USA

WHERE DO I STUDY? US OR AUSTRALIA?

The US and Australia both provide world-class education and they both have effective teaching standards. Australia is considered one of the global leaders of education, making it a popular destination for international students to pursue their education. The US has some of the best academic facilities and teachers and provides access to the latest technology, equipment, and resources. In this article, we will explore more about the difference between studying in these two countries.

Period of Terms:

In the US, nearly all universities have a tri-semester system. Those are fall, spring, and Summer. The fall semester starts in August or September, is the first semester of the year, and ends in mid-December. The spring semester starts in January and the classes begin around the first or second week of January. The summer semester starts around at the beginning of June and this is the shortest of the three semesters and spans for two months and usually starts in June. In Australia, the summer session starts in November and ends in February. The autumn session starts in late February or early March and ends in June. The spring session starts in July and ends in late November.

 

Duration of the programs:

In the USA, it usually takes 4 years to complete an undergraduate degree. In Australia, the undergraduate spans for typically 3 years and 4 years for an honors degree and postgraduate spans from 1 year to 2 years. In Australia, most universities have 2 semesters but some universities have 3 trimesters.

 

University Structure and Organisation:

In Australia, most colleges accept online applications. You need to visit the college's website to apply. During 3 years of Bachelor’s study, students can opt to do a fourth year, referred to as ‘honors’ in which a thesis is required. To obtain a Bachelor's degree, students must pick a major in a particular subject area. Universities set specific requirements that the students must fulfill to earn the degree. In the US, for the first year of their studies, students apply to main universities. Students take classes for a variety of subjects and choose a major only at the end of the first year. In

the US, universities have departments and schools for arts and science. A student is still expected to learn other subjects known as electives even though they declare their majors at the university.

 

Finding accommodation:

In Australia, On-campus accommodation options include residential colleges, halls of residence and apartments. These are popular options and it is advisable to apply yearly. Private rentals, hostels, guesthouses, and homestay are also available. In the US, students are provided with residence halls. Sharing a room with at least one person is very common in the US. Students in the first year find more accommodation options after the first year like off-campus and private housing. Students are provided with dining options in the US.

 

Assignments and grading system:

In Australia, the grading system consists of four levels. They are of high distinction, distinction, credit, pass, and fail. Students are required to earn a certain unit points or credits each semester to complete their degree. These units can be transferred across qualification levels and universities, which enables students to pursue higher education in a streamlined manner. In the US, students earn marks based on their performance in projects and take-home tests; the final exam marks will contribute only a small percentage to these scores. Every time you finish an assignment, your instructor will put a letter (grades) at the top of it. The grades go from A to F, excluding E, where the highest grade is A and the lowest is F. Grades correspond to what is called a quality point. Every school, college, and other higher education will have different scales for the letter grades but generally, A corresponds to 4 or a multiple of 4. In the US, a student’s assignment performance and final examination determine his/her course grade.

Cost of education:

In the USA, the average fee ranges from USD 4,500 to USD 50,000 per year. The tuition fee, in private colleges, is around USD 32,500 and for public colleges, it is around USD 25,000 per year. The tuition fees vary depending on whether it’s a private or public college. In Australia, for the international undergraduates and postgraduates, the average tuition fee is AUD 30,000 and AUD 32,000 respectively. For a Master's degree, the tuition fee is between AUD 20,000 and AUD 37,000. The degree cost varies based on the courses. If you are planning to study abroad, click here to talk to Whiztsorm experts.