UK degrees compared to US degrees?

Question

In UK almost all degrees are 3 years, but I see that in the US degrees can be 2 years and 4 years. How to they differ and how do the two countries compare in quality and level?

Answer 1

Basically two and a half of their degrees equals one of ours.




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Answer 2

Proper university degrees are 4 years in the USA - this is because we do general studies/requirements and electives as well as core coursework. The 2 year degrees are "Associate's degrees" and are not considered to be as high of quality as four year degrees. They are generally taught about the subject only and are not very complicated subjects - probably something like introduction to music, or some sort of trade degree. The two-year degree would be a generalised overview, depending on the course.

UK universities, in my opinion, are better because they are three years of intensive study in you one particular area of interest. I graduated from Louisiana State University with a four-year degree in International Relations with a concentration in Latin America... I did a year abroad at the University of Essex, and I can surely say that the level of education in the UK was far superior, though the technology and student services were not up to par. Price is also an issue in this debate, as US universities can be quite expensive.

And, contrary to what is stated above, I would still say that (as long as it is from a reknowned university) a degree from a US institution would be much more recognized internationally. That is, unless you are at Cambridge, King's College, or Oxford.

Answer 3

I could list rankings from the USA that compare US and UK schools, but a neutral ranking is done by the Shanghai university people in China. It is easy to google. They list 2 UK and 8 USA schools in the top ten, 9 more US schools in the top 20 along with UTokyo, and then only three more UK schools in the top 50 (including #50) compared to an additional 21 American schools. I don't really agree with their rankings, but it is at least not done by either British or Americans, so it is in theory somewhat neutral.

That means that the opinion outside Britain about British schools is a little different from what the other answerers are suggesting.

It is ignorant to try to compare schools this way. The undergraduate systems in the USA and Britain are quite different, but at the graduate level they even out and, especially when you are talking about elite American universities like the Ivies, Duke, University of Chicago, Stanford, etc they are at the highest level that anyone knows how to make a school operate - fabulous resources, brilliant professors and elite, well prepared, smart students.

There are over 4000 post secondary colleges in the USA. It's easy to find a school that will match your academic credentials and interests.

Answer 4

Several UK courses are 4 yrs.

Dont know about degrees in general but I do know that there are several UK degrees (dietician being one) that are not accepted in US. Dieticians must sit further studies to 'prove' themselves. i dont know if there are big differences in the quality of degree.

Answer 5

The Three Degrees were American. Does that help?

Answer 6

Sorry but I couldn't tell why the difference.Whatever the case I would sincerely love to have my degree in UK than in US.

Answer 7

UK degree - recognised internationally
US degree - available for purchase on all good internet sites

Answer 8

Because us British are more intelligent. and we learn more in 3 years than the Americans do in 4 years.

Answer 9

The Chines degrees are the best, except, they are in Chinese.