Undergraduate programmes
British
academic standards are admired worldwide, with Bachelor's degrees and
higher education diplomas recognised as being among the best.
The enormous choice of subjects, institutions and study methods grows every year. Students progress from degrees and diplomas into different professions, management, industry or further study.
Bachelor's degrees
A
first degree, leading to a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science
(BSc) or equivalent, is gained after three or more years studying at
university or a similar institution.
Degrees usually begin at the age of 17 or 18 after a student has finished school. Many mature students also study first degrees in the UK. Some colleges offer two-year degrees, where students study longer and take shorter vacations.
While most first degrees take three years, some courses require longer study. Four-year 'sandwich' courses include a year (usually the third year) on a work placement. Language degrees other than English last four years, with the third year taken in the country where the language is spoken. Some programmes, such as medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and architecture last up to seven years.
Single and joint honours
Subjects
leading to qualification for professions such as medicine are usually
taught as 'single honours', where one subject is studied. Most degree
subjects are studied like this, but many can be combined in 'joint
honours' degrees, such as economics and business studies. Some
institutions allow unrelated combinations, such as French with
mathematics.
There are also modular degrees. Students take credits in short courses, called modules, lasting a year or less. Points are received for passing each module. By accumulating a set number of points, they attain an honours or pass degree, depending on the number of modules studied. More points are needed for an honours degree.
Students might study related subjects and graduate with single or joint honours, or study a diverse mixture and graduate with a 'combined honours' in three or more subjects.
Degree classification
When students graduate, the degrees awarded are classified, reflecting the individual's academic attainments:
- First-class honours (often called a 'first' and awarded when a student obtains an overall mark of over 70%)
- Second-class honours, Upper Division (written 2 i or 2:1 and pronounced; 'two one')
- Second-class honours, Lower Division (written 2 ii or 2:2 and pronounced; 'two two')
- Third-class honours
- Pass or ordinary degree
To progress to further studies, such as a Master's, a first or second class Bachelor's degree is usually required
Diploma in Higher Education (DipHE)
They're
studied at the academic level of first degrees, but take two years
full-time. These diplomas are available in a restricted range of
subjects, often professional, to enable students in progressing to
their chosen careers, such as accountancy. At some institutions,
students progress to a full degree.
University Foundation Degree (UFD)
Some
universities offer two-year Foundation Degrees with the same entry
requirements as Bachelor's degrees. They're equal to the first two
years of a three-year course. It's a qualification at a lower level
than a Bachelor's degree. It's possible to complete a Bachelor's degree
after a further one or two years' study.
Entry requirements
UK universities decide which
qualifications and grades they'll accept for entry to their degrees.
A-levels, Highers, vocational qualifications at N/SVQ level 3 or
higher, Foundation and Access courses, and many other qualifications
are accepted. Admissions Officers are experienced in handling
applications from abroad, and they assess whether qualifications
obtained overseas meet entrance requirements.
