Higher education opportunities in Canada and the U.S. abound, but how can you determine which type of school and program is right for you? Read on to sort out the terminology between the two countries and discover higher ed that suits your needs.

Higher Education in Canada
In Canada, higher education institutions consist of universities; university colleges; community colleges, technical institutes, and career colleges; and CÉGEPs (in Quebec). There is a distinction between universities, which award academic degrees, and colleges, which award diplomas, certificates, and applied degrees.

Universities in Canada offer bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. Bachelor's degree programs take about four years to complete. Master's degree programs generally require at least one year of full-time study, including a thesis, practicum, or research paper. Doctoral degree programs require at least three years of full-time study, at least one of which must be spent on campus.

University colleges in Canada offer the same kinds of degrees that universities do, plus applied degree programs and career-oriented diplomas and certificates. Applied degree programs take about four years to complete and combine the academic focus of a university degree with the practical skills learned in college. Practical diploma and certificate programs can last one to three years. University transfer programs are also available when students complete the first two years of a degree program at a university college or community college and complete the final two years at a university.

Canadian community colleges, technical institutes, and career colleges offer vocationally oriented professional diploma programs lasting one to three years (including a work term). Students in Quebec may enroll in a College of General and Vocational Education (CÉGEP), which offers two-year general transition programs as well as three-year technical transition programs to university or to work.

Higher Education in the United States
Higher education institutions in the United States include colleges, universities, and community/junior colleges. Career colleges and vocational-technical schools, which are geared toward short-term certificate and diploma programs that lead to entry-level careers, are another postsecondary option.

The distinction between colleges and universities in the U.S. can be muddled. In general, colleges are smaller, more residential, and more focused on the liberal arts. Universities are larger, more research-oriented institutions that may consist of several colleges on the same campus. Universities must offer graduate programs, though this is not a requirement for colleges.

Undergraduate degrees in the U.S. consist of associate degrees and bachelor's degrees. Associate degrees, which may be offered at any higher education institution, typically require two years to complete. Community and junior colleges are best known for awarding associate degrees, and many students choose to transfer their community college credits to a four-year college or university. Bachelor's degree programs are designed to take four years of full-time study to complete, though some students take five or six years.

In the United States, graduate degrees, or master's degrees, usually take two to four years to complete. Postgraduate degrees, or doctoral degrees, usually require three to seven years to complete and may include a thesis or dissertation component. Some doctoral programs, such as medicine and psychology, require formal internships and residencies after graduation. Master's degrees and doctoral degrees may be either academic or professional in nature.  

No matter which program, school, or country you choose, get ready to take advantage of top-notch higher education opportunities.