- How the UK education system works
- About the different course providers
- About the different courses
- Qualifications and careers prospects
- Choosing an English language school
- Accommodation choices
- Costs and fees
- Choosing where to study in the UK
How the UK education system works
Most British children are educated in the state system from the age of four. The school leaving age is currently being raised from 16 to 18, but the final two years can be spent in college or work-related training. Most pupils move on to college at the age of 16 after taking GCSE or equivalent exams.
Both state and private further education colleges are open to fee-paying overseas students. Some colleges will specialise in academic courses such as A Levels or the IB. Others run a full range of vocational courses.
Most British universities are public institutions, largely funded by the Government. They are increasingly popular with fee-paying overseas students as well as those from Britain. This is the only part of the state education sector for which UK students have to pay.
However, the UK also has a world-class high quality private education sector which is very popular with international students. This includes independent (public) schools, independent colleges for students aged 16 and up, and of course private language schools. Language schools should be accredited under the Accreditation UK Scheme. Private colleges should be accredited by the British Accreditation Council (BAC).
State-funded colleges and universities are officially inspected and regulated to ensure that they meet very high quality standards.
About the different course providers
English UK members meet the different needs of every student. Some English UK members specialise in short summer courses for teenagers, while others may concentrate on business English and the needs of different professionals.
Centres range from family-run operations where students live and work as a group, through to the well-known private language centre chains, to departments in further education colleges and universities.
Private language schools usually offer a range of different English language courses. They may specialise in different areas, such as business English or English Plus leisure courses. They can usually accommodate all skill levels and offer part-time or full-time courses, with flexibility about length and start dates.
Independent schools and tutorial colleges offer a range of subjects and activities all taught in English. Some offer summer programmes.
Further education colleges usually offer courses for students at all levels as well as career-based training and academic courses in classes where other students will speak English as a first language.
Higher education institutions and universities are more suitable for students whose language skills are intermediate or better. Many specialise in teaching English for academic purposes or foundation courses.
About the different courses
If there isn't a course to suit your student, there will be an English UK member willing to organise something to meet their needs.
If you have a special request from a client that you're having difficulty fulfilling, email info@englishuk.com and we'll circulate your message to our member centres.
For more information on course types, click here.
You can search the full range of courses and accredited providers using the course finder on the English UK website.
Qualifications and careers prospects
Almost all of our accredited language centres offer courses that lead to internationally-recognised qualifications at all levels.
An English language course is a great investment for the future, whether a student wants to improve their CV and career prospects or is preparing for further study. The UK also offers a wide range of professional and vocational qualifications. Options include vocational training and programmes for pre-university, degree, postgraduate and doctorate level learning.
More details on qualifications are available on the British Council website.
Choosing an English language school
Students should start by making a list of what is most important to them.
- Do they want to live and work in a city or a small town?
- What part of the country would they like to live in?
- Do they want to be in a good base for travelling around the UK, or have easy access to Europe?
- Do they have special needs or requirements?
They should also consider what kind of centre would suit them best. Do they want to be immersed in studying with staff and students in a building which may be some distance from a town or village? Would they prefer a small school? Or would a large school be better for their needs?
Once they have considered these preferences, it is time to use the course finder tool. Unless they have very specific requirements, the website is likely to suggest several different centres for them to investigate further and consider.
Accommodation choices
Most students coming to the UK are likely to have a choice of living with a family – homestay – or in a residence.
There are many advantages to living with a family for at least the early weeks in the UK. It is a good way to learn quickly about British culture and to speak English all the time. Homestay means living with an ordinary family, eating home-prepared food and getting first-hand experience of how people live.
However, residences are becoming more popular options, typically with those in their 20s. Residences are likelier to be available in the major cities, and are usually shared flats in a purpose-built accommodation block. Students like these because they tend to be in the city centre, which makes it easy to go out for the night, and they don't have to worry about getting home late.
If a student wants to stay in a residence, it is a good idea to make sure that they are in a shared apartment with students from other countries. This will help ensure that they are not lonely, and will encourage them to speak English to each other.
Many language centres will suggest spending at least the first few weeks in homestay accommodation.
Costs and fees
Students often worry that it can be expensive to study in the UK, but their fears are often based on out-of-date information and old exchange rates. For visa students, the funds they are required to have under the points-based system will cover their costs - £600 per month outside London and £800 per month in the inner London boroughs (Camden, City of London, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Newham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth and Westminster).
Courses vary in cost between institutions and there may be special offers available at certain times of the year.
It can also be cheaper to live outside London and the South of England. For more information, students can use the student calculator tool.
Choosing where to study in the UK
It can be hard to choose between the different areas of Britain when thinking about where to study. In some ways it doesn't matter too much as the country is small enough for easy travelling.
Everywhere has a lot to offer, and in many ways it can be more important to make the right choice between staying in a busy city or a quieter town.
It's impossible to give extensive information on every region here, and it is important for potential students to do more research.
We encourage you to browse VisitBritain's (Britain's national tourist agency) suite of websites to find out more about the great places to visit and study in the UK.
- www.visitbritain.com
- www.visitengland.com
- www.visitwales.com
- www.visitscotland.com
- www.visitlondon.com
Downloads
To download English UK's essential information for agents as a printable document, please click here.
