1. Studying in Britain

2. The Education System School Education Further Education
Higher Education

3. School Education Compulsory education from 5 to 16
Soon to be extended to 18
Students follow the National Curriculum
There is no requirement to ‘graduate’

4. Further Education Usually for students between 16 and 18
Prepares for university or for a vocation
A wide variety of examinations, including ‘A’ levels, baccalaureate, Scottish Highers

6. Primary School Subjects
One teacher teaches:
Art
Analysis
Drama
English
Geography
History
Mathematics
Scottish Gaelic (in Scotland)

7. Secondary School Subjects
Mathematics
Science
Technology and design
Information Technology
English
Modern Languages (French, German, Spanish)
Geography
History
Social Education
Religion
Cooking
Music
Physical education
Greek and Latin (grammar and independent schools)

8. GCSEs Taken at age 16, after 5 years in secondary education
General Certificate of Secondary Education
Minimum 5 subjects
As many as twelve

9. Further education England, Wales, Northern Ireland Scotland
3 or more ‘A’ levels taken at age 18
Scotland
Highers
Alternative
International Baccalaureate

10. Higher Education There are more than 200 universities in Britain
Mostly teach a broad range of subjects

11. Undergraduate Courses
Usually only three years
Specialise in one subject
Entrance requirements
Good English profieciency
Previous examinations

12. Postgraduate courses Masters Doctorate
Can be teaching or research based
Usually examined by dissertation
One or two years
Doctorate
Always research, never taught

13. University degrees Bachelor’s degrees Master’s degrees Doctorates
B.A., B.Sc., B.Ed.
Usually three years
Note Scottish and Oxbridge M.A.s
Master’s degrees
M.A., M.Sc., M.Phil.
One or two years
Doctorates
Ph.D., D.Mus, etc.
Three to five years

14. Classification of degrees
Bachelors:
1 (first class honours)
2.i (second class honours, first division)
2.ii (second class honours, second division)
3 (third class honours)
Pass (ordinary degree)
Masters:
Distinction
Pass
Doctorate

15. Chinese students in Britain
In 2000 nearly 19,000 student visas were awarded to Chinese citizens, more than to any other visa-requiring country
The next most represented country was Russia, with about 9,000 student visas
Source: United Kingdom Government, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

16. Chinese students in Britain
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
1,279
2,189
3,920
6,402
8,994
933
1,462
2,570
4,302
6,114
Applications
Accepted
Source: Universities and Colleges Application Service (UCAS)

17. Chinese students in Britain
Percentages:
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2.36
4.14
7.23
10.76
13.53
2.96
4.71
7.89
11.82
15.15
Applications
Accepted
Source: Universities and Colleges Application Service (UCAS)