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Edited by: Susan Wallace

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Further Education Unit (FEU)  

Between 1977 and 1994 the FEU advised on, and supported research into, curriculum and pedagogical matters relating to further education ...

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Overview of the UK's further education sector

The UK boasts a diverse and wide-ranging further education sector that provides opportunities for school leavers, young adults and mature students

FE sector facts

• Further education includes study after secondary school.
• College is for people of all ages, with courses free for students aged 16 to 18.
• 1.6 million students go to college in England each year to develop their career, progress to university, engage in further education or increase their employability.

What is further education?

On GOV.UK it states that further education (FE) 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 that aim to provide top quality academic, technical and professional education and training for both young people and adults.

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

How is the FE system structured?

According to the AoC, there are 270 colleges in the UK (June 2023):

• 225 colleges in England
• 26 in Scotland
• 13 in Wales
• 6 in Northern Ireland.

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

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

Most colleges are referred to as general FE colleges, but there are a number of different types of institution.

For instance, of the 225 colleges in England:

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

Who are college courses aimed at?

Anyone aged 16 and over can go to college, although the AoC reported that the majority of college income for 2020/21 (£3.63billion), accounting for 55% of total spending, was focused on 16-18 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, with over a fifth (21%) of students studying in England in 2022/23 having indicated some form of learning difficulty and/or disability.

What FE courses can you study?

Widely available FE courses include:

• BTECs (Business and Technology Education Council)
• Higher National Certificates (HNCs)

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

However, while these FE courses are offered by colleges rather than universities, some colleges also run undergraduate programmes.

Read our guide to undergraduate qualifications .

It was also revealed that colleges train around 1,000 apprentices, so you may wish to explore apprenticeships in more detail. You can learn more about vocational college courses at AoC - About colleges .

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 modes of study at college?

Similar to university, you can choose between full and part-time study for the majority of courses. While some will 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.

Online college courses, for qualifications such as A-levels and BTECs, 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 lectures, training sessions, webinars and chat forums.

Popular FE providers include the Open Study College and Online Learning College , while The Open University offers qualification options at undergraduate level and above. You can also explore free courses as signposted by the National Careers Service (NCS) .

This flexible approach to learning allows students to study at a time and place that fits in with their lifestyle, perfect if there isn't a local college 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 for adult learners (anyone 19 and over), tuition fees are likely to be involved. Even younger students can still claim education-related costs through the government's 16 to 19 Bursary Fund .

If you're studying in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, you may be able to claim for Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) .

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's additional fees for the practical aspects of the programme.

There are a range of grants and loans offered at a local level for adult education. For example, see the booklet on Fees, finance and funding for adult learners from The Manchester College .

For undergraduate courses at college, you can 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?

International students can apply to go to college in the UK, but you'll need to have sorted out your visa first before entering the country.

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

The AoC has revealed that the average tuition fees for international students studying a further education qualification is £8,200 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.

They also found that as far as the international marketplace is concerned, the main drawing power in coming to the UK for FE-level study is to achieve A-levels, take English language courses and undertake teacher training .

Read more about studying in the UK at degree level.

You can also take a look at the scholarships and funding available from the British Council - and get information on how to apply to study in the UK .

Find out more

• Discover how to apply for college in the UK .
• Consider should I go to university or do an apprenticeship?
• Explore adult education .

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UK Further Education

Not sure you’re ready for a Bachelor’s degree? Interested in both academic and vocational courses?

Enrol at a UK further education college. You can gain a UK Higher Education qualification such as a Higher National Diploma (HND), enhance your career prospects, and still top-up to a university degree later.

Why choose the UK further education?

If you would like to study in the UK and want to keep your options flexible, a course at a UK further education college could be the solution.

UK further education (FE) colleges are funded by the Government and offer access courses, higher education-level diplomas and in some cases full Bachelor’s degrees. College qualifications are designed to equip students with job-specific skills that they can transfer into the workplace, boosting their employability. They are designed in close partnership with employers, thereby ensuring a competitive edge and exposure to the latest industry.

UK college diplomas such as HNDs are often more affordable than other types of courses and offer articulation pathways to Bachelor’s degrees at a range of universities. Completion of an HND is considered equivalent to the second year of a university degree in the UK. In addition, many UK FE colleges also offer higher education qualifications in direct partnership with universities.

Studying at a college is a different experience to studying at university.College class sizes are generally smaller than at university and you will probably be in more timetabled classes. A college course is a great way to prepare for independent study and learning, progressing to university later if you choose to. There are colleges located all across the UK, in big cities, small towns and rural areas.

If you would like more information about the UK’s further education offer, including locations of colleges, courses and entry requirements, please visit the following links:

External links

• England: Association of Colleges
• Wales: Colleges Wales
• Scotland: Colleges Scotland
• Northern Ireland: NI Direct

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• Education, training and skills
• Teaching and leadership
• Teacher training and professional development

Teach in further education

Find out how you can become a further education teacher.

Applies to England

What is further education.

Further education ( FE ) is for learners who want to:

• learn a skill or trade
• study a vocational subject
• develop their professional career
• take post-16 academic studies
• study as part of an apprenticeship
• take adult learning courses in basic English, maths and other entry level courses

As a teacher in FE you could teach a diverse set of learners, including young people and adults.

If teaching a skill or trade, you’ll spend more time in practical settings such as workshops rather than in a classroom.

Visit Teach in further education to learn how to start your journey.

How to get into FE teaching

To teach in FE , you’ll need:

• skills, knowledge and experience in your subject
• the willingness to work towards a teaching qualification (or have one already)

Ideally you’ll have industry experience. For some providers, it is preferable for you to have a relevant trade qualification, usually at level 3. You can find out more information about what qualification levels mean .

You’ll also need level 2 maths and English skills. If you do not have these qualifications, FE providers might want to assess your knowledge and skills. They may support you to improve your maths and English skills as part of your training.

It will be expected that those who train on the job or in their own time will be working towards completing either a teaching qualification or a level 5 FE teaching apprenticeship .

Train on the job

There is no specific entry path to becoming a teacher in  FE . One way is to apply for a teaching job with an  FE  provider that can support you to train on the job.

Government programmes, such as Taking Teaching Further, cover the cost of training while working as a teacher. If you are an education provider and would like to find out more about how to apply for this scheme, visit Taking Teaching Further .

You can start work as an FE teacher as soon as you can get a job with an FE provider . When you apply for a job, FE providers will look for:

• knowledge of your subject
• experience of your industry
• practical skills you’ve learnt in your career

Find a job in FE teaching .

Benefits of training on the job

This may be the best approach if:

• you want to start teaching in FE soon
• there is a suitable job available at a local college or training provider
• you do not want to pay for teacher training yourself

The provider may support you to study, for example:

• a teaching qualification
• a level 5 FE teaching apprenticeship

The qualification you work towards will be decided by your employer. Find out more about what qualification levels mean .

Train in your own time

If you prefer to train before starting a new role, you can do your teacher training in your own time around your commitments.

Once you have completed your training you can apply for any suitable jobs.

Benefits of training in your own time

• you do not want to be tied-in to any one provider once you’ve qualified
• you want to get a taste for FE before you commit to teaching in it

You may be eligible to apply for a student loan to help pay for the course fees and living expenses. Find out about student finance .

Depending on your subject, you may be able to get a tax-free bursary with your teacher training course. The value of these bursaries has increased for the 2024 to 2025 academic year.

FE teacher training bursaries are worth up to £30,000 over the length of the course. The value of the bursary depends on the subject you are training to teach.

If you are training to teach maths and your course is 2 years in length, a £30,000 bursary would amount to £15,000 per year.

A limited number of bursaries are available each year. Your course provider will let you know if you are eligible. Find out about bursaries available for 2024 to 2025 .

Where you could work

Places where FE teachers work include:

• independent training providers ( ITPs )
• adult community learning

FE is not the same as:

• secondary school, including school sixth forms

There are many types of colleges including general colleges, sixth form colleges, land-based colleges and national specialist colleges. Colleges offer a wide range of courses, both vocational and academic, and you may teach a wide variety of full-time and part-time students.

Independent training providers ( ITPs )

ITPs are typically a part of the private or charity sector, with many working closely with employers to deliver work-based courses.

Adult community learning

Adult community learning includes a range of community-based and outreach learning opportunities. This type of learning is managed and coordinated by local authorities and their partners to deliver adult education and training courses.

Some companies deliver in-house training which allows them to support their staff through their qualifications.

Courses are normally available to help prisoners gain new skills, for example learning to read and write, use computers, or do basic maths.

What you could teach

FE providers teach a huge range of courses, from social care to construction.

Often the subjects taught reflect the needs of the local economy.

The courses taught include:

• T levels (new qualifications in technical subjects, broadly equivalent to 3 A levels)
• apprenticeships
• entry level courses

Professions, vocations and trades

There are many subjects taught in FE . The best way of discovering them is to explore your local FE provider websites.

Here’s a sample list of sectors covered by  FE  teaching:

• agriculture, environment and animal care
• business, administration and office management
• catering and hospitality
• childcare and education
• construction
• creative and design
• digital and IT
• emergency and armed services
• engineering and manufacturing
• hair and beauty
• health and life sciences
• legal, finance and accounting
• sales, marketing and procurement
• social care
• transport and logistics

Academic subjects

You could teach subjects like:

• social sciences
• modern foreign languages
• art and design
• performing arts

Some FE providers require you to have a degree in the subject you want to teach.

Benefits of working in FE

FE  providers are independent employers and may offer a range of benefits, in addition to salary packages.

These may include:

• pension schemes
• childcare vouchers
• cycle to work schemes
• support with travel costs

This is not a complete list. You can find what each  FE  provider offers on their website.

FE providers like colleges and training providers can:

• set their own entry requirements in terms of qualifications or prior experience needed to teach in FE
• have their own pay structure and other terms and conditions

This means that you will need to make your own assessment of any FE provider you consider applying to work for.

Like colleges, some  ITPs  will provide teacher training on the job. ITPs may differ from colleges in other ways, and could:

• be industry or sector specific
• have a more commercial focus
• have a greater use of remote working

Working hours

A full-time  FE  teacher is typically contracted to 35 to 37 hours a week. Some teaching occurs in the evening, so the working day may vary.

Many  FE  teachers work part-time or flexible hours to fit around other commitments.

Look at job vacancies on FE job boards or providers’ websites to gain an idea of how flexible jobs in FE can be.

As an employee you are entitled to paid holidays.

Term-based holidays mean college-based  FE  teachers typically get 37 days’ paid leave per year, plus all bank holidays.

ITPs  do not usually follow academic terms, so annual leave can usually be taken at any time.

The amount of leave offered varies by provider.

Read real-life stories of current FE teachers and discover what it’s like to teach in FE .

Find a teaching qualification

Teacher training is not linked to your subject. Instead, it will help you gain the specific teaching skills you need to best share your skills, knowledge and experience with your students.

The college or training provider will arrange this for you when you start a job with them.

Teacher training courses vary by:

• minimum qualification requirements

What qualifications are available

These qualifications are good if you want to:

• complete teacher training part-time or on the job
• get a full teaching qualification

These are not the best qualifications if you want to:

• teach in secondary schools
• teach in sixth forms in secondary schools

Course structure

Typically, full-time study will involve at least 100 hours of teaching practice, including 50 in your chosen area if you are on a specialist pathway. You can do this over 1 year if studying full-time or 2 years if part-time.

Teaching status

Following the course, you will be eligible to apply for Qualified Teacher Leaning and Skills status ( QTLS ) .

This varies by provider, but is usually between £6,000 and £9,250. You can have this funded by a student loan or by your provider.

Non-teaching roles

There are many other roles in addition to teaching in FE , which includes working as a:

• teaching assistant
• learning support assistant

These sorts of jobs are advertised on FE providers’ websites, and on general job finder websites.

Where to find a job

The first place to look for a job is on your local college or training provider’s website.

Other places to look include:

• Association of Colleges job site
• FE Jobs - Further Education job site
• College Jobs
• Education Week Jobs
• FE Careers - Further Education careers site
• Times Educational Supplement ( TES ) job site
• job sites such as Indeed, TotalJobs and Reed

The Department for Education does not endorse any particular providers or job sites.

Got a question about finding a job in FE ?

Call our advisors on 0800 389 2502. Lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 5:30pm.

If you prefer, you can email us instead at Teach. FE @education.gov.uk .

Sign up for updates and hear from current teachers on the Teach in further education website.

Updated the bursaries information for the 2024 to 2025 academic year.

Information on FE teacher training bursaries has been updated for the 2023 to 2024 academic year.

First published.

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How Can We Learn Effectively?

• Growth mindset and curiosity
• The process of learning

Learning through experience and reflection

• Learning as part of the everyday
• Learning healthily
• Your optimal learning recipe
• Further academic skills support

There will inevitably be many times during studies, and in life, when you try things, and they don’t work as well as you might have hoped. However, crucially, they still offer an opportunity to learn from the experience.

There are various ‘reflective models’ which can help you to  actively reflect on your experiences, and importantly, consider what you would do differently next time. For example Rolfe et.al (2001) ask three simple questions:

• What happened?(What was I trying to achieve? What was good/back about the experience?)
• So what?  (What does this mean? What is my new understanding of the situation?)
• Now what? (What do I need to do differently to resolve the situation, or to improve for next time?)

Next time you recognise an opportunity to learn from an experience or situation, why not begin with these three questions to help you unpick your next steps.

• Gibbs, G. (1988). Learning by doing:a guide to teaching and learning methods. Oxford: Further Education Unit, Oxford Polytechnic.
• Rolfe, G., Freshwater, D., & Jasper, M. (2001). Critical reflection for nursing and the helping professions . Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Reflecting during your studies

It is important to reflect on your experiences throughout your studies. In particular, you might make time to reflect more fully at the beginning or end of each semester, or before you start on your next assignment. This will allow you to focus on what you might do next to develop even further.

Some reflections you might like to consider:

• You could explore the Academic Skills Centre support to help you with this.
• You could explore our engaging with feedback guidance as a starter.
• Are there other aspects of University I would like to get more involved in this semester, such as societies, volunteering opportunities, work experience, meeting new people? What steps can I take to do this?
• There is lots of wellbeing support and advice  available too, should you need it.
• << Previous: The process of learning
• Next: Learning as part of the everyday >>
• Last Updated: Jun 30, 2023 1:11 PM
• URL: https://libguides.bham.ac.uk/asc/learneffectively

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