four-year university

[/ˈfɔr jɪr ˌjuːnɪˈvɜrsɪti/]
nounpl: four-year universities
universidade de quatro anos
1. An institution of higher education that offers undergraduate bachelor's degree programs typically completed in four academic years
She decided to attend a four-year university instead of starting at a community college.
Ela decidiu frequentar uma universidade de quatro anos em vez de começar em um colégio comunitário.
2. A college or university that requires four years of full-time study to earn a bachelor's degree
Most four-year universities in the United States offer housing on campus for their students.
A maioria das universidades de quatro anos nos Estados Unidos oferece moradia no campus para seus alunos.
In the United States, the four-year university is the traditional pathway to a bachelor's degree and is deeply embedded in American educational culture. It contrasts with the community college model, which offers a more affordable entry point for the first two years. In Brazil, the equivalent would be traditional public universities (like USP, UNICAMP) or private universities offering degree programs (cursos de graduação), though the structure differs from the US system.
NYC Slang
four-year school
Synonyms / Sinônimos
four-year collegebachelor's degree institutionuniversityundergraduate university
Antonyms / Antônimos
community collegejunior collegetwo-year collegetechnical school

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
universidade de quatro anos
Standard term used throughout Brazil for US-style four-year universities
São Paulo
universidade de quatro anos / universidade tradicional
Commonly used alongside references to UNESP, USP, and other major institutions
Portugal
universidade de licenciatura / curso de licenciatura (3-4 anos)
Portuguese higher education system differs; uses 'licenciatura' for bachelor's degrees typically lasting 3-4 years

Related Words

bachelor's degreeundergraduatehigher educationcampusenrollmentgraduation

Related Idioms & Phrases

go to a four-year university
attend four-year university
get into a four-year university
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