The British and American Education Systems

Course Duration

• For undergraduate studies, it takes 3 years in the UK, except for Scotland, if compared to the 4 years in the US.

• For postgraduate studies, it takes just one year if compared to the 2 years in the US.

It’s difficult to decide between quality vs. quantity, but early graduation means lesser tuition fees & costs of living and quicker career start.

Tuition Fees

• In the UK, the annual tuition fee for international students ranges between 8,000 to 20,000 GBP. And the fees may get higher for some courses such as Medicine, Dentistry, and MBA.

• In the US, almost all private universities charge a minimum of 20,000 USD and the fees may get higher at Ivy League institutions.

While the UK Government determines the fee limit and universities decide where they want to be on that scale, the US universities have no constraint on how much they can charge.

If you are worried about the tuition fees and living costs, your IDP expert counsellor will help you choose from the cheap universities in the US or the cheap universities in the UK.

Courses and specialisations

• In the US, normally students get plenty of time to explore subjects and they are not required to declare their major until the end of their second year. This gives them the chance to change their minds as many times as they want.

• The UK, on the other hand, requires students to choose their major before they arrive on campus. So, this needs you to be 100 % set on a subject.

Learning/Teaching Style

• The teaching style in the UK universities depends on lectures, seminars, group work on projects, or presentations and assignments during each module. The Lectures are less interactive than the seminars, while the latter is almost led by students.

• The US universities, however, are much more assessment-based and students are likely to have weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly assessments, which will be combined with a final exam for a final grade.

Also, some professors apply the ‘peer-instruction’ approach in their teaching which enables students to discuss questions and topics between them, and each one tries to explain to the other what they have understood from the lesson.

Part-time jobs

• In the US, international students are only allowed to work for a maximum of 20 hours a week on campus. However, in the UK, international students in tier 4 are allowed to work 20 hours per week off-campus.

• In the US, international students can remain in the country for just 60 days after graduation, the period during which they need to enrol in another college, or in an Optional Practical Training (OPT) program to gain employment on an F-1 visa.

• As for the UK, international students can remain in the country and work for up to 2 years.

Tuition FeesCourses and specialisationsLearning/Teaching StylePart-time jobs

You have a study dream. We have a way.

Still confused between the US and the UK education systems? Get in touch TODAY with your IDP international education specialist to help you decide what best suits your need.

And if you are worried about the tuition fees and living costs, we will help you choose from the cheap universities in the US or in the UK.

Take the first step towards reaching your aspirations and get our support to start your dream course at your dream study destination!