Higher Education Query - 3 year National Diploma

[Stooge]

Hi all. Been reading these forums for ages now - thought it was time to sign up and post my queries.

Query: I have a 3 year National Diploma from a Technical University after completing my 12 years of schooling - but in the DV application it only lists (that apply to me) 12 years high school, some university courses, and university degree. So what is the best option to select - "some university courses" sounds to me like I signed up and didn't finish my studies, which I did, but a diploma is not a degree! Please advise.

UPDATE: I see they now have "Some Graduate Level Courses". Do you reckon this would be the best option for my situation?

 

[Tazmania]

Some university course means you did not finished you studies yet.

but a diploma is not a degree

What else than a degree is a diploma?

 

[Stooge]

Ah - I see. Here in South Africa a diploma is a lesser qualification than a degree. Is it a different story in the US?

 

[Tazmania]

I don't know how things in SA are working. In the US you have Bachelor, Master and PhD. In Germany you finish university with a diploma and then go for a PhD (they just start to intruduce Bachelor and Master system).

 

[Stooge]

Thanks for the feedback. Here you can do a 1,2 or 3 year National Diploma (in some study fields), THEN the next level is Bachelor degree - so according to South African universities, I do not have a Bachelors Degree. What should I then select on the application - still degree? or "Some Graduate Level courses"... Thanks again for your assistance.

 

[Tazmania]

I"m not sure about what to select, but I would guess "some university courses" should fit and qualifiy you as well.

 

[Gerindo]

Ah - I see. Here in South Africa a diploma is a lesser qualification than a degree. Is it a different story in the US?

In the U.S, when someone graduate from High School, He/She will receive a "High School Diploma" NOT a "High School Degree" (no such thing). The word "diploma" refers to the actual certificate of the High School completion.

In the U.S, when someone graduate from College (2 years College, 4 years College, etc), He/She will receive a "Diploma" and a "Degree". The name of the Degree will depends on the College level that He/She completed. For example: Associate Degree, Bachelor Degree, Master Degree, Doctorate Degree. Meanwhile, the diploma will be the actual certificate that He/She received.

The word "Diploma" in the U.S english means the actual physical paper or certificate of the completion of a certain education level. It doesn't mean the level of the education. For example: "My school will send my diploma next week through the mail."

The word "Degree" in the U.S english means the level of the education that you completed in College. For example: "I will be graduating next month with a bachelor degree in Computer Science."

So, in the U.S, when you say "I got a degree", people will assume that you're a College graduate, and when you say "I got a diploma", people will assume that you have the graduation certificate. No one will know if you graduate from high school by just saying "I have a diploma". In here you need to say "I graduated High School" for people to know that you're a high school graduate.

I hope this helps. I know that U.S English could be confusing, especially when it is compared to other countries that uses the same word but different meaning.

 

[Gerindo]

UPDATE: I see they now have "Some Graduate Level Courses". Do you reckon this would be the best option for my situation?

I don't know much about education system in SA, but I know about the U.S education system. Maybe I can explain the U.S system a bit so you know which to choose.

1)Elementary School:
Kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade

2)Middle School:
5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade

3)High School:
9th grade, 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade

4)College degree:
Associate Degree (2+ years)
Bachelor Degree (4+ years) > also known as Undergraduate School

5)Advance College Degree:
Master Degree (2-3+ years) > also known as Graduate School
Doctorate Degree (2-5+ years) > also known as Phd

These education level are in the order that normally a person will recieve. Once someone graduate High School, He/She can either choose to go to a 2 years degree (Associate) or a 4 years degree (Bachelor). Someone who graduate with an Associate degree can continue to get a Bachelor Degree. But, in order for someone to continue to a Master or a Doctorate degree, He/She has to graduate with a Bachelor Degree.

 

[herrmeister0159]

Hi Gerindo,
Associate Degree is well known as Vocational School Degree.
And it's not acceptable to qualify, right?
Only Bechelor Degree or upper are qualified.

 

[Gerindo]

Hi Gerindo,
Associate Degree is well known as Vocational School Degree.
And it's not acceptable to qualify, right?
Only Bechelor Degree or upper are qualified.

No, associate degree is not a vocational school degree. You need to graduate from High School to get an Associate degree.

As far as I know, anything pass High School level is acceptable, and an Associate degree is beyond High School level. Likewise with Bachelor Degree.

Vocational school in the U.S is a substitute for the 12th grade education.

 

[Stooge]

Thanks for the info. I will then select university degree on applications: my 3 year National Diploma from University (after graduating 12 years high school) should then be roughly the equivalent of a US Associate Degree.

Thanks again for the clarification.

 

[herrmeister0159]

Hi Gerindo,
Vocational degrees
that are not considered a basis for further academic study will not
be considered equivalent to United States high school education.

Can you tell me what is the Vocational degrees? How to consider?

 

[Tazmania]

Take a look there about vocational schools http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocational_school

 

[herrmeister0159]

Hi Tazmania,
Thank you for the link. You must complete grade 12 in the US before taking the vocational school courses, right? or whoever can join vocational school?
This is my anxiety.
After I had completed grade 9, I choosed to join vocational school for 3 years which is equivalent to secondary education in my country . This certificate and credit I have was sufficient to admit the university.
I hold the Bechelor Degree with the 1st class honor in Accounting field.
I really doupt about Vocational School Degree. How to get it?

 

[Gerindo]

Hi Gerindo,
Vocational degrees
that are not considered a basis for further academic study will not
be considered equivalent to United States high school education.

Can you tell me what is the Vocational degrees? How to consider?

To make it clear. Vocational school or also known as Career College in the U.S are school that offers specialization training in specific field. So, usually after 1-2 years of study, someone who goes to Vocational school will receive a certificate in that specialization (vocational degree). A vocational degree can be taken before high school graduation or after high school graduation.

Here is where the confusion is. Most vocational schools in the U.S doesn't just offers Vocational degrees, but also Associate degrees, and sometimes Bachelor degrees.

An example of vocational degrees in the U.S are Paralegal Certifications, Nursing LPN Certifications, Project Management certification, Automotive Technician Certifications, etc. These certifications can not be use to continue to go to College.

Meanwhile, an Associate degree in the U.S are more general and mostly are used to substitute the first 2 years of undergraduate study (Bachelor degree). For example, Associate of Science degree, Associate of Arts degree, Associate of Applied Science degree, etc. These degree can be use to continue to College.

In the U.S, Associate degree is commonly used to substitute the first 2 years of the 4 years of Bachelor degree. Some States will give Associate Degree graduates a priority admission to the local State Universities. It is one way the Government encourage people to start going to College because in some ways it is cheaper to get an Associate Degree first before getting a Bachelor Degree.

I hope that's explain a bit. Associate Degree is not a Vocational Degree but it is offers by school that also offers Vocational Degrees.

 

[Sheila R Danzig]

But it is still only 3 years

The 3 year diploma will likely be challanged by USCIS as not equivalent to a US bachelor's degree. It can be shown equivalent IF you have attended 1800 classroom hours or more.

Thanks for the info. I will then select university degree on applications: my 3 year National Diploma from University (after graduating 12 years high school) should then be roughly the equivalent of a US Associate Degree.

Thanks again for the clarification.

 

[Sheila R Danzig]

Vocational degrees

The rule of thumb is that IF you could get admissions into a college or university then the vocational degree is equivalent to a US H.S. diploma. If you could not, then it is not equivalent.

Hi Gerindo,
Vocational degrees
that are not considered a basis for further academic study will not
be considered equivalent to United States high school education.

Can you tell me what is the Vocational degrees? How to consider?

 

[herrmeister0159]

The rule of thumb is that IF you could get admissions into a college or university then the vocational degree is equivalent to a US H.S. diploma. If you could not, then it is not equivalent.

Thank you Sheila R Danzig
Now I just truly understand my country's education system. In my country, there are 2 type of high school:
1. High School in General
2. High School in Vocational
Both can qualify to admit to the university if pass all subject and minimum GPA. and takes at least 3 years to finish after grade 9.
I confused about vocational degree states that not qualify for dv but now I think I own high school certificate in vocational and it also consider a normal high school certificate (not equivalent to High School certificate).
And also, I got a Bachelor Degree with 1st class honor. I think I will not have any problem with this concern.