<P> Brazil follows the major traits of the continental European system; free public schools are available from kindergarten up to postgraduation, both as a right established in Article 6, caput of the Brazilian Constitution and as a duty of the State in Article 208, Items I, IV and V, of the Brazilian Constitution . Students choose their specific course of studies before joining the university . Admission to university is obtained by means of a competitive entrance exam known as Vestibular (a concept somewhat similar to the Baccalauréat in France). There's a new system, adopted by most federal universities, that uses the high school national examination (ENEM) result as part or a replacement of the Vestibular grade . Depending on the chosen course, upon graduating the student shall be granted: a technologist diploma, 3 years to complete, a bachelor's degree's diploma, which usually takes 4 or, in the case of Law, Veterinary, Geology and Engineering, 5 years to complete; or a professional diploma, which normally require 5 or, in the case of medicine, 6 years to complete . </P> <P> In the United States of America undergraduate refers to those who are studying for a bachelor's degree . The most common method consists of four years of study leading to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), a Bachelor of Science (B.S.), or sometimes another bachelor's degree such as Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), Bachelor of Music (B. Mus .), Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.), Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng .), Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs (B.S.P.A), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.), or Bachelor of Philosophy (B. Phil .) Five - Year Professional Architecture programs offer the Bachelor of Architecture Degree (B. Arch .) or sometimes Master of Architecture degree (M. Arch .). </P> <P> Unlike in the British model, degrees in law and medicine are not offered at the undergraduate level and are completed as professional study after earning a bachelor's degree . Neither field specifies or prefers any undergraduate major, though medical schools have set prerequisite courses that must be taken before enrollment . </P> <P> Some students choose to attend a community college for two years prior to further study at another college or university . In most states, community colleges are operated either by a division of the state university or by local special districts subject to guidance from a state agency . Community colleges award associate degrees of different types, some intended to prepare students to transfer to four - year schools (e.g. Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS)), and others intended to provide vocational skills and training for students wishing to enter into or advance in a profession . Those seeking to continue their education may transfer to a four - year college or university after applying through a similar admissions process as those applying directly to the four - year institution called articulation . Some community colleges have automatic enrollment agreements with a local four - year college, where the community college provides the first two years of study and the university provides the remaining years of study, sometimes all on one campus . The community colleges award associate degrees, while universities and colleges award the bachelor's . However, some community colleges, such as Brazosport College in Lake Jackson, Texas offer bachelor's degrees along with associate degrees . </P>

What does it mean to read for a degree