Education system in the United Kingdom

Britain's education system

Britain is the world's top-ranked education powerhouse, because Britain has the world's most famous and oldest institutions, so every year attracts many international students to study in Britain, the following I'll talk to you about Britain's education system!

First, the British education system

Britain is a country with a long tradition of education. Its education system has evolved over hundreds of years, is quite perfect and complex, and has great flexibility.

Overall, education in the UK is divided into three stages: Compulsory Education, Further Education and Higher Education.

The British education system is generally divided into five stages:

Stage 1

Kindergarten education from 3 to 5 years old;

Stage 2

Primary education from 5 to 11 years old;

Stage 3

Secondary education from 11 to 16 years old;

Secondary education from 5 to 16 years old;

Primary education from 5 to 11 years old.

5-16 years of age is the stage of compulsory education established by law. Children of school age must be enrolled in school, and the State is responsible for compulsory tuition, books and necessary supplies.

The fourth stage

16-18 years of age is the advanced secondary school (or university preparatory class), the transition from secondary school to university, also known as the stage of continuing education, which is mainly academic and vocationally oriented studies.

Students who have completed the preparatory course mainly take the general education advanced examination (general certificate of education, advanced level, referred to as GCE-A level), while students in vocational and technical schools in addition to taking the GCE-A level examination, but also to participate in the General National Vocational Qualification ( General National Vocational Qualification (GNVQ);

Fifth stage

University education.

Usually starts at the age of 18, and takes 3-4 years (5 years in medicine) for a Bachelor's degree. A master's degree usually takes 1-2 years, and a doctorate 3-5 years.

The quality of teaching in the UK

The UK education system is recognized around the world.

In order to continue to maintain high standards, education in the UK operates a unique system of quality assurance in which every school, further education and higher education institution is subject to rigorous scrutiny by the Education Quality Authority.

A number of independent organizations also regularly inspect and accredit UK institutions and courses.

Evaluating each course against a uniform standard allows students to better understand how well each institution is teaching the same subject. Many countries are now following the example of the quality assurance system in British education.

(A) English Language Centers in the UK

The English language program in the UK emphasizes the comprehensive development of language skills by starting with four aspects: listening, speaking, reading and writing.

Studying in the UK gives you plenty of opportunities to practice speaking. The many dialects and accents in the UK will also help you to develop your English skills.

There are many language schools in the UK, and it can be difficult to find a good language center that suits your needs - there are over 430 accredited English language centers in the UK***.

All of the English language teaching centers you'll find in Accreditation UK's Institution Finder are accredited by Accreditation UK.

This is an accreditation program for English language courses, run jointly by the British Council and English UK, the national association of accredited English language centers.

English programs, which are reviewed every four years, are required to report annually.

A working group of independent reviewers examines the following four criteria:

1. management of teaching and learning and course provision

2. resources and environment for students and teachers to learn

3. standards of teaching and learning

4. benefits, support and services for students

Only English language courses meeting these criteria are listed in the 'English Language Courses' section. Only English language programs that meet these criteria will be listed in the Program Search.

(ii) Higher education institutions in the UK

Each higher education institution in the UK is responsible for the standards and quality of its own programs, but the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) conducts regular independent reviews.

They ensure that every institution in the UK provides high quality education, recognized awards and diplomas, and appropriate academic standards.

Many departments in UK institutions are also accredited by professional bodies that advise on course arrangements and conduct visits.

The major institutions in Scotland are also subject to inspection by the HMIe.

Meanwhile, in the UK, the government has strict control over the right to award degrees and qualifications.

Degrees are awarded on the basis of the Royal Constitution or an Act of Parliament, and schools applying for degree-awarding powers must demonstrate that they emphasize the importance of safeguarding the quality of teaching and have a well-established system for safeguarding academic standards.

Three: Undergraduate in the UK

Like the education systems of the vast majority of countries, the UK undergraduate degree is the course to which the Bachelor's degree corresponds, and is the most popular degree qualification in the UK.

There are more than 90 universities and 150 colleges in the UK offering education and training for undergraduate and post-baccalaureate programs.

The rigorous quality assurance system for education has resulted in UK qualifications being accepted and respected around the world.

Undergraduate education in the UK offers a choice of around 23,000 degree courses in hundreds of subjects.

Chinese undergraduates or those who have already obtained a college diploma can gain entry to a UK undergraduate degree program through a specially designed Access To Higher Education Programme or Higher Education Foundation Course.

(1) Undergraduate Academic Structure

There is no standardized undergraduate academic structure and degree system in the UK, and universities may not teach in the same way.

However, in general, it takes three years to complete an undergraduate degree and ultimately obtain an honors degree in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

And in Scotland, students take three years to do an ordinary degree and four years to take an honors degree.

However, some universities require four years or more for certain specialties, such as medicine. In the eyes of the British, medicine and law are the most difficult professions to get into as well as the most difficult to study.

Among bachelor's degrees, there is also the Honors degree, which is a higher degree than the regular bachelor's degree.

Most universities require only three years of study for an Honors degree, which is only slightly deeper and more difficult than an ordinary Bachelor's degree. Some universities require three years for a bachelor's degree plus one year for an honors degree for certain majors.

1. Degree types:

Undergraduates graduate with a bachelor's degree (Bachelor Degree), there are many kinds of bachelor's degrees in the UK, and the following are the common types:

BA (Bachelor of Arts), BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration), BEd (Bachelor of Education), BSc (Bachelor of Science), BEng (Bachelor of Engineering), LLB (LLB), LLB (LLB), LLB (LLB), LLB (LLB), LLB (LLB). Bachelor of Science (BSc), BEng (BEng), LLB (LLB), MB (MB).

2. Entry routes:

There are a number of routes to undergraduate study in the UK, the most common of which is to apply for entry to an undergraduate course through UCAS with three A-Levels. Applications for undergraduate degree programs at UK universities are made through UCAS.

UCAS stands for Universities and Colleges Admissions Service and is a public ****service that provides a unified admissions service for all UK universities.

In principle, all undergraduate degree programs at all UK universities, including postgraduate programs, must be applied for through UCAS, which is available to universities in England, Scotland, and Wales, and is generally used for Undergraduate applications.

Fourth: Masters in the UK

Postgraduate programs in the UK take only one year, which is different from both China and the US.

During this year, students mainly write essays and do research, with less classroom teaching.

The requirement for entry into a graduate program is a bachelor's degree, and a period of relevant work experience is also very helpful.

International students from other countries will find it difficult to complete the year without a period of study in the UK, or if they don't speak the language well.

Some colleges have designed a pre-master program to help international students get into a postgraduate program and succeed in their degree.

There are more than 140 universities and colleges engaged in higher education in the UK, all offering excellent learning environments and a wide range of professional courses leading to internationally recognized diplomas. It is possible to start a postgraduate diploma program, a master's degree program, and a PhD at various levels in almost any discipline.

(A) Classification of Postgraduate Programs in the UK

Postgraduate programs in the UK are classified into two categories, Taught Courses and Research Degrees

Category 1: Taught Courses

Taught Courses

Taught Courses

Taught Courses

Taught Courses

There are two main types of taught graduate programs: master's degree programs, which usually last 12 months. The first is the Master's degree program, which usually lasts 12 months and consists of classroom lectures, seminars, examinations and continuous assessment, and a dissertation.

The other type is the Postgraduate Diploma or Certificate program, which usually lasts for 9 months and includes the lectures of the Master's program but does not include a final dissertation. Some diploma programs can be converted to master's degree programs at the end of the program.

Category 2: Research Degrees

Research programs are categorized into research masters and doctoral degrees.

Research programs offer the best opportunity for students who want to develop their specialization and interests. Students choose their own research topic and conduct their own research, usually under the guidance of a supervisor. Therefore, independent research skills are very important for students pursuing research-based programs.

(2) Common types of master's degrees:

MA ? Master of Arts

MBA ? Master of Business Administration

MEd ? Master of Education

MSc ? Master of Science

MChem Master of Chemistry

LLM ? Master of Laws

MEng ? MEng

(C) Characteristics of Postgraduate Programs in the UK

Postgraduate programs in the UK take only one year, which is different from both China and the United States.

The compactness of the program and the short duration of the course is one of the reasons for its general popularity. Duration is generally 1-2 years, with taught masters degrees typically lasting 1 year.

Another unique advantage of postgraduate education in the UK is the close relationship between students and supervisors.

Through small class sizes, tutorials, seminars and a wide range of teaching methods, UK education allows each student to have the support of a supervisor, to check their progress and to discuss relevant learning issues with their supervisor.

At the same time, all postgraduate programs in the UK require a great deal of independent work.

In the case of taught courses, postgraduate supervisors and lecturers only teach the framework of the course in the classroom, within which students can choose their own areas of interest for study.

In contrast, the primary teaching methodology of a research-based program is the completion of original research under academic supervision, and the completion of a thesis based on that research is an important part of the program.

(D) Advantages of Postgraduate Programs in the UK

Compared with the domestic postgraduate programs, the postgraduate programs in the UK have many advantages. Even compared with the postgraduate programs in the United States, Australia, Singapore and other common study destination countries, the UK has its own unique advantages.

1. Short duration:

The most common UK postgraduate course, Taught Course, is generally only one year, which is shorter and more compact than the domestic or US master's courses.

For some students who have taken a break from work to study at postgraduate level, the shorter duration means that the financial cost of not being able to work is minimized.

2. Lower fees:

In fact, this point is closely related to the first. Calculating the annual tuition and living costs of a UK postgraduate program individually, there is not much advantage compared to studying in other countries. However, due to the short period of time, the overall calculation of its cost is much lower than other study destinations.

3. High international recognition:

The UK is an old education powerhouse, and UK master's degrees are widely recognized in all countries and regions.

Among them, including the United States, European countries, Commonwealth countries led by Australia and Canada, and even Hong Kong.

If you are interested in working in these countries and regions, a UK master's degree is very helpful.

V. UK Language Programs

There are many types of language programs in the UK, and they are offered to different groups of people with different needs. However, for students applying to UK universities, the most relevant is the Pre-sessional, or pre-school language program.

As universities in the UK have increased their language requirements in recent years, it is believed that more and more students will need access to this language program.

There are over 1,000 private language schools in the UK, and nearly 300 of them are accredited by the British Council under its Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) accreditation.

This ensures that international students have access to high quality content. Recognized language schools are at least two years old and are audited every three years.

(1) Types of language courses

Language courses in the UK are generally divided into eight categories, including:

General English, English for Academic Purposes, English for Specific Purposes, and English for the Professions. English for Specific Purposes, Pre-sessional Courses and so on.

Among them, Pre-sessional Courses are undoubtedly the most relevant for international students.

Pre-sessional Courses are for non-native English speakers who do not meet the language requirements for a degree program, and teach note-taking, listening, reading, and essay writing skills.

(2) The Role of Language Courses

The purpose of taking Pre-sessional Courses is to prepare you for study at a particular university or college. They usually take place shortly before the start of the first semester of your major.

If you don't have the required level of English language ability, the UK institution you are planning to study at may require you to take a pre-university English language course as a condition of admission to the institution.

Before you start your studies, you can take a formal test to determine your level of English. The results of this type of test are not intended to be used as a pass or fail decision, but rather to give you a good estimate of your language ability and study needs.

The two main tests are IELTS and TOEFL, and a score of 5.5 to 7.0 on the IELTS or 65 to 95 on the TOEFL meets the admission criteria for most UK higher education institutions. The IELTS test score of 5.5 to 7.0 or TOEFL score of 65 to 95 meets the admission criteria of most British universities.

Even if you don't have the required IELTS or TOEFL scores, many UK institutions will accept you if you take a pre-entry English language course.

Sixth, the British matriculation courses

Matriculation that is the University Foundation Year (University Foundation Year) or bridge course (Bridging course), is a pre-university preparatory education, generally require overseas high school graduates to read about 1 year of matriculation to adapt to the foreign learning style.

Overseas universities generally have preparatory courses or designate colleges to teach preparatory courses. After completing the one-year preparatory course, international students can decide whether they can be admitted to their original choice of colleges and universities according to their performance, or they can transfer to other better universities according to their performance.

Foundation programs in the UK are divided into undergraduate and master's programs, which generally last less than a year.

(A) Undergraduate Foundation Program

Undergraduate Foundation Program is designed to make up for the gap of one year between the Chinese and British education systems.

The British education system is from the age of 5 to 18 years old to complete the primary to secondary school curriculum, so before they enter the university has completed 13 years of academic courses;

University credits take about three years to complete in order to obtain a bachelor's degree, a **** is the time to complete the entire academic program in 16 years.

In contrast, Chinese students only need to complete 12 years of primary to secondary education, and after high school graduation, enroll in a 4-year university program to complete the full 16-year course of study.

For Chinese high school graduates who want to go to university in the UK, in order to make up for the shortfall of one year of education between the UK and China, students should attend a one-year preparatory/ bridging program in the UK before starting their university program.

(2) Pre-Masters Programs

Most Master's programs in the UK are only 1 year long, so the curriculum and pace of study is very tight.

For Chinese students, in such a short period of time, it is not easy to be fully engaged in the intense study life, but also to adapt to the new social life of different cultures, and to obtain a high-quality master's degree within one year, which is very difficult.

This requires the applicant to be prepared psychologically as well as theoretically. Therefore, the matriculation program, rationally designed according to the needs of the master's program, came into being.

Seven, the UK's doctoral

The cycle of the doctoral program in British universities is relatively short, full-time, usually in 3-5 years can get a doctorate.

In addition, in addition to the short duration of the UK university doctoral program, and high gold content, the employment rate of graduates and starting salary are very high.

(A) Classification of doctoral degrees in UK universities:

There are many kinds of doctoral degrees in UK, such as:

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D), Education (Ed.D), Medicine (M.D), Theology (Th.D), Divinity (D.D), Laws (L.D), Science (D.Sc), Dentistry (D.S) and Doctor of theUniversity (D.Univ), among others.

Generally speaking, there are three forms of doctoral study in UK universities:

(1) Professional doctorate which combines research and some lecturing;

(2) Pure research doctorate which is judged on the basis of the final doctoral dissertation and its defense;

(3) Or through various other ways without exams, e.g., in order to get a particular position ( e.g. High Court Judge, priest), or to thank someone.

The most common and widely recognized is the purely research-based doctorate (i.e., judged by the final dissertation and its defense).

The dissertation required for this type of degree can be either a regular dissertation or a combination of papers or publications published during the doctoral program.

This purely research-based doctoral degree typically takes 3-5 years for a full-time (full-time) doctorate and 5-7 years for a part-time (part-time) doctorate.

Although it is not like the UK undergraduate degree is divided into 3 levels (Third Class Honours), 2:2 (Second Class Honours, Lowerdivision), 2:1 (Second Class Honours, Upper division) and 1 ( FirstClassHonours), unlike the British Master's Degree which is divided into Pass, Merit and Distinction.

But according to the final dissertation writing and defense, there will be four kinds of results: Pass with no corrections, Pass with minorcorrections, Pass with majorcorrections. majorcorrections) and Fail.

If, after the defense, the research is deemed to lack sufficient originality, only the Master ofPhilosophy (M.Phil.) may be awarded.

Of course, there are some students who do not want their research to be too academic and apply directly to some schools (such as Oxford University) for two or more years of M.Phil programs.

During the PhD period, if you encounter unexpected circumstances or feel that you are not suitable for PhD, you can switch to M.Phil 1-2 years after the start of your PhD.

(2) Application process for PhD degree in the UK:

The application process for PhD degree in the UK is not the same as that of a taught master's degree program.

The first step in applying for a PhD at a UK university should be to go to the official website and look for the PhD program you are interested in, and see who the supervisor for the program is.

Some supervisors will put details of their research projects and topics online for applicants. Others require the applicant to contact the supervisor themselves, which is known as magnetizing.

The applicant can ask for information about the project by email, and give a general overview of his or her education, professional background, and research program to see if the two match.

Of course, a PhD application requires a lot of paperwork. Compared to a master's degree, a PhD application also requires a personal statement, letters of recommendation, and a CV.

However, a PhD application also requires a research proposal, which is usually about 1000 words long and varies from school to school.

PhD applicants also need to fill out an application form, which can be downloaded from the school's website, which is just some personal information to fill out, and the choice of projects.

Generally, applicants can fill out and submit the application form in the online system. Some schools require applicants to download the form, fill it out, and email it to their advisor.

Most PhD programs have interviews, where the supervisor invites applicants whose research plans are in line with his or her own to have a face-to-face meeting, in order to better examine the student's research ability and academic level.

(C) UK PhD application requirements and materials:

1. IELTS 6.5-7.0 points, depending on the specialty requirements are slightly different.

2. Many Chinese students are not very aware of the situation, even if the master's degree, the other side is also very important in the undergraduate achievements.

Individual aspects of the profession such as management, may require no master's degree, however, to have a certain amount of work experience. In general, very few undergraduates apply directly for a PhD.

32 Personal statement (Personal Statement) Brief and concise, your background, research direction, reasons for application, research program.

422-3 letters of recommendation. The content of the recommendation letter should include an introduction to your academic performance, research ability, cooperative spirit and academic achievements. And require a stamp and special letterhead.

5. A research proposal (Research Proposal), the word count by the school's own rules, up to 1000 words. Successful proposal measurements: to explain the content of the research, objectives, the current situation, research methods, research value.

;