For years now, many people have been asking questions about the difference between University and Polytechnic, that is the advantages and disadvantages of obtaining a university degree verses a polytechnic qualification. Till today, This argument is still ongoing, so because of that, Lanegist.com is going to explain in details the main difference between Universities and polytechnics qualifications and also explain why you may want to consider getting one over the other. We will also be listing some of the benefits of having a polytechnic and University qualification and how it can benefit you.
Difference between University and Polytechnic
University
In comparing the two, let’s first start with the University.
Universities are bigger and more selective than polytechnics. What we mean by bigger is that they offer a wider range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses and may sometimes have better research facilities.
While the Polytechnics provide vocational education and training, with a focus on practical skills. They tend to be smaller, with more flexible course programs that are designed to help students to also achieve their career goals.
This explanation given above is the main difference between the Universities and Polytechnics, but we will still be looking at more differences between the two.
Polytechnic
A polytechnic is a type of higher educational institution in that offers technical and vocational education and training. They differ from universities because they offer courses leading to qualification as engineers, architects, nurses, scientists or technologists.
Not that the University don’t offer the courses mentioned above but in the practical aspects, you can give it up to Polytechnics.
Even with this, sometimes you will notice that some of our men likes apply for University instead of the Polytechnics, the reason is because they feel like there are more advantages in having a university certificate than having that of the Polytechnic. So now let’s look at the Advantages of University over polytechnic.
Advantages of University over Polytechnic
A university is a much more comprehensive educational institution than a polytechnic. Universities offer undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral degrees while polytechnics only offer undergraduate degrees. Universities also have more research opportunities and are better equipped to provide world class education compared to polytechnics.
Another major advantage of universities over polytechnics is the availability of courses offered. Universities has a much wider range of courses to choose from, while polytechnic are limited to the courses that are available in your field of study.
University degrees tend to be more valuable than those from a polytechnic, and some employers may prefer job applicants with a degree from a university rather than one from a polytechnic. Finally, most universities have large student populations which ensures that there is always plenty of support available if you need it.
Disadvantages of University over Polytechnic
University students face many disadvantages when compared to their polytechnic Students. These disadvantages are as follows:
1) University students often have less work experience than polytechnic students because they are not much involved in practicals.
2) University graduates tend to earn more than those who obtain a diploma from a polytechnic institution.
3) There is generally more emphasis on research at university than in polytechnics.
4) University courses are sometimes longer and more demanding than those offered at polytechnics.
5) University degrees are usually of higher quality than those earned from polytechnics.
If you want to pursue a higher education and want the best possible chance of getting into a higher institution, it’s important to know the difference between universities and a polytechnics so to know the best one for you.
One thing you should know is that Universities are more selective when it comes in their admissions process, and they sometimes,they offer better school fees and other benefits than polytechnics. However, many students who attend universities end up pursuing degrees that are not specific to their chosen field of study, whereas many polytechnic graduates find work in fields that they graduated at.
