Bridging the Linguistic Divide in Higher Education

It was possibly George Bernard Shaw who first famously quipped, 'England and America are two countries separated by a common language.' The expression has been used countless times over to illustrate that-- despite our many shared similarities-- the US and the UK are often divided by their distinct terminologies. This is true when it comes to talking higher education, so make sure you have the essentials under your belt as you look through university websites.

St Mary's College, one of seventeen colleges that make up Durham University

University vs. College

In the UK, the term "university" is widely used to describe institutions that offer undergraduate and postgraduate education. A "college" in the UK might refer to a vocational training center or one of the constituate institutions that make up the university system, particularly in older universities like Oxford and Cambridge.

In contrast, in the US, "college" and "university" are often used interchangeably, both referring to institutions that offer undergraduate education. However, universities in the US are generally larger and offer a wider range of graduate programs. A college may also refer to a specific part of a university, such as the College of Arts and Sciences within a larger university.

Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior vs. First Year, Second Year, Third Year

American students refer to their progress through university with the terms "freshman" (first year), "sophomore" (second year), "junior" (third year), and "senior" (fourth year). These terms are rarely used outside of the US.

In the UK, students simply refer to themselves as being in their "first year," "second year," and so on. This straightforward numbering system is consistent across most universities in the UK.

Courses vs. Modules

In the US, the term "course" refers to a specific class or subject that a student enrolls in for a semester. Students typically take multiple courses each semester to fulfill the requirements of their degree program.

In the UK, "course" usually refers to the entire program of study (e.g., a course in English Literature). The individual classes that make up this program are called "modules." Thus, a UK student might say they are studying a "course" in Psychology and taking various "modules" related to that field.

Grades and Marks

American students receive "grades" for their courses, typically expressed as letters (A, B, C, etc.), with corresponding grade point averages (GPA) on a scale of 0 to 4.0.

In the UK, students receive "marks" or "percentages" for their assessments. Degree classifications include "First" (70% and above), "Upper Second" or "2:1" (60-69%), "Lower Second" or "2:2" (50-59%), and "Third" (40-49%).

Professors and Lecturers

In the US, the term "professor" is used broadly to describe faculty members who teach and conduct research (although there is a lot of variation here, depending on the institution). Professors can be assistant professors, associate professors, or full professors, depending on their rank and tenure status.

In the UK, "lecturer" is a common term for university teachers, equivalent to an assistant professor in the US. "Senior lecturers" correspond to associate professors, while "readers" are the equivalent to full professors. a professor in the United Kingdom holds the highest academic rank, often accompanied by significant research responsibilities.

Departments vs. Faculties

In the US, universities are typically divided into "departments" based on academic disciplines (e.g., Department of Biology).

In the UK, the term "faculty" is often used to describe a division within a university comprising related departments (e.g., Faculty of Science of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences). Individual departments within faculties handle the day-to-day teaching and research activities. "Faculty" does not generally refer to the individual members of the teaching staff at a British university.

Majors vs. Programmes (or Course)

In the US, students choose a "major," which is the primary focus of their undergraduate studies. A major involves a specific set of courses and requirements within a particular academic discipline (e.g., majoring in Biology).

In the UK, students enroll in a "programme" of study, which refers to the structured plan of education within a particular subject area. For example, a student might be enrolled in a programme in History. While the terms "major" and "programme" are conceptually similar, the UK programme often implies a more rigid and predetermined course structure compared to the often more flexible and broad-based US major.

This only scratches the surface in the differences between higher education in the US and the UK, but these are important distinctions to keep in mind during your consultations with us.