Universities and Colleges in United Kingdom
After 16, when it is no longer compulsory, around 70% of young people stay in education, either at school or at further education colleges, and may then go on to higher education institutions. Admission into higher education is centralised through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service commonly known as UCAS. According to UCAS, there are more than 300 institutions providing higher education courses in the United Kingdom, including universities, colleges of higher or further education, art and music colleges. Tuition fees were introduced to England and Wales. The government recently increased the tutition cap and universities are now allowed to charge UK students up to 9,000 pounds sterling in tuition fees a year (2012). The female–male ratio for gross enrolment in tertiary education is 1.40:1 (2009). There is virtually no illiteracy among people aged 15-24.