Are there really differences between colleges and universities?

College is the next level of education after high school that students can go to. If you are a high school senior, then you will be looking for further education at a college or university of your choice.

When studying at a college or university there are different types of degrees available. Normally colleges offer only an Associate or Bachelor of Art degrees. On the other hand, universities offer all degrees between Bachelor of Art/Science and Doctorate. Each degree you study comprises a different discipline. There is a difference between Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science. These bachelor degrees comprise specific subjects and their curriculum are different compared to the curriculum for other degrees.

A university may be a member a grouping of colleges. In Germany there are different terms for the educational institutions for study.  You can study at a Hochschule, which is part of advanced education. You can break down three types of Hochschule into university (Universität), university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) and university of cooperative education (Berufsakademie).  Fachhochschule and Berufsakademie are not able to offer doctorate degrees and are more similar in this regard to colleges.

Depending on where in the world you study, the definition of a college may be different. For instance, in the US and Ireland college is considered as an equal to a university. However in the United Kingdom and its Commonwealth countries, a ‘college’ may have a lower standing and seen only as a step towards university learning.

The amount of time it takes to finish your degree will differ on what type of degree you plan to graduate with. Normally an Associates Degree can take within a year’s time to finish. You will be studying up to 4+ years if you are pursuing a Bachelors degree. A Master’s degree can take 1-3+ years depending on the discipline. Lastly a doctorate can also take 1-3+ years like a Master’s degree.