chinoise

In Hong Kong, it's 22-23. Now the duration of a first degree study is 3 years, which will be changed to 4 years very soon. I think in the UK one graduates much earlier, but in France and in US one graduates at a later age, and I think many people in the US study a second degree before start working. Could people from other countries talk about their education systems? Thanks.

chinoise

Nobody answers? I'd like to know about the diff systems in diff countries, not just the age.

Lina

Well, it depends on what you call a graduation.

In France, the "baccalauréat" is considered the first degree, though it isn't passed at university. Thus, it can be said that the first degree is passed at more or less 18 here.

But if you only talk about degrees passed at university, the first one is the "licence" after 3 year studies, at more or less 21 then. But it's far from been sufficiant if you want to have quite a good job, so you usually have to go on until you pass your "master", 2 years later, i.e. at 23.

Last stage after that : "doctorat", but you have to write a thesis to pass it.

sflor

Hello Chinoise!

In Portugal we´ve three degree studies... depending on the fact that we´re talking about College/University degrees:

First degree - "Licenciatura": 4 years plus 1 year, which is called "Estágio" a kind of a "Graduate Training Course" or a specialisation in a particular field.

Second degree: "Mestrado": 1 or 2 years at least, it´s the equivalent of "Master´s Degree". (We learn a lot with it and it´s a rewarding experience).

Third degree:"Doutoramento": 3 or 4 years... I´m not sure... which corresponds to "Doctoral" and we´ve to do a "tese de doutoramento" (doctoral thesis).

See you!

sflor

__________________
The hard way is the right way.

chinoise

Thanks very much, Lina and sflor,

The system here in HK is similar to that in Portugal, people start studying for their bachelor's degree in university at 18/19, then graduate at 21/22. The duration of the bachelor's degree is 3 years, but will be changed to 4 years at 2008. In turn, the existing secondary school system will be changed from 7 to 6 years. The new system is called 三， 三， 四 （3， 3， 4）， 3 years of junior secondary, 3 years of high school, 4 years of bachelor's degree, in order to conform to the more common system using in most countries. I've given it a nickname "改三改四"， meaning changing from this to that every now and then, going to nowhere, which is the real eduaction system and norm here.

Few people here would go for a master and doctor's degree, except if it's a sponsored and paid one, i.e. the student gets a real generous salary apart from the free tuition, or if they're studying business subjects, like MBA. Most master and doctor's degree graduates may be discriminated because they're OVER- EDUCATED. Anyway, master degrees apart from business subects are not the norm here. If you have a doctor's degree, you can't get any job except teaching in a university.

Btw, I've seen people ask, ARE FRENCH UNIVERSITIES FREE FOR FOREIGNERS? is it possible for a foreinger to be accepted into a French university where classes are instructed in French? Does that mean that person must master French REALLY WELL?

Lina

French universities are open to foreigners, but they, of course, have to speak French : if they don't understand anything of what is said, it will be quite hard for them to learn anything...

There are several ways to come and study here : ERASMUS, convention with a university, ...etc. I don't think it's difficult... as far as you speak French of course.

Here is the link to the site of Paris IV Sorbonne : Site officiel de l’université Paris IV Sorbonne . It's in French, but there's an English and a Spanish version. It may seem hard, but it's because it's one of the most famous French universities, so there are many people who want to study here. It must be easier with another university, especially those out of Paris.

chinoise

Thanks very much, Lina. I've heard that French local people do not have to pay for university tution fee. Is this true? Do foreign students have to pay for the tuiton? Thanks.