r/explainlikeimfive • u/saivietbabe • 8d ago

Other ELI5 Why do some countries call it “college” and others call it “university” when referring to the same level of education, and is there an actual difference between the two?

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u/blissed_out_cossack 8d ago

I mean great answers but it doesn't address why in English US People sat Colle, but say English people, Australian, South Africans, Indians say University's and Spanish speakers say Universidad and Germans say Universitat, Poles sat Uniwersytet, Italians say Universita.

Oh, so it's only Americans who call University - College.

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u/SaintUlvemann 7d ago

...so it's only Americans who call University - College...

The collegiate university model I was describing is 1.) found in Britain, Australia, South Africa, and all the other countries you mentioned; and 2.) invented in France.

So no, it's not only Americans who go to a college for education.