Arranging educational programs

Education in Great Britain

The interest in obtaining education in Great Britain has substantially grown in recent years. Nowadays representatives from different countries study practically at any prestigious education institution, especially in London.

From our point of view, the choice of place for studying is greatly influenced by the global rating of schools (GCSE school league tables, A-level school league tables). Therefore, if you definitely decided that education in Great Britain is a perspective life objective for your child, be aware that this rating will always play its role in getting high-quality education.

Both public schools and private schools in Great Britain accept children from the age of 5 years. Usually until the age of 11 years pupils attend junior schools (primary schools) where they pass the general education course on subjects specified in a curriculum, and after finishing it they must successfully pass the exam (Common Entrance Exam) for admission to a secondary school.

From the age of 11 to 16, children attend the secondary school. During study they are also preparing to pass the GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) exam – if it is successfully passed, a student receives the General Certificate of Secondary Education.

Upon a successful completion of the mandatory secondary education, students make their choice: they may either start to work, or continue further education aimed at entering a university. Students who choose to continue the education process must pass a two-year A-level (advanced level) education course at the age of 16 to 18. At the beginning of such course students choose 4 basic subjects (from a range of 15-20 proposed subjects) that they will study during  2 years and in which they will sit final exams (after the first year of study, a student may leave only 3 subjects required to enter a chosen university).

A-levels are often the most straightforward option for UK universities because students specialise in three or four subjects directly related to their chosen degree. The IB is also accepted in the UK but can be especially useful for international applications, including the USA and Europe, because it shows breadth, academic challenge and global recognition.

There are many different types of schools in Great Britain. Some schools are single-sex, such as Eton College, Harrow School and St Paul’s School for boys, or North London Collegiate School and St Paul’s Girls’ School for girls. Other schools are co-educational, where boys and girls study together. Some traditionally boys’ schools have admitted girls mainly at Sixth Form level, such as King’s College School, Wimbledon, where boys study from 7 to 18 and girls currently join at 16. However, admissions policies are changing: Westminster School is moving towards full co-education from 2026, and Charterhouse School is now co-educational for boys and girls aged 13–18.

Since old times there are numerous boarding schools in Britain where students both study and live, going home only for vacations. Along with this type of schools, there are also half-boarding schools where students both study and live for five school days per week – from Monday to Friday, but go home to their parents on weekends.

There are many private schools worthy of your attention in Great Britain, and more than a hundred of higher educational institutions.   And then – the choice is up to you. But how can you find and choose a suitable option for your child, and perhaps for you personally, from such a huge number of alternatives?

Integra Selecom Company’s specialists with all their professional expertise will be pleased to help you to solve this, frankly speaking, sophisticated task, and will select the best options for you, taking into consideration your primary, sometimes very diverse, criteria and demands.

 Higher Education in Great Britain

Higher education in England is a very important and promising stage in a life of any person; it allows to get a qualification which is in demand, and upon a completion of study – to get a diploma which is highly valued and recognised in any country of the world. However, obtaining a diploma from a university in England is not an easy task, and it is necessary to pass certain stages for this purpose. Every youth who is a potential student has a right to choose a university or a college, and there are ample opportunities in Great Britain in this regard.  In order to prepare for studying at a university, at the first stage it is necessary to pass a number of tests, starting with the level of English language skills, and also for the level of knowledge of basic subjects chosen by a student for further study. At the next stage a candidate must submit an application – CV, and probably to confirm his (her) knowledge during interviews at chosen universities or colleges.

University administration recommends students to live in university accommodation during the first year of study, in order to get acquainted with fellow students and to adapt to the conditions of living in Great Britain and to university traditions. 

The main distinguishing feature of higher education in Great Britain is that the process of study is subdivided into two stages. Upon completion of the first stage (3 to 4 years, depending on a university and selected course) a student obtains a bachelor’s degree; at the second stage (1 to 2 years) there is an opportunity to get a master's degree. The most gifted students may wish to continue the process of self-improvement and after 3 or 4 years to get a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) degree in a certain speciality.

 Foreign students that come to Great Britain for studies sometimes are offered a preparatory one-year course (University International Foundation Year) or a shortened A-levels programme (2-year programme in 1 year). This opportunity is generally used by students if they need to improve their English language skills, and for enhancing their knowledge of basic subjects chosen for study at a higher educational institution.

Certainly, everybody knows about the world-famous and oldest universities in Great Britain - Oxford and Cambridge, with their special kind of student life, with centuries-old habits and traditions. However, it should be noted that in London and in many other cities of the United Kingdom there are many sound universities of comparable rating, where the student life is also rich of various interesting events and activities. And the diplomas of these higher educational institutions are widely recognised, highly prestigeous and are in demand when choosing one’s further life path. And the choice, surely, is up to you!