Baccalaureate

Baccalaureate is a term used in education with two principal meanings that vary by country. It derives from medieval Latin baccalaureatus, related to the idea of a bachelor or first degree and later came to denote the degree or the certification associated with it.

In many English-speaking contexts, the word baccalaureate most often refers to a bachelor’s degree, the undergraduate academic credential such as a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.). The degree typically represents the completion of a prescribed program of study lasting about three to four years, though requirements and duration vary by country and institution.

In several European and other national systems, baccalaureate denotes a high school leaving examination or certificate that allows admission to higher education. The French Baccalauréat, for example, is the national end-of-secondary-school exam whose successful completion grants access to universities in France and many other countries. Similar uses occur in other nations with their own versions of a final-year examination, sometimes called bacalaureat, bachillerato, or equivalent in translation, each tied to national or regional education structures.

Other related uses include the European Baccalaureate, issued by the European Schools for students completing their multilingual programs, and the general concept of a graduation day or baccalaureate service, a commemorative ceremony held for graduates in some schools.

Overall, baccalaureate encompasses both a degree designation in higher education and the name of national or regional secondary-school exit credentials, reflecting its historical ties to the first level of academic achievement.