College in the UK: The next exciting step in your academic career

14 Dec 2018

Now school is finally over and that means you get to choose what you really want to do. It’s time to explore the boundless world of further education and discover a new chapter of your life in the UK’s diverse education sector.

Studying in the UK presents students a wealth of benefits, building a sturdy platform on which to build your future. One way UK colleges consistently maintain an impressive, internationally-reputable position is through thorough examination by the Association of Colleges (AoC):

“Our colleges are regularly inspected to ensure they provide high-quality education and are financially stable. They are held to the same high standards as secondary schools and universities – unlike private colleges which do not go through the same rigorous inspection.”

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Under well conducted analysis, UK teaching methods are considered to be of the highest quality, with most AoC colleges boasting a student success rate of 85 percent. With a respected qualification from an AoC college, you open the door to higher education, and a well-earned degree in your choice of subject means you could even take on a Master’s at one of the UK’s most competitive universities.

But regardless of your choice of course or vocation, if English is your second language, there’s no better place master it than its land of origin. And the ability to communicate effectively in English is also a particularly desirable asset; as professed by the Havard Business Review, ‘Global Business Speaks English’. The English language stands at the forefront of universal communication in our interconnected world, and opting to study your pre-university qualifications in the UK would give you even more time to develop and refine these profitable skills.

And in UK further education, support comes from virtually every angle. Stay with a friendly host family – who provide you with room and board – and immerse yourself in British life as you experience the finest cultural aspects that the UK has to offer. It’s important to remember that most students will be in the exact same boat as you, regardless of nationality, and that the UK’s friendly locals are keen to meet new people. Our individual choices take us on our own unique paths and, although making friends can feel somewhat overwhelming, lifelong bonds are made between peers, and the support from these relationships will be invaluable throughout your college years – after all, the social life will be just as fun as the course itself! The UK boasts a plethora of exciting prospects from the arts and music, to sport and leisure – you just have to get involved!

Image courtesy of Bournemouth and Poole College

Alongside the traditional benefits of furthering your academic career, you have an opportunity; an unforgettable chance to step out your comfort zone and take your first steps into the world you want to create. So where do you want to go?

BOURNEMOUTH AND POOLE COLLEGE

The Bournemouth and Poole College is situated in one of the most beautiful, vibrant locations in the UK. The college is one of the largest Further Education colleges in the country, as well as a leading centre of English Language learning.

Each year, around 300 overseas students from many different backgrounds and over 40 different countries choose to study at Bournemouth and Poole College. The College offers a wide range of foundation pathways that will give you all the knowledge and skills to progress onto university, as well as professional and technical programmes which will provide you with qualifications and prepare you for the world of work.

You will be taught by leading experts and supported by some of the best learning facilities in the country. You will also study alongside thousands of UK students, providing an excellent opportunity to improve your English language skills and gain a good understanding of British life and culture.

NEWCASTLE COLLEGE

Located in the historic city centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, the multi-million pound Rye Hill Campus boasts first-class facilities that replicate real working environments. With over 20,000 students and low living costs, you are guaranteed a colourful and affordable social life alongside a highly praised academic experience in one of the friendliest cities in the UK.

Image courtesy of Newcastle College

At Newcastle College you can take advantage of the extensive, subsidised social programme for International Students which provides the opportunity to discover new places and make new friends. With a wide range of courses from English Language to Degrees and Masters programmes there is something to suit everyone. Many of their degree courses have professional accreditation and offer exciting work placement opportunities to help get you work-ready.

THE MANCHESTER COLLEGE

With a revered status as number one provider of adult learning in Greater Manchester, The Manchester College makes its mark as the multinational mosaic of education in the North West. The Complete University Guide even acknowledges that ‘The city is also probably the most fashionable student location in Britain’, residing in the UK’s second-most populous area with more than two and a half million people enjoying this hub of modern life.

Regardless of its mass of people, The Manchester College is ‘[…] fully committed to helping each and every one of you’ and make you stand out from the crowd. The college has crafted partnerships with the UK’s leading local and national employers so as not to leave you stranded after completion of your studies, and with their high-tech facilities and ‘award-winning staff’, you’ll be sure to unleash your full potential.

NEW COLLEGE DURHAM

Rated ‘outstanding in all areas’ in the latest OFSTED reports, New College Durham habitually finds itself in the top 10 percent of colleges in the UK based on student performance. Rich with an extended timeline of history, the beautiful Norman cathedral and Durham Castle dominate the horizon, while the quainter, more traditional city sits beneath if that’s more suited to your lifestyle.

Image courtesy of New College Durham

Proudly listed as a Tier 4 Sponsor, New College Durham is home to over 200 international students, providing further education and university-standard courses to students from around the globe. If you still find you are struggling to get to grips with the English language, the college has ESOL and Academic English Programmes in place that can be undertaken at the same time as your core subject, getting you up to scratch in no time at all!

NPTC GROUP

Attracting students from more than thirty countries, the South-West Welsh organization NPTC Group is a Beacon Award Winning institute, and has ‘[…] been highly acclaimed by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate (Estyn) for its quality of teaching and delivery to students.’

NPTC Group specialises in theory-based programmes in which vocations are focused and honed to get you ready for the working world. And there’s so much to choose from! NPTC Group offers almost 50 A-level subjects, Advanced Diplomas and Higher Education courses – not to mention a variety of English Language programs. With the international campus situated on Swansea bay, you’ll experience Wales’ rich natural history by the sea, with caves carving out sections of the shoreline and vast rural countryside trailing in the distance – but the city isn’t far away! Swansea is only just up the road and Wales’ capital, Cardiff, is about half an hour by car.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International