Institute vs. School: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
An 'Institute' usually denotes higher ed or specialized training, while a 'School' covers various levels, from primary to higher ed, offering a wider range of subjects.
Key Differences
Institutes often focus on higher education, research, or professional training. They may offer specialized courses and degrees in specific fields like technology, arts, or business. Schools, in contrast, cover a broader educational spectrum, from primary to secondary education, and sometimes include higher education. Schools offer a more general education, covering various subjects.
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Nov 23, 2023
Institutes are usually recognized for their focus on post-secondary education, catering to students pursuing advanced degrees or specialized certifications. They often engage in research and development. On the other hand, schools are fundamental educational institutions, serving as the primary source of education for children and teenagers, and are essential in the early stages of education.
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Nov 23, 2023
When considering structure and curriculum, institutes typically have a more structured and focused curriculum, tailored towards specific careers or research areas. Schools offer a broader curriculum, designed to provide a well-rounded education, including basic subjects like mathematics, science, and languages.
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Nov 23, 2023
Institutes often have a more formal and professional environment, aimed at adult learners or professionals seeking advanced education. They may also have more sophisticated facilities for research and development. In contrast, schools are more geared towards younger learners, with a focus on foundational education, basic skills, and social development.
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Nov 23, 2023
In terms of accreditation and certification, institutes often grant degrees, diplomas, or certificates in specialized fields and are usually recognized for their educational standards in specific areas of study. Schools, particularly those in primary and secondary levels, provide general education certificates and prepare students for higher education or basic professional skills.
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Nov 23, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Education Level
Higher education, professional training
Primary to higher education
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Curriculum
Structured, career or research-oriented
Broad, foundational education
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Audience
Adult learners, professionals
Children, teenagers, general student body
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Nov 23, 2023
Certification
Degrees, diplomas in specialized areas
General education certificates
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Nov 23, 2023
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Institute and School Definitions
Institute
An entity focusing on specialized research and development.
The institute is leading groundbreaking research in renewable energy.
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Nov 23, 2023
School
A place where children receive primary or secondary education.
The school has a strong emphasis on science and mathematics.
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Nov 23, 2023
Institute
To establish, organize, or introduce
Institute wage and price controls.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
An institution providing a learning environment.
Their school is known for its inclusive educational policies.
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Nov 23, 2023
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School
A place offering specialized training or courses.
He went to a school specializing in culinary arts.
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Nov 23, 2023
School
An institution for the instruction of children or people under college age.
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Oct 19, 2023
Institute
An organization founded to promote a cause
A cancer research institute.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
An institution for instruction in a skill or business
A secretarial school.
A karate school.
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Oct 19, 2023
Institute
An educational institution, especially one for the instruction of technical subjects.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
An institution within or associated with a college or university that gives instruction in a specialized field and recommends candidates for degrees.
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Oct 19, 2023
Institute
A usually short, intensive workshop or seminar on a specific subject.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
A division of an educational institution constituting several grades or classes
Advanced to the upper school.
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Oct 19, 2023
Institute
Institutes A digest of or commentary on such principles or rudiments, especially a legal abstract.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
The building or group of buildings housing an educational institution.
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Oct 19, 2023
Institute
An organization founded to promote a cause
I work in a medical research institute.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
The process of being educated formally, especially education constituting a planned series of courses over a number of years
The children were put to school at home. What do you plan to do when you finish school?.
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Oct 19, 2023
Institute
An institution of learning; a college, especially for technical subjects
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Oct 19, 2023
School
A session of instruction
School will start in three weeks. He had to stay after school today.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
A group of people, especially philosophers, artists, or writers, whose thought, work, or style demonstrates a common origin or influence or unifying belief
The school of Aristotle.
The Venetian school of painters.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
A group of people distinguished by similar manners, customs, or opinions
Aristocrats of the old school.
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Oct 19, 2023
Institute
(obsolete) That which is instituted, established, or fixed, such as a law, habit, or custom.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
Close-order drill instructions or exercises for military units or personnel.
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Oct 19, 2023
Institute
The person to whom an estate is first given by destination or limitation.
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Oct 19, 2023
Institute
(transitive) To begin or initiate (something); to found.
He instituted the new policy of having children walk through a metal detector to enter school.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
A large group of aquatic animals, especially fish, swimming together; a shoal.
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Oct 19, 2023
Institute
To invest with the spiritual charge of a benefice, or the care of souls.
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School
(Slang) To defeat or put down decisively, especially in a humiliating manner
Our team got schooled by the worst team in the division.
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Oct 19, 2023
Institute
Established; organized; founded.
They have but few laws. For to a people so instruct and institute, very few to suffice.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
Of or relating to school or education in schools
School supplies.
A school dictionary.
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Oct 19, 2023
Institute
To set up; to establish; to ordain; as, to institute laws, rules, etc.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
(North America) An institution dedicated to teaching and learning; an educational institution.
Our children attend a public school in our neighborhood.
Harvard University is a famous American postsecondary school.
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Oct 19, 2023
Institute
To originate and establish; to found; to organize; as, to institute a court, or a society.
Whenever any from of government becomes destructive of these ends it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new government.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
(British) An educational institution providing primary and secondary education, prior to tertiary education (college or university).
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Oct 19, 2023
Institute
To nominate; to appoint.
We institute your GraceTo be our regent in these parts of France.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
(UK) At Eton College, a period or session of teaching.
Divinity, history and geography are studied for two schools per week.
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Oct 19, 2023
Institute
To begin; to commence; to set on foot; as, to institute an inquiry; to institute a suit.
And haply instituteA course of learning and ingenious studies.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
Within a larger educational institution, an organizational unit, such as a department or institute, which is dedicated to a specific subject area.
We are enrolled in the same university, but I attend the School of Economics and my brother is in the School of Music.
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Oct 19, 2023
Institute
To ground or establish in principles and rudiments; to educate; to instruct.
If children were early instituted, knowledge would insensibly insinuate itself.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
An art movement, a community of artists.
The Barbizon school of painters were part of an art movement towards Realism in art, which arose in the context of the dominant Romantic movement of the time.
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Oct 19, 2023
Institute
To invest with the spiritual charge of a benefice, or the care of souls.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
The followers of a particular doctrine; a particular way of thinking or particular doctrine; a school of thought.
These economists belong to the monetarist school.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
The time during which classes are attended or in session in an educational institution.
I’ll see you after school.
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Oct 19, 2023
Institute
That which is instituted, established, or fixed, as a law, habit, or custom.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
The room or hall in English universities where the examinations for degrees and honours are held.
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Oct 19, 2023
Institute
An institution; a society established for the promotion of learning, art, science, etc.; a college; as, the Institute of Technology; The Massachusetts Institute of Technology; also, a building owned or occupied by such an institute; as, the Cooper Institute.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
The canons, precepts, or body of opinion or practice, sanctioned by the authority of a particular class or age.
He was a gentleman of the old school.
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Oct 19, 2023
Institute
The person to whom an estate is first given by destination or limitation.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
An establishment offering specialized instruction, as for driving, cooking, typing, coding, etc.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
(collective) A group of fish or a group of marine mammals such as porpoises, dolphins, or whales.
The divers encountered a huge school of mackerel.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
(transitive) To educate, teach, or train (often, but not necessarily, in a school).
Many future prime ministers were schooled in Eton.
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Oct 19, 2023
Institute
An organization providing advanced education and research.
She attended an institute known for its excellent medical program.
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Nov 23, 2023
School
(transitive) To defeat emphatically, to teach an opponent a harsh lesson.
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Oct 19, 2023
Institute
A place specializing in professional or vocational training.
He enrolled in an institute to gain certification in IT.
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Nov 23, 2023
School
(transitive) To control, or compose, one’s expression.
She took care to school her expression, not giving away any of her feelings.
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Oct 19, 2023
Institute
An organization established for educational purposes in a specific field.
The language institute offers courses in six different languages.
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Nov 23, 2023
Institute
A formal establishment dedicated to education and learning.
The institute is well-known for its architecture programs.
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Nov 23, 2023
School
A place for learned intercourse and instruction; an institution for learning; an educational establishment; a place for acquiring knowledge and mental training; as, the school of the prophets.
Disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
A place of primary instruction; an establishment for the instruction of children; as, a primary school; a common school; a grammar school.
As he sat in the school at his primer.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
A session of an institution of instruction.
How now, Sir Hugh! No school to-day?
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Oct 19, 2023
School
One of the seminaries for teaching logic, metaphysics, and theology, which were formed in the Middle Ages, and which were characterized by academical disputations and subtilties of reasoning.
At Cambridge the philosophy of Descartes was still dominant in the schools.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
The room or hall in English universities where the examinations for degrees and honors are held.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
An assemblage of scholars; those who attend upon instruction in a school of any kind; a body of pupils.
What is the great community of Christians, but one of the innumerable schools in the vast plan which God has instituted for the education of various intelligences?
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Oct 19, 2023
School
The disciples or followers of a teacher; those who hold a common doctrine, or accept the same teachings; a sect or denomination in philosophy, theology, science, medicine, politics, etc.
Let no man be less confident in his faith . . . by reason of any difference in the several schools of Christians.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
The canons, precepts, or body of opinion or practice, sanctioned by the authority of a particular class or age; as, he was a gentleman of the old school.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
Figuratively, any means of knowledge or discipline; as, the school of experience.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
To train in an institution of learning; to educate at a school; to teach.
He's gentle, never schooled, and yet learned.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
To tutor; to chide and admonish; to reprove; to subject to systematic discipline; to train.
It now remains for you to school your child,And ask why God's Anointed be reviled.
The mother, while loving her child with the intensity of a sole affection, had schooled herself to hope for little other return than the waywardness of an April breeze.
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Oct 19, 2023
School
A building where young people receive education;
The school was built in 1932
He walked to school every morning
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Oct 19, 2023
School
The process of being formally educated at a school;
What will you do when you finish school?
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Oct 19, 2023
School
An educational institution's faculty and students;
The school keeps parents informed
The whole school turned out for the game
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Oct 19, 2023
School
The period of instruction in a school; the time period when schools is in session;
Stay after school
He didn't miss a single day of school
When the school day was done we would walk home together
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Oct 19, 2023
School
A body of creative artists or writers or thinkers linked by a similar style or by similar teachers;
The Venetian school of painting
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Oct 19, 2023
School
Educate in or as if in a school;
The children are schooled at great cost to their parents in private institutions
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Oct 19, 2023
School
Train to be discriminative in taste or judgment;
Cultivate your musical taste
Train your tastebuds
She is well schooled in poetry
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Oct 19, 2023
School
Swim in or form a large group of fish;
A cluster of schooling fish was attracted to the bait
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Oct 19, 2023
School
Any institution at which instruction is given in a particular discipline.
She teaches at a school of fine arts.
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Nov 23, 2023
School
An establishment specifically for primary or secondary education.
The school recently introduced a new digital learning program.
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Nov 23, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What age group do schools typically cater to?
Schools usually cater to children and teenagers, from primary to secondary education.
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Nov 23, 2023
Do schools offer higher education?
Some schools may offer higher education, but they are primarily for primary and secondary levels.
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Nov 23, 2023
Is the environment in schools more diverse?
Schools often have a more diverse environment due to the broad age range and subjects.
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Nov 23, 2023
Can institutes offer certifications?
Yes, institutes often offer specialized certifications and degrees.
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Nov 23, 2023
Do institutes have focused curriculums?
Institutes typically have focused and structured curriculums.
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Nov 23, 2023
Are institutes primarily for adult learners?
Institutes often cater to adult learners or professionals seeking advanced education.
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Nov 23, 2023
What defines an institute?
An institute is usually a higher education or professional training organization.
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Nov 23, 2023
Can institutes be part of a university?
Yes, institutes can be part of a university, especially for specialized studies.
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Nov 23, 2023
Are institutes focused on research?
Many institutes focus on specialized research and advanced studies.
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Nov 23, 2023
Are schools part of the public education system?
Schools can be part of both public and private education systems.
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Nov 23, 2023
What is the main purpose of a school?
The main purpose of a school is to provide foundational education and basic skills.
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Nov 23, 2023
Are schools integral to early childhood education?
Yes, schools are integral to early childhood and basic education.
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Nov 23, 2023
What types of subjects do schools cover?
Schools cover a wide range of subjects, from basic sciences to arts.
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Nov 23, 2023
Can a school offer specialized training?
While schools mainly provide general education, some offer specialized programs.
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Nov 23, 2023
Do institutes grant academic degrees?
Yes, many institutes grant academic degrees in specialized fields.
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Nov 23, 2023
Are schools more common than institutes?
Schools are more common as they serve the fundamental educational needs of a society.
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Nov 23, 2023
Do schools participate in standardized testing?
Yes, schools often participate in standardized testing to assess educational standards.
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Nov 23, 2023
Do institutes require prior educational qualifications?
Institutes usually require prior educational qualifications for admission.
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Nov 23, 2023
Can institutes offer online education?
Many institutes offer online courses and programs.
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Nov 23, 2023
Are institutes more expensive than schools?
Institutes can be more expensive, especially if they offer specialized or higher education.
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Nov 23, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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