What does the anatomy of a college degree in the UK look like? How is it different from the structure of a US Degree? In this blog post, we’ll discuss the major differences between the two - what are the pros and cons of each, which one is more cost-effective, what are the testing requirements, and so on.
You must compare and contrast the variable differences across the two to make an informed decision about your higher education. Here are some structural ways in which the two differ from each other:
Subject Flexibility: US universities generally allow you to explore as many subjects as you want for a year before you decide on a final major. This isn’t the case for UK universities that emphasise specialisation from the very beginning. Unless you enrol in a combined honours programme, you’ll have to largely keep your interest focused on a single subject.
Length of Study: The key difference between the two is the amount of time it takes to get your degree. Generally, it takes one extra year in the US to get your degree than it does in the UK. This difference is the result of the special focalization offered by UK universities, which makes it possible to complete a degree in just three years. If you’re studying full-time, here’s an estimate of the amount of time it will take you to complete different degrees:
UK
Bachelors: 3-4 Years
Masters: 1 Year
PhD: 3-4 Years+
US
Bachelors: 4 Years
Masters: 1-2 Years
PhD: 5-7 Years+
Costs: According to a law that came into effect in 2012, UK universities can only charge a maximum of £9,000 (approximately $9,564) each year – to UK residents. International students, on the other hand, have higher fees, which can vary from course to course and university to university. For a sample for the annual tuition fees for 2022-2023:
King’s College London: BSc Business Management
Home: £9,250 per year
Overseas/International: £28,050
Imperial: BSc/MBBS Medicine
Home: £9,250
Overseas/International: £46,650
University of BathLBSc Social Sciences (Hons)
Home: £9,250
Overseas/International: £19,800
The US is more standardised in that they do not charge different amounts for different undergraduate courses, but they are generally more costly than the UK. For a sample:
Harvard
Boston University
USC
Carnegie Mellon
UC-Berkeley
Make sure that you consider these different factors before you make a final decision about your higher education. Both the UK and the US come with their own sets of advantages and disadvantages, ultimately it’s about which university structure fits your needs the best and seems the most appealing to you.
