UK Higher Education System

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Undergraduate Degree

BA, BSc, MB  – a bachelors degree (sometimes known as an ‘ordinary’ or ‘first’ degree) is a course of academic study leading to a qualification such as a bachelor of arts (BA), bachelor of science (BSc), or bachelor of medicine (MB).

A bachelors degree usually takes three or four years to complete full time, but this can depend on whether or not you decide to do a sandwich course (i.e. a work placement), which includes a year in industry or abroad. Alternatively, you can also study for a bachelors degree part time or through flexible learning, for example, a majority of UK universities will offer online courses.

The bachelors degree qualification is designed to give you a thorough understanding of a subject. It helps you develop your analytical, intellectual and essay or dissertation writing skills.

Bachelors degrees are at level 6 on the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications. The framework shows how different higher education qualifications compare, in terms of the demands they place on learners and can be found here.

• Undergraduate Levels»
• Grades»

Postgraduate Degree

Postgraduate study is an option for anyone with a good first degree.  There is an endless amount of course choices, so it’s important to be clear what you want out of it.  People tend to choose postgraduate study because they want to retrain for a new career, stand out in the job market, they want to become an academic – or they simply love of the subject.

There are two types of postgraduate course: taught courses/programmes and research opportunities.  Research positions enable you to pursue a piece of original research in a specific field, whilst seeking guidance from a supervisor.  Typically, you will be based in a university, but some courses/programmes allow you to conduct your research in a commercial environment – or develop additional skills unrelated to research, like management skills.

• Professional qualifications»
• Postgraduate qualifications»
• Postgraduate diplomas and certificates»
• Masters degrees»
• Grades»
• Master's level – Qualification descriptor»

Doctorates

A doctorate qualification gives you the opportunity to undertake an original piece of research.  This type of qualification can take at least three years of full-time study to complete.  Throughout the course, you will be expected to work independently, but still be provided with guidance from a supervisor.  The supervisor will advise you on whether your research is on track and about deadlines you have to meet.  The first one to three years of your doctorate, however, will require you to conduct research on your chosen topic and plan your dissertation.  In your final year, you will normally write up your dissertation.  Many doctorate courses lead to a qualification such as a Doctor of Philosophy – a PhD or Dphil.

• Grades»
• Doctoral level – Qualification descriptor»

If you would like to find out more information on higher education qualifications, please click here.