Where To Study Abroad - USA or UK?

According to the Times Higher Education world university rankings, over half of the world’s finest 200 universities are situated in either the UK or the US. Both these nations have a rich tradition of superior higher education, first-rate research facilities, and an environment which promotes intellectualism and academic freedom. Though, both definitely offer an exceptional environment for learning, there are several disparities between the two nations regarding the university structure and student life. Let us explore these differences between the American and UK education systems.

Duration
Possibly the most significant distinction between the US education system, and the UK education system, is the period it takes to finish the program (except Scotland, where a bachelor’s degree takes four years). Generally, degree programs in US are about one year longer than UK programs, even though this differs depending upon whether you obtain a Master’s degree preceding to a PhD. In both systems, you can directly join a PhD program after undergraduate program, but in UK it is more frequent to obtain a Master’s before applying for a PhD. Also, courses of study are shorter in the UK than in the US.

Academic Term
Many universities in the US commence their terms in mid to late August, while smaller liberal arts colleges may open later. A rather lengthy break begins in mid-December and the second semester starts in early to mid-January. Still, universities that are follow different calendars, like a trimester or quarter-based system, may start their winter break during the Thanksgiving (end of November). Comparatively, the UK academic term differs. While most UK universities use the semester system, the trimester and quarter systems are also followed. Most schools commence in September or October and finish in May or June, thereby making a little longer academic year.

University Organization
Many UK universities are composed of “colleges” which are committed to a definite subject matter. While the colleges are still under the university, each college has a lot of sovereignty from each other as well as the university itself. Students live with each other in college, and normally stay within college for the entire duration. Rather than registering with the central university admissions department, as the norm in US, you either apply straight to the college you want, or in the case of undergraduate programs, you register via a centralized system which allows you to apply to numerous colleges simultaneously. This system is named the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. By contrast, in US, you register with the larger university and for the first year, you take different courses and only declare a major at the end of the first year or even during the second year. American universities have diverse “schools,” or departments,   which house a number of related majors. However, student still has to take classes outside of his field, “electives.” Hence, we can conclude that the universal emphasis of US higher education is breadth, whereas in UK, the emphasis is more on depth.

I shall continue to outline other distinctions in the next post.

All You Need To Know About US Education System

If you have dreams of pursuing your higher education aspirations in America then you need to be armed with all knowledge pertaining to the US education system. In this post I am going to give a brief outline here. We shall discuss the levels of university/college course now-

First Level Undergraduate

It normally takes about four years to earn a bachelor’s degree. You can either commence your studies with a bachelor’s degree at a community college or a four-year university/college. In the first two years of study you will normally be needed to take numerous classes in diverse subjects (prerequisite courses): arts, literature, science, social sciences, history, etc. This increases your general knowledge, and gives you a foundation prior to focusing on a particular subject field.

Many students prefer to study at a community college and complete the first two years of prerequisite courses. Later they earn an Associate of Arts (AA) transfer degree and next transfer to a four-year university/college. You must choose your major (specific field of study) at the beginning of your third year of school. You will need to take a definite number of courses in this field so as to satisfy the degree requirements of your major. You can switch your major during your under-graduation if you desire so. 

Second Level: Pursuit of a Master’s Degree

Presently, a university graduate with a bachelor’s degree may want to seriously think about graduate study in order to advance their career. This degree is typically obligatory for higher-level positions in fields of library science, engineering, etc. To gain admittance, you have to take the GRE (graduate record examination). Certain master’s programs stipulate precise tests, like LSAT for law school, and MCAT for medical school, GRE/GMAT for business school. You should inquire about the credentials needed to get a job in your country before you apply to a postgraduate university in the USA.

The majority of a master’s course duration is spent in classrooms and a student must prepare a long research paper called a “master’s thesis” or complete a “master’s project.”

Third Level: Pursuit of a Doctorate Degree

The attainment of a master’s degree can be deemed as the first step towards receiving a PhD. However, at some schools, students can plan directly for a doctorate without earning a master’s degree. For international students, it may take as long as five or six years to earn a doctorate. 

For the first two years most doctoral candidates have to register for classes and seminars. Then another year is spent performing actual research and writing a thesis. A doctoral thesis is a dialogue and précis of the current scholarship on a specified topic. Most U.S. universities require their applicants to have a reading knowledge of at least two foreign languages, to spend a mandatory amount of time “in residence,” to qualify in exams that formally admits applicants to the PhD program, and to qualify in an oral exam on the similar topic as the thesis. 

The US education system is regarded to be one of the best in the world and it will be beneficial for your career to pursue higher education there. 

The Best Australian Universities To Apply In

The education system of Australia is at par excellence with those of UK and US. We discussed some of the best Australian universities in the last post. Here is a continuation. The courses and programs offered in Australian universities are accredited by professional bodies, certifying development and upholding of standards, finest practice principles, and resources.


University of Western Australia

The University of Western Australia (UWA) (established 1911) is recognized globally as a top university. The UWA constantly ranks in the top 120 global universities and in the top 20 universities in the Asia Pacific region. It is divided into 10 faculties: Architecture, Arts, Business School; Computing, Education; Engineering, Landscape, and Visual Arts; Humanities, and Social Sciences; Mathematics; Natural and Agricultural Sciences; Law; Life and Physical Sciences; Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences; and School of Indigenous Studies. There are more than 20,000 students with over 4,000 international students.

University of Adelaide
Located in Adelaide this was established in 1874 and is the third oldest university in Australia and has been divided into five faculties: Computer, Engineering, Mathematical Sciences; Health Sciences; Humanities and Social Sciences; Faculty of Professions; and Faculty of Sciences with each faculty having subsidiary schools. With four campuses present, this university is spread across the state: Roseworthy College, North Terrace, the Waite Institute, and Wine Centre. Existing student base is 22,000 with more than 6,000 international students.

Monash University

The Monash University was established in  1958 under an act of parliament and is situated in Melbourne. It has a student base of around 60,000 students, from almost 170 countries. It is regarded as the largest university in terms of student body and has 10 faculties: Arts; Art and Design; Business and Economic; Engineering; Education; Information Technology; Law; Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences; and Science.  8 campuses, including 2 international campuses make up the university. It has constantly been ranked among the top 50 global universities.

Macquarie University

The Macquarie University, situated in Sydney, was established in 1964 and is a public teaching and research university. There are four faculties: Arts; Business and Economics; Human Sciences; and Science with around 87 under-graduate and 124 post-graduate courses. The university also boasts of the largest student exchange program in the country. As of 2010, the university had a student body of more than 31,000 students counting more than 10,000 international students and a staff of above 2,100 academics and professionals. It has consistently ranked amongst the top ten Australian universities by different sources.

Queensland University of Technology

The Queensland University of Technology (QUT), established in 1989 is an extremely flourishing Australian university with a functional emphasis in courses and research. The university has been categorised into seven faculties: Creative Industries; Built Environment and Engineering; Business; Education; Health; Law; and Science and Technology. It has a massive student base of more than 40,000 students counting 6,000 international students and over 4,000 staff members. The programs offered at this university are quite high in demand and the graduate employment rate is quite well over the national average for the Australian universities.

So, make a choice of yours and pursue your dream of higher education.

The Top 5 Australian Universities You Can Apply In

It cannot be argued that the education system in Australia is regarded among the best in the world, and highly reasonable too when compared to UK or US. The universities in Australia have a tie up with organizations in more than 100 nations, which make Australia favourable to pursue higher studies. Read further and discover which the top universities here are:

Australian National University
The Australian National University (ANU), Canberra (established 1946) is a public teaching and research university with a student base of more than 17,000 students out of which more than 4,000 are overseas students. It has been separated into 7 colleges, for undergraduate and post graduation: College of Medicine, Biology, and Environment, College of Engineering and Computer Science, College of Business and Economics, College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, College of Arts and Social Sciences, College of Law, and ANU College of Asia and the Pacific. The university is constantly ranked as one of the best Australian universities and in the top 50 global universities.

University of Melbourne
Melbourne University (established 1853) is the second oldest university in Australia with student base of more than 35,000 students, out which more than 10,000 are international students. This public university is aimed at making unique contributions to society by research, teaching, and engagement. It has been divided into 12 faculties i.e.: Arts; Architecture, Building, and Planning; Business and Economics, Education; Engineering; Law; Melbourne School of Graduate Research; Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences; Melbourne School of Land and Environment; Science; Veterinary Science; and the VCA and Music.

University of Queensland
The University of Queensland (UQ) is one of Australia’s leading learning and research institutions in Brisbane (established 1909) with a student base of more than 43,000 students from around 100 countries and a staff of around 6,300 academics and professionals. UQ has a total of 11 residential colleges: Cromwell College, Emmanuel College, Grace College, Gatton Halls of Residence, Duchesne College, International House, King’s College, St Leo’s College, Union College, St John’s College, and Women’s College.

University of New South Wales
UNSW (established 1949) is popular for its excellent and inventive ways of educating and conducting research. It is regarded as Australia’s leading teaching and research institution with over 50,000 students including more than 14,000 international students and offers around 300- 600 undergraduate and postgraduate programs. It is divided into 9 faculties: Arts and Social Sciences; Australian School of Business; Australian Defence Force Academy; Built Environment; College of Fine Arts; Law; Engineering; Medicine and Science.

University of Sydney
Founded in 1850 and located in Sydney, the University of Sydney is Australia’s oldest university. It has been constantly ranked amongst the top 3 universities in Australia. There are 16 faculties: Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources; Arts and Social Sciences; Architecture, Design, and Planning; Business; Education and Social Work; Dentistry; Health Sciences; Medicine; Nursing and Midwifery; Engineering and Information Technologies; Law; Pharmacy; Science; Veterinary Science; Sydney College of Arts and Sydney Conservatorium of Music with 118 schools under it. There are around 49,000 students enrolled here.

So, take your pick and study in Australia!

Education System Of Australia-What You Need To Know

Australia has emerged as a top destination for international students desiring premium quality education. If you are also interested in pursuing your education dreams in Australia then there are certain basic things about the education system of Australia you should be aware of. Let us start with an introduction to the Australian education system.
Australia offers more than 12000 internationally recognised university courses which are more affordable than US or UK education. In fact, the affordability factor attracts more than 400,000 students from across the world. Students of diverse backgrounds come here to pursue their academic dreams.

If you are relocating to Down Under with your family then you should know about the school education system in Australia. The academic year for schools starts from late January/early February till December. In Australia a child begins his academic career with pre-schooling (voluntary) and then proceeds to compulsory twelve years of primary and secondary schooling. The standard assessment scale (grading scale) is available to measure the student’s performance in the school levels. There are more than 7000 government schools and 2000 independent schools here. You may be surprised to know that international schools are in dearth here as there is little demand for them. However, Australia has independent-fee charging schools with focus on international students and are highly likely to offer internationally-acknowledged transferable qualifications like International Baccalaureate. On completing of schooling a student can pursue under-graduation and subsequently post graduation studies.

Students who desire to study in colleges in Australia must have a government recognised senior secondary certificate. The academic year for colleges/universities in Australia starts from early March till late November. Certain universities in Australia may follow semester system and others follow trimester system.  I shall give you a brief outline on the university level education system in Australia:

•    Under graduate courses-The duration of these courses ranges from two to four years. You will require Australian senior secondary certificate or equivalent certificate from your country to become eligible. You have the option to register for associate degree program (2 years) or bachelor’s degree (3 years) or go for professional/honors degrees.

•    Post graduate course- On the completion of under graduation program you become eligible to apply for post graduation. These master’s courses will take one or two years to complete. The program includes coursework, research, etc.  Certain universities demand work experience to become eligible for these courses.

•    Doctoral courses- These are the highest level of educational qualification in Australian universities. In order to become eligible for these courses you require a master’s or bachelor honors degree in the specific subject. These are of three years duration and either professional or research doctorates.

•    Vocational training- These are offered at the vocational education & training institutions and include certificated, diploma, advance diploma. These prepare you for further studies and also open up better career opportunities.
If you are trying to study in Australia then you are making a wise choice as it is one of the most affordable and best countries to study in.

Why a College Education is Important

The world today is fast paced with technological advances and the job market has become very competitive. It is not surprising that employers want college educated candidates. A college education may be the finest investments of time and money for your career. While workers with a high school education may well secure jobs with good remuneration, it is the college grads that usually fare better by landing higher-level jobs with larger salaries. Also college grads are expected to obtain promotions, receive raises and develop interpretation and communication skillfulness that can be related to their jobs.

Better avenues and Higher Salaries
As technology advances, higher-paying jobs that were previously accessible to high school grads now entail some form of higher education. If you have college degree then several avenues are opened up to you than having a high school diploma does. Those who don’t have educational degrees are more liable to be restricted to basic jobs in service, construction and manufacturing sectors. While the manufacturing sector used to be at the center of our employment market, the trend today is changing to jobs in further sectors which want more definite proficiency. As a result employers are more likely to select candidates with better training and education from the vast number of available candidates.

The U.S. Census Bureau released a 2011 report of American Community Survey (ACS) which stated that people with a bachelor's degree were expected to earn a 40-year lifetime salary of around $2.4 million on an average, while high school grads could only expect a lifetime salary of about $1.4 million (www.census.gov). On average, those who had master's degrees received $2.8 million and those with professional degrees could anticipate life span earnings in surplus of $4 million.

Salaries by Major
The opening salaries of college grads normally surpass those of people who only possess a high school education, even though the subject a student majors in also controls his/her salary prospective. On an average basis a person with college education makes almost twice as much money as a graduate of high school. As per 2011 American Community Survey, people with an engineering bachelor's degree who found work in management could look forward to a lifetime salary of $4.1 million, which was approximately $3 million higher than the regular for those who majored in education and were in public services sector.

Better Life Skills
When attending their classes, college students regularly develop the reasoning dexterity required to make important life decisions, like purchasing a home to helping their kids choose their own college. In reality, college grads are highly likely to have kids who also go to college/university for higher education Other benefits of educational degrees may comprise of better self-discipline, study routine and supportive behaviors which make them successful in their career projects and responsibilities.
It has been evident in the past few years that job market has more opportunities for you if you have college education. You don’t need to look beyond the above facts to conclude that pursuing higher education in colleges in USA is the way to a better life.

The Rising Cost of College Education in USA

In this competitive world of ours college education has become more or less a prerequisite to landing n excellent job. However, many tend to overlook the fact that our nation’s education system is one of the costliest in the world. The costs of attending a four-year college can be a backbreaking experience for an average American family. By the time you have completed your college education there is a high chance that you will be swimming in a sea of debt literally.

According to data released by the College Board, tuition and fees of colleges in USA for one year at a private non-profit college increased almost 4% to $31,231 in 2014. If you chose to turn a blind eye to the inflation factor you would still be losing roughly $125,000 from your pocket over the period of four years. Now, if you're looking to complete your master's program or PhD, you can double the fore-mentioned total before you've completed your degree.

Moreover, looking at the data from Inflationdata.com, the college education inflation rate between 1985 and 2011 was 498.5%, compared to a mere 114.9% for the consumer price index. If college education had increased at a rate proportionate with the CPI, then a single dollar in 1985 would translate to about $2.15 in 2011 -- except based on the real college education inflation rate, each dollar in 1985 would be almost $6 now! Shocking and very depressing you will say but this is the hard truth which is staring at our faces.

Now after going through the data you will be forced to ask the same question which I have been asking - Why are college costs constantly outpacing the inflation rate? After much consideration I have come to the conclusion that it's in fact a convergence of several factors, counting rising faculty and operating costs and the want to refurbish older buildings, purchasing new equipments, and develop by constructing new libraries and research facilities essential to match the pace with a highly progressive digital age.

The conclusion is that college grads these days are being stressed with arduous amounts of arrears- an increasing $1.2 trillion student loan debt is presently outstanding and high school grads are in certain cases just avoiding college on the whole due to the ever more exclusionary costs. This is a highly disconcerting trend that we are experiencing today.

Is there any way of arresting this alarming trend? Is it possible that our college aspirers can achieve their dream of higher education without getting swaddled in debts? In order to find a solution a proper understanding of these impediments blocking the path of brilliant students gaining entry into universities in USA who don’t have the monetary means to attend college is necessary.

There is a ray of hope shining through as two states- Tennessee and Oregon have undertaken a major new program which other states might shortly follow: granting high school grads the chance to attend community college for free! This is a great step towards ensuring college education for all and I hope it is successful.

The transition from k 12 schooling to college education

Students today are arriving in colleges with higher combined ACT/SAT scores and, obviously, increasingly higher hopes for an appealing, world-class education in universities. As students shift from a high school to a college/university background, the teacher’s role in their learning experience alters too. In certain cases, students find themselves attending classes with a higher number of students than they were accustomed to their high school class. What many of us tend to overlook is that most of these students arrive in colleges with little preparation for this change.

Studies demonstrate that between 28% and 40% of first-time undergrads register for at least one corrective course. Amongst community colleges in USA students only quite a few studies have established that more than half require remediation to be complete their college-level work. The conclusion which can be drawn here is that students are finding it difficult to cope with their college education. The vast difference in the mode of instruction is responsible to some extent.

When you compare high school teachers and university/college lecturers you will find several differences. High school teachers are usually experts in pedagogy whereas college instructors are focused solely on their subject fields. Faculty members in universities in USA have countless hours of research to boast of along with strong mentoring of their advisors. However, I would like to point out here that they lack a rock-solid teaching background when compared to high school teachers. Throughout their K 12 schooling, the students are taught by certified teachers who have training in educational practices, education theories, execution of practical academic policies. So, it is a huge dramatic change when they enter colleges and resultantly some of them are overwhelmed.

With such immensely diverse and likewise significant expertise in the educational spectrum I find it very unfortunate that there is very little collaboration between high school teachers and college professors. Strong alliance would augment teaching for both parties, would boost the perception levels of what modes of schooling and learning are occurring in each situation, and would aid students in their shift from high school to college.

The escalating reputation of MOOCs, open-education resources, and liberally accessible course content on platforms like iTunes U fetches an implausible opening for high school teachers and college lecturers to work together and improve each other's teaching. K 12 teachers and college faculties can collaborate with each other, with college lecturers sharing their insights on the changes in their respective fields, their in-depth knowledge whereas the k 12 teachers can give insights on teaching modes, instructional design, and how to develop consequential evaluation aimed on student learning evidence. If we are able to bring about a large-scale collaboration across the country’s education institutions then it will enhance the learning experience for all students.

I believe that joint values and expectations, lucid and accessible information can aid in bridging the gap between the high school and university education. In order to do that we must take the initiative to ensure that this reaches to the maximum number of students in the country!

The Rising Cost of College Education in USA

In this competitive world of ours college education has become more or less a prerequisite to landing n excellent job. However, many tend to overlook the fact that our nation’s education system is one of the costliest in the world. The costs of attending a four-year college can be a backbreaking experience for an average American family. By the time you have completed your college education there is a high chance that you will be swimming in a sea of debt literally.

According to data released by the College Board, tuition and fees of colleges in USA for one year at a private non-profit college increased almost 4% to $31,231 in 2014. If you chose to turn a blind eye to the inflation factor you would still be losing roughly $125,000 from your pocket over the period of four years. Now, if you're looking to complete your master's program or PhD, you can double the fore-mentioned total before you've completed your degree.

Moreover, looking at the data from Inflationdata.com, the college education inflation rate between 1985 and 2011 was 498.5%, compared to a mere 114.9% for the consumer price index. If college education had increased at a rate proportionate with the CPI, then a single dollar in 1985 would translate to about $2.15 in 2011 -- except based on the real college education inflation rate, each dollar in 1985 would be almost $6 now! Shocking and very depressing you will say but this is the hard truth which is staring at our faces.

Now after going through the data you will be forced to ask the same question which I have been asking - Why are college costs constantly outpacing the inflation rate? After much consideration I have come to the conclusion that it's in fact a convergence of several factors, counting rising faculty and operating costs and the want to refurbish older buildings, purchasing new equipments, and develop by constructing new libraries and research facilities essential to match the pace with a highly progressive digital age.

The conclusion is that college grads these days are being stressed with arduous amounts of arrears- an increasing $1.2 trillion student loan debt is presently outstanding and high school grads are in certain cases just avoiding college on the whole due to the ever more exclusionary costs. This is a highly disconcerting trend that we are experiencing today.

Is there any way of arresting this alarming trend? Is it possible that our college aspirers can achieve their dream of higher education without getting swaddled in debts? In order to find a solution a proper understanding of these impediments blocking the path of brilliant students gaining entry into universities in USA who don’t have the monetary means to attend college is necessary.

There is a ray of hope shining through as two states- Tennessee and Oregon have undertaken a major new program which other states might shortly follow: granting high school grads the chance to attend community college for free! This is a great step towards ensuring college education for all and I hope it is successful.

The Rising Cost of College Education in USA

In this competitive world of ours college education has become more or less a prerequisite to landing n excellent job. However, many tend to overlook the fact that our nation’s education system is one of the costliest in the world. The costs of attending a four-year college can be a backbreaking experience for an average American family. By the time you have completed your college education there is a high chance that you will be swimming in a sea of debt literally.

According to data released by the College Board, tuition and fees of colleges in USA for one year at a private non-profit college increased almost 4% to $31,231 in 2014. If you chose to turn a blind eye to the inflation factor you would still be losing roughly $125,000 from your pocket over the period of four years. Now, if you're looking to complete your master's program or PhD, you can double the fore-mentioned total before you've completed your degree.

Moreover, looking at the data from Inflationdata.com, the college education inflation rate between 1985 and 2011 was 498.5%, compared to a mere 114.9% for the consumer price index. If college education had increased at a rate proportionate with the CPI, then a single dollar in 1985 would translate to about $2.15 in 2011 -- except based on the real college education inflation rate, each dollar in 1985 would be almost $6 now! Shocking and very depressing you will say but this is the hard truth which is staring at our faces.

Now after going through the data you will be forced to ask the same question which I have been asking - Why are college costs constantly outpacing the inflation rate? After much consideration I have come to the conclusion that it's in fact a convergence of several factors, counting rising faculty and operating costs and the want to refurbish older buildings, purchasing new equipments, and develop by constructing new libraries and research facilities essential to match the pace with a highly progressive digital age.

The conclusion is that college grads these days are being stressed with arduous amounts of arrears- an increasing $1.2 trillion student loan debt is presently outstanding and high school grads are in certain cases just avoiding college on the whole due to the ever more exclusionary costs. This is a highly disconcerting trend that we are experiencing today.

Is there any way of arresting this alarming trend? Is it possible that our college aspirers can achieve their dream of higher education without getting swaddled in debts? In order to find a solution a proper understanding of these impediments blocking the path of brilliant students gaining entry into universities in USA who don’t have the monetary means to attend college is necessary.

There is a ray of hope shining through as two states- Tennessee and Oregon have undertaken a major new program which other states might shortly follow: granting high school grads the chance to attend community college for free! This is a great step towards ensuring college education for all and I hope it is successful.