Education after age 16

In England, children must stay in education until the school year when they are 18. After 16, there are lots of different types of education to choose from, including exams, apprenticeships or training.

In Scotland and Wales, children can leave school at 16, but are entitled to free education in school until they are 18.

• See the main government website for more details.

The final year of school is usually the year a child becomes 18 (it is a bit different in Scotland).

If you do badly in a summer school exam (for example GCSEs, Highers or A-Levels), it is usually possible to resit the exam at your school in the autumn. If you need to do the course again, you can choose to go back to school or to study at home. However, students are not required to stay at school.

It is also possible for anyone aged 18+ to do these exams online, although you might need to pay. Many exam providers allow you to spread the cost.

Further Education (FE) is any education that happens after children leave secondary school aged 16, but is not at university degree level. This could be exams or job-based courses.

In England, children must stay in education of some type until they are 18. In Scotland and Wales, they can leave school at 16.

Some schools have a ‘sixth form’ (education for 16-18 year olds). Alternatively, there is ‘college’ – a separate school for 16-18 year olds (sometimes called a ‘sixth form college’ or ‘further education college’).

There is funding for people aged 16-19 on very low incomes, to help pay for specialist courses or items like laptops, books and school meals. Speak to your local council. Some college courses can be done part-time. See your local college prospectus for details.

• See the UCAS website for more information about Further Education.

Further Education is education after 16, but not including university degrees. It could be for exams like A-Level or BTEC, or apprenticeships. It might also be GCSE level education for adults.

Higher Education is for adults aged 18 and over. It is university-level.

Further Education is available for adults of any age. In state-run colleges, courses in English and Maths to GCSE level are usually free. Some computer courses are also free. People under 24 years old do not usually have to pay for their teaching in other subjects. If you have a visa, check that it allows you to study.

• Read the blog about further education for adults.

Further Education colleges (for students aged 16 and over) can be private or funded by the government.

Apply directly to the college for a place. This should be done in the winter of the year before the start of the course. You may have to go for an interview or exam. You may also be able to apply through UCAS Progress.

The Open University (the UK’s distance learning university) offers short courses and professional training through its FutureLearn website. Some courses are free.

There are more free courses on its OpenLearn website.

You don’t need an English qualification to do these courses. If you are unsure your English is good enough, try its special test.

In Britain, the word ‘college’ is rarely used to mean ‘university’ like it does in the USA. Instead, it usually means a place for education over the age of 16. Further Education colleges provide vocational courses (such as forestry or hairdressing) alongside more academic courses. They often have a link to a local university.

Another type of college is found within universities that are split into separate educational units (for example Imperial College, part of the University of London), or the colleges of the University of Cambridge.

Confusingly, some private schools also use the word ‘college’, even though they are for under16s – for example Cheltenham Ladies College or Winchester College.

Higher Education (HE) the name given to university-level education. It is for adults aged 18+. University is sometimes just called ‘uni’.

There is a charge for this type of education in England and Wales. In Scotland it is free for some people.

You must apply for university through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). For most undergraduate courses, the deadline is in January of the year when you want to go to university. However, some deadlines are the year before, in October (especially music courses, and courses at Oxford and Cambridge), so make sure you check.

Most full-time Bachelor degree courses are 3 years long in England and Wales. In Scotland, they are usually 4 years.

In Scotland, university is free for many people, including most school leavers.

In England & Wales, adult learners might be able to get a grant or bursary.

When you apply to university, you will usually have an interview. If the university really likes you, it may give you an ‘unconditional’ offer, which means you will definitely get a place on the course.

Most offers are ‘conditional’ – they depend on you getting certain grades in A-Levels,  Highers or Advanced Highers. If you do not get the grades, you won’t get on that course.

If you don’t get on any of the courses you wanted or have changed your mind, you will have to apply through ‘clearing’. This is a list of courses that still have space. It is usually published in July.

• There is more information on the Complete University Guide website.

Before you choose a university, decide which subject you would like to do. Although Oxford and Cambridge have the best reputation, other universities are better for some subjects.

Some universities are famous for their research, but others might have better quality teaching, or have more graduates getting jobs afterwards.

In the UK, most jobs won’t need a specific degree. It can help to know this when you choose a course.

You should start thinking about the course you’d like to do a year before you want to start. Read about different universities on The Uni Guide website.

• Top universities can seem daunting, especially for state school pupils. The Zero Gravity app can help talented students from low-income backgrounds find mentors who will guide them.

Oxbridge is not a place. It is a name made by mixing the two best universities in the UK, Oxford and Cambridge. Saying someone ‘went to Oxbridge’ implies they are the educational elite. Entrance to these universities is not only based on grades, but also on reasoning, logic and attitude.

• Applying for Oxford or Cambridge universities can seem daunting, especially for state school pupils. The Zero Gravity app can help talented students from low-income backgrounds find mentors who will guide them.

The Russell Group is a group of 24 British research universities, including Oxford and Cambridge as well as other famous universities like the London School of Economics, Imperial College and the University of Edinburgh. These universities are often considered to be the best in the UK for most subjects.

Within this group are the ‘red brick’ universities (built in Victorian times and usually specialising in technical subjects) – Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield.

• Applying for one of these universities can seem daunting, especially for state school pupils. The Zero Gravity app can help talented students from low-income backgrounds find mentors who will guide them.

If you live far from a university and don’t want to move closer while you study, it is possible to do an online degree.

The Open University is the UK’s distance learning university. It has lots of different courses including degree courses, which you can do gradually from home to fit around your life. You only pay for 1 module at a time.

It also offers Masters degrees at its FutureLearn website.

You don’t need an English qualification to do these courses. If you are unsure your English is good enough, try its special test.

If you are on a visa in the UK, make sure you are allowed to study because the rules for entry to the Open University are the same as rules for other universities.

All universities charge Tuition Fees for their courses. You might not have to pay these fees, depending on where you live and want to study. If you are on a low income, you might also be able to apply for a loan, scholarship, bursary or grant.

Tuition Fees have one price for people resident in Britain (the ‘home fee’, usually about £9,000 a year) and one for people from overseas (the ‘overseas fee’, up to £18,000 a year). This can also apply to British people living abroad.

• Read more about tuition fees for people who live abroad at the UK Council for International Student Affairs.

The help you can get with University Tuition Fees depends on your personal circumstances, and where you live and where you want to study. There are loans available that will cover the cost. If you are on a low income, you might also be able to apply for a scholarship, bursary or grant. Also, some employers will pay for you to attend university.

• England: Everyone who lives in England must pay Tuition Fees for UK universities. There are loans available to cover the cost. There are other loans, grants and funding available too. Find out more about student finance in England.
• Wales: If you live in Wales, you can apply for loans to cover Tuition Fees at any UK university. Grants and other loans can help with other costs. Find out more about student finance in Wales.
• Scotland: If you live in Scotland, you don’t usually have to pay Tuition Fees for Scottish universities. You must apply to Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) to have the fees paid for you. You will need to pay Tuition Fees to study at universities in other parts of the UK, but loans are available. Find out more about student finance in Scotland.

Read more about tuition fee loans in our blog.

Many students have some kind of job while they are at university, however some universities (for example, the University of Cambridge) have strict rules about how much work is allowed during term time.

If you are studying on a visa, there may also be rules about how much paid or unpaid work you do. It is usually 20 hours a week on a General Student Visa.

People age over 16 usually need a Tier 4 General Student Visa for full-time study on courses over 6 months. It will be granted for a specific university or school. Some work visas will allow study (for example the Tier 2 General Work Visa) as long as it does not affect your work.

Many short-term visitor visas (for example the Standard Visitor Visa) allow up to 30 days of study, as long as it is not the main reason for your stay.

If you are in the UK as the dependent family member of someone on a work visa, you may also be able to study. You will probably need a special ATAS certificate.

Members of the European Economic Area and Swiss nationals do not need a visa or ATAS certificate.

The Open University is the UK’s distance learning university. It has lots of different courses including degree courses, which you can do gradually. You only pay for 1 module at a time and it is possible to study for a degree from abroad.

It also offers Masters degrees at its FutureLearn website.

You don’t need an English qualification to do these courses. If you are unsure your English is good enough, try its special test.