Undergraduate education Facts for Kids

Undergraduate education is what you do after high school to get your first big college degree. This degree is usually called a bachelor's degree. You typically study at a university or college.

In the United States, students starting at a university are called undergraduates. Students who are working on even higher degrees are called graduate students. In some other places, like parts of Europe, your first university degree might be closer to what's called a master's degree in the US. This can happen in subjects like science or engineering.

How Undergraduate Study Works Around the World
- Brazil
- Europe
  - United Kingdom
  - Ireland
- India
- United States
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How Undergraduate Study Works Around the World

Undergraduate education can be a bit different depending on where you are in the world. Let's look at some examples.

Brazil

In Brazil, getting an undergraduate degree usually takes about four or five years. Before students can join a university, they need to choose what they want to study. Then, they take a special test called a "vestibular" to get in.

Europe

In Europe, undergraduate degrees are different from the United States. In Europe, students choose a specific course of study they want to do right from the start. They are expected to have learned a lot of general subjects in high school already. Many students go to university when they are 17 or 18 years old. Their first degree often takes four or five years to complete. After that, they can go on to study for a doctorate.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, an undergraduate is a student working to get a Bachelor's degree. This degree is also called an "award." It usually takes three years to get a bachelor's degree in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, it takes four years for a standard degree. Some students in England also study for a master's degree as their first degree. This is more common for degrees in science and engineering. The first three years are like a bachelor's degree, and the last year includes research and more advanced topics.

Ireland

In Ireland, undergraduate study is quite similar to the United Kingdom. This is because their education systems used to be very much alike. Irish undergraduate programs often take four years, much like the Scottish system in the UK.

India

In India, most undergraduate courses take three years to finish. However, some subjects like engineering, law, and medicine take longer. For example, an engineering degree (like a B.E. or B.TECH) usually takes four years to complete. There are two main types of undergraduate courses: Arts and Science, which take three years, and Engineering, which takes four years.

United States

In the United States, most undergraduate education happens at colleges or universities. When you finish, you get a bachelor's degree. This usually takes four years of study. Some courses might take five years.

Students in different years of undergraduate study have special names:

First-year students are called freshmen. Some women's colleges use "first-years" instead to be more gender-neutral.
Second-year students are called sophomores.
Third-year students are called juniors.
Fourth-year students are called seniors.

Some students start at a community college for two years. Then, they move to a bigger college or university to finish their degree.

Most universities also offer graduate study, which is for higher degrees. Some colleges, like liberal arts colleges, only offer undergraduate education. To get an undergraduate degree, you need to complete many different courses. These courses cover various subjects and difficulty levels. The main subject you focus on, where you take the most classes, is called your "major" or "concentration."

Unlike in some other countries, degrees in law and medicine are not undergraduate degrees in the US. You study for these after you've already earned a bachelor's degree. While there isn't a specific major you must have for medicine, you do need to take certain science classes before applying. However, nursing is taught as an undergraduate program.