British higher education is known to be one of the best in the world. The universities in the UK constantly get high rankings in the top lists because of the splendid opportunities they provide. And there are many ways how they are different from the rest of the world.
The campuses here are truly international and diversified. The curriculum is quite different, too, as students often do less writing work in comparison to, say, American learners. Either way, British education is a unique opportunity to get the most relevant academic knowledge and work with the most up-to-date subjects as professionals from https//uk.essaypro.com/ state or CustomEssayMeister.
In British institutions, you are exposed to innovation and tradition at the same time. Let’s name some distinctive features of British higher education.
What Makes British Universities Different
College vs. University
First of all, the word “college” has a different meaning here. What students in the USA name as college is called a university in the UK. There are also colleges, but those are institutions that students attend for two years before applying to study for a BA degree at the university.
There are also colleges and schools as organizational parts of the university. For instance, when you enter Oxford, you choose one of 44 colleges, which are parts of the university.
The colleges share accommodation, classes, and social activities. It might be extremely confusing for someone outside the UK. Here’s an example: Harvard College is a part of Harvard University. In turn, Harvard University has 15 schools.
Traditions Matter
There are plenty of quirky and interesting traditions in British universities. Many of these institutions are quite old and have nurtured their traditions for centuries.
Some of them might seem odd; others are just old-fashioned. Still, many are quite fun. Oxford is known for its weird and wonderful traditions.
You Choose Major As You Enter
This is a substantial difference between British and American higher education entities. In a US college, you can choose a major after two years of studying. However, when you apply to a British university, you need to choose right away.
You are entering not only the institution but a particular course. So students here have to be more certain in their choices from the very beginning. Maybe that’s why many young adults choose to take a gap year before applying to get a better idea of what they want to pursue.
Getting a Degree Takes Less Time
Overall, except for Scotland, where you still study four years to get a BA, British students follow a three-year course. Instead of two years for Masters in the US, here you can get this degree in one year.
When pursuing an international master’s degree, students often find that Ph.D. programs are significantly shorter, taking only three years in the UK compared to 5-7 years in the USA. Some programs even offer an additional year of industry practice, allowing students to gain valuable practical experience alongside their studies. This means that while students will study for the same four years to earn a BA, one of those years will be exclusively dedicated to practical training. Understanding these differences can help international students make informed decisions when considering an international masters degree.
Ph.D. programs are also much shorter as they take three years in the UK instead of 5-7 years in the USA. International students can choose programs that have an additional year of industry practice. In such a case, they will study for the same four years to get a BA, but one year will be exclusively practical.
Different Grading
Many international students get confused with this aspect at first. So there are six types of grades one can get for their work:
- First class degree – the highest mark if you score 70% and more;
- Upper second class – 60-69%;
- Lower second class -50-59%;
- Third class degree – 45-49%;
- Ordinary degree – 40-44% – the minimum to pass the subject;
- Fail – well, this is international.
Approaches Differ
You are likely to have much less written assignments in UK universities than in US colleges. British institutions mostly follow the lecture-based approach to programs. It means that you’ll have more lectures and seminars.
At times, the whole grade for the course is based on the final exam. In the USA, you’ll have assignments and projects every week or two. They contribute to the final score. The exceptions are Oxford and Cambridge that have a tutorial system alongside the lecture one. In such a case, you’ll have to write 2,000 words essays every week.
Truly Unique Features
Universities here have pretty outstanding unique features. Of course, every institution is different all over the world. But in the UK things can get pretty interesting. For example, there is no better place to study Astronomy or Astrophysics than Manchester University.
The reason is that it has its own Jodrell Bank Observatory. Warwick University, on the other hand, has it is own astonishing Arts Centre. There are spaces for all kinds of performers as well as for specialists in visual art.
In Summary
Higher education in the UK is quite different from other countries. And it is clearly working as the institutions here are always in the top lists of the world ratings. Of course, one might have to adjust for quirky traditions, but it is worth it.
