The secondary education system in the UK is very different from that of other countries. In addition to traditional boarding schools that accept both local and international students, the UK's international colleges provide excellent preparation for university entry.
Today, there are over 240 universities and colleges in the UK that are widely known around the world. In the UK education system, universities and colleges are at different levels of education and they differ in terms of courses, programmes and the duration of degrees. Every year thousands of students come to study at this level of education in the UK: a well-established education system, high educational standards, academic and career prospects attract foreigners to this country. Graduates of British universities sit international examinations with the highest marks and enter the best educational institutions in the USA, Europe, Australia and around the world.
Top 20 colleges in UK for students
Queen's College Ethelbuga
One of the most prestigious and highly regarded schools in the UK and the world accepts students aged 3 to 18. All the conditions are created for the full development of each child's personality, with an individualised approach that focuses on the characteristics and unique talents of the student. Education takes place in all the main courses of the junior school, middle school, high school and university preparation, which makes Queen Ethelburga School the best choice for a well-rounded education in England.
Queen Ethelburga School was founded in 1912. Children from different countries study here. Their parents are royalty, diplomats, international businessmen, politicians, lawyers, doctors working for the UN, government and armed forces. Acquaintances are made and children gain lifelong friends, a connection that will be very useful and important in the future. This school is chosen by parents who want the best for their children.
Queen's College Ethelburga is located in Yorkshire, in the North of England, between Harrogate and York, 2 hours from London. The school is located in the old mansion, Thorpe Underwood Hall, luxuriously decorated in the Victorian style. The manor house is an architectural monument and occupies a large territory in the picturesque countryside. The school is easily accessible by car, train or plane.
The school is renowned for its first-class reputation, excellent results and care for its students. Around 1,600 students study here.
Abbey DLD College London
The Abbey DLD Group consists of 3 colleges in the UK's most popular cities: London, Cambridge and Manchester. All schools in the group adhere to the same educational philosophy and system. Good standards of teaching have been maintained here so that applicants can choose a city of their preference to receive a strong British education.
Abbey DLD International College prepares students for the best universities in the UK. Classes are taught in small groups and students write regular tests, which helps to consolidate material without having to worry about more serious tests. As well as A-levels, here you can take advanced courses and pass tests such as the Thinking Skills Assessment (Tsa), the Sixth Term Paper (STEP) and the Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT), which can be taken when students enter university
DLD College London has a unique and fresh campus in the heart of London. In September 2015, the school moved to a new 19-storey glass building in central London with windows overlooking the Thames, Westminster and the skyscrapers of the capital. No other university in the British capital can boast such a location and view. From 2011 to 2015, forty graduates from DLD College London attended Oxbridge. Here they undertook some of the strongest education in law, finance and medicine.
National School of Mathematics and Science NMSC
The National School of Mathematics and Science (NatMatSci, NMSC) is a sixth form college specialising in the natural sciences, mathematics and technology. It aims to educate 200 boys and girls aged 15-19 from the UK and other countries around the world. The teachers see their main mission as preparing students to be the best they can be for entry and successful study at the world's leading universities of their choice. The Academy's motto is 'Continuous Leadership through Innovation'.
The College opened in October 2016 and has passed two OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education, Children's Work and Skills) inspections. Four have been rated as 'Outstanding' based on the results of the last of the seven guidelines (February 2020).
NatMatSci is located in the old town of Coventry in the West Midlands. Coventry is 150 kilometres from London, 30 kilometres from Birmingham and not far from Oxford and Cambridge. He is known for the production of hats and Jaguar and Land Rover cars. It is one of the safest cities in the country. It has several higher education institutions. Coventry won the title of UK City of Culture in 2021.
The college is easily accessible from Birmingham and the Warwick Highway. The academic building is a 10-15 minute drive from the historic part of Coventry and just a few minutes walk from the University of Warwick. The student residence is located in the city centre opposite the Belgrade Theatre and is running a drama class programme.
The nearest airports are Birmingham International Airport (15 minutes away) and London Heathrow Airport (1 hour away).
The school has 54 students (at the time of the OFSTED inspection in February 2020), 44 of whom are S6 students.
D'Overbroeck College
D'Overbroeck's is an independent co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 11-18. The school is owned by Nord Anglia Education and is located in Oxford, England. It consists of three schools: Years 7-11, International School and Sixth Form.
d'Overbroeck's was founded in 1977 as the sixth form of Malcolm van Biervliet D'Overbroeck. He taught French and Spanish at the school for 30 years until his retirement in 2007. The college was originally located in van Biervliet's home.
Years 7-11 at d'Overbroeck are at Leckford Place in North Oxford. Students in Years 7-11 study a full range of subjects covering science, humanities, arts and modern languages. This also includes music, drama and sport, both as curriculum subjects and as extra-curricular activities.
The International School is located at 111 Banbury Road, North Oxford. In 2020, the school has over 90 students from countries such as the USA, Lithuania, Ukraine and Thailand. The International School currently offers five academic programmes for international students.
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Discovery Year (UK 7-9)
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Two-year IGCSE (UK Years 10-11)
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One-year IGCSE (UK Year 11)
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4 or 5 semester IGCSE (UK Year 10)
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Study in the UK (UK Year 9-10)
Around half of all International School students continue to study in the Sixth Form at d'Overbroeck, while others choose to continue to other UK schools. Some may prefer to take the IB course, others may prefer a change of location or a leading single-sex school for their sixth form studies.
Oxford International College
Oxford International College (OIC) is an independent private sixth form college, a specialist education college for foreigners, offering co-education for girls and boys aged 15-21. The college offers student residences and family accommodation. There are approximately 500 students at this school. The college is located in Oxford, Oxfordshire, in the south east of England, about an hour's drive from London.
Oxford International College opened in 2002 and in that time has become one of the most successful private educational institutions of its kind in the UK, accepting students from all over the world. Branches of the college are open in the following cities: Brighton, Oxford, Cambridge and London. English and foreign students study at each of them and they perform highly in their A-level exams every year before going on to the UK's leading universities.
The College is a full member of the Independent Schools Association (ISA).
Oxford International College is characterised by an approach that relies on those who wish to develop their potential. The College focuses on preparing foreign students to continue their studies in British educational institutions, with children studying in boarding schools, specialised summer English language courses and, most importantly, university entrance preparation courses.
Cardiff Sixth Form College
Cardiff Sixth Form College (CSFC) - established in 2004 in Cardiff, the capital of Wales - is a private college for high school students (aged 14-18). Thanks to the academic achievements of its students, the facilities of its classrooms and laboratories, and the comfortable learning and living conditions, CSFC has been ranked among the top six universities in the UK. In particular, CSFC has become one of the best educational institutions for studying under the a-level programme. 99% of students successfully pass their A-level final exams and gain entry to the best universities in the UK, including Oxford and Cambridge, without entrance exams. In 2013, the College led the way in terms of final exam results, as reported in leading UK publications The Times and The Daily Telegraph.
It is no surprise that foreigners come here every year to receive a quality education, with the total number of students at CSFC being 40% of all students. As well as A-levels, the college prepares students for IGCSE standard examinations, offers specialist courses for entry to Oxford and Cambridge universities, and prepares students for further study at medical school.
In addition to their studies, students will find many extra-curricular activities (events). They can choose from music and drama clubs, art studios and sports sections.
Since 2018, Cardiff Sixth Form College has been offering a year-long GCSE course for students planning to continue their studies at some of the UK's best colleges and universities.
Abbey College Cambridge
The Abbey DLD Group of Colleges is a group of private colleges in three UK cities: London, Manchester and Cambridge. Each of these departments works very independently and has its own specific circumstances, but the colleges combine high quality standards and working principles.
The Abbey Dld group of colleges has its origins in the merger of Davies Laing and Dick College (DLD) and Abbey College. DLD College was founded in London in 1931. The merger later led to the opening of schools in Manchester (1990) and Cambridge (1994). The level of education received at these colleges enables you to successfully continue your studies at top universities in the UK and around the world.
Classes are held in small groups, which allows teachers to give more attention to each student. Students regularly write tests and papers which help to absorb the material and learn effectively.
From the moment of admission, each student has their own tutor. He helps with settling in, choosing subjects, solving everyday problems, monitoring academic progress and communicating with parents.
University education aims to develop strong personal and leadership qualities in addition to academic education .
All the colleges in the group are modern educational centres with excellent conditions for an innovative and high-quality learning process, comfortable and cosy living and fun leisure.
Cambridge College was opened in 1994. It is renowned for the success of its teaching staff and its students. Graduates of the University study at the highest ranked universities - Cambridge, Oxford, University College London, Imperial College, London School of Economics and Political Science, etc.
Cambridge is one of the world's most famous university towns, with an academic tradition that dates back over 800 years. Abbey DLD College Cambridge prides itself on its close links with the University of Cambridge and the fact that its students have access to the University's colleges and departments and can even undertake placements in the University's laboratories.
The college is located in the Homerton Gardens area, just a 25 minute walk to the historic city centre. The campus is based on modern classrooms, laboratory courses, 2 libraries, music and art studios, a fitness room, a cafeteria and 120 rooms with residential facilities. A modern leisure park with a cinema, bowling alley, café and supermarket is 10 minutes from the campus.
Worsgate School
Worthgate School is part of the CATS Global Schools Group and is located in the safest city in the UK according to the Complete University Guide ratings. Canterbury is one of the most interesting historical sites in England, with the oldest cathedral built in the sixth century operating here. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the headquarters of many high-tech companies.
The train from London to Canterbury takes less than an hour, which makes the city attractive to international students. Amongst other things, Worthgate School has been marked by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) for excellence in all elements of work (including the educational process, accommodation, student welfare, graduate achievement and outcomes, learning structure, extra-curricular activities, quality of teaching and
Worthgate School is a non-selective school that accepts students with adequate learning targets and language skills. The greater the merit of the school, the more all graduates achieve excellent results and gain places at UK or foreign universities, with the strongest graduates traditionally going on to top UK universities, including Cambridge and Oxford.
Worthgate School offers a number of courses for 14 to 19 year olds, including traditional GCSEs, a-levels as well as the International Baccalaureate and University Foundation programmes.
Bishopstrow College
Bishopstrow College is a private international preparatory school that allows you to gain a high quality academic foundation for future education at a British school. It is a small school with around 80 students from 20 countries around the world. The distinguishing feature of the school is the possibility of starting education four times a year, including the summer. Also worth highlighting is the quality of education, as for the relatively young age of the school it has achieved remarkable success, with over 90% of the students successfully passing their final exams. The academy is aimed at children for whom English is not their first language, as well as those planning to continue their studies in a British boarding school.
Bishopstrow is located on the outskirts of the classic English city of Warminster. It is an ancient market town with many attractions nearby, including the cathedral city of Salisbury, as well as Stonehenge and the city of Bath, all of which are World Heritage-listed. There is a fairly high standard of living and safety in Warminster and the surrounding area, which is a quiet English area with a good infrastructure and hospitable residents, many of whom are representatives of creative professions London Heathrow Airport, Gatwick Airport is also located not far from the College; and Bristol. Trains depart from Warminster station, five minutes from the College, and run directly to London Waterloo and Paddington stations. The total area of the Bishopstrow College campus is 3 hectares - a well-groomed green parkland area with picturesque gardens and fields.
CATS College Cambridge
CATS College Cambridge is an international mixed education college for international postgraduate students and is part of the Cambridge Education Group of schools. The new Elizabeth House campus, which opened in July 2015, is a large area with everything you need to live and study there (classrooms, laboratories, recreation and work areas, library, dining room, complex and playground, residences). Students are housed in single and double rooms with amenities.
The work of the College is aimed at developing a sense of purpose in students and their ability to focus on solving tasks. The extensive educational programme allows students to maximise their abilities in an atmosphere of goodwill and support.
Students work with the Principal and parents to select subjects for a-level and to identify a education plan for their future careers.
The College is proud of the academic excellence of its graduates. In 2008, 35% of students achieved a-levels, 10% above the national average, and 75% achieved A-Cs.
Strong links with the University of Cambridge enable undergraduates to participate in the work of the world-renowned Union Debating Society and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.
Brighton College
Brighton College is one of the UK's leading educational institutions. In 2012, it was nominated for first place in the 'Best Independent Schools in the UK' category. Thanks to its strong academic background and the success of its graduates in subjects such as dance, music and drama, Brighton College has been ranked among the top 10 schools in the UK for 10 years, with its students performing at the highest level in university entrance examinations.
This educational institution aims to educate bright and extraordinary characters who will be able to succeed in creative, inventive or athletic environments. However, Brighton College's academic education is quite strong - in recent years, its graduates have increasingly become students at Cambridge and Oxford. In 2013, students on both a-level and GCSE courses showed impressive results.
The school was founded in 1845 and became the first public educational institution in the region. Just as it was a century and a half ago, Brighton College occupies a magnificent Gothic building where classes are held under a vaulted ceiling. Ancient traditions and a stunning atmosphere of modern technology reign here, and learning becomes a truly bright and exciting experience for every child.
The educational establishment has always sought to provide the best conditions for the education and all-round development of its wards. Back in 1859, a large sports hall was built on the school grounds and a little later, in 1871, the first science laboratories were opened. The development of Brighton College's infrastructure has continued unabated over the years and the school now offers its pupils a full range of opportunities for learning, sport and creativity.
Guildhall School
Guildhouse School is a central London boarding school that provides an immersive environment of ideas and creativity for children aged 15+, where students have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the world.
Guildhouse School is located in an internationally recognised cultural and business centre. The number of international students in London is the highest in Europe. Students at the school have access to secure accommodation in the prestigious Bloomsbury district, within walking distance of famous parks, museums, building complexes, libraries, universities (Rada, University College London, University of London, Imperial College, King's College London, etc.), 18th century Georgian buildings, the Central Bank of Great Britain - Bank of England.
The school offers education for students aged 15-21. The London School was awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise (2014) - the highest official award in the UK education sector.
MPW Academy London
Mander Portman Woodward London is a leading S5 and S6 college offering a wide range of GCSE and a level courses in a socially relaxed but academically disciplined environment. He is known for his outstanding college placements, outstanding accreditation and personal approach to education. Students are commended by the College for their academic achievements and are recognised by the wider sector. MPW students receive high marks in the House of Lords' annual CIFE Awards competition for outstanding students.
MPW is a great place to study and work. Since its inception over 40 years ago, the College has created an exceptional environment for learning and achievement. MPW is one of the most prestigious providers of Year 5 and Year 6 individual education in the USA, offering GCSE and A level in over 40 subjects.
Classes are designed to maximise learning patterns with fewer than 10 students in small group seminar configurations and use whiteboards, interactive whiteboards or group discussion guided presentations. Almost every classroom is equipped with audio-visual equipment for on-screen learning. For subjects requiring practical education, there are six computer labs.
Each course is taught in a separate area under the supervision of the appropriate course director. MPW London has seven science laboratories: two in biology, two in chemistry and two in physics, and one in computer science. The Art Department has an art studio, two photography studios, a ceramics studio, a textiles studio and a graphics studio. There are also specialist classrooms for many other subjects, including drama, film studies, music and modern languages. Students have the opportunity to take part in theatre arts courses at local theatres.
Students have access to computers in private lessons at the college, including in each of the three libraries. The Internet Café provides a more relaxed atmosphere for study and relaxation and is equipped with computers for student use. The buffet restaurant serves lunch, drinks and snacks. Wireless internet is available in all college buildings so that students can use their own laptops, tablets or smartphones.
Tettenhall College
Tettenhall College is situated in a beautiful wooded area on the ancient outskirts of Tettenhall, 3km west of Wolverhampton, on 13 hectares of land and offers a quality education for school children aged 2 to 18 years. The college's motto is "Honour to the Lord is the beginning of freedom", which means that a high quality education is combined with a high moral character education for college students.
The College was founded in 1863 as a denominational school for boys, later becoming a secular school and since 1982 - a co-educational school. Historically, the College has developed a system of extra-curricular activities that provide an individual approach to each pupil and focus on his success or failure.
The aim of the school is to provide a traditional high quality British education in an atmosphere of care and concern. It is a place where students develop holistically, learn to respect themselves and others and face up to the obstacles of life preparation with courage. The school's graduates are confident and educated young people who go on to universities across the UK. The College has been acclaimed as one of the best secondary education institutions in Europe, is accredited by the British Council and is a member of the HMC, SHMIS and ISC associations. Around 500 children study at the College, 11% of whom are foreign students. Children from Germany, China, Spain, Hong Kong, Brazil, Thailand and many other countries study here.
Abbey College Manchester
Manchester Abbey College is part of the Abbey DLD Academy and offers students aged 15 to 19 the opportunity to pursue a UK secondary education or prepare for a higher education course. GCSE, a-level or Foundation programmes are open to international students.
Abbey College Manchester is an independent comprehensive school located in the heart of Manchester. Both local British students and foreigners study at the College and they receive language and adaptation support.
According to statistics from the last academic year, 72% of graduates from the a-levels programme achieved A*-C grades. In 87% of cases, Foundation Programme graduates gained places at priority universities and 55% of students attended Russell Group universities.
Oxford Sixth Form College
Oxford Sixth Form College is a prestigious high school that prepares students aged 15-19 for entry to higher education institutions. The school is located in Oxford, one of the world's centres of education and culture. It unites students from 40 countries, so students are given a unique opportunity to learn more about other cultures and to find friends from all over the world.
The school's main objective is to help children gain admission to the best British and foreign universities. The Careers Centre organises regular meetings with university representatives, assists in writing motivational letters and preparing for interviews, preparing for the UCAT, BMAT, LNAT and TSA entrance examinations and specifically supports students applying to Oxford or Cambridge. Each student has an academic tutor working individually who monitors their progress, helps to fill in the gaps and is prepared to discuss any difficulties.
The educational process is complemented by a rich programme of extra-curricular activities: debates, music and dance concerts, film nights, table tennis, football, etc. International evenings are held regularly, with foreign schoolchildren sharing their cultural identity, charity events, various competitions and matches between schoolchildren.
Brookhouse Academy
Brookhouse Academy is an independent boarding school that has been accepting international students aged 14 to 19 for academic education programmes from GCSE to a-level and Foundation for over 50 years. It is a co-educational comprehensive school.
For professional footballers, Brookhouse College offers a Football Academy, allowing you to continue your professional education and the opportunity to play for a local team in the junior league.
Brookhouse Academy offers a summer language camp for children and young people aged 10 to 17 years, including a variety of language, academic and sports programmes.
Brookhouse Academy is located in central England in Leicestershire, in the quiet and safe town of Market Harborough, an hour and a half from Heathrow Airport. The nearest cities are Oxford, Cambridge and Birmingham.
The college campus is located in several parts of the city, but it is compact and within walking distance.
The college offers the opportunity to study in small classes, which gives excellent interaction between teachers and students.
A variety of creative and sporting activities allow students to have fun outside the educational process, which is also important for all-round development.
For students who wish to receive a classical British education, opportunities are offered to complete GCSE and a-level courses, and for graduates of foreign schools, a one-year foundation course leading to entry into the top 30 universities in the UK. Amongst other things, the school offers an opportunity to prepare for entry into a medical course.
The school has all the mandatory accreditations required for the admission of foreign students and the provision of visa support. In addition to this, Brookhouse College is accredited by a number of professional associations.
Kensington Park School
Kensington Park School is a new public school in London that started work in 2017. The combination of traditional values and innovative teaching methods has led to the educational institution gaining recognition from the academic community. The school aims to create the best conditions for realising potential, as well as developing each student's talents, ambitions and leadership qualities.
Boys and girls aged 14-18 take the British GCSE and A-Level courses, studying compulsory and optional subjects: languages, business, drama, history, natural sciences, IT, mathematics, photography, politics, psychology, economics and many more. London's boarding schools also offer a special programme to prepare for entry to medical schools in the UK and the world. The first graduates confirmed a high level of academic knowledge: 70% took A-Level A*-C exams, from 'good' to 'good'. Outstanding achievement was achieved in languages (50% - A*-A), mathematics (42% - A*-A), chemistry (39% - A*-A) and art (33% - A*-A).
Kensington Park School has been in operation for a few years, but all the headmasters and teachers have gained enormous and varied experience at the top boarding schools in the UK. Each of them has invested over 25 years in the world of education, helping boys and girls to absorb GCSE and A-Level material effectively, as well as preparing them for entry to the world's leading universities: Oxbridge, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Cornell and others. Staff at the London school also act as A level examiners and produce their own author's manual. Teachers develop innovative approaches to education based on the effective practices of British educational institutions. They instil a love of learning which becomes the key to sustained personal and professional development. Innovators who can make the world a better place grow up here.
The school is located in Kensington Gardens in the heart of the British capital. There is a sports and cultural centre nearby, with which educational institutions have established educational partnerships. What does this mean? Studying at this London school involves attending extra-curricular courses at specialist centres where there is everything you need to develop skills in sport, music, art, drama and specialist coaching work. For example, the Ethos Sports Centre at Imperial College London is open to students and features a gym, swimming pool and a 9-metre high climbing wall. Youngsters master the subtleties of fencing, horse riding and swimming under the guidance of professional coaches - Olympic champions.
St Edmund's College
St Edmund's College was the first boarding school in England, founded in 1568 and sponsored by the Roman Catholic Church.
The junior and secondary schools are located in separate buildings. The High School has 600 pupils. St Edmund's College has 150 full board students, 75 of whom are international students from 20 different countries.
160 students are enrolled in the Senior School (S6) in the a-Level and IB Diploma programmes.
The ratio of boys to girls is approximately 3:2, so the school tends to accept more girls.
The warm and caring attitude towards students creates a comfortable environment throughout their studies at St Edmund's College.
International students are actively involved in all aspects of life and learning at St Edmund's.
For the brightest and most talented students, St Edmund's College has created a community for gifted children that allows students to express themselves and their talents.
Wycliffe College
Wycliffe College is a private, co-educational boarding school located 1.5 hours from London.
Wycliffe College is located near the city of Bristol in Gloucestershire in the West of England. Around 400 children aged 13-19 study at Wycliffe College, a third of whom are foreigners. Wycliffe College has a successful English as a Foreign Language (ESL) programme, so the school is loyal to the admission of foreign students with low English proficiency.
Wycliffe College has a strong academic programme. Wycliffe College brings the best from the classical to the innovative, so you can choose from astronomy here at GCSE, media communication or even Japanese at a-Levels. In addition to the traditional English GCSEs and A-Levels, the school also offers preparation for the American SATs.
At A-levels, 83% of Wycliffe graduates achieve A*-B grades. Wycliffe College graduates go on to study at prestigious British and American universities, including Ivy League universities, Oxford and Cambridge.