About higher education in England

Higher education courses and qualifications are delivered through a wide variety of institutions, mostly universities and colleges. They are collectively referred to as ‘higher education institutions’ (HEIs).

Universities range in size, mission, subject mix and history. The Further and Higher Education Act 1992 granted university status to institutions that had previously been known as polytechnics. These are sometimes called ‘new’ universities, although many have their origins in vocational colleges with a long history. Those universities that predate 1992 may be called ‘old’ or ‘traditional’, but are in fact of various ages. For example, some were founded in the 1950s and 1960s; the ‘civic’ universities were founded in major cities in the 19th and early 20th centuries; and the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge date from the 12th and 13th centuries.

Higher education is also provided by colleges, many of which also have a long history. Some award their own degrees and other qualifications; in others, qualifications are validated by a university or national accrediting body. Some higher education colleges cover a wide range of subjects while others specialise, for example in performing arts, agriculture or nursing.

Many further education colleges offer higher education courses, which are validated by a higher education institution or a national body such as Edexcel.

There are also many private higher education providers in England which offer degree-level courses but receive no public money. They tend to offer a relatively narrow range of courses, specialising in, for example, business, law, information systems or management. 

Most of these are colleges whose courses are validated by other public higher education institutions, but five private higher education institutions award their own degrees: the University of Buckingham, BPP University College of Professional Studies, the College of Law, Ashridge Business School and IFS School of Finance. 

Higher education institutions are legally independent entities. Their governing bodies or Councils are responsible for ensuring the effective management of the institution and for planning its future development. They are ultimately responsible for all the affairs of the university or college.

Nearly all higher education institutions are charities and must therefore comply with charity law and regulation. HEFCE performs the regulatory role for the great majority of these, but some are regulated by the Charities Commission. More information on HEFCE’s role as regulator of institutions as charities

UK institutions offer a vast range of higher-level courses and qualifications. The increasing use of modular course structures means that qualifications are now more flexible than ever and can be tailored to meet the needs of the individual and their employer (if appropriate), or transferred between institutions.

First degree courses are commonly known as bachelors degrees, for example Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc), and generally take three years when studied full-time. They are normally awarded ‘with honours’, which is indicated as, for example, ‘BA (Hons)’.

Sandwich courses, which include periods of practical work in organisations outside the university or college, usually last four years, as do certain specialist courses. Some vocational degrees are longer, for example in medicine, dentistry and architecture.

Levels of attainment are expressed in the form of First, Upper Second (or 2:1), Lower Second (or 2:2), Third, Pass or Fail.

Foundation degrees were launched in 2001; they take two years to complete and are mainly vocational. After successful competition of a foundation degree it is possible to progress to a full honours degree.

Other undergraduate qualifications include: Higher National Diploma (HND), Higher National Certificate (HNC) and Diploma in Higher Education (DipHE). These usually take one or two years to complete.

Postgraduate courses usually require students to have a degree-level qualification. However, the academic level of the course is not always more advanced than an undergraduate course – for example, the content of a law ‘conversion course’ for non-law graduates would be at an equivalent level to that of an undergraduate law degree course.

Postgraduate courses can be taught, conducted through research programmes, or a combination of both, and may be part-time or full-time. Qualifications include diplomas and certificates, such as the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE); masters degrees, for example Master of Science (MSc); and doctorates, for example, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Postgraduate taught courses usually last one year full-time or two years part-time. Research programmes normally last three years for full-time students and more than four years for part-time students. These normally require the student to complete a written thesis to present their research and findings.

The number of higher education students at universities and colleges in England has increased dramatically over the past 40 years and now totals more than 2 million.

Over half these students are studying full-time. But many people study part-time at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Students enrolled at higher education institutions in England, academic year 2009-10

Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency. All numbers rounded to nearest five.

The normal minimum age for an undergraduate to start a course is 18. But the student population includes large numbers of mature students (that is, those that are older than 21 on entry) and most postgraduate students are over 21 because they usually need to have done a degree-level qualification before their postgraduate course.

Higher education is part of ‘lifelong learning’, which extends through an adult’s working life and sometimes into retirement. Much of this change is due to the higher education sector’s efforts to widen participation to groups of people who are currently under-represented in higher education, and to provide courses in partnership with employers.

The higher education sector in the UK reaches way beyond national borders. Many staff and students are recruited from overseas, and international collaboration in research is commonplace.

Nationality of students at higher education institutions in England, academic year 2009-10

Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency. All numbers rounded to nearest five.