Student

A "student" is a learner or someone who attends an educational institution. In the United Kingdom, those attending university are termed "students" while "pupil" refers to an attendee of a lower educational institute; the same was typically true in the United States previously where student was considered a more lofty and ambitious title, one who was actively seeking knowledge, not just learning it because they were required to. In the United States, and more recently also in the UK, the term "student" is applied to both categories: school and university students. In its widest use, student is used for anyone who is learning, including mid-career adults who are taking vocational education or returning to university. When speaking about learning outside an institution, "student" is also used to refer to someone who is learning a topic or who is "a student of" a certain topic or person. In the widest sense of the word, a student is anyone seeking to learn or to grow by experience, such as a student of the School of Hard Knocks.

Chilean school students during a class photograph, 2002

Africa

Nigeria

In Nigeria, education is classified into four system known as 6-3-3-4 system of education. It implies six years in primary school, three years in junior secondary, three years in senior secondary and four years in the university. However, the number of years to be spent in university is mostly determined by the course of study. Some courses have longer study length than others. Those in primary school are often referred to as pupils. Those in university, as well as those in secondary school, are being referred to as students.

The Nigerian system of education also has other recognized categories like the polytechnics and colleges of education. The polytechnic gives out National Diploma and Higher National Diploma certifications after a period of two years and/or four years of study respectively.

Higher National Diploma (also known as HND) can be obtained in a different institution from where the National Diploma (also known as ND or OND) was obtained. However, the HND cannot be obtained without the OND certificate.

On the other hand, colleges of education give out NCE (Nigerian Certificate in Education) after a two year period of study.

South Africa

In South Africa, educations follows a 3-4-5-4. This mean three years in primary school, four years in junior secondary, five years on senior secondary and four years in university. The amount of years spent in university can vary as different courses of study take different numbers of years. Those in the last year of high school (Grade 12) are referred to as 'Matrics' or are in 'Matric' and take the Matric IEB examinations towards the end of the school year. A school year for majority of schools in South Africa runs from January to December, with holidays dividing the year into terms. Most public or government schools are 4-term schools and most private schools are 3-term school, but 3-term government or public schools and 4-term private schools aren't rare

Asia

Singapore

Six years of primary school education in Singapore is compulsory.

Primary School (Primary 1 to 6)
Secondary School ( Secondary 1 to 4 or 5)
Junior College (Junior College 1 to 2 - Optional)

There are also schools which have the integrated program, such as River Valley High School (Singapore), which means they stay in the same school from Secondary 1 to Junior College 2, without having to take the "O" level examinations which most students take at the end of Secondary school.

International Schools are subject to overseas curriculums, such as the British, American, Canadian or Australian Boards.

Bangladesh

Primary education is compulsory in Bangladesh. It's a near crime to not to send children to primary school when they are of age. But it is not a punishable crime (sending children to work instead of school is a crime). Because of the socio-economic state of Bangladesh, child labour is sometimes legal. But the guardian must ensure the primary education. Everyone who is learning in any institute or even online may be called student in Bangladesh. Sometimes students taking undergraduate education is called undergraduates and students taking post-graduate education may be called post-graduates.

Education System Of Bangladesh:

Educational Level	Grade	Age
Primary (elementary school)	1 to 5	6 to 10
Junior Secondary (middle school)	6 to 8	11 to 13
Secondary (high school)	9 to 10	14 to 15
Higher Secondary (college / university)	11 to 12	16 to 17

Brunei

Education is free in Brunei. Darussalam not limited to government educational institutions but also private educational institutions. There are mainly two types of educational institutions: government or public, and private institutions. Several stages have to be undergone by the prospective students leading to higher qualifications, such as Bachelor's Degree.

Primary School (Year 1 to 6)
Secondary School (Year 7 to 11)
High School (Year 12 to 13)
Colleges (Pre-University to Diploma)
University Level (Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Professional)

It takes six and five years to complete the primary and secondary levels respectively. Upon completing these two crucial stages, students/pupils have freedom to progress to sixth-form centers, colleges or probably straight to employment. Students are permitted to progress towards university level programs in both government and private university colleges.

Cambodia

Education in Cambodia is free for all the students who study in Primary School, Secondary School or High School.

Primary School (Grade 1 to 6)
Secondary School (Grade 7 to 9)
High School (Grade 10 to 12)
College (Year 1 to 3)
University (Year 1 to 4 or 5)

After basic education, students can opt to take a bachelor's (undergraduate) degree at a higher education institution (i.e. a college or university), which normally lasts for four years though the length of some courses may be longer or shorter depending on the institution.

India

Girls in school uniform in Delhi, India

In India school is categorized in these stages: Pre-primary (Nursery, Lower Kindergarten or LKG, Upper Kindergarten or UKG), Primary (Class 1-5), Secondary (6-10) and Higher Secondary (11-12). For undergraduate it is 3 years except Engineering (BTech or BE) which is of 4 years degree course, Architecture (B.Arch) which is 5 years degree course and Medical (MBBS) which is of 4.5 years degree course and 1 year Internship, so 5.5 years.

Nepal

In Nepal 12-year school is categorized in three stages: Primary school, Secondary school and Higher Secondary school. For college it averages 4 years for bachelor's degree (except MBBS which is 5 and half years programme) and 2 years master's degree.

Pakistan

In Pakistan, 12-year school is categorized in three stages: Primary school, Secondary school and Higher Secondary school. It takes 5 years for a student to graduate from Primary school, 5 years for Secondary school and 2 years for Higher Secondary school (also called College). Most bachelor's degrees span over four years, followed by 2 years master's degree.

Philippines

The Philippines is currently in the midst of a transition to a K-12 (also called K+12) basic education system. Education ideally begins with one year of kinder. Once the transition is complete, elementary or grade school comprises grades 1 to 6. Although the term student may refer to learners of any age or level, the term 'pupil' is used by the Department of Education to refer to learners in the elementary level, particularly in public schools. Secondary level or high school comprises two major divisions: grades 7 to 10 will be collectively referred to as 'junior high school', whereas grades 11 to 12 will be collectively referred to as 'senior high school'. The Department of Education refers to learners in grade 7 and above as students.

After basic education, students can opt to take a bachelor's (undergraduate) degree at a higher education institution (i.e. a college or university), which normally lasts for four years though the length of some courses may be longer or shorter depending on the institution.

Iran

An Iranian student going to her classmate's house for evening studies, in Nishapur

In Iran 12-year school is categorized in 2 stages: Elementary school and High school. It takes 6 years for a student to graduate from elementary school and 5 years for high school and 1 year for pre-university college (depends on the field). After graduating from high school (or pre-university if needed), students acquire a diploma. Having a diploma, a student can participate in the Iranian University Entrance Exam or Konkoor. The university entrance exam is conducted every year by National Organization of Education Assessment, an organization under the supervision of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. Members of the Bahá'í religion, a much-persecuted minority are officially forbidden to attend university, in order to prevent members of the faith becoming doctors, lawyers or other professionals.

Oceania

Australia

Students of Stony Creek State School, Queensland, 1939

In Australia, Pre-school is optional for three and four year olds. At age five, children begin compulsory education at Primary School, known as Kindergarten in New South Wales, Preparatory School (prep) in Victoria, and Reception in South Australia, students then continue to year one through six (ages 6 to 12). Before 2014, primary school continued on to year seven in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland. However, the state governments agreed that by 2014, all primary schooling will complete at year six. Students attend High School in year seven through twelve (ages 13 – 18). After year twelve, students may attend tertiary education at University or vocational training at TAFE (Technical and Further Education).

New Zealand

In New Zealand, after kindergarten or pre-school, which is attended from ages three to five, children begin primary school, 'Year One', at five years of age. Years One to Six are Primary School, where children commonly attend local schools in the area for that specific year group. Then Year Seven and Year Eight are Intermediate, and from Year Nine until Year Thirteen, a student would attend a secondary school or a college. Primary School children are known as Pupils and Intermediate/Secondary School children are known as Students.