Graduate Diploma vs Diploma
The difference between graduate diploma and diploma can be unclear since different countries assign various significance to them. Generally, the term diploma refers to a certification from a college or university that testifies that a student has successfully completed a course. The term diploma is common worldwide, although different countries attach different importance to diplomas. Another term that confuses many is graduate diploma, as they find it difficult to differentiate between the two. This article aims to explore the differences between diploma and graduate diploma to help students choose the right kind of certification for higher studies. In general, the difference between a diploma and a graduate diploma is that while a diploma can be taken at any stage of one’s career, such as a diploma in beauty treatments, a graduate diploma is pursued after completing an undergraduate course.
Key Takeaways
- A diploma is considered to have less value and significance than a bachelor’s degree, as it is of shorter duration and does not cover subjects in-depth like full-time bachelor’s degree courses.
- In countries like the US, diplomas are considered certifications of qualification in vocational courses such as nursing or pharmacy.
- A graduate diploma is typically taken after completing an undergraduate course and allows students to progress to a master’s degree course more easily.
What is a Diploma?
A diploma is usually considered to have less value and significance than a bachelor’s degree. This is because it is shorter in duration and does not cover subjects in-depth like full-time bachelor’s degree courses. However, in countries like the US, diplomas are considered certifications of qualification in vocational courses such as nursing or pharmacy. The term Diploma is used differently in various countries. Sometimes, it is used for academic qualifications, and sometimes for vocational qualifications, as in the US. In Australia, a diploma can mean three things: an advanced level course equivalent to a few years of a bachelor’s degree course with equal professional status, a graduate diploma taken after completing a degree at an undergraduate level, or a type of post-graduate diploma. In the US, high schools offer High School Diplomas.
What is a Graduate Diploma?
To understand a graduate diploma, consider a student who has completed their undergraduate course in arts and wishes to add a qualification to their name but is not keen on pursuing a full-time graduate-level course. If they enroll in a post-graduate diploma in management studies, they increase their chances of absorption into industries where management-qualified candidates may be preferred over undergraduates. Alternatively, such a diploma helps a student prepare for a master’s degree in the subject of the diploma. Thus, a student with a diploma in management can pursue a master’s degree in management if they desire after obtaining their graduate diploma.
A graduate diploma allows a student to go into higher studies at the master’s level without having received Honors along with a Bachelor’s degree. This is particularly the case in countries like Australia. In Canada, successful completion of a graduate diploma allows a student to progress automatically into a master’s degree course, with the ability to transfer credits obtained in the graduate diploma course.
What is the difference between Graduate Diploma and Diploma?
- While a diploma is a general certification in any field of study, a graduate diploma is undertaken after completing an undergraduate course and allows one to progress to a master’s degree course more easily.
- A diploma helps people acquire additional skills in their career and assists in career advancement. Diplomas in nursing or management are examples of such certifications. A graduate diploma helps people continue to a master’s level without much trouble.
- The situation becomes confusing when the word diploma is used to refer to certification at the end of higher studies in the US. In the US, at the end of high school, one is awarded a High School Diploma. In India, a diploma refers to an academic award given for vocational or professional qualifications.
- A diploma is of shorter duration than a full-time bachelor’s degree course and carries lesser significance and value than a degree. However, this may be different in various countries. Regardless, a graduate diploma is generally considered a higher-value qualification than a diploma.
In summary, a graduate diploma is usually pursued after a bachelor’s degree, while a diploma can be studied immediately after secondary education.
