Overview of the UK's further education sector

The UK boasts a diverse and wide-ranging further education sector that provides opportunities for school leavers, young adults and mature students

What is further education?

On GOV.UK it states that further education (FE) includes any study after secondary education that isn't part of higher education (HE), i.e. it doesn't form part of an undergraduate or graduate degree.

These post-secondary school qualifications are delivered by FE, sixth form and specialist colleges that aim to provide top quality academic, technical and professional education and training for both young people and adults.

The Education and Training Foundation (ETF), the professional body for FE training and standards in England, has produced a Guide to the FE System in England.

What FE courses can you study?

Widely available FE courses include A-levels, BTECs (Business and Technology Education Council) and new T-levels. See post-16 career choices for an overview of the main FE qualifications studied at college.

However, while these FE courses are offered by colleges rather than universities, some colleges also run undergraduate programmes. For example, the AoC's College Key Facts 2021/22 report found that colleges deliver 84% of Higher National Certificates (HNCs) (at Level 4 - equivalent to a Certificate of Higher Education), 66% of Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) and 67% of foundation degrees (both at Level 5 - equivalent to two-thirds of a Bachelors degree).

Read our guide to undergraduate qualifications.

It was also revealed that colleges train around 1,100 apprentices, so you may wish to explore apprenticeships in more detail. You can learn more about vocational college courses at AoC - About colleges.

Read Careerpilot's 11 reasons to choose an FE college course.

How is the FE system structured?

According to data from the AoC, there are 277 colleges in the UK (Key Further Education Statistics, October 2021):

• 232 colleges in England
• 26 in Scotland
• 13 in Wales
• 6 in Northern Ireland.

UK colleges are represented by the following organisations specific to each home nation:

• Association of Colleges (AoC) - The membership organisation representing FE, sixth form, tertiary and specialist colleges in England.
• Colleges Scotland - The collective voice of the college sector in Scotland.
• Colleges Wales - An education charity that promotes the public benefit of further education in Wales.
• Northern Ireland (NI) Direct - Oversees the two university colleges, six FE colleges and an agri-food and land-based college in NI.

Most colleges are referred to as general FE colleges, but there are a number of different types of institution.

For instance, of the 232 colleges in England:

• 163 are general FE colleges
• 45 sixth form colleges
• 12 land-based colleges
• ten institutes of adult learning (formerly specialist designated colleges)
• two art, design and performing arts colleges.

Who are college courses aimed at?

Anyone aged 16 and over can go to college, although the AoC reported that the majority of college income for 2019/20 (£3.1billion), accounting for 49% of total spending, was focused on 16-18 education.

It's unsurprising that sixth form and general FE colleges providing qualifications at A-level standard benefit most from the funding, especially as education is still free for students in this age group.

Colleges are inclusive places to learn, with over a fifth (21%) of students studying in England in 2021/22 having indicated some form of learning difficulty and/or disability.

What are the modes of study at college?

Similar to university, you can choose between full and part-time study for the majority of courses. While some will require you to spend a significant amount of time in the classroom, colleges often use a blended learning approach, with online distance learning complementing the traditional face-to-face teaching.

Online college courses, for qualifications such as A-levels and BTECs, are also very popular. This is because you'll get the opportunity to study and achieve a qualification using your computer and internet from home, without the need to visit the college in person. The course will typically involve interacting with tutors and other learners online through lectures, training sessions, webinars and chat forums.

Popular FE providers include the Open Study College and Online Learning College, while The Open University offers qualification options at undergraduate level and above. You can also explore free online learning courses as signposted by the National Careers Service.

This flexible approach to learning allows students to study at a time and place that fits in with their lifestyle, perfect if there isn't a local college accessible from your area. Read more about the benefits of online learning.

Am I eligible for student finance?

As mentioned, FE college courses are free for 16 to 18-year-olds, but for adult learners (anyone 19 and over), tuition fees are likely to be involved. Even younger students can still claim education-related costs through the government's 16 to 19 Bursary Fund.

If you're studying in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, you may be able to claim for Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

When it comes to online learning with private course providers, you'll certainly need to pay course fees. For instance, if you're taking A-levels, you'll need to consider exam and invigilation fees as well as tuition costs, while for some courses, there's additional fees for the practical aspects of the programme.

There are a range of different grants and loans offered at a local level for adult education. For example, see the booklet on Fees, finance and funding for adult learners from The Manchester College.

For undergraduate courses at college, you can consider applying for government support in the form of tuition fee and maintenance loans. Read more about student loans and finance at undergraduate level.

Can international students go to college in the UK?

International students can apply to go to college in the UK, but you'll need to have sorted out your visa first before entering the country.

As Britain has now left the European Union (EU), students from European countries will require 'settled' status under the EU Settlement Scheme to live and study here. However, in many cases, college fees are still generally quite reasonable. For example, Leicester College charges international students £6,400 for its further education courses.

As colleges are renowned for providing a pipeline for those progressing to university, 63% of the colleges questioned by the AoC stated that 75-100% of their non-EU international students choose to move on to HE courses.

They also found that as far as the international marketplace is concerned, the main drawing power in coming to the UK for FE-level study is to achieve A-levels, take English language courses and undertake teacher training.

Read more about studying in the UK at degree level.

You can also take a look at the scholarships and funding available from the British Council - and get information on how to apply to study in the UK.

Find out more

• Discover how to apply for college in the UK.
• Explore adult learning.
• Consider should I go to university or do an apprenticeship?