Diploma vs Bachelor: Difference and Comparison

Diplomas focus more on developing a student’s practical skills and making them industry-ready, whereas a bachelor’s degree is more comprehensive and focuses more on theoretical academic knowledge.

A diploma may be awarded by an institute, a polytechnic, or even a university. A university can only award a bachelor’s degree.

Key Takeaways

1. A diploma is a certificate that confirms the completion of a course of study, at the undergraduate level and takes 1-2 years to complete.
2. On the other hand, a bachelor’s degree is a four-year undergraduate degree that provides in-depth knowledge in a specific field of study.
3. Diplomas focus on vocational or technical skills, while bachelor’s degrees provide a broader and more theoretical education.

Diploma vs Bachelor

The difference between a Diploma and a Bachelor’s lies in the duration of each course. A diploma takes  1 to 2 years, whereas a bachelor’s degree takes 3 to 4.

Diplomas may not be internationally recognized and are not by themselves enough to propel your professional career forward.

A bachelor’s degree is internationally recognized and can help one pursue higher education or get a job.

Comparison Table

Parameter of Comparison	Diploma	Bachelor
Duration	A diploma course takes 1 to 2 years to complete and is awarded by an institute, a polytechnic or even a university.	A Bachelor’s degree takes 3 to 4 years to complete and is awarded by colleges and universities.
Nature of the course	They focus more on developing a student’s practical skills and making them industry ready. These courses first impart basic theoretical knowledge about the subject in focus and then conduct extensive practical training required in the industry. Their subjects belong to more specific fields of study.	A Bachelor’s degree covers a broader range of subjects and fields to dive deep into. Being a more comprehensive degree, it focuses more on theoretical academic knowledge.
Requirements	Entry requirements for a diploma are lower than those for a degree. To be admitted into a diploma course, one must pass the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC)/tenth standard/equivalent examination.	A student must pass the 12th standard to enrol in a bachelor’s degree program.
Awarding institution	A diploma may be awarded by an institute, a polytechnic, or even a university.	Only a university can confer a bachelor’s degree.
Impact on career	Diplomas may not be recognized internationally. One can enrol for a degree or look for jobs after completing a diploma. To pursue a higher degree after only a diploma, one must pursue a course for at least 1 or 2 more years.	After completing a bachelor’s degree, one can either move on to higher education to better their skills or look for a job. A degree awarded by an officially accredited institution is recognized internationally.

What is Diploma?

A diploma is a certificate awarded to a student by an educational institution, polytechnic or even a university upon completing a particular course.

This course takes 1 to 2 years to complete. A diploma mainly equips students with industry-ready skills based on basic theoretical knowledge.

One can enrol for a diploma course if one has passed the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC)/tenth standard/equivalent examination.

Diplomas may not be recognized internationally.

One can enrol for a degree or look for jobs after completing a diploma. To pursue a higher degree after only a diploma, one must pursue a course for at least 1 or 2 more years.

A diploma is awarded for very specific subjects like Film and Video production or even Aeronautical Engineering.

For instance, a diploma in computer science involves subjects centred on programming languages and computer hardware only.

What is a Bachelor?

A bachelor’s degree (from Modern Latin baccalaureate) is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to four years.

A Bachelor’s degree covers a broader range of subjects and fields to dive deep into. Being a more comprehensive degree, it focuses more on theoretical academic knowledge.

To pursue a bachelor’s degree, one must pass the 12th standard.

After completing a bachelor’s degree, one can either move on to higher education to better their skills or look for a job. A degree awarded by an officially accredited institution is recognized internationally.

Main Differences Between Diploma and Bachelor

1. A diploma course takes 1 to 2 years, whereas a bachelor’s degree takes 3 to 4 years.
2. A diploma may be awarded by an institute, a polytechnic or even a university.  Colleges and universities award a bachelor’s degree.
3. A diploma focuses on making students ready for the job industry. Being a more comprehensive degree, a bachelor’s degree focuses more on theoretical academic knowledge.
4. A diploma has lower entry requirements. To be admitted into a diploma course, one must pass the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC)/tenth standard/equivalent examination. For a bachelor’s degree, one must have passed the 12^th standard.
5. Diplomas may not be internationally recognized and are insufficient to build a prosperous career. A bachelor’s degree is internationally recognized and can be used to get a job or further higher education.