RESEARCH: Higher Education

Higher education in the USA Higher education in the UK Higher education in Argentina
Five types of degrees exist in the United Higher education qualifications include: Public and Private universities:
States. Two-year colleges (community • diplomas Licentiate Bachelor’s (BA, BSc)
colleges) and a small number of four-year • bachelor degrees Master’s (MBA, MA, MSc)
institutions grant associate degrees, typically • foundation degrees Doctorate
awarded after the completion of 60 credits. • post-graduate degrees
Associate degrees may represent a terminal (source: https://www.gov.uk/higher-education- Tertiary institutions:
degree in a vocational field or may prepare courses-find-and-apply) They do not offer undergraduate nor
students to complete a bachelor’s degree at a Undergraduate Level graduate degree.
four-year institution. The bachelor’s degree is The main qualifications offered at the
by far the most common type of degree Undergraduate level are:
awarded, preparing students for most jobs
Foundation Degree
that require a college degree and for further
Diploma of Higher Education
graduate study. Three degrees exist at the
graduate level: 1. The master’s degree (MBA, Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE)
Types of MA, MASc) Higher National Diploma (HND)
degrees 2. A professional degree (such as Associate Bachelors or Undergraduate Degree
degree AA ASc) Postgraduate Level
3. The doctoral degree (PhD) The main qualifications offered at the
(source: postgraduate level are:
https://www.acenet.edu/Documents/Overvie Master's Degree
w-of-Higher-Education-in-the-United-States- Taught Masters Degrees
Diversity-Access-and-the-Role-of-the-
Masters Degrees by Research (M Phil)
Marketplace-2004.pdf)
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
PhDs/Doctorates
Postgraduate Diplomas and Certificates
Professional or Vocational Qualifications
Conversion Courses
(source: https://www.ukeducation.info/higher-
education/types-of-degrees.html)
 Colleges and universities are financed in ways Higher education institutions (HEIs) in England The main source of financing for higher
consistent with both the Jeffersonian ideal of receive funding from a variety of public and education houses comes from the
limited government and the belief that private sources. National Treasury. That is the allocation
market competition tends to improve quality The Office for Students (OfS) is responsible for made by the State from the approval of
and efficiency. While government plays a very distributing public funding to HEIs through the budget made by the National
important role in financing, American colleges annual grants. These are based on funding Congress. Another financing mechanism is
and universities are supported further by allocations determined each year within a policy constituted by the own resources that
diverse revenue sources that reflect the framework set by government. The OfS was come from the sale of goods and services
market choices of students and parents as established under the Higher Education and carried out by the universities. They also
well as other consumers of the goods and Research Act 2017 and became operational in generally have resources granted by the
services that institutions provide. The major April 2018. It is the regulator for higher public sector (through different public
sources of revenue include tuition and fee education in England and is an executive non- programs and in different ministries) to be
payments from students and families departmental public body (NDPB), playing a key assigned to a specific purpose
(including the government-backed financial role in promoting high quality education and (infrastructure works, programs,
aid that students use to pay tuition); research, and HEIs are accountable to it for their agreements, among others) and, finally,
appropriations, grants, and contracts from use of government funds. It replaced the Higher what known as "economy or savings"
federal, state, and local governments; private Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) from previous years, which is a faculty
Funding gifts; endowment and other investment and the Office for Fair Access (OFFA). granted to universities so that those
earnings; and sales from auxiliary enterprises While teaching is funded through teaching budget credits not committed at the end
and services. grants from the OfS, along with tuition fees, of the year can be used in the following
Some of these sources are more important to research is funded through a dual support years without being returned to the
some types of institutions than to others. For system. This includes: Treasury. There are other sources, such as
example, local governments account for 18 • Research England grant funding to external transfers or credit, which
percent of revenue at community colleges support research capacity and represent a meager contribution.
but 1 percent of revenue at private not-for- infrastructure (such as the salaries of (https://www.vocesenelfenix.com/conten
profit institutions. Similarly, private gifts permanent academic staff and premises), t/el-financiamiento-de-las-universidades-
contribute 14 percent of revenue to private and enable institutions to undertake nacionales-evoluci%C3%B3n-impacto-
not-for-profit institutions, but only 1 percent ground-breaking research of their distributivo-y-ampliaci%C3%B3)
of revenue to community colleges (U.S. choosing, described under the
Department of Education, 2003). While the subheading ‘Funding body grants for
revenue sources of American institutions are research’;
diverse, two sources are of particular • funding for specific research projects and
importance to most institutions: state programmes provided by the seven
appropriations, particularly for public Research Councils, which is described
institutions; and tuition and fees.
 These two sources (along with local under the subheading ‘Research grants
appropriations at community colleges and and contracts ’.
federal research grants and contracts at Research England and the Research Councils,
research universities) provide the bulk of along with Innovate UK, have formed part of UK
funds for general operating expenses. Research and Innovation (UKRI) since the
(source: passing of the Higher Education and Research
https://www.acenet.edu/Documents/Overvie Act 2017. In 2018, UKRI and the OfS signed a
w-of-Higher-Education-in-the-United-States- collaboration agreement confirming how the
Diversity-Access-and-the-Role-of-the- two organisations work together on shared
Marketplace-2004.pdf) priorities across teaching and research.
European programmes such as Horizon 2020
have been a significant source of research funds.
For example, the predecessor EU programme,
the Framework Programme for Research (FP7,
2007–2013), provided an additional 15% on top
of the UK Government’s own science and
research budget.
This March 2019 House of Commons Library
briefing provides further information on the
balance and make-up of HE funding in England,
and a summary of the changes which have taken
place since 2012.
(source: https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/national-
policies/eurydice/content/higher-education-
funding-93_en)
Admissions are by application only. Course entry requirements vary - check with the Students must have completed secondary
International students must show English university or college. Some universities will school.
proficiency. To do so, they have to take the accept professional qualifications or relevant They have to attend introductory courses
IELTS or the TOEFL. Study Experience holds work experience. Others may need: and sit for an exam at the end of it.
Admission
various partnerships with institutions • A levels (A2, AS)and GCSE exams.
requiremen
providing intensive preparation to both these • an Access to Higher Education course
ts
exams. Contact us for more information. (Student must have completed their
The application must include previous primary and secondary education)
transcripts and diplomas as well as a cover • NVQs, BTEC or other work-based
letter, a CV, and recommendation letters. qualifications
 Students are encouraged to submit their You do not need qualifications to study at the
application at least six months before the Open University - it’s open to everyone. (Open
start of classes. (source: Colleges accept students without formal
https://www.studyexperience.fr/en/study- qualification)
abroad/study-in-the-usa/the-american- (source: https://www.gov.uk/higher-education-
higher-education-system/) courses-find-and-apply)
1. Completed secondary education. (high
school diploma) Each level of education in the UK has diverse
2. Subject knowledge, which are prerequisites. An applicant needs to fulfil those
demonstrated with the help of SAT exam or set requirements in order to gain entry into the
ACT. next level of studies. International students need
3. Knowledge of English, confirmed with to have a minimal score on TOEFL/IELTS in order
certificate of TOEFL or IELTS. to obtain entry into universities and colleges of
4. The level of motivation, achievements in the UK. For more details see Standardized Test.
addition to academic success, personal (source: https://www.ukeducation.info/higher-
"compatibility" with the character of the education/types-of-degrees.html)
University. Usually students are asked to
write a motivational essay and explain why
they deserve to study at the selected
University.
(source:
https://www.educationindex.co.uk/articles/hi
gher-education-in-the-usa/undergraduate-
studies-in-the-usa/how-to-enter-bachelor-
program-in-usa/)
Grades are expressed in percentages (for The UK has a unique higher education grading In Argentina, the secondary grading
instance 60% instead of 12/20). Each system is numerical: from 1 to 10; the
percentage band corresponds to a letter: A+, system. Its most unique feature compared to minimum to pass is generally 7. O In
A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D and F. For instance, traditional grading systems is that it aims to be elementary school, there is generally a
Grading the percentage band corresponding to an A+ is more specific in describing students’ academic letter scale: outstanding (S) which is the
system 90-100%, while the one corresponding to a B maximum grade (10), Very Good (MB)
is 72-75%. For a course to be validated, achievement. that includes a grade from 7 to 9, Good (B
students must obtain a minimum average of C, This type of assessment method is highly valued ) which corresponds to a 6 and a
which corresponds to 60-63%. The average of because it offers many advantages. Most minimum to pass, regular (R) which goes
all the courses of a semester is called the Term from 4 to 5 and insufficient (I) which goes
 Grade Point Average (TGPA); this in turn will importantly it highlights your academic from 1 to 3. In universities the same
help determine the Grade Point Average method is used as for secondary school,
(GPA). (source: strengths and specific skills, therefore, it helps but in some it is approved with 4.0 as a
https://www.studyexperience.fr/en/study- employers gain a better understanding of your minimum mark and a maximum mark of
abroad/study-in-the-usa/the-american- true potential. 10.0, and in others, 6.0 or 7.0 is required.
higher-education-system/) Taking into account that the system is
Since it is proved to be such an efficient tool to logarithmic where 4 is 60% and 10 is
assess students’ performance, many foreign 100%. (source:
countries like Canada, Australia and India are https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calificaci%C
3%B3n_escolar#Argentina)
using the same grading system in some
occasions with small changes to fit into their
own local educational context.
The UK universities use a letter grade scale from
A to F to indicate their students’ academic
performance. If you get an A it means you have
shown outstanding knowledge whereas if you
get an F it means your score is not sufficient to
pass the exam.
(source: https://www.studying-in-uk.org/uk-
grading-system/)
1. Public Universities: they are state funded Higher Education includes:
Liberal Arts College
but they are fee-paying
Liberal arts colleges offer a wide range of
2. Private Universities: students are a) Universities and university institutes,
disciplines, from the humanities (literature,
charged with a tuition fee for state or private authorized, in accordance
philosophy, English, etc.) and social sciences
attendance. They are more expensive with the name established in Law No.
(psychology and sociology) to visual arts and
Types of than public universities but they have 24,521.
the hard sciences. Most liberal arts colleges
institutions better facilities. The number of students Public Universities (provincial or national
have course requirements that provide a
is smaller than public universities. universities) They are non-fee-paying
broad range of study, particularly in the first
3. Open College: they allow students to institutions, as they are funded by
two years. Students may not be expected to
study from home receiving and sending national and provincial government but
pick a major (a particular field of study) until
off tasks and exams over the internet. still are independent schools.
they have completed two years.
They are easy to enter and they offer
 technical courses to develop the b) Higher Education Institutes of national,
Community College (Junior student’s practical skills. provincial or Autonomous City of Buenos
College) Aires jurisdiction, state or private
There is some overlap between vocational management.
schools and community colleges, as the latter Private Universities (they charge students
offer similar certificate and diploma with a tuition fee; the amount of money
programs. But community colleges also offer depends on the course chosen. Their body
Associate’s degrees, which take two or more of students are smaller. Some of them
years of full-time study to earn. Some offer distance learning programmes.)
Associate’s degree programs are career-
specific, while others are broader. See a list of • Tertiary institutions (they are
Associate’s degree programs at education- vocational in nature)
portal.com. The National Validity Directorate for
In a community college, degree programs Degrees and Studies intervenes and
involve broader study and there are course manages the national validity of the
requirements outside one’s specific field of degrees and certificates corresponding to
study. Some students transfer into Bachelor’s face-to-face studies at the Initial, Primary,
degree programs after completing an Secondary and Higher levels, with the
Associate’s degree. exception of degrees and certificates
A Bachelor’s degree takes four to five years to corresponding to University studies or
complete, and for those who attended those issued by educational institutions
community college, only two or three dependent on the Universities.
additional years of study are required to (source:
complete this program. Other students enter https://www.argentina.gob.ar/educacion/
the work force after earning their Associate’s validez-titulos/glosario/superior)
degree.
Vocational School (Trade School)
Trade schools are for students who want to
pursue higher education for career
preparation, and only need a diploma or
certificate. These schools offer a fast track
into various careers without course
requirements outside of your chosen career
area.
 Private or Public University
Universities offer a wide range of degrees like
liberal arts colleges, but there are a few
differences. Though sizes vary, universities
are larger than colleges. Most importantly,
universities are distinguished from colleges
because their focus is not only on providing
education, but on generating research.
Faculty members conduct research
themselves, and universities grant advanced
degrees to students who conduct research as
well. All universities offer advanced degrees
up to the PhD (doctoral) level.
(more in:
http://www.goodchoicesgoodlife.org/choices
-for-young-people/articles-168402/ )

Several federal laws protect the education Support for students with disabilities From its origins, the public university is,
rights of people with disabilities. Universities and higher education colleges must without a doubt, inclusive. For this
How Section 504 and Title II Protect make provision for students with disabilities. reason, the extension of rights is part of
Education Rights Support provided by colleges and universities the day-to-day life of the university
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act can include: system and the inclusion of disability is an
of 1973 applies to businesses and • accommodation adapted for the needs of issue on its agenda.
groups that receive federal grants and students with disabilities Under this premise, the National
loans. • professional care staff Interuniversity Council (CIN) has an
People with Interuniversity Disability Network (RID)
• Title II of the Americans with • help from volunteers
disabilities that, in its first meeting in 2018, had a
Disabilities Act applies to public Each university or college should publish a
schools, universities, and libraries. 'disability statement' setting out how it provides meeting on the "Approach to the Deaf
• Both laws forbid discrimination support. You can ask to see a copy of this Community in Higher Education" and
against people with disabilities. They statement, as well as looking on its website to "Institutionality , organicity and
enforce the same basic standards for see details of its policies. participation, as challenges of Inclusive
students attending public schools. Higher Education 100 years after the
• Section 504 also protects students University Reform ”.
with “hidden” disabilities.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Disability advisors and learning support For the development of public policies
(IDEA) coordinators and the fulfillment of rights, it is also
IDEA applies to students in grades K-12. Every university or college has a disability essential to have information on the
• It guarantees their right to a free, advisor or learning support coordinator to help university system. To this end, the
appropriate public education. you get the most out of your time in higher Federation of University Teachers
• It calls for the creation of an education. They can tell you about the support (FEDUN) commissioned a new study from
Individualized Education Program (IEP) available, for example, equipment to help you the Center for Studies for National
for each child. study. Development, Atenea, which acquires
Students with Disabilities at College or You may find it useful to contact your university significant relevance because it makes
Technical School or college's disability adviser or disability some issues visible.
Students with disabilities preparing to attend coordinator before you make a final decision (source:
college or vocational school have rights and about where to study. It's also a good idea to go https://www.pagina12.com.ar/132299-
responsibilities. and check the institution out for yourself. universidad-inclusiva)
• Students must notify their school and When applying to a university, you don't have to
document their needs. tell them about your disability but you will need
• Schools must provide tools and to do so to get additional support or funding.
modifications to help students take Help while you're studying
part in class. For example, a school There are many things universities can do to
may offer course reading material in help students with disabilities, including:
Braille. • providing course materials in Braille and
Disability Discrimination in Education other accessible formats
If you feel a school has discriminated against • making sure buildings and facilities are
you or your child, you can: accessible
• File a complaint with the Department • encouraging flexible teaching methods
of Education's Office of Civil Rights. • providing support during exams
• Contact your state or school district. • allowing additional time to complete
(source: https://www.usa.gov/higher- courses
education) You may also need help on a day-to-day basis to
help you study. This could be someone to:
• interpret words into sign language
• take notes for you
• write down your words, for example, in
an exam
• help you overcome physical barriers
 It's worth contacting your disability advisor or
disability co-ordinator soon after you arrive at
university or college so you can find out about
the support available.
(source:
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/disability-
support-in-higher-education)
The most prestigious US universities require Top 5 universities in the UK Ranking 10 mejores universidades de
either the SAT Reasoning + 2-3 SAT Subjects 1. University of Oxford Argentina
test or the ACT with optional Writing. 10. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba
2. University of Cambridge
Here are the best colleges in the U.S. (UNC)
3. Imperial College London
• Princeton University. 9. Universidad Torcuato Di Tella
• Harvard University. 4. UCL
8. Universidad de San Andrés (UDESA)
• Columbia University. 5. London School of Economics and Political
Science 7. Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires
• Massachusetts Institute of (ITBA)
Technology. (source:
The most https://www.timeshighereducation.com/studen 6. Universidad Nacional de La Plata
• Yale University.
prestigious t/best-universities/best-universities-uk) (UNLP)
• Stanford University.
universities 5. Universidad de Belgrano (UB)
• University of Chicago.
4. Universidad Austral
• University of Pennsylvania.
(source: https://www.usnews.com/best- 3. Universidad de Palermo (UP)
colleges/rankings/national-universities) 2. Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA)
1. Universidad de Buenos Aires
(source:
https://www.buscouniversidad.com.ar/ori
entacion/mejores-universidades-de-
argentina/)