The English education system is considered the benchmark of all existing ones. Universities and the first schools in Great Britain appeared in the 12th century. This system is changing, but loyalty to age-old traditions and a high level of education remain unchanged.

Features of UK education

The education system in the UK is considered to be ideal, and some countries are guided by it. Canadian and Australian education is a prime example.

All educational institutions in England are divided into private and public – this is a hallmark of the British system. Schools differ from Russian ones: they do not work according to the same curriculum. The student has the opportunity to choose the one in which he can better prepare for admission to a particular faculty.

The education system in England has the following structure:

• Elementary School – primary education, from 5 to 11 years old;
• Secondary School – secondary education, from 11 to 16 years old;
• Further Education – after school, from 16 to 18 years old;
• Higher Education – higher education, from 18 years old.

Preschool education

Preschool education in the UK is optional. From two to five years old, a child can be at home or attend Nursery – an analogue of a Russian kindergarten. Preschool educational institutions can be of different directions: linguistic, religious. In the first, studies are conducted in several languages, in others, children are told about religion in an accessible way. But everywhere kids are taught to read, write, count. The British believe that attending a good preschool is an important part of upbringing. The state pays only 15 hours a week – for the rest of the time, parents pay out of their own pocket.

Preparatory education

In paid schools, children can receive preparatory education. A child can enter here at the age of five, and later transfer to high school. Private education is considered to be of better quality, but not everyone can afford it. Therefore, the majority of children after kindergarten go to public schools.

Primary school education

In public schools between the ages of 5 and 11, royal subjects receive their primary education. Here the student will have to study basic subjects:

• mathematics;
• music;
• geography;
• English;
• art;
• industrial technology;
• history.

Education in England takes place in terms of trimesters. English schoolchildren sit at their desks on September 1, and training ends on June 30. Schoolchildren rest in July and August. In addition to the summer holidays, Britain has Christmas and Easter holidays.

Secondary school education

This education is a compulsory step. All British children under the age of 16 must receive it. In secondary school, they master knowledge in basic disciplines, go in for sports, music, and develop leadership skills. Many people choose private closed schools for training, where the child is at full board. At the end of their studies, students take an exam, the results of which determine whether the child will be admitted to high school or not. High school in England ends with a general certificate of secondary education. With this document, you can enroll in schools or get an official job.

Post-secondary education

After the end of the main educational cycle, those who want to become university students continue to study. At the age of 16, a person begins a two-year A-levels course. In the first year, he studies 4-5, and in the next – 3-4 disciplines and chooses which of them he will take. At this stage, he already determines what specialty he will receive at the university. For example, those who go to medical, pass biology and chemistry.

Classification of schools by student age

In Britain, there are full-cycle schools in which a child studies between the ages of 3 and 18. But there are also institutions separately for junior and senior students. Parents together with the child choose where he will receive education.

For the younger ones, there is Primary Schools – children from four to 11 years old study here, as well as Junior Schools, where training takes place from seven to 13 years old. There are institutions for older students with in-depth study of individual disciplines.

Classification of schools by gender of students

Education in the UK can take place in mixed schools for girls and boys. There are supporters and opponents of the mixed education system in society. Some argue that children should communicate with the opposite sex – this motivates them and teaches them to defend their rights. Others insist that boys and girls distract each other and learn less. This is also why they wear uniforms in English schools: so that children are engaged in their studies, and not discuss who is wearing what.

Public and private schools

British schools are public and private. The quality of education is not very different, because the state strictly monitors this. Although it is believed that students in private schools receive better training, since these educational institutions have a better material and technical base, more experienced teaching staff, and fewer people in the class. Private British schools did not appear yesterday. Many of them have been functioning for several centuries, and their graduates traditionally receive high marks for admission to the university.

Higher education: features, reviews

• classical universities;
• polytechnic institutes;
• university colleges – here they focus on scientific and research activities;
• colleges of higher education – training in applied disciplines is carried out here.

The training program is very diverse. In addition to attending lectures, seminars, students work in small groups with tutors, submit term papers and essays.

Education consists of three stages: bachelor’s degree – 3 years, master’s degree – 1-2 years, doctoral studies – 2-3 years. In Britain, inclusive education is well developed, so people with disabilities can receive knowledge in full.

Preparing for high school studies

Tuition fees in the UK

A private school in England will cost the student’s parents a decent amount. Children whose parents cannot pay for them receive free secondary school education.

Higher education in Britain is paid for both for the subjects of the kingdom and for foreign citizens – for them the price is higher. One year of study will cost from 10 to 25 thousand pounds per year. A student with a British passport can go into debt: he will begin to pay it only after graduation and employment. A prerequisite is that he can reimburse the state for training costs only if his annual salary is at least 21 thousand pounds.

Most popular educational institutions

The highest positions in the world rankings are occupied by the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford. So, in the table “QS World Universities Ranking”, these universities occupy 5th and 6th positions, in the ranking of The Complete University Guide – 1 and 2, and in Shanghai – 3rd and 7th places, respectively.

One of the largest universities is the University of London, which consists of 18 colleges. More than 120 thousand students study here. Some of the most popular UK universities include Easton College, Manchester and St Andrews.

Postgraduate education

A student can take a theoretical course, upon completion of which it is necessary to hand over a thesis project of at least 20 thousand words. You can choose a research type of postgraduate education, which involves an emphasis on independent scientific work.

International Assessment of the Quality of English Education

British higher education is ranked highly in the world. British universities are in leading positions in world rankings, and the structural scheme in many countries has been adopted.

The level of educational institutions is less well-spoken about. If in 2000 Britain, according to the results of monitoring the assessment of the quality of education at school, took the 7th place in the ranking, then after 9 years – already 24.

Getting an education SYSTEM for Indians

indian applicants after graduating from high school must first take an A-Level course or a one-year Foundation preparatory course – these are offered by many universities. You can go directly to a British university after completing the first year of university at home.

Foreigners have the opportunity to get a second higher education, master’s degree or MBA – Master of Business Administration. As part of this course, the student acquires professional, business and management skills.

Scholarships and grants for international students

Foreign students can receive a grant or scholarship to study at a British university. The most popular ones include:

• Hill Foundation of The (FondHilla);
• grants from Coca-cola and Shell companies;
• Felix Scholarship (StipendiyaFeliksa);
• Dorothy Hodgkin Postgraduate Award .

Any low-income student under the age of 35 can apply for a scholarship. The applicant must not be a citizen of the countries of the Euroeconomic zone.

Accommodation for international students

The overwhelming majority of universities provide rooms in hostels for living for foreign students. But for this you have to pay 70 to 250 pounds per week. In prestigious universities, the student receives a room for the entire period of study, but in most of them only for a year. In Oxford and a little-known university, room rates will differ.

If finances permit, the student can live in a rented apartment. It will cost 5-9 thousand pounds a year. The most profitable option is living with a British family, which is selected by the university.

What are the requirements for foreigners upon admission

For admission to a bachelor’s program, a certificate of secondary education is required, for a master’s program – a diploma of higher education. You can apply for bachelor’s programs at the age of strictly from 18 years old, for master’s programs – from 21 years old. A foreigner can enter a university that is on the list published on the website of the UK Foreign Office. Of course, a foreigner cannot become a cadet at a military academy.

The selection committee pays attention to the progress of the applicant, the availability of scientific work experience, it studies the characteristics from the place of work and study. A big plus is participation in olympiads, competitions, sports events, an active life position. Another requirement is that a foreigner must have the financial ability to study and live in the country.

Conditions and procedure for obtaining a study visa

A foreigner can receive education in England only with a special visa. You cannot study with a tourist permit here. A foreign citizen who wants to go to study in the UK is issued a visa of one of the following types:

• Student Visitor Visa;
• Extended Student Visitor Visa;
• Tier 4 Child Visa;
• Tier 4 General Student Visa.

To obtain a UK study visa of one of the types, you need to submit:

• current international passport and all old ones;
• color photos;
• a questionnaire completed in English;
• document on the applicant’s enrollment in the university / school / courses;
• certificate from the place of work or study;
• a rental agreement for the duration of your stay in Britain or a certificate of the provision of a room in a hostel;
• ConfirmationofAcceptanceofStudies (CAS) – a document provided by an educational institution with full information about the applicant.

Persons who enter college apply a certificate that confirms the level of English proficiency at Intermediate and higher. Minors need a notarized permission from their mother and father to travel.

You need to contact the British Embassy or one of the five visa centers. You can extend your residence permit at diplomatic missions abroad and in Britain. The cost of obtaining a study visa depends on its type. For a short-term one, you need to pay a consular fee of 10,320 rubles, and for a period of more than six months – 37,100 rubles. Visa center services are paid additionally.

The processing time for documents for a short-term visa is 15 days on average. To obtain a long-term residence permit, documents must be submitted 3 months in advance.

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Pros and cons of English education

The undoubted plus of British education SYSTEM is high quality and prestige. With an English diploma, you are more likely to go abroad and find a good job in Europe or America. The advantages also include a huge number of educational institutions and educational programs. You can take a short course in general disciplines and delve into the study of individual ones that are needed for further work. The difference between English education SYSTEM is the high intensity of training. Students are busy throughout the day: they attend classes, prepare notes, essays, and perform practical tasks. Foreigners who really want to get a quality education and count on career growth in the future receive knowledge not only from textbooks. Many of them spend many hours in the library studying books and electronic resources. Such independent work is only welcomed. Due to the high intensity of knowledge acquisition, the duration of study in British universities is shorter than in other countries.

Foreign students have the opportunity to work, but physically not all of them manage to do it. The disadvantage of studying in Britain is the high cost and the need to know the language well. Foreigners who graduate from a British university receive a work permit for a period of one year.