The British education system is really four systems: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own rules, exams and calendar. They do, however, share some features that surprise visitors from continental Europe: children start school very early, uniforms are almost universal, end-of-stage exams are standardised nationally and the universities are among the most prestigious in the world.
Compulsory schooling
In England school is compulsory from 5 to 16, but almost all children start at 4 in the Reception year, and young people must stay in education or training (including apprenticeships) until 18. The path divides into primary school (up to age 11) and secondary school. At 16 pupils take GCSEs, national exams in about ten subjects; they can then do two years of A-levels, usually in three or four subjects, whose grades determine university entry. In Scotland the exams are called Nationals and Highers, and the higher qualification allows students to enter university at 17.
State and private schools
About 93% of pupils attend free state schools. Many are academies, state-funded but run independently by non-profit trusts; there are also a number of selective grammar schools, entered by an exam at 11. Some 6-7% study at fee-paying private schools, the oldest of which, such as Eton, Harrow and Winchester, are paradoxically called public schools. Since January 2025 their fees have been subject to VAT. Schools are inspected by Ofsted, whose judgements weigh heavily on families' choices and on house prices nearby.
Universities
The UK has more than 150 universities, some among the best in the world: Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College and UCL in London regularly appear in the top ten of the main international rankings, followed by Edinburgh, King's College, the London School of Economics and Manchester. Bachelor's degrees last three years in England and four in Scotland; master's degrees often just one. Applications are made centrally through UCAS.
In England fees for British students are capped at about £9,500 a year, set to rise with inflation, and covered by a public loan repaid only once income exceeds a threshold. In Scotland Scottish students pay no fees. International students, including Europeans without resident status, pay much higher fees, from about £15,000 to over £40,000: they are an essential source of funding for universities, many of which are now in financial difficulty because of falling overseas enrolments.
For European students
After Brexit studying in the UK costs more but remains possible: you need a student visa and the health surcharge, as well as international fees. Erasmus+ returns from 2027, allowing students to spend a period at a British university while paying their home university's fees. For short language courses an ETA is enough. All the details in studying and working after Brexit and English courses in London; see also Oxford, Cambridge and living in the UK.