There are a large number of universities in the UK, which vary in age, size and location. Some universities, such as those in Cambridge and Oxford, have been around for hundreds of years, whereas others are relatively new. Institutions previously named ‘polytechnics’, which tend to be more vocational-based, have been known as universities since 1992.

Universities have the power to award their own degrees. They receive some funding from the government, and the rest from tuition fees, donations and sponsorship. There are a limited number of privately-funded universities.

There are also some colleges that provide higher education. Some have the power to award degrees, whilst others have their degrees validated by a university or professional body. Colleges tend to be smaller than universities and some specialise in specific subjects.

Some further education colleges also offer higher education courses, which are validated by an HEI or national body, such as Edexcel.

The normal minimum age to start an undergraduate course is eighteen (seventeen in Scotland). Undergraduate degrees are commonly known as bachelor’s degrees and are awarded in a specific subject area, such as Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc), often ‘with honours’, shown as (Hons). Joint Honours degrees combine two different subjects i.e. English with History. Undergraduate degrees typically last three years (four years in Scotland). Some specialist degrees, such as medicine and architecture, have a longer duration - usually between five and seven years. Undergraduate degrees are graded in categories - First, Upper Second (2:1), Lower Second (2:2), Third, Pass or Fail.

Sandwich courses are usually undergraduate degree courses, with a year of practical work experience included, possibly abroad, and are normally four years in duration.

Foundation courses take one or two years to complete and usually involve work-based learning. They are often taken in preparation for an undergraduate degree and can lead on to an honours degree.

Other undergraduate qualifications such as the Higher National Diploma (HND) and Diploma in Higher Education (DipHE) usually take one to two years to complete.

Types of postgraduate qualifications include master’s degrees, such as the Master of Science (MSc), the PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) and doctorates (PhDs). Courses can be full- or part-time. Master’s degrees usually last one year, or two with research, and students are required to already hold a bachelor’s degree. Doctorates usually require another three year’s study beyond master’s level, with taught programmes usually shorter than research-based programmes. Students studying for a PHD will be required to write a 'thesis'- a 40,000-120,000 word research project on a specialist topic.

Teachers at all levels will usually need to hold a first degree and a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE), or a BEd (Bachelor of Education) degree and completion of an approved initial teacher training course.

There are a huge number of English language schools in the UK, which are accredited by various different bodies. These offer a variety of courses, such as general English and more specialised courses such as Business English. Usually a language school will offer a package inclusive of tuition, accommodation and other activities.