U.S. vs. Indian Education Systems

The undergraduate and graduate programs in the U.S. are quite different.   In general, many programs that are deemed as undergraduate in India, may well require higher graduate study in the U.S.  For example, students interested in pursuing medical and legal careers in the U.S. must first complete an undergraduate Bachelor’s degree and then pursue the M.D. or J.D. degrees needed to practice medicine or law.  In India, students pursue these fields of study as undergraduates and then go straight into the professions.

Bachelor’s degrees in the U.S. are, for the most part, completed in four years and are broad based in approach.   All students, whether they are studying mechanical engineering or French Literature, complete a general list of courses in the Liberal Arts- including coursework in areas such as English Composition, Mathematics, Social Science, and Art.   In India, Bachelor’s degrees may be either three or four year degrees and are often much more focused in the area of specific study.

The grading and testing approach in the United States follows a different standard as well.  Students are obliged to learn a wide range of concepts and ideas, but are tested on a smaller percentage of material.  As a result, the students are expected to show a high degree of mastery of that material.  Sixty percent is the minimum passing grade in most U.S. undergraduate courses, with most universities insisting on an average of 70% or better to remain in good standing. 

In India, students are tested on a broader range of data and need a smaller percentage to pass the course.  Students in India may also retake tests to clear their backlogs.  There are no backlogs in the United States.  If a student fails to achieve a passing grade at the end of a semester he or she earns a fail and must completely retake the course.  At the graduate level, failure is often grounds for dismissal from the program.