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Which one is more correct: “works at a university” or “works in a university”?
“In college” versus “at college” versus “at university”

He teaches at xxx University. He teaches in xxx University. What's the difference between at and in here?

Community
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atsea
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The sentence "he teaches at xxx University" implies that the individual in question is part of the university faculty. The sentence "he teaches in xxx University" is unidiomatic, but might mean "he teaches on the university grounds, but not officially, or not as part of the university faculty (perhaps he teaches at a daycare on the university campus).

James McLeod
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  • I am from the US, and agree that "teaches at xxx University" is the way to say it here. (James seems to be from Canada.) But someone in UK, India, Australia, etc., should tell us the way to say it there... – GEdgar Jul 06 '12 at 00:34
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    Yes, school, university or college is a place, so it gets at. The Department, however, is a container, so it gets in. She teaches Galois Theory in the Mathematics Department at/of Southern North Dakota State University. – John Lawler Jul 06 '12 at 01:28
  • @John- I don't think a department is a container in today's schools. In your example that would be the correct way to say it, but if I wanted to say something about the department without putting it in another place, I would use at, assuming the department has more than one buildings? – Noah 6 mins ago – Noah Jul 06 '12 at 03:09
  • I just meant that metaphorically. Faculty teach in a department but at a school. – John Lawler Jul 06 '12 at 04:44