further education meaning uk

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UK Further Education System

Further education in UK is the stage of education between compulsory education and higher education or university education. As we described here , at the UK education system students enter this stage at 16 years of age and finish it up when 18 years old.

In UK, once you complete the secondary school and get the GCSE results you’re free to decide whether you want to seek an education at higher stages or land the job market right away. As such, further education in the UK marks a vital time in one’s life since it indicates his further life’s track.

That said, a scholar has the following options after finishing secondary school:

• Prepare for University
• Vocational education

The education system in UK is very flexible regarding the fact that it offers numerous options for students in terms of career pathways they can get.

If you have no aspiration to attend education at higher stages, but you would rather like to find a good job and live independently then there are countless options to you at this point. Once you step out of your high school and take your GCSEs you can land the job market. Companies around are eager to recruit young and motivated individuals who are looking forward to starting their adventure in the job market. They value your motivation and therefore take care of your transition into the market comes with ease.

In line with this commitment, colleges in cooperation with many employers establish certain recruiting schemes offering short-courses to prepare candidates with the required skills for the job you’re willing to work.

Also, there are many apprenticeships you can get while under a constant professional provision. These short courses are mainly common for jobs in the industry that require a set of technical skills before start working. Surely this is much common for jobs which may require a bit preparation before start doing it. And also the opportunities to seek better job options afterwards are higher than if you have just landed a job which doesn’t require any level of expertise at all.

Further Education Qualifications

Further education qualifications rely on two purposes: to prepare you for seeking a job or to prepare you to get admitted into the university.

Qualifications that can be attained at this stage of education are divided into four sections

Academic qualifications

• Applied learning-qualifications
• Technical qualifications

Functional skills qualifications

On the other side of the coin, there are students who want to pursue higher stages of education. For these students, further education stage in UK represents a great opportunity to make their academic profile more appealing.

Furthermore, students who haven’t taken their GCSE exams at the age of 16 can still seek to make it through this stage of education. This is a much-desired option since UK universities are highly selective and getting a FE qualification will indicate a higher probability to take a university seat. Fortunately, in UK there’s a wide range of these courses covering particular subjects that lead to certain qualifications.

If you decide to get a university degree in a subject you’re interested than academic qualifications are a suitable option for you. These programs last for up to two years and aim to prepare you in a particular number of subjects required at the degree course you’re planning to apply at the university.

Your GCSE scores at particular subjects like English, Math and Sciences play a major role in your admission, while additional higher grades at particular subjects are required. For example, if you’re willing to apply for an Engineering course you may be required to have higher GCSE in English, Math and Physics.

Usually, further education courses cover 5 up to 5 subjects but are mainly focused on only 3 subjects because that’s how much universities expect from incoming applicants.

The following are academic qualifications  you can attain in UK further education

A-Levels – are subject-based qualifications conferred about several subjects. Most students concentrate on three particular subjects because this is what most universities require to get admitted. Over two years, students gain a grounding in subjects they’ve chosen to study and their knowledge attainment is assessed through several examinations

Cambridge Pre-Us – the course leading to this qualification lasts for two years and students can choose up to four subjects from among 26 subjects available.

Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers – are the qualifications required to enroll a Scottish university. Students can choose to focus their course in four subjects among 60 available subjects. Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers are the equivalents of the A-Levels and AS-Levels.

Baccalaureates – are qualifications that combine several academic subjects and particular skills related to them.

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and Interdisciplinary Project – these qualifications can be taken aside from A-levels or Scottish Highers and you can run an independent study on your favorite subjects.

GCSEs – GCSEs are qualifications that students take when they get over their secondary school, but if one doesn’t score high at particular subjects, particularly in mandatory subjects (English, Maths and Science) he is obliged to undertake these exams during the stage of FE.

If you’re interested in a particular industry and would like to gain the professional skills required to find a job in that industry then vocational courses are are highly recommended to you. These courses are divided into Technical and Functional skills qualifications.

The followings are Technical vocational qualifications awarded as part of the further education in UK .

NVQs and SVQs – qualify you to do a specific job and can be taken if you have a full-time job a course that involves a work placement

Technical levels – several qualifications that grant you a set of practical skills to perform a particular group of tasks in the job environment.

Technical certificates – are designed to equip with a set of skills and knowledge for a particular job where employers hire applicants with level 2 qualifications.

TechBac – is a new programme which is a blending of Technical level qualification, the Extended Project qualification and some elements like teamwork

Aim to prepare you with a set of skills in core subjects of English, maths and ICT to be able to enter higher education or the job market. You can seek to get this qualification as part of an apprenticeship, traineeship or study programme.

Where can I attend a further education course?

Further education courses in UK are offered at so-called sixth form colleges. These are schools that run recognized courses and grant advanced qualifications like A-Levels required to apply at a UK university. Also, they offer similar courses to prepare you to sit in GCSE examination if you haven’t done it by the time you finished secondary school. Note that you can switch places if your school doesn’t offer further education courses.

What is the difference between Further education and Higher education?

For many foreign students when landing a new, unknown educational system which has its original terms and vocabulary, it’s hard to comprehend how it is structured and how it works out.

Many are confounded about the difference between further education and higher education. The reason has to do mainly with the uniqueness and contrast of UK education system to other traditional educational systems applied in other countries of the world.

In UK you cannot head directly to the university once you have completed secondary school, which is the case in most countries of the world. Here the final stage of compulsory education (the secondary school) terminates at 16 years of age in contrast to most countries where the high school is completed when a scholar turns 18.

Further education in UK is the stage at which students decide which path they’re going to take it in the forthcoming stages of their life. Those who have academic goals may choose a course that leads to a specific qualification required to succeed in university application afterwards, others may choose a short course that prepares them for a specific job place and some may drop further education to enter straight into the job market.

But, do universities in UK admit students aged under 18?

Rarely, they do. But there are certain rules applied in such scenario. Commonly a set of conditions and terms must be signed by your parents under an agreement presented by the University of your choice. That said during the further education in UK you either will be seeking to get advanced qualifications to enter university or you will start working full-time.

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What is Further Education?

In A-Level , General by Think Student Editor January 31, 2022 Leave a Comment

For some people, knowing what to do after they finish their GCSEs (or equivalent qualifications) can be a difficult decision. However you feel about the future of your education, further education is something that you have to do by law. It shouldn’t be something that is scary and the more you know about your options, the less scary it will become.

In short, further education is simply education after you’ve completed secondary school, usually at age 16. There are different types of further education. These include level 3 courses such as A-Levels and BTECs. Alternatively, you can leave school and do other types of further education such as an apprenticeship or traineeship. 

If you interested in learning more about your options after you finish your GCSEs (or an equivalent) then you should definitely continue reading. This article will be especially useful to you if you want to know more on specific types of further education, such as A-Levels.

Table of Contents

Further education is education after Year 11 whereby you have completed your GCSEs, at this stage most students are 16 years old. When in further education it is generally a lot more specialised than secondary school education as you study fewer things and may even only be studying and working in one very specific role (such as with an apprenticeship).

Further education tends to be a lot more advanced than secondary school education because the qualifications that you acquire as a part of further education tend to be Level 3 qualifications . Level 3 qualifications include A-Levels, BTECs and some apprenticeships. however, there are also Level 2 qualifications that can be taken as part of further education.

Further education is often confused with higher education. To ensure you don’t make this mistake I will give you a brief explanation of the latter. Higher education is education after the age of 18 and is usually undertaken at a university. If you want to learn more about what further education is follow this link  by the goodschoolsguide.

Is it compulsory to be in full time education until age 18?

In England, it is compulsory for people under the age of 18 to be in some form of education . Essentially, this means that students have no choice but to be doing further education.

Although further education is compulsory, this stage isn’t like earlier stages of education and differs from school in many ways. An example of how further education may differ is your timetable won’t be the same as the school timetable, you will have free periods and much more independence. Also, if you are at a sixth form college you are unlikely to have to wear a uniform and may call your teachers by their first name.

When it comes to further education you have a few options. You could continue to study in a traditional way, where you are at sixth form or sixth form college . These options would involve you having to go to lessons and do specific work. Alternatively, you could do an apprenticeship, or you could even have a full-time job as long as you are doing one of the other two options alongside it. 

Further education in England only became compulsory recently as these laws were only put in place in 2014, see this link for more information.  The idea of introducing these laws was to improve the career prospects and opportunities that young people have for the future . This law means young people were able to develop more skills and qualifications that they could use later on in life.

What are A-Levels?

In the UK, taking A-Levels (Which is short for Advanced Levels) is a form of further education (please note that they are not taken in Scotland). As a type of further education, they are typically done after GCSEs and are considerably the most traditional route of further education . You can learn more about A-Levels in this Think Student article.

A-Levels are the most common form of further education, this is due to how A-Levels are taught. A-Levels are studied in a similar way to how you were taught during secondary school. If you go to a sixth form at your school you will actually be taught A-Levels in the same building, by many of the same teachers as you studied your GCSEs.

The experience you have while doing your A-Levels will be significantly different to if you were still a Year 11 in secondary school. For example, you are given free periods and you may even be given other freedoms in sixth form college that you wouldn’t even dream of while in secondary school. A-Levels although similar are different from your GCSEs. A-Levels are generally harder and go into more depth in each subject area. If you want to find out more about the step up from GCSEs to A-Levels check out this Think Student article.

Benefits of Taking A-Levels

Taking A-Levels can have many benefits, especially as they are the most recognised Level 3 qualification in the UK. While they don’t directly prepare you for the working world, they act as a great way for you to work towards your goals.  A-Levels enable students to learn about their favourite subjects in greater detail so that they are able to decide whether those subjects might be of interest when considering future career paths.

You can only study up to 3 or 4 subjects (except for rare occasions) and so you have to think about which subjects are best for you. This may be based on which ones you enjoy, or it could even be based on which ones you need for whatever you are working towards. If you are planning on going onto higher education you may require certain grades in specific A-Level subjects, therefore it’s important to pick the right A-Levels for you.

If you need some help making this decision then look here for 11 Tips to Help You Decide Which A-Levels to Take .

As you pick your subjects (or at least by the end of your courses), you will probably have begun to think about what you want to do next. You may want to go on to higher education (such as university),  taking A-Levels is considered the best route to get to university as it is a rather natural progression and is generally a common requirement for university . Having said this most universities also have entry requirements for other types of qualification, such as for BTECs.

What are BTECs?

BTECs are another form of further education that you can do at sixth form college. BTEC stands for Business and Technology Education Council, which is the council that created them. This council later merged with London Examinations (ULEAC) in 1996 to form the exam board, Edexcel (now known as Pearson Edexcel), click here to learn more.

Although BTECs and A-Levels can be studied alongside each other, they are very different. This is especially true because BTECs are a type of vocational qualification, so unlike A-Levels, they tend to be more practical and work-based.

BTECs also tend not to have the long exams at the end of the two years and instead are assessed more gradually with smaller tests or coursework throughout the course.  At the end of the course, you won’t receive a grade from the A*-G lettering system but instead a pass, merit, or distinction (or distinction star).  For more information about how BTECs are assessed looked at  this Think Student article .

What are the different types of BTECs?

There are different types of BTEC, you would most likely take one (or more) of the Level 3 qualifications, which are BTEC Nationals. Although you could also take the Level 2 option, which are BTEC Firsts (this will depend on what you want to do and also possibly on how well you did on your GCSEs). For more information about the different type of BTECs you can look at this UCAS article.

There are 3 main types of BTEC National, that you can take at sixth form college, these are: the BTEC National Extended Certificate, the BTEC National Diploma and the BTEC National Extended Diploma (although these may also be called alternative names).

The best way to distinguish between them is to think about how many A-Levels they are equivalent to. Generally, the Extended Certificate is only worth one A-Level, the Diploma is worth two A-Levels and the Extended Diploma is worth three A-Levels. To understand more about BTECs check out this article by Pearson.

Studying a BTEC National for further education, can give you plenty of opportunities for the future .  As BTECs are highly job-specific, you can go straight into full-time employment once you turn 18 and finish your course . This option can be exceptionally great for you if you know exactly what you want to do or even if studying and school in general just isn’t for you.

What are Apprenticeships?

Apprenticeships are another, less traditional form of further education that you can do but unlike A-Levels or BTECs, you are not at sixth form college full-time.

Apprenticeships are all at least 12 months long and during this time you will be working alongside experienced staff, allowing you to train for the job. During an apprenticeship, you will also be working towards a nationally recognised formal qualification, so you will also have to go to college or some kind of training centre (but this is generally only about once a week).

The qualification that you get will depend on what apprenticeship you do as well as the level of apprenticeship but the most common are functional skills, a Nation Vocational Qualification (NVQ) and technical certificates (such as BTECs). Look at  this UCAS article  for more information about apprenticeships.

What are the different types of Apprenticeships?

Just like with BTECs, there are different levels of apprenticeship that you can take in the UK. There are intermediate apprenticeships, advanced apprenticeships, higher apprenticeships, and degree apprenticeships.  Click here to learn more.

For further education, you would generally take either an intermediate apprenticeship which is a level 2 qualification (equivalent to GCSEs), or you would take an advanced apprenticeship, which is a level 3 qualification which is equivalent to A-Levels.

For higher education, you could take a higher apprenticeship, which would either be a level 4 or a level 5 qualification. Degree apprenticeships are as the name suggests, as they are equivalent to bachelor’s or master’s degrees depending on the level.

Benefits of doing an Apprenticeship

Taking an apprenticeship for further education can really open up new doors for you in the future.  As apprenticeships directly train you for a specific job, you could immediately begin working once you have finished it. 

You would most likely have already built up the skills you need to begin working in that career. This is why 85% of people who finish their apprenticeships are still in employment. You may even be able to work for the company that you did your apprenticeship at as 64% of people who completed their apprenticeships did so. For more statistics about apprentices and apprenticeships look  here .

Alternatively, if you don’t want to go straight into official full-time work then you could begin another apprenticeship at a higher level . If you initially took an advanced apprenticeship, you could go on to take a higher apprenticeship and so on. This could also be a great opportunity for you to gain more experience but still keep the support than you have when doing an apprenticeship. This could also allow you to further your career without fully committing the position.

What are T-Levels?

T-Levels  are another form of further education that are worth 3 A-levels and last 2 years. When studying, your time is split between being taught in a classroom and having work experience at an actual business. T-Levels therefore can be described as something in between BTECs and apprenticeships.

During the course, you will have at least 315 hours at an industry placement, allowing you to build up your skills and put what you have learnt into practice. T-Levels are a much newer form of further education than the other examples as they were only launched in September 2020, so you may not have even heard about them.

This also means that the number of subjects currently available and the  places that you can study them  are both very limited, although this will increase . Click here to see where you can study T-Levels. You can also look at this Think Student article for more information about the subjects that you can take for T-Levels.

T-Levels are graded in a similar way to BTECs. Therefore, you will get either a pass, merit, or distinction grade. These grades can be converted into UCAS points which could help you go onto university if you so choose. Check out this Think Student article to learn how T-Levels are graded.

Taking a T-Level for further education can lead to many different opportunities.  They were created with businesses in mind, you could go straight into work and apply the skills that you have learnt. This is especially great for you if you don’t want to study anymore and if you feel confident to test out your abilities in the real world.

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Definition of further education noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• further education
• a college of further education
• distance learning
• higher education
• qualification

Questions about grammar and vocabulary?

Find the answers with Practical English Usage online, your indispensable guide to problems in English.

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Nearby words.

• All questions
• Choices at 14
• Choices at 16
• Choices at 18
• Further Education College
• Apprenticeships and Traineeships
• Higher Education
• Funding and support

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What is a Further Education College and what courses do they offer?

On this page:.

There are 100s of Further Education Colleges each providing courses in a local area that link to the jobs that will be growing in the future. They offer a range of academic, vocational, technical and professional courses. FE colleges use Labour Market Information and relationships with local and regional employers, to ensure they offer qualifications reflective of the job market. Further Education Colleges are attended by people of all ages, from 16 to 90+ although most students are between 16 and 18 years old.

Some colleges are very large, with several sites or campuses and some are specialist, such as those offering agricultural or marine courses.

Further Education Colleges offer courses at every level from entry level courses that do not require GCSE grades at entry, through to higher level qualifications such as HNC/HND and degree courses.

The main difference from school is that an FE college is a much more adult environment and students will typically call teachers by their first name and be expected to be independent. That said, they are still supportive and structured environments and it is not uncommon for parents to be invited in to meet tutors at parents evenings or to receive attendance reports.

A full time course at college is 16 plus hours, which can mean a student can have a part-time job at the same time (but they will be expected to complete course work and projects too!). Students who are required to re-sit or take English and maths as part of their study programme may be in college for more hours each week.

List of the qualifications FE Colleges offer:

• GCSE retakes in English and Maths and some offer  A levels .
• Vocational subjects - these are related to a broad subject area such as business, health and social care, etc. - so they can lead to a large variety of employment areas or university courses.
• Practical Vocational Courses that lead to specific jobs such as hairdressing, plumbing, or engineering.
• T Levels - new 2 year job-related qualifications equivalent to three A Levels.
• Apprenticeships where a student is mostly based with a paying employer and is assessed either in that workplace by a visiting assessor or by attending a college for a day or week at a time
• Courses that prepare people for Higher Education, such as Access Courses or the Art Foundation/Post- A level Art Course
• Vocational Higher Education Level courses , such as Foundation Degrees, Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) and Certificates (HNCs)
• Foundation Courses to develop maths, English, study skills, confidence and employability. These courses can give students the chance to try out several different vocational areas
• Learning for leisure these courses are usually part-time and often in the evenings. They may involve learning more about a hobby or interest e.g. ceramics, art.
• Courses aimed at overseas students such as English Language Courses or preparation courses for University.

All young people must now stay in education or training until their 18th birthday and many young people choose go to Further Education College so they can develop their skills and qualifications before they progress into a job or higher education course, either at a college or a university.

Why young people choose college at 18

At 18 young people might attend a college to do:

• Vocational courses.
• Specialist courses such as post-A level Art programmes.
• Higher education courses, such as, Foundation Degrees or HNCs.

More information

For more specific information about Further Education College go to Careerpilot where you can find information about:

What are the course options

Some of the reasons your child might choose to go

How your child can get on to a Further Education College course

Find out here about colleges in the South of England

A site for adults wanting to get back into learning

What Is Further Education? A Guide To The Options

If you’re wondering what to do after you finish school, further education can in many different directions.

Once you finish school you may be left stuck on the next path, but there are lots of different further education routes that you can choose to go down.

What is further education?

Further education (FE) is any study that’s taken after you finish secondary education (GCSEs, in year 11). This differs from higher education, which is taken as part of an undergraduate or graduate degree. Unlike GCSEs which are standard for all year 11 pupils, you can choose what route of further education you’d like to take.

Further education options

1. a levels.

A levels are one of the most common choices when it comes to further education. If you attend sixth form or college, you’ll probably choose to take A levels. When taking A Levels you’ll choose a couple of subjects, probably ones similar to what you did for GCSE or your favourite subjects from school to focus on and will complete them over 2 years. A level subjects are normally quite traditional and will be similar to what you’ve learnt in school, just at a more specialised level, so they are best suited for people who favour more traditionally academic subjects.

A levels are free to sit and are offered at most colleges and sixth forms within the UK, so for many people if your secondary school has a sixth form you can easily just stay on for sixth form and continue your education there. When applying for uni, most unis will ask for certain A level grades as the standard entry criteria for example AAB, however, there are other courses you can take which are equivalent if there aren’t A level courses for subjects you’re interested in.

2. Art Foundation Diploma Course

If you’re interested in art, an art foundation diploma course is a type of BTEC level 3 and 4 qualification, and a vocational course that lasts for one year. Vocational courses are for subjects that aren’t traditionally academic and an art foundation can help steer you in the right direction if you’re looking to do an art course at university.

An art foundation diploma could act as a stand-alone qualification, or you could use it to help you confirm a place in university to study an art course at a higher level. If you do choose to do a fine art degree at uni, you’ll need to have completed a foundation diploma first, so this is the best option for students who know this is the route they want to go down as opposed to taking more traditional academic subjects as A levels.

Art foundation diplomas are free for anyone under 19 who has finished school, however, if you choose to take one later in life when you’re over 19 it will cost you around £1,300.

3. BTEC Nationals

BTEC Nationals are a good option for students who are better at practical skills. BTEC courses are level 3 courses just like A levels, so by successfully completing BTEC courses, you can secure a place in university just as you would by taking A levels.

BTEC courses are made up of a number of units and an 18 unit course is equivalent to 3 A levels, but if you sit a 12 unit BTEC you may also need an A level qualification too to make up the points needed to get into a university course.

If you’re studying a BTEC you’ll be learning valuable workplace and practical skills, alongside academic theory which is very valuable to future employers. BTECs are assessed by ongoing assessments throughout the year, practical tests and exams. You can take BTECs at the majority of colleges across the UK in subjects including: art and design, business, childcare, construction, media, travel and tourism, public services, fashion, hospitality and more.

While you can study more traditional subjects as BTECs, the courses tend to cover subjects that A levels don’t and are a good option for people who would prefer to specialise in something different to the academic subjects you learn in school.

4. Technical Baccalaureate (TechBac)

The TechBac was introduced in 2014 and are practical, vocational courses aimed at 16-19-year-olds who want technical qualifications and “soft skills”. Soft skills are skills that are desired in the workplace, such as being able to communicate effectively, being adaptable, working well in a team and being able to take constructive criticism.

Each course has to be recognised by the support of a National professional body or experts within their field, for example, Microsoft and Bosch. Students who choose to do a TechBach are recognised by employers as being work-ready, helping to immediately improve employability chances after completing the qualification. TechBachs will give you both a technical qualification and soft skills, so they’re a great option for students who would rather go straight into working instead of progressing into higher education.

Students under 19 can apply for funding to cover the costs of the course, and the course will be measured in hours, normally taking anywhere between 360-1080 hours to complete.

5. Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are a form of further education combined with working, so you’ll be doing on the job training allowing you to work while studying. If you do an apprenticeship you’ll get a qualification and you’ll be paid a salary at the same time.

Apprenticeships are available for school leavers over 16 and you can do courses in industries such as childcare, fashion, advertising, law, teaching, accounting, engineering, hairdressing as well as the more traditional trades such as utilities.

An advanced level apprenticeship (which is taken as further education, and is Level 3 the same as A levels) will typically take between 15 to 28 months to complete. Once done you’ll have a qualification and the skills needed to go into your chosen career sector.

6. T Levels

If you haven’t heard of T Levels before, that’s because they’re a new qualification introduced in September 2020. T Levels are equivalent to 3 A levels and are 2-year courses, developed in collaboration with employers and businesses so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for work, or further study or training.

T Levels offer a mixture of classroom learning and on-the-job experience including an industry placement of at least 45 days. T Level subject areas include: accounting, catering, design, education, finance, health, legal, science, media, management, childcare, animal care and many more. As T Levels are a new qualification, they’re only just being rolled out across certain colleges in the UK, but there are lots of new courses scheduled to be available from September 2022 and 2023, which you can check here .

T Levels have been designed to be one of the main choices for students after finishing their GCSEs so you will be hearing a lot more about them in future years, and they’re based on the same standards as apprenticeships on the basis that they’re designed by employers but differ as you won’t be earning a wage. You will be able to go on to uni after completing T Levels, which will be worth certain UCAS points when applying for university courses.

Although most schools will push A levels as the option you should take once you’ve finished GCSEs, there are plenty of other options which can also lead to uni if that’s what you’re interested in, or straight into a job. Of course, the choice is up to you based on what you think you’d enjoy the most and be best at, but it’s definitely something to think about carefully as it can help to define your future.

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UK Further Education

Not sure you’re ready for a Bachelor’s degree? Interested in both academic and vocational courses?

Enrol at a UK further education college. You can gain a UK Higher Education qualification such as a Higher National Diploma (HND), enhance your career prospects, and still top-up to a university degree later.

Why choose the UK further education?

If you would like to study in the UK and want to keep your options flexible, a course at a UK further education college could be the solution.

UK further education (FE) colleges are funded by the Government and offer access courses, higher education-level diplomas and in some cases full Bachelor’s degrees. College qualifications are designed to equip students with job-specific skills that they can transfer into the workplace, boosting their employability. They are designed in close partnership with employers, thereby ensuring a competitive edge and exposure to the latest industry.

UK college diplomas such as HNDs are often more affordable than other types of courses and offer articulation pathways to Bachelor’s degrees at a range of universities. Completion of an HND is considered equivalent to the second year of a university degree in the UK. In addition, many UK FE colleges also offer higher education qualifications in direct partnership with universities.

Studying at a college is a different experience to studying at university.College class sizes are generally smaller than at university and you will probably be in more timetabled classes. A college course is a great way to prepare for independent study and learning, progressing to university later if you choose to. There are colleges located all across the UK, in big cities, small towns and rural areas.

If you would like more information about the UK’s further education offer, including locations of colleges, courses and entry requirements, please visit the following links:

External links

• England: Association of Colleges
• Wales: Colleges Wales
• Scotland: Colleges Scotland
• Northern Ireland: NI Direct

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Further education

Whether you've just finished your GCSEs or are looking to return to education through adult learning, consider what the UK's further education (FE) sector has to offer. Discover how to apply for college courses, and explore studying for A-levels, T Levels, HNCs, BTEC diplomas or higher apprenticeships.

How to apply for college in the UK

Discover how to secure a place on your preferred course with this guide to applying for college in the UK

Overview of the UK's further education sector

College courses

BTEC diplomas

Studying A-levels at college

Adult education

T Level courses

HNC qualifications

Higher apprenticeships

Alternatives to university

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Further Education System

When students reach the age of 16 and have completed their GCSEs they have a few options to choose from:

Academic Qualifications

Vocational qualifications.

If students opt for carrying on with their education this will take two forms, either by pursuing further academic qualifications or by following a vocational pathway.

Most schools in the UK have what is called a "6th Form" for students to enter after they have taken their GCSEs. As an alternative, there are many "6th Form Colleges" that will offer the same courses from students at schools that do not have a 6th form. Here students typically study A-levels, further academic qualifications required of students before they enter higher education and a degree program.

A-levels, like GCSEs, follow a two-year program and there are two components to them: full A-levels and half AS-levels. Generally A-levels comprise of 6 modules, and an AS-level has 3 modules.

Students will generally take between two to three A-levels, but depending on your academic ability and drive you may take more. Students at independent schools may take anywhere up to 5 A-levels.

For students who are not so academically minded, they still have the option to further their education by studying a vocational course that will provide them with a more hands on experience and education.

The most popular vocation programs include:

• BTEC Awards
• National Vocational Qualification (NVQ)
• City and Guilds Qualification
• Apprenticeships

Most international students coming into the UK will be taking academic programs with the aim of gaining admittance to a degree program. If you are one of those students, visit the UK Higher Education System page.

Please note that Scotland has a separate education system and does not conform to the above structure. Please learn more about the Scottish Education System .

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Meaning of further education in English

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• abstinence education
• abstinence program
• abstinence-only
• academically
• adaptive learning
• Forest school
• homeschooler
• homeschooling
• scholarship
• special educational needs
• traineeship
• virtual learning environment
• vocationally

Examples of further education

Translations of further education.

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pull strings

to secretly use the influence you have over important people in order to get something or to help someone

Renowned and celebrated (Words meaning ‘famous’)

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Understanding further education levels

What will i learn in this zone.

As you progress through education, each qualification you complete will belong to a ‘level’, which determines its value. Understanding these levels is important to know as you choose your options after GCSE to make sure you are making the right choice for you.

In this zone, we will look at:

• Different qualifications and levels
• Finding the best next steps for you

Education Levels

Here we have the breakdown of levels in the UK education system.

When you begin your GCSEs in year 9 or 10, you will start at Level 1, however if you are achieving a grade 4 or above, this is classed as Level 2.

When you finish year 11, most students will be working at a level 2 and are likely to go on to do a Level 3 qualification. This could be at sixth form, college or on an apprenticeship.

After completing a Level 3 qualification, you might progress onto Higher Education, which is Level 4 onwards.

Level 7 and 8 includes post-graduate studies, such as a Master’s Degree or PhD.

GCSE – As mentioned above, GCSEs start at Level 1 and progress to Level 2 if you achieving a grade 4 or above.

NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) Level 1 – NVQs can be completed at school. Some apprenticeships also include a NVQ qualification. These are generally practical based subjects and can provide valuable knowledge and experience to support with future job applications.

BTEC Level 1 – These may be suited to people who have a basic knowledge of English and Maths and need additional support in these subjects, alongside a specific subject. Some courses will also start at Level 1 and get progressively more advanced as the levels move up.

GCSE – GCSEs are a Level 2 qualification if you achieve a grade 4 or above.

NVQ Level 2 – At Level 2, you may be given additional responsibilities, more complex duties, gaining a good knowledge and understanding of the subject you are studying, and developing your skills. Some workplaces or employers may ask you to have a minimum of Level 2 in an NVQ to be suitable for the role. For example, teaching assistants may be required to have an NVQ or relevant experience. Like Level 1, you could do an NVQ as part of an apprenticeship.

BTEC Level 2 – Some BTEC courses may start at a Level 2 and can be 1-2 years long. If your GCSE grades are below a grade 4, you could start a BTEC at Level 2. They can be taken alongside, or in place of, GCSEs and A levels and alongside Diplomas in schools and colleges.

Level 3 - Further Education

A Levels – Advanced level qualification. A Levels are a UK subject-based qualification for students aged 16 and above. They are usually studied over the course of 2 years, and lead to qualifications recognised for entrance to higher education institutes in the UK and many others worldwide.

BTEC Level 3/BTEC National Diploma – Business Technology Education Council. BTEC Level 3s are more practical based subjects and are usually studied alone, although you can complete one A Level alongside it. You will study the subject in detail across 2 years and cover a range of topics that you might not have studied before.

T Levels – T Levels are new courses which follow GCSEs and are equivalent to 3 A levels. These 2-year courses, which launched September 2020, have been developed in collaboration with employers and businesses so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for work, further training or study.

Advanced Level Apprenticeship – You could go onto studying a Level 3, Advanced Level Apprenticeship after leaving school, or you may start at a lower level apprenticeship and work your way up. A Level 3 Apprenticeship is equivalent to two A Levels, where you will combine practical training in a job with study. To apply for a Level 3 apprenticeship, you may be expected to already have some experience relevant to the role and be able to demonstrate you relevant skills.

Level 4 onwards - Higher Education

Above Level 3 is what we call Higher Education, which is a non-compulsory level of education. As you can see from the diagram, you can work your way all the way up to Level 8.

Level 4 includes the first year of a Higher Level NQV, a Foundation Degree, an Undergraduate Degree or a Level 4 BTEC qualification.

After completing a qualification at Level 4-6, you could go on to do a Master’s qualification and maybe a PhD or Doctorate at Level 7-8.

Beyond Level 3 The Details

Now we are going to look at qualifications beyond Level 3 in a bit more depth.

What you choose to do at level 3 can have an impact on what you can do at higher education, so sometimes it’s helpful to work backwards to see if you need specific qualifications. So what can you do after you complete a Level 3 qualification? There are multiple options available.

You could go to university to do an Undergraduate Degree or Foundation Degree – Foundation Degrees are usually 2 years and equal to two-thirds of a full degree. You could go on to do a full degree after completing a foundation degree or get a job.

Higher Level Apprenticeships

Higher Level Apprenticeship at university – like all apprenticeships, this is a combination of working and studying. At the end of your apprenticeship you could be offered a job by your employer and get a degree qualification.

Advanced Level BTEC

You could study an Advanced Level BTEC also known as a Higher National Certificate (HNC).

Higher National Diplomas

After completing a HNC, you could go on to a Higher National Diploma (HND) which is a 2 year qualification. You could finish studying after doing a HND and go into work, or study a different subject. You can also go to university to “top up” your qualification to a degree. Head to the ‘Further Options after GCSE’ zone (hyperlink here) to find out more about HNCs and HNDs!)

Higher Level NVQs

Lastly, you could do a Higher Level NVQ and work your way up to Level 7. You may only be able to work your way up to a Higher Level NVQ through your job or workplace, and you may be required to pay for the qualification.

Activity Time

Try this short activity to help you decide what you might like to do for your next steps. Grab a piece of paper and write your answers to the following questions.

I like studying (choose more than one subject) ………………………………………

I’m considering studying:

• An apprenticeship
• Something else

As a job, I would like to do

• ………………………………….

What qualifications will I need?

• …………………………………

LOOK AT THE SUBJECTS YOU CHOSE

Which one do you like best? Let’s start with that one.

WHAT TYPE OF QUALIFICATION(S) ARE YOU CONSIDERING STUDYING?

Start researching your local sixth forms, colleges and employers who offer the qualifications in your chosen subject(s).

WHAT JOB WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO?

It’s good to keep your options open and choose more than one! Let’s focus on your first choice, research what qualifications you need for that role and how you are going to get there. Ask yourself whether you can imagine yourself being happy in the job long term.

SO WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU NEED?

Ideally, you will need a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades 4-9 including English and Maths, as most education providers and employers will require this. You have to stay in some form of education until you are 18, but it’s entirely up to you what you choose to do and it’s really important that you make the right decision for you. Don’t be afraid if the role you’re interested in requires a university degree – if you believe it, you can achieve it! You also don’t need to rush into going to university – you can take a break out of education and work instead if you want to.

If you ever get stuck and you’re not sure what to do next, go back to question 1 and start the activity again. It’s perfectly normal to change your mind about what qualifications you might like to do and it’s a good idea to keep your options open if you’re unsure.

• Hopefully you will now understand what different qualifications are available to you and the levels of these qualifications.

Got a Question?

Send a message to our friendly team. We're happy to help!

Next, we will be looking at how to apply to college or sixth form.

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The impact of further education learning

Analyses the financial and non-financial benefits of further education and training. BIS research paper number 104.

Ref: BIS/13/597

PDF , 1.03 MB , 82 pages

The impact of further education learning: data tables

MS Excel Spreadsheet , 54 KB

View online

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A review of existing research papers identified the non-financial benefits from further education and training, including improvements in:

• health and wellbeing
• social interactions and cohesion
• social mobility
• communication and independence
• reduced crime

A telephone survey of 4,000 people in further education and training measured the financial and non-financial benefits of further education and training. It also explored:

• the role and effectiveness of information, advice and guidance provided to students
• reasons for undertaking the course
• expectations in relation to their outcomes
• attitudes towards further education loans
• willingness to pay for further education
• what might have happened in the absence of publicly funded training

The analysis suggests financial outcomes improve as a result of learning, demonstrated through:

• employment outcomes and prospects
• having the necessary skills to undertake their job more efficiently and effectively than would otherwise be the case

Non-financial benefits include:

• changes in self-confidence or self-esteem
• an increased likelihood of becoming more involved in the local community
• a greater ability to make better use of spare time
• a greater focus or understanding of what learners want to with their lives
• more enthusiasm about, and potential uptake of, further education and learning
• enhanced interaction between people of different generations through an improved ability to assist children with school work
• being better able to manage health issues or disabilities
• improved wellbeing and happiness

The analysis suggests the non-financial benefits are significant and greater than the financial (and more quantifiable) benefits. It supports government investment in further education and skills as a way to generate long term economic growth and better social interaction.

Underlying data for this report is also available.

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Politics latest: Obama visits Downing Street for first meeting with Sunak

Former US president Barack Obama has visited Downing Street for an undisclosed private meeting. Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak has insisted Tories are united following reports of a plot to oust him and MPs are debating proposed changes to the government's Rwanda plan - watch that live below.

Monday 18 March 2024 17:00, UK

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The former US president's meeting with Rishi Sunak has finished, and he's been seen heading out of Number 10 with the US ambassador Jane Hartley.

He smiled at reporters who shouted questions to him as he passed, saying "I'm tempted" when asked if he had a minute to chat.

Our political correspondent Tamara Cohen says the meeting was a "courtesy visit" while Mr Obama is in London for meetings to do with his foundation. 

Mr Obama and Rishi Sunak have never met before as the former president left office in 2017.

As it was a private meeting, Tamara says we will not be given a full readout of everything they discussed. 

Likely topics, however, include the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. 

"Whether it touches on UK or US politics, we may not find out," Tamara says.

She adds that it "took us all by surprise to see him walking up the street" when Mr Obama arrived this afternoon.

If you've been following the Rwanda debate in the stream at the top of the Politics Hub, you may have heard a Labour shadow minister confirm the party will vote for all the amendments being proposed this evening.

Stephen Kinnock said the 10 proposals by the House of Lords make the legislation "marginally less absurd".

Here's what each aims to do:

• Seeks to ensure the bill is fully compliant with the rule of law
• Removes the claim that Rwanda is a "safe country"
• Provides a way for parliament to be kept informed about the government's treaty with Rwanda
• Allows the legislation's presumption that Rwanda is safe to be rebutted with credible evidence
• Allows courts to consider appeals based on Rwanda's safety
• Restores the ability of courts and tribunals to consider if Rwanda is safe
• Lets courts consider review claims regarding the deportation of children
• Mandates that parliament is given a timeline for any removals
• Seeks to protect victims of modern slavery from being deported
• Exempts armed forces personnel, dependents, and families from removal

The Commons will vote on the amendments this evening.

The government has written to all councils to remind them that councillors - and mayors - can hide specifics on registers of interests and their home addresses if it puts them at risk of violence or intimidation.

Local government minister Simon Hoare sent the letter in response to "recent concerns from elected members about intimidation in public life". 

He asked every chief executive of every local authority in England to bring it to their members' attention. 

The letter stated that monitoring officers should be encouraged to "look sympathetically at accommodating requests for the withholding of home addresses from published versions of the register of interests where there are legitimate concerns of violence or intimidation".

There has been increase febrility around politicians in recent months, especially after the 7 October attacks on Israel and the Middle East conflict, as well as with the upcoming local and general elections. 

The power Mr Hoare referenced is granted under the Localism Act 2011. 

More now from Yvette Cooper, who says talk of the Conservatives potentially changing prime minister again is another Tory "psychodrama". 

The shadow home secretary tells our political editor Beth Rigby  the infighting means the government is "not taking seriously the real problems facing the country". 

She accuses the government of "ignoring the cost of living crisis, ignoring the serious problems in the NHS, the lack of police on our streets". 

Ms Cooper says her party "really badly" wants a general election so that Labour can carry out its plans for the country. 

"The longer that this Tory psychodrama drags on, the more damage they are doing," she says. 

The prime minister earlier did not rule out a summer election. 

Ms Cooper says it is "frustrating" both for Labour and for the general public not to go to the polls as soon as possible.

Pro-Putin Russian news outlets earlier ran a fake news story claiming the King died unexpectedly yesterday - which prompted the British embassies in Russia and Ukraine to clarify he had not died. 

Asked about the story, the prime minister's spokesperson said they were unaware of it and it was the first they had heard of it. 

On whether it was an authorised intervention for the embassies to get involved, they said it was "ordinary" for embassies to combat any misinformation. 

The King is currently being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer. 

 We're getting (a little bit) more information on Barack Obama's unexpected meeting with Rishi Sunak this afternoon.

The prime minister's spokesperson says it was an "informal drop-in" organised after Mr Obama's team made contact.

They said it was not a professional meeting and the former president was "visiting entirely in a personal capacity". 

The pair were discussing Mr Obama's foundation, they added. 

If you've been following the Rwanda debate on our live stream, you may have heard the minister for illegal migration confirming the government will seek to overturn all 10 of the amendments. 

The amendments to the Rwanda bill were made by the House of Lords. 

Michael Tomlinson told the Commons the bill is an "essential element of our wider strategy to protect our borders and to stop the boats to prevent the tragic loss of lives at sea caused by dangerous, illegal and unnecessary crossings across the Channel". 

As we reported earlier, the government's controversial plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda is occupying more parliamentary time today.

From around 7pm, MPs will vote on 10 amendments proposed by the House of Lords earlier this month.

They are mostly designed to water down legislation that many peers are opposed to, as it sees the government seek to bypass a Supreme Court ruling that Rwanda is not a safe place to deport people.

Before the votes, MPs get the chance to debate the amendments.

You can watch it live in the stream at the top of the page, or below:

 We're bringing you some comments now from Yvette Cooper, who has been speaking to our political editor Beth Rigby . 

Asked whether the Rwanda bill is likely to pass unamended ( see 15.00 post for where we're at with that ), the shadow home secretary says the Conservatives "don't want to amend it or even discuss it". 

"What they're doing is writing checks to Rwanda for more than half a billion pounds for a scheme that's likely to cover around 300 people," she says. 

Her figures suggest this is about £2m per asylum seeker. 

"This is just a gimmick at a time when they're really not getting a grip," she says of the government's plan to tackle immigration. 

"I think the fact that Rishi Sunak and the Tories have just kept going after gimmicks instead of ever getting a grip on the system just shows why everything's in such a mess and so there's so much chaos."

She says Labour would instead put the money towards improving cross-border security.

We've been looking at when the former US president was in Downing Street, and it looks like it was eight years ago in 2016.

Mr Obama had visited then prime minister David Cameron at Number 10 for talks ahead of the Brexit vote. 

He had warned the UK would be at "the back of the queue" for American trade deals if it left the EU. 

The two leaders also held a joint news conference at the Foreign Office, where Mr Obama said the US "wants Britain's influence to grow - including within Europe".

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Artificial Intelligence Act: MEPs adopt landmark law  

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• Safeguards on general purpose artificial intelligence  
• Limits on the use of biometric identification systems by law enforcement  
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• Right of consumers to launch complaints and receive meaningful explanations  

On Wednesday, Parliament approved the Artificial Intelligence Act that ensures safety and compliance with fundamental rights, while boosting innovation.

The regulation, agreed in negotiations with member states in December 2023, was endorsed by MEPs with 523 votes in favour, 46 against and 49 abstentions.

It aims to protect fundamental rights, democracy, the rule of law and environmental sustainability from high-risk AI, while boosting innovation and establishing Europe as a leader in the field. The regulation establishes obligations for AI based on its potential risks and level of impact.

Banned applications

The new rules ban certain AI applications that threaten citizens’ rights, including biometric categorisation systems based on sensitive characteristics and untargeted scraping of facial images from the internet or CCTV footage to create facial recognition databases. Emotion recognition in the workplace and schools, social scoring, predictive policing (when it is based solely on profiling a person or assessing their characteristics), and AI that manipulates human behaviour or exploits people’s vulnerabilities will also be forbidden.

Law enforcement exemptions

The use of biometric identification systems (RBI) by law enforcement is prohibited in principle, except in exhaustively listed and narrowly defined situations. “Real-time” RBI can only be deployed if strict safeguards are met, e.g. its use is limited in time and geographic scope and subject to specific prior judicial or administrative authorisation. Such uses may include, for example, a targeted search of a missing person or preventing a terrorist attack. Using such systems post-facto (“post-remote RBI”) is considered a high-risk use case, requiring judicial authorisation being linked to a criminal offence.

Obligations for high-risk systems

Clear obligations are also foreseen for other high-risk AI systems (due to their significant potential harm to health, safety, fundamental rights, environment, democracy and the rule of law). Examples of high-risk AI uses include critical infrastructure, education and vocational training, employment, essential private and public services (e.g. healthcare, banking), certain systems in law enforcement, migration and border management, justice and democratic processes (e.g. influencing elections). Such systems must assess and reduce risks, maintain use logs, be transparent and accurate, and ensure human oversight. Citizens will have a right to submit complaints about AI systems and receive explanations about decisions based on high-risk AI systems that affect their rights.

Transparency requirements

General-purpose AI (GPAI) systems, and the GPAI models they are based on, must meet certain transparency requirements, including compliance with EU copyright law and publishing detailed summaries of the content used for training. The more powerful GPAI models that could pose systemic risks will face additional requirements, including performing model evaluations, assessing and mitigating systemic risks, and reporting on incidents.

Additionally, artificial or manipulated images, audio or video content (“deepfakes”) need to be clearly labelled as such.

Measures to support innovation and SMEs

Regulatory sandboxes and real-world testing will have to be established at the national level, and made accessible to SMEs and start-ups, to develop and train innovative AI before its placement on the market.

During the plenary debate on Tuesday, the Internal Market Committee co-rapporteur Brando Benifei (S&D, Italy) said: “We finally have the world’s first binding law on artificial intelligence, to reduce risks, create opportunities, combat discrimination, and bring transparency. Thanks to Parliament, unacceptable AI practices will be banned in Europe and the rights of workers and citizens will be protected. The AI Office will now be set up to support companies to start complying with the rules before they enter into force. We ensured that human beings and European values are at the very centre of AI’s development”.

Civil Liberties Committee co-rapporteur Dragos Tudorache (Renew, Romania) said: “The EU has delivered. We have linked the concept of artificial intelligence to the fundamental values that form the basis of our societies. However, much work lies ahead that goes beyond the AI Act itself. AI will push us to rethink the social contract at the heart of our democracies, our education models, labour markets, and the way we conduct warfare. The AI Act is a starting point for a new model of governance built around technology. We must now focus on putting this law into practice”.

The regulation is still subject to a final lawyer-linguist check and is expected to be finally adopted before the end of the legislature (through the so-called corrigendum procedure). The law also needs to be formally endorsed by the Council.

It will enter into force twenty days after its publication in the official Journal, and be fully applicable 24 months after its entry into force, except for: bans on prohibited practises, which will apply six months after the entry into force date; codes of practise (nine months after entry into force); general-purpose AI rules including governance (12 months after entry into force); and obligations for high-risk systems (36 months).

The Artificial Intelligence Act responds directly to citizens’ proposals from the Conference on the Future of Europe (COFE), most concretely to proposal 12(10) on enhancing EU’s competitiveness in strategic sectors, proposal 33(5) on a safe and trustworthy society, including countering disinformation and ensuring humans are ultimately in control, proposal 35 on promoting digital innovation, (3) while ensuring human oversight and (8) trustworthy and responsible use of AI, setting safeguards and ensuring transparency, and proposal 37 (3) on using AI and digital tools to improve citizens’ access to information, including persons with disabilities.

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Yasmina yakimova  .

• Phone number: (+32) 2 28 42626 (BXL)  
• Mobile number: (+32) 470 88 10 60  
• E-mail: [email protected]  
• Twitter account: @EP_SingleMarket  

Janne OJAMO  

• Phone number: (+32) 2 284 12 50 (BXL)  
• Mobile number: (+32) 470 89 21 92  
• E-mail: [email protected]  
• Twitter account: @EP_Justice  

Further information  

• Link to adopted text (13.03.2024)  
• Plenary debate (12.03.2024)  
• Procedure file  
• EP Research Service: compilation of studies on Artificial Intelligence  
• Result of roll-call votes (13.03.2024)  
• Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection  
• Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs  

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