British education has long attracted and welcomed high calibre students of different nationalities and backgrounds and today builds on hundreds of years of experience in providing quality education to international students. To ensure that the quality is maintained, Britain has implemented unrivalled quality assurance and academic audit systems. Standards are high in teaching and other facilities as well: Libraries, computers, research equipment and living accommodation.

British higher and further education provides value for money by offering shorter, more intensive courses than are available in many other countries, thereby reducing living expenses and time spent away from home. Closely supervised study in an intellectually and culturally stimulating environment, together with an emphasis on student welfare and close contact between staff and students also ensures that individual students get maximum support and, as a result, pass rates are high and drop-out rate for international students is low.

Degree courses and postgraduate study are sometimes collectively called higher education (HE). Most professional courses, such as accountancy, dentistry, medicine, etc, are offered at higher education level.

Degree courses lead to a Bachelor’s degree (or, in a few cases, a Master’s degree). They are available from Higher Education institutions (universities, HE colleges and institutes) and some Further Education institutions.

Universities vary in size from less than 4,000 students to over 10,000, and teach a wide range of courses. HE colleges and institutes are typically smaller than the universities. Some run similar programmes to the universities and others specialise in one or more subjects.

Postgraduate study leads to postgraduate certificates and diplomas, Master’s degrees (including the MBA) and doctorates (eg PhD or DPhil). All are advanced academic programmes for students who have a good first degree. They are offered by universities, HE colleges and institutes.

With more than 150 institutes of higher education to choose from, all equipped with extensive facilities, Britain is able to offer a broad spectrum of subjects from the highly academic to the purely practical in anything from architecture to zoology.

Sandwich Courses are also available where the coursework is accompanied by practical work. A student could either complete two years of college, then a year of commercial training before returning for a final year in college. Or, he/she could do a four-year course with three-six months’ training interspersed each year. The main advantage is that the student gets real experience while in the learning mode. Most universities offer this type of education.

Higher National Diploma is awarded by Vocational and Technical Educational Councils. They offer two-year course in a vocational subject like scientific and technical business subjects. Work experience is emphasised.

Vocational Courses offer an opportunity to enter the university system slowly. Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC), General Vocational Qualifications (GNVQ), General Scottish Vocational Qualifications (GSVQ) offer recognized courses in a range of disciplines. Most students opt to take one-two years of, for example, BTEC courses before being transferred to a degree programme. BTEC national certificates/diplomas are usually accepted as an alternative to A-Levels.

Postgraduate study may take the form of an independent piece of research under supervision or a taught course and leads to a variety of degrees and awards. Taught courses normally last for one or sometimes two years. Completion of a doctorate normally takes a minimum of three years. Many post-experience courses are available, either leading to a qualification or providing a refresher course for graduates wishing to update their knowledge.

Occasional students are admitted by some institutions in limited numbers. They attend courses or undertake research, possibly for a period of one or two years. These courses do not lead to any formal qualification although certificate of attendance may be given.