Study Abroad

The UK education system offers flexibility, allowing students to choose courses that suit their career aspirations and lifestyle. As lakhs of international students pursue higher education in the UK, you will get a chance to meet people from different nationalities, sharing their backgrounds and finding out new perspectives. There are numerous benefits of pursuing higher studies in the UK. Some of them are –

Cost-Effective and World-Class Education: Academic excellence offered by UK universities has a long-standing reputation that can be traced back to the 11th century. Even today, there are over 160 universities and institutions in the country, of which 84 are featured in the 2021 QS World University Rankings. Degrees from these universities are valued across the world, which work best in the future, no matter which industry or location.

International students in the UK enjoy financial benefits and given that the duration of a UK degree is less compared to other countries, studying in the country in any way becomes affordable. Besides that, the country is well known for offering numerous scholarships, grants and bursaries to students from outside the UK.

Great Work Opportunities: International students in the UK are allowed to work part-time for up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time outside of term time. They may also do a work placement as part of their course or take up an internship which goes a long way in developing new skills, earning money while studying and preparing themselves for the professional world.

The UK government has recently announced a post-study visa or Graduate Route, allowing international students graduating from Summer 2021 to stay and work in the UK for the next two years.

A Welcoming Student Community: According to the QS Best Student Cities, 14 of UK cities are featured in the top 120, making it one of the top student destinations in the world. Whether it is Oxford or Edinburgh, each city in the UK guarantees a wholesome and vibrant student community.

Being the second most popular destination for international students, the UK is a multicultural country where university campuses value diversity and different food, traditions and cultures and interests. This further leads to unique and new student experiences almost every day.

Affordable Cost of Living: Although this is primarily dependent on the location and the area one will be shifting to, in general, the UK boasts decent living standards at affordable prices. Cities such as London, Brighton and Oxford could be a little pricey, but affordable cities such as Aberdeen, Newcastle and Manchester offer high quality of education and lifestyle.

Healthcare in the UK is usually free of charge for international students and they can also make the most of student discounts offered on travel, shopping and food to save money.

Gateway to Explore All of the UK: An international student, if chooses to study in the UK, may easily travel to other parts of the UK and explore its rich culture and history. From landscapes, inclusive culture, great food, festivals, sporting events, castles and palaces, students will be able to see more of the UK.

In London, each area has its own distinct character, which can be experienced in Camden, Little Venice, Brixton, Notting HIll, Shoreditch and more. Students may also venture out into the greenery of the British countryside, full of rich valleys, dramatic coastlines, gleaming lakes, and so on.

Education System In The UK

Education system in the UK can be categorised into primary education, secondary education, university preparation, further education and higher education. Primary and secondary education in the UK is legally attended by students from 5 years of age until 16 years of age. This can further be divided into based on age groups or five “key stages”, according to the National Curriculum introduced by the UK in 1988:

• Key Stage 1: Foundation year and years 1 and 2: for those aged between 5 and 7 years old
• Key Stage 2: Years 3 to 6: for those aged between 8 and 11 years old
• Key Stage 3: Years 7 to 9: for those aged between 12 and 14 years old
• Key Stage 4: Years 10 to 11: for those aged between 15 and 16 years old
• Key Stage 5: Years 12 to 13: for those aged between 17 and 18 years old

Primary Education

Some primary schools can be divided into infant and junior levels, which start from the age of five and continue until the age of 11. While the infant level is for those aged between 5 and , the junior level is for children between the ages of 7 and 11.

Secondary Education

Secondary education includes the key stage 3 – years 7 and 9, for those aged between 15 and 16 years old and also the key stage 4 – years 10 and 11, for those aged between 15 and 16 years old. The UK school system, here, requires students to study subjects such as Math, English, Science, Humanity and a Modern Language along with optional subjects like Art, Music, a Regional Language, Physical Education, Computer Science, Design Technology.

The key stage 3 can be further divided into junior and senior school- the former from year 7 to year 8 and the latter from year 8 to year 9. Year 9 is considered quite important under the British school system given that most students here make the transition from junior to senior school.

In the last two years of secondary education in the UK, students prepare for the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) examinations which are taken after two years. Here, students study compulsory subjects such as English, Math, 2/3 Sciences, History/Geography, Modern Language etc along with other 9 and 12 subjects.

University Preparation

In the UK education system, after secondary education, students can start a two-year program which leads to Advanced level examinations. University preparation falls under years 12 and 13, when students specialise in three to four subjects relevant to the subject they wish to study at university level.

Those who would want to study over three to four subjects can continue into more subjects with the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme offered by independent schools.

Further Education

This is nothing but vocational education after completion of secondary education from the age of 16. A college of further education or state sixth form college in the UK works as an alternative to private education. They provide GCSE and A level courses along with foundation and diploma courses. These can further be extended to BTEC courses designed specifically for development of practical skills and knowledge in a specific subject such as Psychology, Sport, Engineering, Business, Art & Design and more.

Higher Education

Higher education in the UK refers to a great range of tertiary qualifications recognised across the world. This includes three-undergraduate programs, one-year postgraduate programs or research master’s programs that last for two to three years.