NARIC guide on Higher Education Systems in the European Union

While these institutions have much in common, universities are more academic and research-oriented and colleges are more
vocational, with colleges of music and fine arts almost entirely devoted to artistic practice and theory.
Training for the Churches is provided in theological colleges and seminaries many of which are linked to universities: students
may take a degree as part of their course. General entry to the armed services and police force is non-graduate via special
colleges which are not part of the higher education system. There is provision for graduate entry to all services.
Colleges and institutes of higher education
Courses leading to first degrees, especially in education, are also available at institutes and colleges of higher education.
The Open University (OU)
The Open University provides courses for those who want to improve their academic credentials, update their professional
knowledge or improve their general culture by part-time study at home, using a variety of multimedia distance learning
resources. There are no formal entry requirements. Candidates are accepted from 18 years of age onwards.
1.2. Number of students
There are now over 934000 full-time students in higher education of which 92900 are from overseas.
At the end of the 1980s, the British Government committed itself to increasing the participation rate of school leavers in
higher education to one in three and projected a rise in (full-time equivalent) student numbers by 50% to 1170000 by the year
2000. By the academic year 1992/93, participation rates had already improved to one in three and a half, which was far in
advance of predicted figures.
I.3. Organisation of course of study
In almost all higher education institutions, teaching is concentrated into an academic year of three terms of 10 weeks each,
running from early October to late June with three-or-four week breaks at Christmas and Easter and a long summer vacation.
However, a few institutions have moved to a semester pattern and adopted a two-semester year. It is usual for students in
certain subject areas to spend time away from the classroom: medical students in hospital, engineers and administrators on
industrial and commercial placements and language students (and others) on a year abroad. These increase the length of the
course of study.
Teaching is traditional as well as innovative. Lecturing remains the time-honoured way of delivering knowledge, though it is
now more likely to be supported by an overhead projector, video recorder or computer, rather than the blackboard. The
emphasis, however, is on small group, informal teaching and student-centred project work and tutorials so that students are
actively and individually involved with their teachers and fellow students. Attendance at lectures is not compulsory. Students
are also allocated free time for private study, generally preceding examinations.
Modular degrees give students freedom to structure their degrees from the optional modules provided; such flexibility is
characteristic of newer degree studies.
A period of general study, often the first or foundation year, may be followed by increasing specialisation. In order to
continue, students must pass the required subject examinations. These are normally repeated in cases of failure.
The following courses can be distinguished:
Duration
Certificate courses: Part-time: two or three years