Facts: the United Kingdom and education

View background information about the United Kingdom and its education.

  • Country: United Kingdom, officially the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, abbreviated as UK. The United Kingdom is a group of islands that includes Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland) and Northern Ireland. At the beginning of the 20th century the British Empire was the most powerful country in the world. It consisted of many colonies and covered no less than 24% of all land on earth.
  • Responsible for education: in England, the Department for Education is responsible for education. In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales the respective local Departments for Education are responsible for education. Legislation on education consists of various Education Acts.
  • Bologna process: bachelor's and master's degree programmes existed in the United Kingdom before the Bologna Process introduced them elsewhere in Europe. The UK has been a member of the Bologna Process and the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) since 1999. See also the page about the United Kingdom on the EHEA website.
  • International treaties: the United Kingdom signed the Lisbon Recognition Convention in 1997 and ratified it in 2003.
  • Compulsory education: ages 5-18 in England; ages 5-16 in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
  • Language of instruction: English.
  • School year: from August to May.
  • Academic year: from September to July.