Children in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland start school aged five, and usually finish secondary school aged 18. British students starting university have therefore normally completed 13 years of full-time education.

British bachelor's degrees with honours are usually completed in three years. Master's programmes normally take one year, and a doctoral degree usually takes three to four

Universities offer the highest level courses in many subjects. Universities in the UK are checked and assessed by national organisations and the results are made public. This ensures high standards and enables useful comparative guides, which are often compiled and published by newspapers. One respected guide is The Times Good University Guide .

Universities typically offer courses at the following levels:

In the UK there are hundreds of schools for learning English. You can choose to study English wherever you want, whether in a big city like London or in a small countryside town. Read more

Colleges are further education institutions that vary greatly in size, facilities, and courses offered. beo can help you to find the right one for you.

Colleges typically offer courses at a higher level than secondary schools, but a lower level than universities. However, there is some overlap. Read about levels of study at colleges here.

For a world-class international education, school students can stay at a British boarding school, where they will live and study. Minors from overseas must have a legal guardian in the UK, so they will be looked after, and boarding schools will provide advice on this when making study arrangements. Read more

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