Perhaps there might be a difference between "undergraduate" and "postgraduate" studies, at least at some of the more expansive military academies in this setting.
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For comparison's sake, the
Prime Directive Federation sourcebook outlines, among other things, what Star Fleet Academy looks like over in the Star Fleet Universe.
In that setting, the four-year University course is aimed at preparing its graduates for life aboard ship (either as a "naval" officer or as a Star Fleet Marine) at a lower officer level. There is a separate Medical School, for those who wish to practice medicine aboard a starship.
From there, things can branch in a few different, and in some cases overlapping, directions.
It"s possible to move directly into master's and/or doctorate studies before entering active service; most officers pursuing postgraduate studies instead chip away at this over time via distance learning.
Also, there are various "schools" which mark one's ascent through the ranks. The Advanced Leadership School has to be attended in order to be promoted to a senior Lieutenant (or a Marine captain.) Attendance at the Staff School is required for promotion to Lieutenant Commander (or Marine major). If you want to become a starship captain (or marine colonel), you must attend the Command School. Whereas the War College is required for promotion to Admiral (or Marine general).
Other empires in the SFU have equivalent academies. How fairly they accept prospective students, however, can vary from one empire to the next: on Romulus, for example, the ongoing rivalries between Great Houses - plus the wide societal gap between their scions and the more numerous "Houseless" - skews things severely, perhaps to the detriment of the Empire overall.
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In
BattleTech, however, there are probably very few - if any - academies which are quite as thorough, or as fair in terms of admission, as Star Fleet Academy would be.
Perhaps the most prestigious academies in the Sol system would have come closest, at least during the first Star League. Although, I could well picture the Taurians having made a good go if it by themselves, at least prior to the Reunification War.
Others might go no farther than the undergraduate level, or be much more beholden to the pressures of noble families in their respective realms.
Although, it would be interesting to see what the Wolves make of those facilities on Terra they have now inherited from the Republic of the Sphere... or rather, those which weren't razed by Malvina's Falcons prior to the ilClan Trial.
At the very least, a would-be "
Regular Army" might wish to use those facilities to train its senior officers. And perhaps both Trueborn and freeborn Gunslinger candidates might be sent to study at such institutions prior to entering the field?