Secondary education

Students generally begin their secondary education at the age of eleven (grade 6). Types of secondary schools include coeducational comprehensive schools, grammar schools and privately-funded independent schools, which are called public schools in England. Many independent schools are boarding schools, providing o­n-campus accommodation for their students. Independent schools are the most popular option for international secondary students.

In the final two years of secondary school (at ages 17 – 18), students take the A-level (Advanced level) exams. A-levels are often the prerequisite for university-level study, although international students with a high school diploma are usually not required to take the A-level exam.  In Scotland students take the Higher Grade exams (known as Highers) rather than the A-levels, which are the Scottish school-leaving certificate exams and university entrance qualifications.

Career based studies

Career-based courses offer specialized professional training and require up to two years of study (three with a work placement in a related industry). Students can choose from thousands of opportunities in science and technology, computing and business, art and design, social sciences, the humanities and many other subjects. Graduates of career-based studies either enter the work force or go o­n to complete degree courses at universities. These courses are offered at colleges throughout the U.K. Types of career-based courses include:

• The BTEC National Award, Certificate or Diploma. These are o­ne or two-year courses in career-related subjects such as engineering, art and design, agriculture, computing and health and social care. They are ideal for students hoping to progress to a career at a supervisory or technician level, and also provide a foundation for higher education courses in the same subject area.

• The Higher National Certificate (HNC) and Diploma (HND). These are o­ne- and two-year career-related higher education courses, which are equivalent to the first stages of a degree. Successful completion will allow you to enter a career at junior management level, or you can continue into the second or third year of the degree course.

• Foundation Degrees (FdA, FdSc, etc.) are two-year career-related higher education courses equivalent to the first stages of a degree. They are available in many areas, including art and design, media and communications, engineering and hospitality management, and can be used as a foundation for a career or as a basis from which to progress o­n to a degree course.

Tuition and fees

Tuition and fees for BTEC and other vocational certificates and diplomas cost from 7,800 USD to 16,000 USD per year o­n average, while HNCs and HNDs cost from 9,900 USD to 19,600 USD and foundation degrees from 14,000 USD and 23,600 USD.

Foundation studies

University International Foundation Year courses help to bridge any gaps between the qualifications a student holds and those needed to begin a degree course at a U.K. university, whether this is because the student needs to improve his or her English language skills, academic qualifications, or both. These are popular courses for international pre-university students and generally require o­ne to two years of study. Foundation studies can be pursued at colleges and universities throughout the U.K.

o­n average, foundation studies cost from 7,800 USD to 23.500 USD per year.

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Study

Students attending U.K. universities can complete a Bachelor’s degree in three years to four years. There are also “sandwich” courses requiring an additional year during which students work for a short period of time in an industry related to their studies.

Students can complete a Master’s degree in o­ne year, a research Master’s degree in two and a Ph.D. (doctorate degree) in three years. Professional courses such as medicine or law are usually studied as five-year undergraduate degrees although students who have already completed undergraduate degrees can take shorter graduate-level courses to gain specialization in these fields.

Tuition and fees

While course fees vary considerably from university to university, undergraduate students of arts courses o­n average pay 14,000 USD to 18,000 USD a year, while students studying sciences pay 14,700 USD to 23,500 USD and those studying professional courses such as medicine or law can expect to pay 19,600 USD to 41,000 USD a year. Tuition and fees for postgraduate studies (Master’s degree and Ph.D) range from 13,700 USD to 17,600 USD a year for the arts and humanities, 14,700 USD to 23,500 USD a year for science courses and from 13,000 USD to more than 59,000 USD per year or more for an MBA.

Private Language Schools

There are numerous private language schools throughout the U.K. where international students can study English. These schools offer a variety of courses at all levels and of various length, and students can study full-time or part-time. Some schools offer residential summer courses for secondary school students. Classes are usually small and students often receive individual attention from instructors. Tuition and fees vary greatly from school to school.