College/University in the USA vs the UK | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

10 Ways College In Britain Is Vastly Different To That In The US

They may not be as similar as one would think.

51
10 Ways College In Britain Is Vastly Different To That In The US

Have you ever wondered what college would be like in another country? Thinking about studying abroad in the UK? You might be surprised to discover that, despite sharing a language and various other cultural norms, British students partake in a significantly different college culture than that experienced by their American counterparts, and not just because of the fancy robes and historic brick buildings!

1. The words 'college' and 'university' are not interchangeable.

Giphy

Believe it or not these terms do not mean the same in both countries. In the US, college typically refers to a higher education institution where students work towards earning an undergraduate degree. In the UK however, college, unlike university, does not refer to a degree awarding establishment. Rather, it's generally a stepping stone some choose to take in the two-year period (otherwise known as sixth form) between the end of secondary school and the start of university, or as a vocational alternative to the traditional degree track. University therefore refers to all levels of degree study (undergraduate and graduate) in the UK, whereas, only alludes to schools offering graduate diplomas in the States.

2. There is no such thing as being 'undecided'.

upload.wikimedia.org

Every year, multitudes of Freshman enter college as 'undecided', providing them with the opportunity to decide their major of study later on during their college career. Unfortunately for those studying in the UK, this is a far-fetched luxury they do not get the joy of experiencing. The UK requires applications to be submitted the January before a student's expected start date through the UCAS portal. Whilst not dissimilar to the Common App, the stand-out difference is that UCAS requires a student to declare their field of study by this date, and only in rare circumstances, can this be changed without having to re-apply all over again. What a daunting prospect!

3. Sports are definitely not a big deal.

live.staticflickr.com

Who knew that sports weren't glorified in all academic institutions around the world? It's almost unheard of to think of a college experience without some level of widespread sporting enthusiasm on campus, but for many British universities, this is a reality. Being on a sports team does not have the same prestige as it does in the States (if the university even has official teams) and because of that, scholarships for student athletes are severely lacking, as is school sporting spirit.

4. Having to share your room is unheard of.

upload.wikimedia.org

In the US, having a college roommate is like a rite of passage. Strangers can become best friends or sworn enemies depending on the situation, however, this is not something British students need worry about at all. To share a room in the UK would be a real peculiarity; the norm being that each student is assigned their own single room. Although these students often share communal living areas such as kitchens and living rooms, they always have the availability of privacy, thus providing them the best of both worlds: company and personal space.

5. As is Greek Life.

Giphy

Fraternities and Sororities are a concept that British university students tend only to witness in movies, a representation that, as we all know, isn't entirely accurate. Perhaps this provides some insight into their absence within the UK, after all, some portrayals of scandalous parties and disturbing traditions can be quite harrowing! Although, it is debatable whether Greek Life will make an appearance within the British Isles in coming years, following suit of other customs that have already made their way across the pond, including American football and cheerleading. Greek Life can be a great opportunity in college to make friends and find a place to belong, hopefully our British friends will one day share that experience too!

6. Party culture doesn't include cheap alcohol and red solo cups.

Giphy

Within the US, college culture and part culture often seem to be considered as going hand in hand. This wouldn't be too unusual in any university across the globe, but while red solo cups are nothing out of the ordinary for the majority of American students, for Brits, these are just something out of the movies. Whilst many college students in the USA frequent sipping cheap booze out of plastic cups at weekend frat parties, in the UK, where the legal drinking age is 18, students can happily spend their time at bars and clubs which serve arguably much better beverages than 'jungle juice'. Party culture also seems to be less intense, are British students just more civilized or is it perhaps because the risky and exciting element of breaking the rules is removed?

7. There is no such concept as 'GPA'.

live.staticflickr.com

GPA (or Grade Point Average for any of you Brits reading) is a cumulative average of scores achieved in all classes taking, beginning first semester of freshman year and ending last semester of senior year. To have a high GPA requires consistent effort and participation to achieve highly, but in Britain, students do not have to concern themselves with this. Grading is considerably easier with students only being required to achieve around 70% across their degree course (attained through selected assessments and essays) to be awarded a First (think summa cum laude), the highest degree one can achieve!

8. However, there is the small matter of a dissertation being required to graduate.

Giphy

Despite the British university system seeming somewhat easier, they do have a considerably more challenging final year. In the US, a thesis or dissertation is not usually expected in order to achieve your degree, unless of course, you choose to pursue an honors course of study. On the contrary, all students in the UK are expected to produce a passing dissertation at the undergraduate level in order to be awarded their degree. It's safe to say those studying in the States do not envy that!

9. Undergraduate study is three years, not four.

upload.wikimedia.org

In the States, an undergraduate bachelor's degree is expected to take four years to complete, and an associate's to take two. Although there is no such thing as an associates degree in the UK, this doesn't mean you must commit yourself to four years of study. All undergraduate courses in England and Wales take three years to complete (with the exceptions of medicine and dentistry, which, yes, are also considered undergraduate) due to the emphasis on specialization and the absence of a general education curriculum. Scotland stands alone in offering four year courses more in line with the system in the States.

10. Tuition is insanely cheaper in the UK!

Giphy

Obviously tuition will be cheaper with one less year of bills to account for, however, this is not the only thing that helps students keep a little more of their savings in the bank during their college days. Tuition for British students attending universities within the UK is a total of £9000 ($11,430) a year at the undergraduate level, and for Scottish students opting to be educated in Scotland, higher education tuition is provided at no cost whatsoever! Students, of course, must still fork out for accommodation, dining and school supplies, but there is no arguing that this is unbelievably less than what most students in the US are paying, even with scholarships! Who wants to tell the Brits how lucky they are?

So there you have it. Student life in Britain and America is quite noticeably contrasting. Neither experience can be considered superior to the other as, like with anything in life, they both come with their own set of positive and negative factors. I suppose it's up to you to decide which you think seems more preferable!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

189297
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

14345
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457433
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26392
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments