College

The term college (Latin collegium) is most often used today to denote an educational institution. The precise usage of the term varies among English-speaking countries. However, it can be the name of any group of colleagues; originally it meant a group of people living together under a common set of rules (con-, "together" + leg-, "law"). As a consequence members of colleges were originally styled "fellows" and still are in some places.

The rest of the English-speaking world

Influenced by their origins in the British Empire, and by modern American pop culture, the rest of the English-speaking world seems to have adopted a mix of their practices.

Related Topics:
British Empire - Pop culture

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Australia

In Australia, the term "college" can refer to an institution of tertiary education that is smaller than a university, run independently or as part of a university. Following a reform in the 1980s many of the formerly independent colleges now belong to a larger university. Many private high schools that provide secondary education are called "colleges" in Australia. The term can also be used to refer to residence halls, as in the United Kingdom, but compared to the UK their tutorial programs are relatively small-scale and they do no actual teaching towards academic degrees (with the exception of one or two that host theological colleges).

Related Topics:
Australia - Tertiary education - 1980s - High school - Secondary education - Theological

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Additionally, in Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory, "college" refers to the final two years of high school (years eleven and twelve), and the institutions which provide this. In this context, "college" is a system independent of the other years of high school. (Here, the expression is a shorter version of matriculation college.) All college courses in the ACT are sanctioned by the Board of Senior Secondary Studies, or BSSS.

Related Topics:
Tasmania - Australian Capital Territory - Board of Senior Secondary Studies

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Canada

In Canada, the term "college" usually refers to a community college or a technical, applied arts, or applied science school. These are post-secondary diploma-granting institutions, but they are not universities, and typically do not grant degrees. In Quebec, it can refer in particular to CEGEP (Collège d'enseignement général et professionnel, "college of general and professional education"), a form of post-secondary education specific to the Quebec education system that is required in order to continue onto university, or to learn a trade.

Related Topics:
Canada - Community college - Post-secondary - Quebec - CEGEP - Quebec education system

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The Royal Military College of Canada is a full-fledged degree-granting university, but does not follow the naming convention used by the rest of the country.

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The term "college" also applies to separate entities within a university (usually referred to as "affiliated colleges" and "federated colleges"), akin to the residential colleges in the United Kingdom. These colleges act independently, but in affiliation or federation with the university that actually grants the degrees. For example, Trinity College was once an independent institution, but later became federated with the University of Toronto, and is now one of its residential colleges.

Related Topics:
Trinity College - University of Toronto

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It should be noted that, unlike in the United States, there is a strong distinction between "college" and "university" in Canada. In conversation one specifically would say either "I'm going to university" (i.e., studying for a three- or four-year degree at a university) or "I'm going to college" (suggesting a technical or career college). Similarly, the term "college professor" does not hold nearly the same prestige in Canada as it does in the United States (whereas "university professor" does).

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Ireland

In the Republic of Ireland, the term "college" is usually limited to an institution of tertiary education, but the term is quite generic within this field. University students often say they attend "college" rather than "university", with the term college being more popular in wider society. This is possibly due to the fact that, until 1989, no university provided teaching or research directly. Instead, these were offered by an constituent college, such as the National University of Ireland and University of Dublin — or at least in strict legal terms. A limited number of secondary education institutions use the word college to describe or name themselves.

Related Topics:
Republic of Ireland - Tertiary education - Generic - National University of Ireland - University of Dublin - Secondary education

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The state's only ancient university, the University of Dublin, is really English in its origins and, until recently, its outlook. Created during the reign of Elizabeth I, it is modeled on the universities of Cambridge and Oxford. However, only one constituent college was ever founded, hence the curious position of Trinity College, Dublin today. For a time, degrees in Dublin Institute of Technology were also conferred by the university. However, that institution now has its own degree awarding powers and is considering applying for full university status.

Related Topics:
Ancient university - University of Dublin - Elizabeth I - Cambridge - Oxford - Trinity College, Dublin - Dublin Institute of Technology

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Among more modern foundations, the National University of Ireland, founded in 1908, consisted of constituent colleges and recognised colleges until 1997. The former are now referred to as constituent universities — institutions that are essentially universities in their own right. The National University can trace its existence back to 1850 and the creation of the Queen's University of Ireland and the creation of the Catholic University of Ireland in 1854. From 1880, the degree awarding roles of these two universities was taken over by the Royal University of Ireland, which remained until the creation of the National University in 1908 and the Queen's University of Belfast.

Related Topics:
National University of Ireland - Queen's University of Belfast

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The state's two new universities Dublin City University and University of Limerick were initially National Institute for Higher Education institutions. These institutions offered university level academic degrees and research from the start of their existence and were awarded university status in 1989 in recognition of this. These two universities now follow the general trend of universities having associated colleges offering their degrees.

Related Topics:
Dublin City University - University of Limerick - National Institute for Higher Education - Academic degree - Research - 1989

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Technical education in the state was carried out in Regional Technical College network since 1970. These institutions were also tertiary level institutions, now referred to as Institutes of Technology. Initially these institutions offered only National Certificate and National Diploma courses. Now they also offer academic degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Related Topics:
Regional Technical College - 1970 - National Certificate - National Diploma - Academic degree - Undergraduate - Postgraduate

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Other types of college include Colleges of Education. These are specialist institutions, often linked to a university, which provide both undergraduate and postgraduate academic degrees for people who want to train as teachers.

Related Topics:
Undergraduate - Postgraduate - Academic degrees

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See also

• List of universities in the Republic of Ireland

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, the term "college" mostly refers to secondary schools. It is also used for some tertiary institutions (e.g. Shue Yan College, or United College of The Chinese University of Hong Kong), or a residence hall of a university (as in British usage, e.g. St. John's College of The University of Hong Kong).

Related Topics:
Hong Kong - Secondary school - The Chinese University of Hong Kong - British - The University of Hong Kong

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See also

• Education in Hong Kong

India

The term university is more common than college in India. Generally, colleges are located in different parts of a state and all of them are affiliated to a regional university. The colleges offer programmes under that university. Examinations are conducted by the university at the same time for all colleges under its affiliation. There are several hundred universities and each university has affiliated colleges.

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The first liberal arts and sciences college in India was the Presidency College, Kolkata (estd. 1817) (initially known as Hindu College). The first Missionary institution to impart Western style education in India was the Scottish Church College, Calcutta (estd. 1830). The first modern university in India was the University of Calcutta (estd. January 1857). The first research institution for the study of the social sciences and ushering the spirit of Oriental research was the Asiatic Society, (estd. 1784). The first college for the study of Christian theology and ecumenical enquiry has been the Serampore College (estd. 1818).

Related Topics:
Presidency College, Kolkata - 1817 - Scottish Church College, Calcutta - 1830 - University of Calcutta - 1857 - Oriental - Asiatic Society - 1784 - Serampore College - 1818

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The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are specialized institutions that award their own degrees. They are premier institutes in India. There are only seven of them at present.

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Of late the government has been establishing Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) as specialized centres of excellence in the rapidly emerging field of Information Technology. They have been setup to educate professionals for the booming technology oriented market.

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See also

• Universities and colleges in India
• Indian Institute of Management
• Indian Statistical Institute

Singapore

The term "college" in Singapore is generally only used for pre-university educational institutions called "Junior Colleges", which provide the final two years of secondary education (equivalent to sixth form in English terms or grades 11-12 in the American system). Since 1 January 2005, the term also refers to the three campuses of the Institute of Technical Education with the introduction of the "collegiate system", in which the three institutions are called ITE College East, ITE College Central, and ITE College West respectively.

Related Topics:
Singapore - Secondary education - 1 January - 2005 - Institute of Technical Education - ITE College East - ITE College Central - ITE College West

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The term "university" is used to describe higher-education institutions offering locally-conferred degrees. Institutions offering diplomas are called "polytechnics", while other institutions are often referred to as "institutes" and so forth.

Related Topics:
University - Polytechnic

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New Zealand

In the North Island of New Zealand the word "college" normally refers to a secondary school for ages 13 to 17 — what South Islanders generally call a high school. This is mainly due to an attempt by early settlers to imitate the English public school system. However there are a few exceptions. Christ's College, Canterbury is still in theory organised as a body of fellows, and was a college of the Universities of New Zealand and Canterbury. Wellington College also enjoys its right to be named a College by virtue of its affiliation with the former University of New Zealand. Nonetheless, many secondary schools call themselves "Someplace College" without a collegiate structure or university link.

Related Topics:
North Island - New Zealand - Secondary - South Island - High school - Public school - Christ's College, Canterbury - Fellow - New Zealand - Canterbury - Wellington College

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The constituent colleges of the former University of New Zealand (such as Canterbury University College) have become independent universities. Some halls of residence associated with New Zealand universities retain the name of "college" — particularly at the University of Otago — although official tutoring does not figure largely in their activities, save for Selwyn and Knox Colleges. The institutions formerly known as "Teacher-training colleges" now style themselves "College of education".

Related Topics:
University of New Zealand - University of Otago - Selwyn - Knox - Teacher-training college - College of education

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Essentially the pattern of usage found in the United Kingdom is followed in New Zealand (refer: Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, R.A.C. of Physicians etc.).

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