USA
The first level of higher education in USA is called “undergraduate,” and it awards a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree.
Most USA study programs for undergraduates require four years of study, and usually a completed secondary school education is sufficient to enroll as an undergraduate student. First-, second- and third-year students of foreign institutions of higher education can transfer into U.S. undergraduate degree programs.
Any student desiring to study in USA should be aware that Graduate degrees refer to Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS) or Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD). Students who have already received their first higher education diploma, either a BA or BS in the United States or the equivalent, are eligible to apply to graduate programs. The MA and MS degrees through education in USA are usually awarded after two years of study. The Ph.D. is the highest academic degree amongst the USA study programs. This degree follows an MA or MS and typically requires at least three years of study and a lengthy dissertation.
UK
Before applying to UK study programs you may have completed your secondary studies from your country but unfortunately they will not be initially accepted if you want to study in UK. For this you will have to undergo a one year International foundation course to bring your qualifications up to the required mark, acceptable for the course you want to take up to study in UK.
Undergraduate Degrees in UK study programs and their Duration
All undergraduate degree courses in UK study programs last for 3-4 years. This however does not include the Degrees in Medicine, Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Medicine and Dentistry which are of 5 years duration.
Combined and Joint Honors Degrees
An interesting aspect of education in the UK is that several of them offer two or more subjects for specialization in a Combined and Joint Honors Degree. A Combined Degree in UK study programs is one wherein different subjects are studied but do not necessarily bear equal importance. A Joint Degree in UK study programs however is one wherein two subjects are studied and they bear equal importance. These two subjects may be closely related or distant yet connected in some way.
Sandwich Courses
If you wish to study in UK through Sandwich Courses in UK, you would be involved in both study and work experience. This means that you would be expected to spend a year or two blocks of six months each of your course duration in a working atmosphere related to your course. Following which you would have to return to the University to complete the final year of study. This would extend the duration of the three year course to four years.
Pre-Masters Program
Many UK study programs in different universities provide a one year Pre-Masters program, during which you would study a specialist subject, academic English and study skills that would prepare you for taking up a Masters program eventually.
Postgraduate Degrees
The major Postgraduate Degrees in UK study programs, namely, Masters in Arts, Masters in Science and LLM last for a year whereas Research Degrees in UK, namely, M.Phil and PhD stretch from one to three years. Types of Postgraduate Degrees: Postgraduate Degrees in UK encompass three kinds:
- Specialist: As the name suggest, if you wish to study in UK, these are advanced degrees wherein you will be able to further enhance your chosen discipline of the Bachelor’s Degree. To be eligible to study under this degree the education system in UK requires you to have completed your Bachelor’s in the same discipline.
- Conversion: A conversion degree course in the education system in UK caters to those of you who intend to change your choice of subject or stream to pursue postgraduate studies.
- Research: Again as the name suggests, a research course in UK study programs is the best for you if you intend to take up research in a certain area. Here, you would be able to take up research under the guidance of a course mentor and rather than sitting in a classroom this course entails self-study.
Canada
The education system in Canada is divided into three tiers. The level of literacy in Canada is very high. In fact, the illiteracy rate is as low as 4%. Special emphasis has been laid on education by the government of Canada. The education system is divided into Elementary education, Secondary education and Higher education. Elementary education in Canada begins at the age of six years and continues till middle school. It is compulsory for every child to attend school. Secondary education in Canada commences soon after elementary education and continues till the age of 16 yrs. Both Elementary and Secondary level education are compulsory in Canada. A child must attend school between the ages of six years to 16 years.
Higher education in Canada begins after the compulsory secondary education. Students depending on their skill sets and capabilities pursue graduate studies which are both professional and vocational in nature. Biochemistry and computer science have been among the fastest growing disciplines at the bachelor’s level in the last five years, closely followed by nursing, sociology and psychology. Canadian universities have earned an international reputation for excellence. Their faculty has recognized research and teaching strengths in areas such as computer sciences, business (including MBA programs), health sciences, law, ocean studies, natural resources and agriculture.
As a bilingual nation, Canada offers superior English as a Second Language (ESL) and French as a Second Language (FSL) programs for students wishing to learn either or both languages.
Professional Status
Full-time students registered in a degree or diploma-granting course are allowed to work on the campus of the institution at which they are registered without the need for an employment authorization. The Off-Campus Work Permit Program allows foreign students at some publicly-funded post-secondary educational institutions in Canada to work off campus while completing their studies. The post-graduation work program allows some graduating students to gain Canadian work experience in their field of study. Canada offers some lucrative professional opportunities in the fields of information technology, telecommunications, medicine, education and law.
Australia
The education system in Australia is distinguished from many other countries by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). The AQF is unique to the Australia study programs as it is a national system established by the Australian Government that links courses and qualifications. It covers university, vocational and technical education, and school education.
The education system in Australia is divided into a three-tier structure, combining of school education, vocational education & training and higher education together. If one is desirous to study abroad in Australia then it is imperative to know that formal education begins with pre-school and is compulsory until the age of 15-16 yrs. The education system in Australia encourages the student to actively participate in the process of learning. The uniqueness of Australia study programs also lie in the fact that students are encouraged to research and analyze course contents independently or in teams.
Most Australia study programs offered by Universities in Australia provide courses and conduct research in a wide range of professional and academic disciplines. They award associate diplomas, diplomas, bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees, and postgraduate diplomas. Some institutions provide specialist training in health sciences or teacher education. Universities recognize the awards granted of by each other. So, for example, a person awarded a bachelors degree by one institution could be accepted for entry to a masters degree program by another. The qualifications offered by the education system in Australia are recognized globally.
Professional Status
Many international students who have opted to study abroad in Australia and eventually graduated from Australian institutions apply for Independent Skilled Migration. There is a special category for International Students who have undergone any of the Australia study programs.
Asia
Asia-Pacific is the latest educational destination on the globe. Some of the best education in Asia is offered in renowned universities and institutes like Indian School of Business (ISB) Hyderabad, China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU), National University of Singapore (NUS), Asian Institute of Management (AIM), Manila, etc. Studying in Asia is the latest trend primarily because of the new emerging economies, making Asia a fascinating place to learn and work. Asia has become the preferred study destination because of the diversity, innovation and tremendous growth in the economy.
Most Asia study programs offer international Bachelor-Master-PhD degrees. After successful completion of the programs students are awarded degrees or diplomas that are officially recognized by the relevant authorities and accepted internationally. In most Asia study programs, Bachelor’s degrees are awarded after the completion of undergraduate studies, which lasts 3 or 4 years. Master’s degrees are offered after completion of graduate studies, which last 1-2 years. PhD studies take normally 4 years to be completed, consisting of independent research and a dissertation.
A growing number of Asia study programs offer international study programs with English as the main language of instruction. If one were to study in Asia, one would find that there is hardly any conceivable subject area, and any common or rare specialization, in which there is not an English-Language-Taught Degree Program available in some college or university of Asia. Any person desirous of education in Asia will now find that most programs in English are common and hugely popular in the areas of business and management, and science and engineering.
Europe
The education system in Europe is one of the oldest and most popular. Europe offers international Bachelor-Master-PhD degrees. Those desirous to study in Europe are students awarded degrees or diplomas after successful completion of the programs. These degrees and diplomas are officially recognized by the relevant authorities and accepted internationally. In all the European countries, traditional degrees offered in Europe study programs are being phased out and replaced by a Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD degree structure. All Europe study programs now offer Bachelor’s degrees which are awarded after the completion of undergraduate studies, which last 3 or 4 years. Master’s degrees are offered after completion of graduate studies, which last 1-2 years. If one were to study in Europe and complete his/her PhD, it would normally take 4 years, consisting of conducting independent research and writing a dissertation.
A growing number of European higher education institutions offer international study programs with English as the main language of instruction. In the education system in Europe, there is hardly any conceivable subject area, and any common or rare specialization, in which there is not an English-Language-Taught Degree Program. To study in Europe now has become particularly advantageous, because programs in English are in particular common in the areas of business & management and science & engineering.
Any foreign student, who wants to study in Europe, can also follow study programs in other European languages: German, French, Dutch, Swedish, Finnish, Danish, Norwegian, Greek, Spanish, Italian, or Portuguese, provided that they have sufficient knowledge of that language.
One salient aspect of Europe study programs is the project called Erasmus. Erasmus (“European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students”) is the European Commission’s educational program for Higher Education students, teachers and institutions. This education system in Europe was introduced in 1987 with the aim of increasing student mobility within the European Community, subsequently it was initiated in the European Economic Area countries, and now even in the Candidate Countries of Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey. In 1995 Erasmus became incorporated into the new Socrates programs which covers education in Europe from school to university to lifelong learning. Socrates-Erasmus can involve student mobility, teacher mobility and curriculum development and is based on co-operation agreements between Higher Education Institutions in different participating states.
Professional Status
Some salient features of the degrees obtained from Europe study programs include the status of the European industry, its strength in some sectors and worldwide presence and accreditation of the courses by national authorities and professional bodies.
