higher education is the study attended at universities, started after high school graduation. Complete higher education gives the student the training in a specific area, which allows the performance of a profession that requires its own training.
Higher education course improves the professional curriculum and gives more possibilities to enter the labor market. The higher level course can be taken at universities, higher education establishments or at schools offering technical courses.
Types of higher education
Higher education is not just university graduation. There are several types of higher education, classified into different levels: undergraduate and graduate (specialization, masters, doctoral and postdoctoral).
University graduate
Graduation is the course started after high school is completed. It is divided into three different types: Bachelor's, Licentiate and Technical Education.
The bachelor's and licentiate's courses have some points in common. They are usually carried out in periods of
four to six years, depending on the course, and offer extensive training in the chosen field of study.The main difference between them is in training for the job market after completing the course. The bachelor's degree allows the choice of different work options in the training area. The degree prepares the student for a career as a teacher in the chosen area, offering specific training in education.
The technical course, on the other hand, trains professionals as a technologist, giving them specific and practical knowledge about the performance of a profession. The technical course lasts an average of two to three years and gives the professional the title of technologist.
Learn more about bachelor degree and the Graduation.
After graduation is completed, higher education can continue, with courses called postgraduate: specialization, masters, doctorate and postdoctoral.
Specialization
Specialization is a type of postgraduate degree classified as sensu latu. This means that it is a course taken after graduation, specifically in one area.
It is a short postgraduate course, which usually lasts at most. two years and serves to deepen knowledge in a specific field. Completion of this course makes the professional an expert in the field.
Specialization can be very useful for professionals who do not wish to pursue a career as researchers, as it grants a specialization without as much research deepening as happens in other postgraduate courses (such as master's and doctoral degrees).
At the end of the course, the student must present a dissertation, very similar to the graduation course conclusion work (TCC).
MBA
The MBA (Master in Business Administration) is a specialization aimed at people who have graduation in the field of administration. It is a course suitable for those who intend to pursue a professional career in business administration and in other areas, such as entrepreneurship.
MBA courses are aimed at specializing in a specific area of administration, such as business, project, people or marketing management.
The MBA is of medium duration from one to two years and the student must deliver a dissertation at the end of the course. After completing the MBA, the student receives the title of Specialist.
Read more about how a MBA.
Master's degree
The Masters is the next level to the undergraduate course. It serves to deepen and continue the study in a more specific area within the training chosen at graduation. It's a graduate strictu sensu as it offers training in a specific area.
The Masters can be taken by any student who is interested in pursuing studies in their field. professional, but it is often the choice of those who intend to pursue professionally in the areas of teaching and research.
Usually a master's course lasts on average. two years and it involves a lot of reading and research activities. In the first year, subjects related to the area of in-depth study are taken. In the second year, the master's (master's student) must develop and present a dissertation, which is the final work, the result of his studies during his master's degree.
At the end of the master's degree, the researcher receives the title of Teacher.
Learn more about the meaning of Master's degree.
Doctorate degree
The doctorate, also called the PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) must be taken after the conclusion of the Masters. It is a further level of deepening in the area of study chosen by the researcher. it's a course strictu sensu which prioritizes extensive and in-depth research, making the student a researcher in the chosen area.
As with the master's, the doctorate is more aimed at those interested in research, but it can be taken by all professionals who wish to deepen their studies in a subject specific.
A doctorate usually lasts around four years, between courses taken, research and development of the thesis. But it can take longer, depending on the progress and complexity of the research carried out.
The doctoral student (who is doing the doctorate) must carry out in-depth research on the subject. In this case, the final work is called thesis and it must have an unprecedented character, that is, it must contain an innovative idea, a new form of research or another innovation in relation to the researched topic.
After completing the doctorate, the researcher receives the title of Doctor.
Post doctoral
The post-doctorate (also called post-doc) is the last stage of post-graduate studies and can only be done by those who have already obtained the title of Doctor.
Unlike the master's and doctorate, in postdoc the researcher does not attend courses and does not present a thesis. The course is entirely research-oriented, being carried out as a research internship at an institution related to the chosen field of study.
See more details about the PhD.
Difference between graduation and technical course
Higher education can be attended as an undergraduate or as a technical course. Graduation gives the professional a broader education in the chosen area.
The technical course offers a more practical preparation focused on a profession. Even though it has a shorter duration compared to graduation, the technical course is also considered higher education.
How to enter higher education?
In order to start higher education studies, the student must take the entrance exam or take the National Secondary Education Examination (AND EITHER).
In most universities in Brazil, the grade obtained in ENEM is used to define the list of those approved in higher education courses. Enrollment in courses based on ENEM grades is made through the Unified Selection System (SISU).
Also read the meanings of High school and Elementary School.
