This page will enable you to:
- understand the meaning of Further Education in the United Kingdom
- understand British qualifications and compare them to Portuguese qualifications
- find out where institutions are located
- search available courses in your intended area of study
- know what the entry requirements are, including knowledge of English language
- know when to apply and what the necessary documents are
- find out about equivalence of qualifications
and
- find information about short courses in the UK.
Q
What does ‘Further Education’ mean in the United Kingdom?
A
In the United Kingdom, Further Education means the period of schooling between the end of compulsory education and the beginning of higher education. In Portugal, this compares to the education cycle between the completion of year 9 and the start of the first year of higher education. This learning stage can be completed either by attending regular education or by taking (vocational qualifications), which award level 3 European qualifications.
Find out more by reading the information contained in the National Qualifications Framework and the framework for Portuguese and European qualifications, available at the Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional (Institute for Employment and Professional Education).
If you wish to obtain information about regular education, please go to our Primary and Secondary Education page.
Q
Which vocational qualifications can I obtain upon completion of compulsory schooling?
A
In the United Kingdom, upon completion of 11/12 years of compulsory education, and prior to entrance to higher education, students attend a further two years of regular or vocational education. The qualifications obtained after the successful completion of exams, or equivalent courses, allow access to higher education.
Find out more about vocational qualifications in the UK at:
Level 3 British 'National vocational qualifications', obtained upon successful completion of vocational courses, are the following:
- England, Northern Ireland and Wales – 'National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) Level 3', 'Level 3 Certificate' and 'Level 3 Diploma',
- Scotland – 'Scottish Vocational Qualifications 3 (SVQ3)'
In Portugal, the comparisons can be found in the Decreto Lei 224/2006
If you intend to proceed to higher education in the UK, you should study courses which award level 3 qualifications, which are comparable to year 12 in Portugal.
Find out more at British Council Education Information sheets, reading the information sheet 'Choosing a career based training course'.
Q
How can I obtain information about the area in the UK where I will be studying?
A
Find out more about the characteristics of each of the four countries which form the United Kingdom – England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales – by reading the information 'Where to study in the UK' in 'Your study options' at 'Education UK', and the website 'VisitBritain'.
Although the pdf document 'Studying and Living in the UK', available in 'Education UK', in 'Study advice' and followed by 'Useful reading', is not specifically aimed at those who are searching for schools in the UK, you may find it useful to read the chapters 'Study options' and 'Cultural issues', as well as maps of the United Kingdom.
We also recommend reading the information on living in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, available at the British Council website.
After selecting the area where you intend to study, you will only need to search the 'Local Authorities – LAs' websites, in order to find out about the institutions which offer vocational courses in that particular geographical area:
Q
Which courses can I study in the United Kingdom? And in which institutions?
A
You may study and obtain a qualification in areas so diverse as community work, graphic design, garden design, therapy through art, engineering, textiles, health and much more.
Find out about British vocational courses, either on a full-time or part-time basis, at 'Education UK', in 'Career Based / Vocational'.
Q
Which factors should I take into consideration when choosing my course?
A
Select courses in accordance with the area you intend to study, and obtain thorough information about the syllabus and contents of each by reading carefully the information in the department pages of the institutions' websites.
If, after reading the information available at the institutions' websites, you still have queries about the courses, you should contact institutions directly. You should also obtain information about the cost of living in the region where the institution you plan to attend is located. You should equally obtain confirmation that the qualification awarded upon completion of the course will enable you to access higher education.
We recommend that you read the information, organised by topics, contained in the British Council Education Information sheets. Each of the information sheets is dedicated to a specific area of study.
Q
What are the requirements to enter vocational education?
A
Entry requirements depend on the level of the course you intend to study. If you have already concluded compulsory schooling in Portugal, you may apply for courses which award level 3 European qualifications, and once you complete these, you may apply for higher education.
If you have not yet completed compulsory schooling in Portugal, you should contact the British educational institutions which offer courses in the area you intend to study and explain what qualifications you have. The institution will be able to advise you about the appropriate level you should enrol in, so that at a later stage you may pursue studies in the same area, at a more advanced level.
Q
Will I need to take an English exam?
A
If you come from a country whose first language is not English, such as Portugal, it is likely that institutions ask you to sit the IELTS exam – International English Language Testing System, which takes place monthly at the British Council. On our IELTS webpage, you will find information about prices, dates and exam preparation courses. You should also find out about the level of English which your course requires, which you will find at the websites of the institutions you have selected.
Q
How does the application process take place?
Application is done directly with the institutions. After searching the 'Education UK' website in 'Career Based / Vocational' and selecting the institutions which offer the course you intend to study, you should read the information available at their websites to find out about application procedures and deadlines. You may apply to more than one institution.
Q
Which documents will I need to apply?
A
You will need an application form, and a certified translation of your qualifications certificate. You may download and print the application form directly from the institution’s website. If this is not possible, you should ask the institution directly to send you one.
Q
Does the British Council translate qualification certificates?
A
We no longer translate or certify qualification documents. For more information, see our Portugal/UK equivalencies page.
Q
When should I send the certified translations of my qualifications to the institutions?
A
You should only send them if institutions ask you to do so.
Q
Who should I contact, in Portugal, to obtain information about equivalence to my British vocational qualification?
A
If you wish to enrol in secondary education in Portugal, you should contact the school, or schools you plan to attend, which have the authority to deal with these matters.
If you wish to obtain equivalence to your British qualification, you should contact:
Direção Geral da Inovação e Desenvolvimento Curricular – DGIDC
Av. 24 de Julho, 140
1399-025 LISBOA
Portugal
T 00 351 213 934 500
dgidc@dgidc.min-edu.pt
http://www.dgidc.min-edu.pt/
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