Higher education

Universities

A student can enter a Great British university from the age of 18. For this, a certificate of secondary education and the successful completion of some form of further education (A-levels, Foundation, International Baccalaureate, APT or 1-2 years in a foreign university) are required. Foreign students must also pass an English-language exam, the IELTS, with a minimum score of 6.5. Students then spend 3 or 4 years at a British university (on a four-year course, the extra year can sometimes be spent at an American or European university). After completion of their university studies, a student will receive either a BA or a Bsc degree (Bachelor's).

Having received a Bachelor's degree, it is then possible to enter postgraduate education and receive an MA, MSc or MPhil degree. A postgraduate student can either continue to study their previous specialism or study a completely new area. For example, a graduate with a good degree in mathematics from a science department could be offered a place on a postgraduate course in a department of finance and management. Foreigners who graduate with a Master's degree have the right to remain and work in England without a work permit for 12 months.