Confusing Words: Degree (noun) and Diploma (noun)
Meaning:
Degree (the amount, level, or extent to which something happens or is present.)
Diploma (a document given by an educational institution conferring a degree on a person or certifying that the person has satisfactorily completed a course of study.)
Degree vs Diploma Clarification: These are two different awards given by the education section and can not be used interchangeably.
Degree vs. Diploma – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?
Both of these words are academic words. It means that they are related to educational sector. However, there are a few differences between them that you should remember. Mixing them up will cause a great confusion among listeners or readers. Let me discuss it one by one.
Degree
A degree is an award which is given by recognized colleges and universities. After a successful completion of a particular program, a college or a university award a degree to the candidates.
For example, an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, or a Ph.D. degree. These four programs are the main types of a degree.
There is a difference between such kinds of a degree. For instance, an associate’s degree is a degree program mainly of two years whereas; a bachelor’s degree is a four-year degree program. On the other hand, a master’s degree can be started after completing a bachelor’s degree. It is also named as a post-graduate degree program.
Apart from all of the above degree programs, a Ph.D. degree can be done with an intensive research that is why, it carries more than four years. It can be completed in four years as well. A Ph.D. is a doctorate degree in any discipline.
Diploma
A diploma programme is based on a particular course and is just like a certificate that is issued by the educational institutions.
Unlike a degree, a diploma does not take a long time to be completed. It takes almost two-years or sometimes less than it. An institute that provides a diploma programme does not need to be a recognized or an approved institute like a university or a college. This particular award is usually based on vocational courses.
For instance, a person takes this course in order to get him/her trained or qualified in a particular area. So, it means that this particular program provides you an education within your given field.
Do not think about a diploma that it is, actually, a certificate. A certificate is different as it does not lead to a diploma. You can get a certificate after completing a single course as it does not require a long time to be completed. So, we can say that certificates are very specialized. A certificate is more specific than a diploma, which takes a very less time to be finished.
Check Out: How Do We Write Academic Degree In AP Style?
What Did You Learn?
Degrees and diplomas are not similar. Though, they are awards given by educational sectors but they are not interchangeable. The importance of a diploma is comparatively less than a degree.
Degree: It is a proper course of study, usually a 3 to 4 years long, which is given by a recognized university or college. Diploma: It is a course mainly of one or two years long. It is basically a short term course.