Did you know you have difference between college and university? People are so used to using the two terms to refer to higher education that they don't even remember that, in fact, they are different things.
Both are educational institutions, but have different characteristics. According to data from Inep, of the 2.448 Brazilian higher education institutions, 82,5% are colleges. To the universities represent 8,1% of the amount, but concentrate 53% of enrollments.
What is college? What is university? Know once and for all the differences between college and university. | Photo: Pexels.
Want to understand more about difference between college and university, what are their differences, similarities and specific characteristics? Read on!
What is a Faculty?
To understand the difference between college and university, one needs to know what a college is. College is a higher education institution focused more on the side of smaller areas of knowledge. This also ends up being related to the physical spaces, which are usually smaller.
It can be public or private and is able to offer undergraduate and postgraduate specialization, master's and doctoral degrees. However, having all these requirements is not mandatory.
Now, analyzing the obligations of the MEC, the faculty must have at least one third of the teaching staff with a specialist title (lato sensu graduate degree).
Observe the specific characteristics of a college in each area and understand the difference between college and university:
| course portfolio | One difference between college and university is the portfolio. This is because the faculty is focused on a particular area of knowledge. |
| Number of courses | By offering specific training, the number of courses is reduced. |
| Creation of courses (MEC) | Must have authorization from MEC. |
| Activity | Focused on teaching, but may have extension or research activities. |
| Research | You are under no obligation to carry out research. |
| Faculty | At least one-third of teachers must have a specialist title. There is no need for full dedication. |
| Graduate | It has no obligation to offer postgraduate courses. |
| Campuses | Spaces are smaller due to the reduced amount of courses offered. |
| Community | You have no obligation to relate to the community. |
What is a University?
Now that you understand what a college is, you need to know what a university is. This is because without understanding its meaning, it is not possible to know the difference between college and university.
A University works differently. Universities are larger learning institutions with a wide variety of courses. However, this is just a summarized feature and that is not the only thing that sets it apart.
For the Ministry of Education (MEC)
For the Ministry of Education, MEC, the difference between college and university is explicit. According to them:
“Universities are characterized by the inseparability of teaching, research and extension activities. They are multidisciplinary institutions for the training of higher-level professional staff, research, extension and mastery and cultivation of human knowledge, which are characterized by:
I – institutionalized intellectual production through the systematic study of the most relevant themes and problems, both from a scientific and cultural point of view, as well as from a regional and national point of view;
II – at least one third of the teaching staff has a master's or doctoral degree; It is
III – one third of the teaching staff on a full-time basis.”
Check out the specific characteristics of a university in each area and understand the difference between college and university:
| course portfolio | It has several courses, from different areas of knowledge. |
| Number of courses | Due to its scope, it contains a large number of formations. |
| Creation of courses (MEC) | It has autonomy to create courses without prior authorization from MEC. |
| Activity | Another difference between college and universities is the activities. In addition to teaching, the university necessarily promotes extension and research activities. |
| Research | Must have cultural and scientific intellectual production. |
| Faculty | At least one third of the teachers must have a master's or doctor's degree. One-third of the teaching staff must also dedicate themselves full-time. |
| Graduate | It must have at least four stricto sensu graduate programs, at least one of which is a doctorate. |
| Campuses | One difference between college and university is the campuses. At the university, there are usually larger fields to house all the necessary infrastructure for the courses. |
| Community | It should create rapprochement with the community and serve it. |
What is a University Center?
Now that you understand the difference between college and university, we can explain one more type of educational institution in content, which is the center university.
The MEC definition, as published on the website, is as follows:
“University centers are multi-curricular higher education institutions, covering one or more areas of knowledge, which are characterized by the excellence of the teaching offered, proven by the qualification of their faculty and the academic work conditions offered to the school community. Accredited university centers have the autonomy to create, organize and extinguish, at their headquarters, higher education courses and programs.”
University centers also still fit into some rules that need to be fulfilled to be said as such and that help the public to understand the difference between college and university, in addition to university centers.
They are:
- Have at least one-third of the faculty with a master's or doctorate;
- Have at least one-fifth of professors hired on a full-time basis (note that the percentage is lower than required at universities);
- For comparison purposes, we can say that university centers are located between colleges and universities.
In other words, they are not specific in terms of courses and size, but they don't reach as much coverage. Let's say they're bigger than a college but smaller than a university.
Is there a better option?
Now that you know the difference between college and university, it's time to find out which is the best option. There is no exact answer to this question, there is no right and wrong. After all, colleges and universities have their perks. The important thing, when you have to make that choice, is simply to see what's best for you. Consider the characteristics of each one of them and see what best meets your goals.
If you'd like to pursue an academic degree but are not interested in research, for example, the college will suit your needs. Now, if your focus is to go deeper and continue with scientific research, the best alternative is to enter a university. Therefore, one of the best ways to choose which institution you want to study is by knowing the difference between college and university.
Another thing you need to keep in mind, in addition to the difference between college and university, is that the educational institution must be qualified by the MEC. The agency proceeds as follows:
- Accreditation: is the stage in which the educational institution requests authorization from the MEC to start its activities;
- Authorization: after being accredited, the educational institution requests authorization to offer the course. If it is a university or university center, there is no need;
- Recognition: the course is recognized by the MEC after reaching 50% of the workload. In the reconnaissance phase, Inep (National Institute of Educational Studies and Research Anísio Teixeira) is in charge of the mission.
Now you know all about the difference between college and university, in addition to the university center. Few people pay attention to this, but when making your choice, it is essential to keep in mind the characteristics of each institution.
