US vs UK universities: what are the differences?

The US and the UK might have some things in common culturally, but their university systems have evolved to be quite different. This guide will compare both systems to help you understand how best to advise your students when they are choosing where to study.

 Applications

• In the US, students apply to individual universities or through the Common App. There is no limit to how many universities a student can apply to in the US. In the UK, there is a central application system called Ucas, where students can apply for up to five universities each year. 
   
• The US considers extracurricular activities to be just as important as academic marks. However, the UK process focuses on grades and how suitable you are for the course you are applying for.
   
• Students will have to pay £27 to apply for a university in the UK via Ucas. When applying to the US, students will have to pay for each application they send off to each university. The cost varies between universities. This can really add up, but most universities will waive this fee if it is a hardship.

Length of study

• In the US, it takes four years to complete a bachelor’s degree. In the UK, it takes three years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and four years in Scotland.
   
• There are, however, some four-year bachelor’s degrees in the UK. For example, courses that include a year studying abroad, courses with a foundation year and courses with an integrated master’s degree.
   

Cost

• In the UK, undergraduate degrees cost £9,250 a year, not including living costs. International students – now including EU students – pay up to twice as much. Domestic students can apply for a loan to cover the costs, which you pay back once you start earning a certain amount (this changes annually). International students are unable to apply for government loans but might be able to apply for scholarships or financial aid to help with the cost. 
   
• In the US, the cost of a private university is approximately $40,000-60,000 (£32,000-48,000) per year. Costs for a public university are around $35,000. These costs might be higher for international students and depending on the course being applied for. However, financial aid is widely used and some private universities will cover all costs if a household makes less than $60,000 a year.

Subject focus

• In the US, up to half of all students apply undecided on a degree subject (major), and a larger number switch majors during their time at university. In the UK, you must apply for a specific course, though you can choose to major in one subject later if you’ve applied for a joint degree.
   
• There are some exceptions to this on both sides. In the US, engineering and some arts degrees require you to apply specifically to that programme. Meanwhile, more UK universities are looking to the US model to make it easier for students to take classes from different courses – some universities, for example, offer flexible degrees whereby you can build your credits from a list of set modules across subject disciplines.
   
• Part of the reason a US degree takes four years is that the first year tends to cover a range of subjects. However, in a UK degree, you can delve into one subject at greater depth earlier in your studies.
   

Variety

• There are fewer than 200 universities in the UK, but more than 4,000 colleges and universities in the US.
   
• The US has a greater variety of the types of colleges that are available, such as liberal arts colleges, historically black colleges and universities, private universities and public universities. 
   
• There is less variety of universities in the UK, but there are a number of small medical institutions and performing arts institutions to which students can apply. 

Sports

• University sports are often a large part of student social life at US institutions. Students can go to university on a sports scholarship and college sports teams form a huge part of the student social calendar. 
   
• Students at UK universities will be able to join sports teams too, but matches will be played on a much smaller scale and aren’t usually whole-university events.