Difference Between Degree and Diploma

Both, degree and diploma are recognitions conferred to a person on the successful completion of an educational course. However, there are a lot of differences between both the terms and neither can be used in place of the other.

To understand the difference between a degree and a diploma, we first need to know what a university is, what AICTE is, and the role of University Grants Commission (UGC) in India.

University

A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a number of courses.

UGC

UGC stands for University Grants commission. UGC was established in November 1956 as a statutory body of the Government of India for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of university education in India. All cases pertaining to the allocation of grants-in-aid from public funds to the Central Universities and other Universities and Institutions of higher learning might be referred to the University Grants Commission.

AICTE

What UGC is to universities, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is to private institutes that impart technical education. The body works towards qualitative improvement of technical education, implementation and proper maintenance of norms and standards in technical education system.

Degree

What is a degree?

A degree course is usually a 3 to 4 year long educational course that lays emphasis on academics. For example, B.Com (H) is a 3 year degree course that deals with subjects like accountancy, economics and business studies; B.Tech is a 4 year degree course that teaches subjects like physics, chemistry and maths, apart from the subject one plans to major in, and MBBS is a 5 and half year long degree course that teaches the general aspects of medicine.

Who can confer a degree?

Only a university can confer a degree. To pursue higher education, a degree from only a UGC approved university is accepted. AICTE approved private institutes are affiliated to UGC approved universities. In case a person passes out from an AICTE approved private institute affiliated to a UGC approved university, he still gets the degree of the university.

Example: There are many AICTE approved private colleges under Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, but after the completion of the course, the student does not get a degree of the institute, he gets a degree of the university, in this case, Guru Gobind Singh Indraparastha University.

Curriculum

The curriculum is designed in a way that it provides an overview of many subjects, other than the one a taker may be interested in. For example, in an engineering degree course for Computer Science, the first year focuses on subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Electrical Engineering, Mechanics, and Engineering Drawing apart from languages like C and COBOL; the subsequent years also have subjects like Digital Electronics and Analog Electronics. Typically, there is one subject that you major in, called the specialization whereas other subjects are called electives.

Scope

After a degree course, you can go for higher education to better your skills or look for a job in your field. For example, after a B.Com (H) degree, you can go for a job in accounting or finance, or go for a masters in business administration or M.Com.

Eligibility

A person must be an HSC or equivalent, to pursue a bachelor’s degree. While, for a master’s degree, a person must have a bachelor’s degree.

Diploma

What is a Diploma?

A diploma course is a short term course (usually 1 to 2 years in duration) that focuses on training a person in a particular field.

Who can confer a diploma?

An institute, a polytechnic or even a university can offer a diploma course. There is no need for the institute or the university to be UGC or AICTE approved.

Curriculum

The course is designed in a way such that, the person gets the basic theoretical knowledge about the course, apart from the extensive practical training needed in the job industry. For this purpose, a lot of diploma courses have on job trainings and apprenticeship or focus more on practical exams. For example, a diploma in Computers involves subjects centered on programming languages and computer hardware only.

Scope

After a diploma, you can either enroll yourself for a bachelors degree course or look for jobs. For example, in universities like Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, you can enroll yourself for B.Tech in Computer Science, after you complete your diploma course. In that case, you will be directly given admission in second year. It is generally very difficult to get an admit to a higher degree, after a diploma course only. For that, you need to pursue a course for at least 1 or 2 more years, after your diploma.

Eligibility

A person can enroll for a diploma course even after class 10, then, there are diploma courses that require the candidate to be HSC passout. Diploma courses at masters level require the candidate to have a graduate degree, for example MBA courses.

Degree	Diploma
A degree course is usually a 3 to 4 year long course conferred by a UGC recognised university, after the completion of a course. An institute can not confer a degree.	A diploma is a short term course, lasting 1 or 2 years, and is not necessarily given by a university, but by an institute or a polytechnic as well.
Only a university can confer a degree. To pursue higher education, a degree from only a UGC approved university is accepted.	An institute, a polytechnic or even a university can offer a diploma course. There is no need for the institute or the university to be UGC or AICTE approved.
Typically, there is one subject that you major in, called the specialization whereas other subjects are called electives.	A diploma is a specific academic award usually awarded in professional/vocational courses.
According to industry professionals, a degree holder is preferred over a diploma holder in the same field.	The relative importance of a diploma, when compared to a degree course is less.
Degree programs give more in-depth knowledge and potentially start you at a higher level.	Diploma programs provide education within your given field and get you into the work force sooner.