Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½

The UK boasts a diverse and wide-ranging further education (FE) sector that provides study opportunities for school leavers, young adults and mature students, as well as a range of teaching jobs

What is further education?

Further education includes any study after secondary education that doesn't form part of an undergraduate or graduate degree.

These post-secondary school qualifications are delivered by FE, sixth form, and specialist colleges, which aim to provide top-quality academic, technical, and professional education and training for both young people and adults.

Read more about what's included under the FE umbrella at .

The Education and Training Foundation (ETF), the professional body for FE training and standards in England, has also produced a .

How is the FE system structured?

How many colleges are there in the UK?

There are 260 colleges in the UK, according to the Association of Colleges (AoC), which breaks down as:

• 217 colleges in England
• 24 in Scotland
• 13 in Wales
• 6 in Northern Ireland.

What FE organisations represent each country?

UK colleges are represented by the following organisations specific to each home nation:

• - The membership organisation representing FE, sixth form, tertiary and specialist colleges in England.
• - The collective voice of the college sector in Scotland.
• - An education charity that promotes the public benefit of further education in Wales.
• - Oversees the two university colleges, six FE colleges and an agri-food and land-based college in NI.

What types of colleges are there?

Most colleges are referred to as general FE colleges, but there are several different types of institutions.

For instance, of the 217 colleges in England:

• 157 are general FE colleges
• 38 sixth form colleges
• 10 land-based colleges
• 10 institutes of adult learning (formerly specialist designated colleges)
• two art, design and performing arts colleges.

Where are colleges based?

In England, colleges are available throughout the country, so there are plenty of options, including:

• North West - 39
• South East - 32
• London - 31
• Yorkshire and the Humber - 26
• West Midlands - 23
• South West - 21.

How many students attend college in the UK?

Nearly two million students attend college across the UK each year, with:

• 1.6 million in England
• 218,000 in Scotland
• 127,000 in Wales
• 37,000 in Northern Ireland.

Who are college courses aimed at?

Anyone aged 16 and over can go to college, although the Institute for Fiscal Studies' (IFS) 2024 Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ report on found that almost 60% of college funding was spent on 16-19 education.

It's unsurprising that sixth form and general FE colleges providing qualifications at A-level standard benefit most from the funding, especially as education is still free for students in this age group.

Colleges are inclusive places to learn. Over a quarter (27%) of those aged 16-18 and studying in England in 2024 Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½/25 indicated some form of learning difficulty and/or disability, and nearly a quarter (24%) of students were from an ethnic minority background.

In addition, 925,000 adults (those 19 and over) study or train at college in England, with 694,000 aged 25 or older. This shows that college courses are for everyone, whatever their age.

Get the lowdown on adult education.

What FE courses can you study?

The most widely available FE courses at Level 3 and above include:

• A-levels
• BTECs (Business and Technology Education Council)
• National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)
• T Levels

See college courses for an overview of the main FE qualifications studied at college.

Can you do an apprenticeship at college?

Yes, 152,000 apprentices study at college, with 49,000 aged 19 or under.

The average college trains around 900 apprentices, so you may wish to explore apprenticeships in more detail.

What about studying undergraduate courses?

While university may sometimes be referred to as further study, it only offers qualifications at Levels 4 and above, with the most popular being undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at Levels 6 and 7.

However, there are FE and higher education (HE) colleges that run undergraduate programmes at Levels 4 and 5, such as:

• Foundation degrees
• Higher National Certificates (HNCs)
• Higher National Diplomas (HNDs)

Read our guide to undergraduate qualifications.

Can I still go on to university?

Some FE qualifications can be topped up to a full degree, so if you're thinking of going to university but still aren't sure, the course may offer credit should you choose to carry on with study after the college course.

What are the most popular methods of study at college?

Similar to university, you can choose between full and part-time study for the majority of courses. While some require you to spend a significant amount of time in the classroom, colleges often use a blended learning approach, with online distance learning complementing the traditional face-to-face teaching.

For qualifications such as A-levels and BTECs, online college courses are also very popular. This is because you'll get the opportunity to study and achieve a qualification without the need to visit the college in person. The course will typically involve interacting with tutors and other learners online through:

• chat forums
• lectures
• training sessions
• webinars.

Popular FE providers include the and , while offers qualifications at undergraduate level and above.

You can also explore free courses as signposted by the .

This flexible approach to learning allows students to study at a time and place that fits their lifestyle. It's perfect if a local college isn't accessible from your area.

Read more about the benefits of online learning.

Am I eligible for student finance?

As mentioned, FE college courses are free for 16 to 18-year-olds, but tuition fees are likely to be involved for adult learners (anyone 19 and over). Even younger students can still claim education-related costs through the government's .

If you're studying in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, you may be able to claim for .

When it comes to online learning with private course providers, you'll certainly need to pay course fees. For instance, if you're taking A-levels, you'll need to consider exam and invigilation fees as well as tuition costs, while for some courses, there are additional fees for the practical aspects of the programme.

A range of grants and loans is offered at a local level for adult education. For example, see the booklet on Fees, finance and funding for adult learners from .

For undergraduate courses at college, consider applying for government support in the form of tuition fee and maintenance loans. Read more about student loans and finance at undergraduate level.

Can international students go to college in the UK?

Yes, international students can apply to go to college in the UK. However, you'll need to sort out your visa before entering the country.

Students from European countries will require 'settled' status under the European Union (EU) Settlement Scheme to live and study here. However, in many cases, college fees are still generally quite reasonable. See .

The AoC has revealed that average tuition fees for international students studying a one-year FE college course are £6,935 per year, with Level 3 courses proving the most popular.

As colleges are renowned for providing a pipeline for those progressing to university, a high proportion of international students choose to move on to HE courses.

Indeed, they added that international students also take qualifications at Levels 4 and 5, with colleges charging around £7,857 for their undergraduate courses.

They also found that, in the international marketplace, the main reasons for coming to the UK for FE-level study are to:

• achieve A-levels
• take English language courses
• undertake teacher training.

Read more about studying in the UK at degree level.

Explore the scholarships and funding available from the - and get information on .

How do I get a job in further education?

If you are interested in becoming a college teacher, now is a good time to enter the profession.

The AoC's report revealed that FE colleges in England employ around 133,000 people, including 54,000 teachers.

However, the Department for Education's (DfE) summary (April 2025) explained how 12,400 new recruits are needed by 2028/29.

Due to this skills shortage of FE teachers in the sector, there is a demand for those who can teach:

• GCSE English and maths
• basic skills (literacy and numeracy)
• vocational skills.

A qualified FE teacher can earn £26,090 to £39,347, with an average wage of £38,000 for those working full time.

Read about how to become an FE teacher and other jobs in education.

Find out more

• Discover how to apply for college in the UK.
• Consider whether to go to university or do an apprenticeship.
• Explore these alternatives to university.