The UK is not one education system but four: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. They share a reputation and a framework for qualification levels, but they are regulated and funded separately, and that affects how long your degree takes and who checks its quality.
What is different from other destinations
- Course length. A bachelor's degree is typically three years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and four years in Scotland. Integrated master's degrees run for four years.
- A public register. In England the Office for Students (OfS) keeps a register of providers, including Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) ratings — Gold, Silver, Bronze or Requires improvement. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own funding and oversight bodies.
- Official course data. Discover Uni, run by HESA and the funding bodies, publishes UK-wide undergraduate course data, including student survey results and graduate outcomes.
What to check before you fall in love with a university
- Is it on the OfS register (if in England), and what is its TEF rating?
- Does it hold the right to use "university" in its title and degree awarding powers, or does another university award the degree?
- Is it a licensed student sponsor? You need this for a Student visa.
- Does the course have the professional accreditation you need for your career?
Use our university directory and comparison tool to line up the published data, and read the study in the UK guide for fees, visas and costs.