Education System

Over hundred years old, the UK education system is basically structured in six different levels. They are:

• Pre-school or pre-preparatory education,
• Preparatory education,
• Primary education,
• Secondary education,
• Post-sixteen education, and
• Post-eighteen education.

The UK has two distinct systems of courses and qualifications, one for England, Wales and Northern Ireland and another for Scotland, each compatible with the other. Students, who are heading for study abroad experience in the UK, must understand the education system of UK thoroughly. After the primary and junior education, the secondary education starts at the age of eleven. After completing secondary education, the student heads for higher education. Two basic levels of higher education exist in the UK. They are classified as:

• Non-university level post-secondary studies
• University level studies

Non-university level or post-secondary level of studies in the UK can lead the students to acquire diploma and vocational qualifications. About thirty bodies in the UK offer diploma and vocational degrees to the student aspirants through this system. In the university level higher studies category, there are generally four stages of studies namely, university level first stage, second stage, third stage and fourth stage. The first stage lasts for three or four years and leads to the award of a Bachelor's Degree in Arts, Science or other fields like technology, law, engineering etc.

The second stage of the university level studies leads the students to pursue for the Master's degree program of two years duration after completing Bachelor's degree. This program consists of specialized studies of particular subjects. The third stage of university studies comprises generally of two years focused and extended subject study of Master's program that leads to Master of Philosophy or MPhil degree. After usually three years of further study beyond the Master's Degree, the candidate may present a thesis for the Doctorate of Philosophy, PhD degree that is the fourth stage of university studies in the UK education system.