBP per year. If this does not happen, there is no need to repay the debt. Recently, more and more deputies in parliament are inclined to increase the cost of education. Such initiatives are unpopular among students.

All higher education in the UK is paid - as for local residents as well as for international students.

The cost of higher education in the UK for international students is higher than for citizens of the country. In particular, a year of study at Oxford will cost from 15,000 to 23,000 GBP per year, depending on the chosen specialty, plus a fee of about 7,000 GBP. Benefits are provided only for those who have previously studied at a British school, there is also the opportunity to win a grant.

the very best

Cambridge university

Cambridge, CB2 1TN, The Old Schools, Trinity Ln

One of the oldest and largest English universities, the University of Cambridge was founded in 1209. Already in the 13th century. in Cambridge formed humanities, law, theology and medical faculties. From that time to this day, Cambridge has consistently ranked highest in the world university rankings, competing with Oxford for the title of the best university.

the very best

Oxford University

Oxford, OX1 2JD, Wellington Square

The university city of Oxford, located northwest of London, has become famous for being one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the world. Of the city's 150,000 population, one in five is a student. However, the atmosphere of relaxed fun, thirst for knowledge and sincere belief in science attracts not only those who want to study to this place.

• • school certificate translated into English and notarized
  • ownership certificate English language(TOEFL or IELTS), prestigious faculties require the highest possible
  • a short essay about why the applicant chose this specialty
  • list of desired universities
  • reference from school

  For foreign students there is a special program of preparation for admission - University Foundation Certificate. Its main goal is to fill in the gaps between the Russian and British education systems, help the applicant decide on a specialty and university, and “pump” English.

  Language schools

  Today there are about 1,500 language schools in the UK and training centers teaching English to foreigners. They offer many programs and form groups according to a number of criteria: by age, level of language proficiency, by the duration of training. There are basic courses, which are divided into standard and intensive. There are preparatory ones that help in the future when passing the main tests that determine knowledge of English - IELTS, TOEFL, etc. There are also business English seminars and in-depth language courses, which include preparation for exams in colleges and universities in the UK.

  Summer schools deserve special attention, where you can not only learn English, but also have a good rest, play sports and have fun. On average, the price of courses for 1-2 weeks is from 500 to 3000 GBP, which includes accommodation, meals, transfers, excursions and educational materials. Visa, tickets, registration fee and insurance payment are paid separately. In England, it is possible to choose a school both in London and in the suburbs. You can live in a boarding house, hostel or apartment (with a surcharge).

The higher education system in the United Kingdom is one of the oldest, most developed and prestigious. Currently, there are dozens of well-known universities in the country and hundreds of less well-known ones. One way or another, they all provide a high level of education, with which only a few universities in the world can be compared. And in this article we will look at what higher education institutions are in England, what are the main features of the higher education system in the UK, and what our average person needs to do in order to become a student at a university or institute in Foggy Albion.

The main features of universities in the UK

Universities in England have a thousand-year history of origin. The first universities in the country were Oxford, founded in the 12th century, and Cambridge, which was founded a little later. Since then, the UK higher education system has been improving, and over the centuries, its own methodology of education has been developed, universities have received hundreds of regalia, and education in England has become a symbol of prestige.

How to enter an English university and what is needed for this?

The entire system of higher education in the UK is represented by several categories of educational institutions - these are universities, colleges and institutes. Upon admission to them, no concessions and discounts are given to either local applicants or foreign students - equal conditions are created for everyone, and distribution advantages are given only to those future students who have top scores in certificates.

To apply and enroll in universities in the UK, you need to have a GCSE certificate, which is an analogue of domestic high school and secondary education certificates. An important condition is the presence in the certificate of indicators in at least five subjects, two of which must be passed without fail with excellent marks. In a word, if you want to enter the universities of England, you will have to try on your own grades at school. For foreign applicants who have not been trained in English schools, it is necessary to take a two-year course of pre-university education in special international schools Great Britain, the result of training in which will be passing exams and obtaining an A-levels diploma.

One more thing no less important condition- this is an ideal knowledge of the English language, which is fixed by the IELTS certificate. The certificate is obtained based on the results of passing a special difficult test, which is possible to pass only if the study of English took place for more than one year (ideally, in the schools of Britain itself).

The collected documents (and this is the A-levels or GCSE certificate, the IELTS certificate, as well as the applicant's personal documents) are collected in advance. Each university in the UK sets its own requirements regarding the content of the full package of documents. Direct application is carried out at UCAS - a special University Admissions Service from September 1 to October 15. Applicants can submit a package of documents to six different educational institutions at once. For those applicants who want to enroll in best universities England (for example, Oxford or Cambridge), you need to come to these universities on your own, apply, pass an interview and pass difficult entrance exams. Hard? Rather, it is natural, since studying at the most famous and prestigious universities in the world provides incredible opportunities.

What are the difficulties of studying in English universities?

The applicant passed all the necessary tests, exams, submitted documents, even passed interviews and can finally be considered a student of an English university. Is this the end of the difficulty? No, because all the difficulties are just ahead.

The first 3-4 years the student studies for a bachelor's degree. This is the first academic degree, and after training, a student can become a bachelor of law, medicine, technical, humanities and other sciences. In addition to the compulsory training program, the student must choose an additional one that best suits his needs and knowledge. For example, a mandatory course of study of disciplines in law faculties may include an additional course in international, tax or M&A law. As in domestic universities, UK universities have lectures and seminars.

University education is very difficult. The author of this article had to communicate directly with a teacher from England and draw a similar conclusion based on the following information: no more than 4-5 basic disciplines are studied in one semester, while every 3 months a difficult control test is done for each of them and one comprehensive test for all disciplines. No usual cheat sheets - if they are found, then there will be no retakes, only expulsion from the university. English universities have earned their international prestige for centuries, so teachers carefully monitor the quality of their students' education. Of course, there can be no talk of any bribes.

After 4 years of study, the student is eligible to receive a Master of Science degree. And here, in addition to training, research and scientific work. The difficulty in obtaining a master's degree is colossal, but after training a graduate becomes a highly qualified specialist, in demand in the labor market of almost any country.

The cost of studying at universities in England

The cost of studying at universities in England is different in all cases. If you calculate the average, then the student will have to pay at least 10-12 thousand pounds per year for education (this is about 20 thousand dollars). In the most prestigious universities in the UK and in medical specialties, the cost of education is already from 20 thousand pounds a year or more. The calculation does not take into account the cost of accommodation, food and other expenses.

Benefits of studying at universities in England

A diploma of a graduate of an English university is a real carte blanche that allows you to enter any organizations, institutions and companies in the world almost freely. Only some European universities and US universities can compete, and so the graduate is out of competition. And this is ensured not only by the diploma itself, but also highest level knowledge. And if the student was able to complete British university(and we are not even talking about Oxford or Cambridge now), then his level of knowledge will be so high that employers will have no doubts when choosing an applicant for a place. This is the most important advantage, in comparison with which the rest are simply leveled. However, we will also note the opportunity to get acquainted with the culture of one of the oldest countries in the world, and the possibility of perfect command of the English language, etc.

What are the universities in the UK?

To date, there are dozens of different universities in which hundreds of thousands of students are educated. We will consider only the most famous and significant both in terms of training qualified specialists, and in terms of prestige and opportunities for further employment.