The United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK) are the top two study abroad destinations for international students. Both countries are popular for housing most of the top 200 universities of the world, offering impeccable education and research facilities. Although both countries promote excellent learning environments, there is a huge difference between their higher education systems. So, let’s understand the differences between the US and the UK higher education systems through this blog.
Key Highlights

• The US higher education system: A brief overview
• The UK higher education system: A brief overview
• Differences between the US & the UK higher education system
  • Flexibility to choose degree subject
  • Course duration
  • Grading system
  • Teaching methodology
  • Academic Year
  • Accommodation

The US higher education system: A brief overview
The US higher education system is divided primarily into 3 levels of study: undergraduate (Bachelor’s degree), graduate level (Master’s and Professional degree), and post-graduate level (Doctoral and Research programs). Institutions like colleges (community colleges) and universities (public and private) offer higher education in the country.

The UK higher education system: A brief overview
The UK higher education system comprises undergraduate (bachelor’s degree), post-graduate (master’s & doctoral degrees), and certificate/diplomas. You can also enrol in pathway programs, including foundation study programs, as an international student. Higher education in the UK is offered by specialised colleges, and universities.

Key differences between the US & the UK higher education system
Flexibility to choose degree subject
When you study in the UK, you need to decide your major (the subject in which you will specialise) before submitting your application. But as per the US higher education system, you can choose your specialisation until the end of the program, thus offering you plenty of time to explore your area of interest.

Course duration
The duration of your course is one of the most noticeable differences between the UK and US systems. Typically, a bachelor’s degree in the UK takes 2-3 years, and as per the American higher education system, it takes 3-4 years. Similarly, the duration of a master’s degree in the UK lasts for 1 year, but it lasts for 1-2 years in the US. Furthermore, a PhD lasts for 3-4 years (except for certain courses) in the UK, and it usually takes 5-7 years in the USA.
In a nutshell, UK universities have shorter courses than their American counterparts, which applies to all levels of higher education.

UK higher education grading system and US higher education grading system 
In the USA and the UK, a student’s academic performance is evaluated using a letter grade scale ranging from “A to F”, where A represents outstanding performance, and F represents unsatisfactory. But there is a significant difference between the percentage scores that the letter grades symbolise. For instance, the letter grade “A” represents a percentage score of 93-100% in the US, but in the UK, it represents 70-100%. Similarly, the letter grade “F” represents a 0-59% score in the US and 0-29% in the UK.

Teaching methodology
The teaching methodology is another factor that varies greatly between the UK and the US higher education systems. The teaching style in the UK is typically lecture-based, with no formal assessment until the end of the term. On the other hand, US universities follow an assessment-based teaching style where you have to submit weekly, bi-weekly or monthly assessments. So, depending on your preferences and learning goals, you may study in the USA or in the UK.

Academic Year
Mostly, American colleges and universities commence their classes during the fall session, i.e. August/September. Some colleges accept admissions during the spring intake, i.e. January/February, and the summer intake, i.e. between May and August (for limited programs).
Talking about the UK, the standard academic year begins around September-October. January and April are two other intakes for UK colleges and universities.

Accommodation
Both countries offer on-campus housing facilities to students during the program. However, it will depend on the availability of housing facilities on the campus. Hence, it is advised to always arrange accommodation from your home country before flying to your preferred destination.
Kindly consider the differences mentioned above between the US & the UK higher education before taking your final decision on the overseas destination. You can choose the right study destination after evaluating your interests and priorities. If you have already decided on an overseas destination but are facing financial challenges, avail an education loan for study abroad from Avanse Financial Services. We offer hyper-personalised loans with multiple benefits. Contact us to know more!