
A school and college guide to university courses - which different university degrees are out there?
There are over 35,000 courses available for your students to consider when making their university choices. It’s not just the course name and content that students must get their head around; they’ll also need to understand the different types of courses, the length of a course and what each choice would mean for them as well.
For example, two courses may have the same title, but students can choose a BA (Hons) or a BSc (Hons) route.We’ve broken down some of the typical types of undergraduate degrees to help you articulate the different attributes to your students.
Introducing the degree levels
We use levels to help explain the different degree stages. A-levels, BTEC’s and other similar qualifications are usually level 3. Most undergraduate degrees are known as Bachelor’s Degrees and usually end at level 6 (1st year level 4, 2nd year level 5, 3rd year level 6). Other degrees may end at different levels. For example, a Foundation Degree ends at level 5 unless the student does a Top-Up to level 6.
The different types of bachelor’s degrees - what do they all mean?
The standard degree classifications are ‘BA’ and
‘BSc’. All Bachelor’s degrees are equal in value;
the abbreviations just refer to the type of subject.
Honours (Hons) refers to the higher standard of
study within a degree; a student can graduate
without honours if they don’t meet the academic
requirements.
BA – Bachelor of Arts – usually arts or humanities
focused.
BSc – Bachelor of Sciences – usually more
science or maths focused.
BEng – Bachelor of Engineering – a course
focused on Engineering, that can be the beginning
of the journey towards becoming a chartered
engineer.
BMus – Bachelor of Music – The majority of work
consists of prescribed music courses and study in
applied music, usually requiring proficiency in an
instrument, voice, or conducting.
LLB – Bachelor of Laws – This degree allows
students to continue to become a lawyer.
Graduates who have a non-LLB law degree may
still need to do a law conversion (Graduate
Diploma in Law) alongside non-law graduates in
order to gain the equivalent of LLB status.

What is a joint honours and a combined course?
Joint honours courses are ideal if a student is interested in studying more than one subject within one qualification. A combined course focuses on two subjects in the same timeframe as a single honours degree, but with a level of flexibility and a greater choice of modules.
What is an integrated masters degree?
Many courses now offer students the opportunity to study for an extra year and graduate with an integrated masters. Common acronyms to look out for are MEng or MSci from the engineering or science related subjects. These degrees finish at level 7.
What are foundation degrees - and how do they compare to foundation years?
Foundation Degrees and Foundation Years often
get confused given their similar names, but
they mean slightly different things. Foundation
Degrees go up to level 5 and usually take two
years. They are work-focused degrees with a large
practical element, and potentially reduced time in
lectures.
Foundation Years are usually level 3 or 4 and are a
stepping stone to a degree from level 4. Students
may take this because they don’t meet the entry
requirements for degrees beyond level 4, or if they
are exploring new subjects and need to gain more
specific knowledge in a particular area.
Want More Updates & Advice?

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