Undergraduate degrees

When you study for a UK degree course, you can be confident that your course will be up to date with the latest developments in your subject. UK university courses are underpinned by world-class research and links with business and industry. An undergraduate degree is required for entry into many careers and for some it is compulsory.

UK undergraduate degree courses provide high levels of teaching excellence, and hundreds of thousands of students each year study at UK universities and colleges gain this qualification. With outstanding facilities, a history of academic excellence and hundreds of subject options available, UK undergraduate degrees remain a popular choice for those wishing to study at higher education level.

Undergraduate degrees allow you to develop a thorough understanding of your chosen subject. Tuition fees vary and you’ll need to contact your chosen institution to check the total cost of study, but many institutions and other organisations offer scholarship or bursaries for international students.

How do undergraduate degrees work?

In England, Northern Ireland and Wales, undergraduate degrees are generally called bachelor’s degrees. They are usually studied over three years and in most cases are awarded ‘with honours’, depending upon the marks gained. In Scotland, it takes three years to complete an ordinary degree and four years to gain honours.

Scottish undergraduate degrees are sometimes awarded with the title master’s, depending on the tradition within the awarding institution.

While there is no standardisation of degree course content in the UK, teaching at most institutions includes tutorials, lectures and seminars, and practical sessions. Lectures are given to a large group of students, usually in a lecture theatre. Seminars are given by one or more staff members with a smaller group of students. In this style of teaching, you can discuss lectures or be asked to prepare presentations to spark debate in the group. Tutorials may involve a much smaller group – usually one member of staff with four or five students. Practical sessions include laboratory work.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for undergraduate degree courses vary, depending on the institution and the popularity of the course. The minimum you’re likely to be accepted with is about 180 UCAS Tariff points from A-levels, International Baccalaureate or equivalent. For competitive courses, you may need 300 UCAS Tariff points or more.

If you are a national of a country outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and you need a Tier 4 (General) student visa to study in the UK, in most cases you will need to demonstrate that your level of English is of a high enough standard. For degree courses you typically must achieve level B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (equivalent to an IELTS score of 5.5-6.5). Your chosen institution must be a Highly Trusted Sponsor. You can see which institutions have this status by downloading the Register of Tier 4 Sponsors from the UK Border Agency.

The evaluation system

At many UK universities and colleges, your first year examination results don’t count towards the final degree classification. The second and third year results, often combined with a mark awarded for a dissertation, make up your final result.

Some universities and colleges use a modular system of assessment in which courses are made up of units. Each module has a credit rating and the grade you’re awarded for your degree may be based on the total points you have collected. Alternatively on some courses the degree is awarded on the basis of your final examinations, usually known as finals.

The top grade is a first-class (honours) degree. The upper second (honours) or ‘two-one’ (usually written as 2:1) is awarded more frequently than a first. The grade below a 2:1 is a lower second (honours), or ‘two-two’ (2:2), and this is followed by a third (honours). Students who do not reach the standard required for an honours award may be awarded a ‘pass’ or an ‘ordinary’ degree.

Combined and joint honours degrees

Many institutions will offer you the chance to study two or more subjects in a combined or joint honours degree. A combined degree will involve different subjects that don’t necessarily have equal weight. A joint honours degree will have two subject areas with equal weight.

 

You can search for UK undergraduate degrees using the Education UK Search tool to the top-right of this website.

My experience: Meaghan Couture (USA)