Degree
The most popular
undergraduate qualifications are the Bachelor's degrees (also called undergraduate
or first degrees), which are now required for entry into a wide range of
careers in the UK and other countries. British degree programmes incorporate
the most up-to-date subject developments, and are underpinned by world-class
research and links with business and industry. At Oxford, Cambridge and
the ancient Scottish universities, the first degree in arts is a Master
of Arts (MA).
Many universities and colleges now co-operate to deliver degree courses,
and this has further increased the number and variety of courses and study
environments. The new two-year foundation degrees, introduced in England
in September 2001, will widen the range of options still further, offering
an innovative blend of academic and career based study. Many degree courses
are now offered via distance learning. This allows you to study from home
with course materials provided by the institution. These can be paper-based,
on CD-Rom or provided through the Internet. Institutions provide special
systems of support to help you through the course.
If you don't currently meet the standard entrance requirements for a degree
programme, you can begin with an access or foundation course instead and
then move smoothly on into degree work - studying English language courses
alongside it if you need to.
Degrees
| Qualifications
offered |
Entrance requirements |
Teaching methods |
Assessment
methods |
Duration |
Bachelor's
degrees (e.g. BA, BSc.)
The first award in some disciplines is a Master's degree (e.g.
M.Eng. or MA, especially in Scotland). |
England, Wales and Northern Ireland:two/three
A-levels in conjunction with AS-levels and GCSEs or equivalent plus
English language proficiency (e.g. IELTS)
Scotland:four/five Higher Grade Passes or equivalent plus English
language proficiency (e.g. IELTS). |
Lectures: formal presentations to
large groups of students, who take notes on what is saido Seminars:
smaller groups of eight to sixteen students who discuss assigned
topics with a tutor
Tutorials: less structured meetings in which one to three students
discuss their work with a tutor
Essays, projects, practical work, computer-assisted learning.
The close contact between student and tutor in seminars and tutorials
is a particular strength of UK degree courses. |
Continuous assessment (based on coursework,
projects, seminar participation, ongoing exams, etc.) plus, usually,
a final dissertation and final exams. |
Most undergraduate degrees in England,
Wales and Northern Ireland: three years; most undergraduate degrees
in Scotland: four years |
Foundation degrees
| Qualifications
offered |
Entrance requirements |
Teaching methods |
Assessment
methods |
Duration |
| Foundation degrees
(from September 2001 in England) provide a more flexible degree option
for career-minded students to gain practical and academic skills to
a good level, then to decide whether to use their skills in a job
or continue to complete a full degree. |
As above. |
Any combination of the above, plus assessment
of performance in the workplace. |
Any combination of the above plus workplace
projects and/or accredited work experience. |
Two years full time, but part-time programmes
of varying lengths are expected to be more common. |
Access and foundation courses
(Can lead to acceptance onto a degree course)
| Qualifications
offered |
Entrance requirements |
Teaching methods |
Assessment
methods |
Duration |
| Access and foundation
courses.Scottish International Foundation Programme. |
Flexible entry. Consider this route if you
need to improve your English or academic skills. Flexible entry. |
Any combination of the above, plus assessment
of performance in the workplace. Lectures, seminars, tutorials, essays,
projects, practical work, and computer-assisted learning plus instruction
in how to use these techniques.As above. |
Continuous assessment (based on coursework,
projects, seminar participation, ongoing exams, etc.) and final exams.
Final exams. |
Usually one or two years, but flexible.Three
to twelve months. |
|
