The UK offers various opportunities for further education and training, including both academic and vocational options for schooling beyond secondary education, that are distinct from degree level (university) education. Further education colleges – which include “sixth form” colleges and some adult education institutions – offer a range of full-time and part-time options serving over 4 million students through more than 500 state-funded colleges and programs.

• The Learning and Skills Council is responsible for funding and planning education and training for over 16-year-olds in England.
• The Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills in Wales is responsible for the funds made available by the National Assembly for Wales.
• The Scottish Funding Council sets the strategy and allocates funds for Further Education in Scotland.
• Further Education in Northern Ireland is funded directly from the Department for Employment and Learning Northern Ireland (DELNI)
• Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK) is the independent employer-led sector skills council responsible for the professional development of all those working in community learning and development, further education, higher education, libraries, archives and information services, and work based learning across the UK.
• The Office for Standards in Education has a remit to inspect all work-based training beyond age 16, as well as adult education in colleges, prison education and Learndirect, a program to provide training throughout various areas of industry primarily via internet courses.
• Becta (formerly ''British Educational Communications and Technology Agency') is the government agency leading the national drive to ensure the effective and innovative use of technology throughout learning.