Postgraduate Programs Abroad

The first level is the undergraduate degree, known as a "Bachelor's degree" in English-speaking countries (Bachelor of Arts, B.A., or Bachelor of Science, B.Sc.) and as a "licenciatura" in European and Latin American countries.

Degree programs at this level typically last 3–4 years, and graduates can go on to pursue graduate studies.

The second level of higher education, at the graduate level, is the master's degree. Master's programs typically last two academic years. There are different types.

The first group is research-oriented, such as the “Master of Science” (MSc), “Master of Philosophy,” or “Master of Arts”; the titles vary by country and field of study.

All master's programs in this group typically require a final thesis.

Another group of master’s programs is geared toward professional practice and serves as a complement to or extension of undergraduate studies (for example, the MBA in Business Administration and the MArch in Architecture).

These master's programs typically include courses and, in some cases, a final project, but not necessarily a thesis. They may also include other activities, such as field trips or internships at companies or other organizations.

A doctoral degree is the highest level of university education and aims to train researchers capable of generating new knowledge. It typically takes four years or more to complete, and the most common degree awarded is the PhD.

In many countries, such as the United States, the program combines coursework with a thesis. To proceed to the thesis phase, students must pass a qualifying exam. The thesis, which is a major undertaking, must contribute new knowledge and is formally defended before a committee.

The duration of a doctoral program varies depending on how long the research takes. An academic advisor guides the student through the program and determines when the dissertation is ready to be submitted. At some universities, it is possible to enter a doctoral program directly after completing a bachelor’s degree or to transfer from a master’s program.

In addition to the two graduate degree levels, there are shorter programs. One notable example is the one-year diploma programs. Often, the courses in these programs can be applied toward a master’s degree or even a doctorate.

Yes. Since Universidad ORT Uruguay is Universidad ORT Uruguay officially recognized institution of higher education, graduates of its undergraduate programs may be admitted to a graduate program at any institution, without the need for specific agreements with the foreign institution.

Most university graduates who have completed or are currently pursuing graduate studies abroad chose institutions with which we do not have agreements.

This has happened, among other reasons, because there are many other important factors involved in the decision besides the agreements (such as the language of instruction, geographic location, field of study, the focus of the graduate program, specific aspects of the chosen institution, the presence of friends or family members near the institution, etc.).

These agreements facilitate collaborative activities between the institutions.

As for students and graduates, agreements regarding graduate programs generally limit themselves to designating points of contact at the institutions to resolve any issues that may arise during the admission or student exchange process.

In some cases, the agreements outline detailed procedures for credit transfer or tuition reductions.

The existence of the agreement means that some form of collaboration has taken place or is currently underway, and that there is a personal connection at the other institution.

No. Agreements never guarantee a student’s admission to a graduate program when the chosen institution has a selective admissions process.

Admission is based on each university's criteria and depends more on each student's individual qualifications (such as their GRE and TOEFL scores, their GPA, and other factors) than on their previous institution.

Universidad ORT Uruguay the same criteria when admitting international students to its graduate programs.

In general, you should first consider your goals and constraints (e.g., your desired field of study and the top institutions in that field; your preferred country or city, or where an international scholarship program can cover your tuition and living expenses; the languages you speak; and whether you have friends or family near the institution), and within those parameters, determine which institution and program of study are best suited to help you achieve your goals.

There are significant differences between the university systems of different countries and in the availability of scholarships for graduate studies.

It is not possible to provide a complete list, but you should check with the following organizations: AECID (Spain), the British Council (United Kingdom), DAAD (Germany), the Fulbright Commission (United States), and the embassy of your destination country.

In very rare cases, an outstanding student may be able to secure some form of scholarship or financial aid directly from the host university.

In general, this is only recommended for students with an excellent GPA and a perfect command of the language of the host country.

The traditional graduate programs are the Ph.D., which is a long-term program (3 or more years) with an academic focus, and master’s degrees, which can have either an academic or professional focus and typically take two years to complete.

There are also other graduate programs that are shorter in duration and less demanding (for example, one-year diplomas or certificates that take less than a year to complete).

In general, it is not advisable to transfer to another institution in the middle of a degree program, except for very compelling reasons (for example, when the entire family moves out of the country).

Although there are no regulatory obstacles to transferring to an institution abroad, the receiving institution will generally not accept more than 50% of your coursework, even if you have passed equivalent courses accounting for more than 50% of your curriculum.

This is due to a number of factors: the regulations of each country and university, differences in curricula, differences in the focus of various university systems, or even differences in the names and profiles of professions across different countries.

Since academic systems and curricula vary by country and university, students who transfer midway through their degree program will likely have to spend additional years in school compared to what they would have if they had completed their degree at their home institution.

In general, the further along you are in your degree program, the less advantageous it is to transfer. If a student has successfully completed the second year of their undergraduate program, it will almost certainly be in their best interest to finish their degree at their original institution.

In all programs, the earned bachelor’s degree will be recognized as a valid prerequisite for graduate study (in the relevant field), thereby avoiding the need to take additional courses and the resulting delays and costs.

Most likely, you won't be able to, especially at top-tier institutions.

Your class schedule, the workload expected of a graduate student, and the way the institution operates (such as administrative hours or the hours of the labs and libraries) won’t allow it.

A few institutions offer short-term evening graduate programs (one year or less), but these are the exception rather than the rule.

Legal considerations must also be taken into account: student visas typically do not allow for paid work in many countries.