'If you choose to study an academic subject at further education level then the UK has many options available. These qualifications are a great way to prepare you for higher education and offer excellent teaching services and resources.'
Studying for an academic further education qualification in the UK is an excellent way to prepare for degree-level study, and courses are available at many different institutions.
Some schools in the UK have ‘sixth forms’ where current GCSE students stay on to complete further education qualifications (these are often open to new students too). Another option is a sixth-form or further education college. Completing a qualification usually takes between one and two years, and the range of options are explained below:
AS and A-levels
AS and A-levels
More than 350,000 candidates take 780,000 A-levels and one million AS-levels each year. A-levels are the most widely accepted qualifications for entry to higher education in the UK.
A-level courses run for two years and cover a wide variety of subjects, including most of those available at GCSE level and some additional ones. And, as with GCSEs, some A-levels are available as Double Awards. To begin A-levels, you will generally need to have passed at least five GCSEs at grades A* to C. If a GCSE is available in a subject you wish to study at A-level, you may be expected to have taken and passed this at a good grade (C or above).
- How AS- and A-levels work
You will probably begin your two-year course by choosing three or four subjects to study at AS-level. At the end of the first year, you will then choose whether to take the AS-level exam as the final qualification, or carry on with the subject and progress to a full A-level in the second year. It’s good to think about how these subjects may prepare you for university study and try and aim for relevant subject fields and spend some time choosing ones that may be useful for higher education. (For example, those thinking about studying medicine may need to take science subjects.)
Each subject generally involves six hours of college-based study a week, usually delivered in three two-hour sessions. You will also be expected to complete an equivalent amount of personal study. You can combine any subjects, but most students choose a combination that has a particular focus, such as sciences, humanities or business.
Each subject generally involves six hours of college-based study a week, usually delivered in three two-hour sessions. You will also be expected to complete an equivalent amount of personal study. You can combine any subjects, but most students choose a combination that has a particular focus, such as sciences, humanities or business.
A fourth AS-level subject, which is usually not carried on into the second year, enables you to study a topic that is useful, but not essential, to your intended higher education course, such as a modern language, a creative endeavour or a practical subject such as ICT.
- Grades and UCAS Tariff points
A-levels are awarded at six grades, from A* (the highest) to E (the lowest), and each A-level is worth between 140 and 40 points on the UCAS Tariff (you can find an explanation of this on the UCAS site.
Most undergraduate degrees require that you have at least two A-levels at grade E or above (at least 80 UCAS Tariff points).
International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB Diploma)
International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes include the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for pupils aged three to 12, Middle Years Programme (MYP) for students aged 11 to 16 and the Diploma Programme for students aged 16 to 19. The Diploma is a two-year pre-university programme that is an alternative to A-levels and is recognised for entry into higher education in the UK.
You are required to study three subjects at higher level and three at standard, complete the Theory of Knowledge course and an extended essay, as well as participate in Creativity, Action and Service. English, a second language and maths are compulsory at either higher or standard levels. There are more than 200 IB schools in the UK offering one or more of the three IB programmes.
Whether taken in the UK or abroad, an IB diploma is considered an acceptable qualification for entry to degree courses at UK higher education institutions. An IB Diploma total of 24 points is worth 260 UCAS points and the top score of 45 points is worth 720 UCAS points.
You can search for International Baccalaureate courses on the International Baccalaureate Schools and Association of Colleges websites.
The Cambridge Pre-U Diploma
The Cambridge Pre-U Diploma, developed by Cambridge International Assessment, is offered in some schools and colleges as preparation for university and as an alternative to A-levels and the IB Diploma. To gain the diploma, you will need to study three principal subjects, as well as complete an independent research report and a course on global perspectives. Individual Pre-U elements may also be studied alongside A-levels.
Standard Grade, Highers and Advanced Highers (Scotland)
Students come from all over the world to study for Scotland’s universally known and respected National Qualifications (Standard Grade, Highers and Advanced Highers). These are school level qualifications that are designed to stretch your ability and your imagination.
You can prepare for your future learning by taking National Qualifications examinations at Scotland’s Colleges as well as Independent Boarding Schools. Many of Scotland’s Colleges offer foundation programmes, which can be a combination of Highers and English language training. These programmes are specifically designed to prepare international students for entry into higher education, either at college or at university.
Foundation or university access courses
These are one-year courses that bridge the gap between qualifications gained in your home country and those required for entry to university courses in the UK. Extensive language tuition is also usually a feature of such courses.
Foundation courses allow you to focus on particular interests in preparation for university. In addition to core acadmic subjects such as English and mathematics you can opt for a range of subjects in areas such as art and design, business, engineering, humanities, information technology, law and science. They lead to institutions’ own qualifications that will be recognised by many universities, but not national qualifications.
These courses are offered by a wide range of institutions, including independent and state colleges, and by some universities in partnership with private providers.
Combining qualifications
International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB Diploma)
International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes include the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for pupils aged three to 12, Middle Years Programme (MYP) for students aged 11 to 16 and the Diploma Programme for students aged 16 to 19. The Diploma is a two-year pre-university programme that is an alternative to A-levels and is recognised for entry into higher education in the UK.
You are required to study three subjects at higher level and three at standard, complete the Theory of Knowledge course and an extended essay, as well as participate in Creativity, Action and Service. English, a second language and maths are compulsory at either higher or standard levels. There are more than 200 IB schools in the UK offering one or more of the three IB programmes.
Whether taken in the UK or abroad, an IB diploma is considered an acceptable qualification for entry to degree courses at UK higher education institutions. An IB Diploma total of 24 points is worth 260 UCAS points and the top score of 45 points is worth 720 UCAS points.
You can search for International Baccalaureate courses on the International Baccalaureate Schools and Association of Colleges websites.
The Cambridge Pre-U Diploma
The Cambridge Pre-U Diploma, developed by Cambridge International Assessment, is offered in some schools and colleges as preparation for university and as an alternative to A-levels and the IB Diploma. To gain the diploma, you will need to study three principal subjects, as well as complete an independent research report and a course on global perspectives. Individual Pre-U elements may also be studied alongside A-levels.
Standard Grade, Highers and Advanced Highers (Scotland)
Students come from all over the world to study for Scotland’s universally known and respected National Qualifications (Standard Grade, Highers and Advanced Highers). These are school level qualifications that are designed to stretch your ability and your imagination.
You can prepare for your future learning by taking National Qualifications examinations at Scotland’s Colleges as well as Independent Boarding Schools. Many of Scotland’s Colleges offer foundation programmes, which can be a combination of Highers and English language training. These programmes are specifically designed to prepare international students for entry into higher education, either at college or at university.
Foundation or university access courses
These are one-year courses that bridge the gap between qualifications gained in your home country and those required for entry to university courses in the UK. Extensive language tuition is also usually a feature of such courses.
Foundation courses allow you to focus on particular interests in preparation for university. In addition to core acadmic subjects such as English and mathematics you can opt for a range of subjects in areas such as art and design, business, engineering, humanities, information technology, law and science. They lead to institutions’ own qualifications that will be recognised by many universities, but not national qualifications.
These courses are offered by a wide range of institutions, including independent and state colleges, and by some universities in partnership with private providers.
Combining qualifications
It is possible for students to combine vocational qualifications with AS- or A-levels. For example, you could combine an OCR National in Travel and Tourism with an AS- or A-level in a modern language such as Spanish. Or you could take a BTEC National Diploma in engineering with an AS- or A-level in mathematics. Such combinations are particularly common for courses in art and design, and computer science.
You can search for both academic and vocational FE courses using the Search tool, to the top-right of this website.
Vocational qualifications
Foundation and Access courses
Careers after further education
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