UK academic qualifications are recognised worldwide for their quality and rigour.
The UK has some of the best universities in the world, including Oxford and Cambridge. Many other institutions throughout the UK set world-class standards for academic teaching and research.
The British education system - from secondary school to postgraduate study - is one of the finest in the world.
Ages 11-13 (School years 7-9)
From age 11 to 13, students in British schools study a broad range of 10-15 subjects that usually follow the guidelines of the National Curriculum.
There are no public examinations during these years.
Ages 14-15 (School years 10-11)
Secondary school graduation (GCSE)
At age 14, students start a 2-year General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) programme. They study 5-10 subjects of their choice.
Passing GCSE exams qualifies students to continue onto A-level or Foundation programmes for university preparation.
Ages 16-17 (School years 12-13)
AS/A-level
A-levels are national examinations and are recognised by all UK universities and by institutions worldwide.
At age 16, students start a 2-year Advanced Level (A-level) programme. They specialise in 3 to 4 subjects (5 in expectional cases) that are usually relevant to the degree subject they wish to follow at university.
At the end of year 1 students take AS level examinations. They continue with 3 or 4 of these subjects in year 2 and convert them into full A-level qualifications at the end of the year.
Age 17+ (One-year)
Foundation programmes
From age 17, international students can also opt to study a one-year Foundation programme. These courses lead to private examinations that are an alternative to A-levels.
Age 18+ (3 or 4 years)
Undergraduate degrees
A UK Bachelors degree lasts three or four years.
Most are awarded at honours level.
First degrees can be Bachelor of Science (BSc), Engineering (BEng) or Bachelor of Arts (BA).
Post-graduate degrees
Postgraduate courses in the UK usually take 12 months to complete and are much more intensive than in other countries.
An MBA (Master of Business Administration) is a demanding and prestigious Masters course which can up to take 2 years.
A British PhD research degree can last between 2 and 7 years.
International students at Kings can prepare for Masters degrees by studying the Pre-Masters Course.
