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What is the difference between a University and a HE college

Just curious
One has university status, and the other does not, is probably the easiest difference to point out.

Generally universities are focused on academic research, and also provide undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes in support of funding that research along with research programmes (both PhDs and for career academics after their PhD). An HE college will normally be primarily focused on teaching, and so will provide taught programmes but fewer research opportunities.

A corollary of these features is that usually teaching at a university is done by a research academic who will typically have limited if any formal training in teaching and pedagogy, while in an HE college you will likely mainly be taught by professional teachers who also teach school students etc, who have relevant qualified teacher status.

Also generally speaking universities will offer a variety of traditionally academic subjects as well as potentially more applied or vocational subjects, whereas HE colleges usually focus more on the latter courses and have fewer of the former (and fewer options within them).
Reply 2
Original post by artful_lounger
One has university status, and the other does not, is probably the easiest difference to point out.

Generally universities are focused on academic research, and also provide undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes in support of funding that research along with research programmes (both PhDs and for career academics after their PhD). An HE college will normally be primarily focused on teaching, and so will provide taught programmes but fewer research opportunities.

A corollary of these features is that usually teaching at a university is done by a research academic who will typically have limited if any formal training in teaching and pedagogy, while in an HE college you will likely mainly be taught by professional teachers who also teach school students etc, who have relevant qualified teacher status.

Also generally speaking universities will offer a variety of traditionally academic subjects as well as potentially more applied or vocational subjects, whereas HE colleges usually focus more on the latter courses and have fewer of the former (and fewer options within them).

Thank you

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