Higher Level Education System

Postgraduate Study in the US
Higher Education System
The ‘home of the brave’ and ‘the land of the free’, the USA prides itself as the land of opportunity - with good reason. The American Dream is built upon the strength of its education system. According to The Times of London, the US is home to the top three universities in the world - Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of California Berkeley - and seven of the top ten. There is also a wide range of large and smaller, public and private, universities catering for almost any educational discipline imaginable.

The ‘melting pot’ idea is still alive in the US educational system. There are almost 600,000 international students from over 200 countries in higher education in the US. Approximately half of these are postgraduate students, furthering their career prospects through graduate or professional education. Some international students plan to take home skills and training acquired, while others see it as a stepping-stone to a career in the US.

The multi-cultural environment of US college campuses and the heavy emphasis on internships and work placement make the USA an attractive location for postgraduate study. And then, there is the spectacular scope of extra-curricular activities available, as anyone who has seen any of the American Pie movies can testify.

There are over 600 public and 1,600 private national higher-level educational institutions in the USA. Universities, colleges and institutes can all award degrees in the US system. Colleges tend to be smaller than universities, and don’t generally award doctorates. Institutes tend to be more specialised and vocational and offer training in specific professional areas. Research centres may or may not be associated with one particular university.

Public universities are also called state universities and are generally rather large, with 20,000 or more students enrolled. Private institutions come in all shapes and sizes, and can be more specialised in particular disciplines. Almost all institutions - public and private - charge fees, which can be extremely expensive. Tuition at public institutions is generally substantially lower than at private institutions. A quarter of all colleges and universities are privately operated by religious groups, although most of these are open to students of all faiths. There are also many private institutions without religious ties.

Students typically spend longer in third level education in the USA and leave the system at an older age. Undergraduate courses offer more of a general education, with specialisation at graduate and postgraduate level. The academic year is made up of two semesters – September to December and January to May. There are three stages of educational achievement at third level.

Undergraduate - 4 years - Bachelors Degree

Graduate – 1 to 2 years - Masters Degree

Postgraduate - 3 to 8 years - Doctorate / PhD

US colleges and universities operate with considerable autonomy. The US Government does not sanction qualifications and there is no one agreed countrywide standard for accreditation. This means that universities can vary widely in standard and in the worth of the qualifications that they offer - so prospective students should research their chosen institution carefully. Professional accreditation does exist in fields where there are professional bodies such as Law, Medicine, Business and Engineering. Universities at which courses are professionally accredited are recommended.

MBA [Master of Business Administration] programmes are the most popular graduate qualification in the US. Competition for places on the most prestigious courses is fierce. Each MBA is different but most programmes offer a mix of business administration theory and practical skills. They can also offer workplace experience -invaluable for an Irish business student looking to get established in the US. Starting from scratch, it typically takes six years to reach MBA level at an American university, but international students can transfer in at a mid-level, dependent on their level of experience and qualifications.