However, while both certainly provide an excellent environment for learning, there are many differences between the two countries regarding the structure of the university as well as student life. In this article, we will explore the primary differences between the American and British systems of education.
Courses of study are shorter in the UK because the course programs are generally much more focused than in the US. Most universities in the US begin their terms in mid to late August, although smaller liberal arts colleges may start later.
Most take a rather lengthy break beginning in mid-December and begin the second semester in early to mid-January. However, universities that are on different calendars, such as a trimester or quarter-based system, may begin their winter break at the Thanksgiving holiday, which falls at the end of November. The academic term in the UK is a bit more varied. While most also use the semester system, the trimester and quarter systems are used in some universities.
Many schools start in September or October and end in May or June, making for a slightly longer academic year. However, the academic term is less standardized throughout the United Kingdom; if you choose to study there, your university might use a much different calendar. While the colleges are still governed by the university, each college has quite a lot of autonomy from each other as well as the university itself.
You live with others in your college, eat with others from your college, and generally stay within your college for the duration of your studies. Rather than applying to the central university admissions department, like you do in the US, you either apply directly to the college of the subject you want to study, or in the case of undergraduate programs, you apply through a centralized system which allows you to apply to several colleges at once. The school calendar usually begins in August or September and continues through May or June.
The majority of new students begin in autumn, so it is a good idea for international students to also begin their U. There is a lot of excitement at the beginning of the school year and students form many great friendships during this time, as they are all adjusting to a new phase of academic life. Additionally, many courses are designed for students to take them in sequence, starting in autumn and continuing through the year.
Still, others further divide the year into the quarter system of four terms, including an optional summer session. Basically, if you exclude the summer session, the academic year is either comprised of two semesters or three quarter terms. In Hong Kong you just learn what the teacher writes on the board. In America, you discuss the issues and focus more on ideas. Your first two years of study you will generally be required to take a wide variety of classes in different subjects, commonly known as prerequisite courses: literature, science, the social sciences, the arts, history, and so forth.
This is so you achieve a general knowledge, a foundation, of a variety of subjects prior to focusing on a specific field of study. Many students choose to study at a community college in order to complete the first two years of prerequisite courses.
They will earn an Associate of Arts AA transfer degree and then transfer to a four-year university or college. You will be required to take a certain number of courses in this field in order to meet the degree requirements of your major. You must choose your major at the beginning of your third year of school.
A very unique characteristic of the American higher education system is that you can change your major multiple times if you choose. It is extremely common for American students to switch majors at some point in their undergraduate studies. Often, students discover a different field that they excel in or enjoy. The American education system is very flexible. Keep in mind though that switching majors may result in more courses, which means more time and money.
This degree is usually mandatory for higher-level positions in library science, engineering, behavioral health and education. Furthermore, international students from some countries are only permitted to study abroad at a graduate level.
You should inquire about the credentials needed to get a job in your country before you apply to a postgraduate university in the USA. A graduate program is usually a division of a university or college. To gain admission, you will need to take the GRE graduate record examination.
For example, the MBA master of business administration is an extremely popular degree program that takes about two years. It may take three years or more to earn a PhD degree. For international students, it may take as long as five or six years.
For the first two years of the program most doctoral candidates enroll in classes and seminars. At least another year is spent conducting firsthand research and writing a thesis or dissertation. This paper must contain views, designs, or research that have not been previously published. A doctoral dissertation is a discussion and summary of the current scholarship on a given topic. For students considering graduate school, including medical school, these small colleges can be a wonderful choice as many of these colleges have a high rate of placing their students into top graduate programs.
We strongly encourage the international students we work with to take a serious look at four year colleges as they often provide a stronger undergraduate education than larger universities. Universities tend to be larger institutions whose primary focus is on graduate level education and research in various fields.
Universities generally consist of several colleges such as a college of engineering or a business college. Because they tend to be larger institutions, universities are often better known to international students than the smaller colleges. However, because their focus is generally not as much on the undergraduate students, it may be more difficult at a larger university to get the personalized attention in your education that you might receive at a smaller college.
It can also be used as a slang term e. Semester: a common measurement for an academic term. Typically, colleges and universities have two semesters fall and spring in a required academic year. Each semester is approximately 16 weeks long. Many universities also offer a summer semester for students who do not start in fall or for those who may want or need to take additional courses to accelerate or stay on track with their academic programs.
State university: a public four-year institution, funded in part by the state in which it is located. Public state universities tend to have large student body sizes.
Transfer credits: credits for students who have already completed some academic work at a different university that is then applied toward a degree program at a new university where the student is enrolled. Trimester: an academic calendar that follows three terms—fall, winter, and spring. Each trimester is 12 to 13 weeks long. Undergraduate studies: the first level of academic studies students take after completing secondary school. University: a four-year post-secondary educational institution.
Skip to content Shorelight. A Adelphi University. American Collegiate DC. American Collegiate LA. American Collegiate Live. American University. Auburn University. Auburn University at Montgomery. A Austin College. Cleveland State University. E Eureka College. Florida International University. Gonzaga University. Louisiana State University. Southwestern University. University of Central Florida. U University of Dayton. University of Illinois at Chicago. University of Kansas. U University of Massachusetts Boston.
University of Mississippi. University of South Carolina. U University of the Pacific. University of Utah. Learn More. Featured Majors. J Johns Hopkins University. U University of Massachusetts - Amherst. Graduate Certificates. University of California - Berkeley. Other Programs. Student Login Counselor Login. College vs. University In many countries, post-secondary institutions are called universities. Tech Colleges and Community Colleges While most international students come to the United States for academic programs, some students enroll in technical or vocational colleges designed for job training, like flight school or air traffic control programs.
Undergraduate Undergraduate studies can start immediately after secondary school.
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