United States Ed System vs. United Kingdom Counterpart

By Melissa Spears*

Schools, colleges, and universities are the hallowed platforms that have been designed for career enthusiasts to help them enhance knowledge, sharpen the intellect, and master skills. These are the very destinations where an individual comes to realize the significance and necessity of education. However,  education systems are not the same everywhere. In fact, the teaching techniques and the learning styles vary from one country to another. In this respect, students usually keep asking questions about the difference between the UK and US educational approaches. Although both the countries follow the Anglo- Saxon culture, there are certain disparities in their respective education patterns.

Education in the US Focuses on all subjects

Whether one is willing to enroll in a school or a college in the United States, he/she must study all the academic subjects apart from their proposed field of study. The majority of the academic institutions aim to make students updated and gain knowledge on diverse subjects whether its liberal arts or science. For instance, even if you are willing to take classes in History, you might also have to study a good deal of astrophysics.

Specialization is the emphasis for UK universities

In the United Kingdom, however, the scenario is completely different. The UK colleges and universities focus on the word ‘specialization’. Students are asked to solely concentrate on their chosen areas of study. However, the Scottish universities stand as exceptions where students are advised and encouraged to sharpen and enhance their knowledge beyond their major stream. Despite this, this is not at all the traditional education pattern followed in UK schools and colleges.

Styles of delivering classes in UK & US

Now, if talking about the deliverance of classes, structural differences are huge. Since the students in the United States are instructed to take classes outside their opted field of study, the curriculums are made usually shorter. In other words, the US academic curriculums are not at all lengthy and therefore the teachers do not prefer to go deeper in the subjects. Well, this is not something to be expected in UK schools and colleges. Rather, the courses here are usually lengthier and the teachers, therefore, go deeper into the subjects.

What critics say?

Both the education systems in the United Kingdom and the United States have their own strengths and weaknesses. On the one hand, critics of American education raises questions on mandatory learning of irrelevant subjects, whereas those against the British point towards student’s inability to gain knowledge in diverse areas apart from their majors. The work execution

More than having differences between the curriculums, there is certainly a striking contrast of ethos between the higher education patterns in the institutions of the US and the UK. In the majority of campuses in America, work is mandatory on behalf of students. However, the British universities accentuate on extra-intensive work assignments by distributing them into class periods. The relevance of online education in UK & US

Although curriculums and class deliverances are not the same in the United Kingdom and the United States, there is a big similarity in them. Both the education system in the United Kingdom and the United States emphasize on online education. In fact, there are several online courses offered by the UK and US universities. Countless students and even working professionals keep enrolling in these courses throughout the year. Both the educational systems believe in the benefits of distance learning programs and have even received exceptional responses from worldwide.

So, both UK and US rule in their own way in the world of education, and will continue to welcome career enthusiasts from various corners for generations to come.

(*) The author Melissa Spears here focuses on the educational styles in the United States and the United Kingdom. She says that there are ample benefits of distance learning programs whether you choose to study your desired course in the United Kingdom or the United States.