When
you look at a university prospectus or website, you
will find that there are a range of different courses
available. The most common are:
Honours
Degree (BA, BSc and other Bachelor degrees)
An honours degree is the most common HE qualification.
It takes from three to five years of full-time study,
and can also be taken part time or by flexible learning.
Many degrees are subject based, rather than focused
on a specific profession. Honours degrees can offer
a wide range of employment options.
Foundation
Degree
Foundation degree are employment-related higher education
qualifications that provide professional development
in a broad range of vocational areas – everything
from chemical technology and commercial music to police
studies, textiles or tourism. A foundation degree will
also keep your options open for further professional
development or academic study.
Foundation
degrees courses take two years full time, but many people
choose to study part time or by flexible learning, often
while working.
Foundation degrees are valuable qualifications in their
own right, but you can also progress to an honours degree
through further study – usually around a year,
depending on the programme. For more information, visit
www.foundationdegree.org.uk
Higher
National Certificate (HNC)/Higher National Diploma (HND)
A Higher National Certificate or Diploma is available
in everything from accounting to video production. HNCs
are often studied part time over two years by students
who are also working. HNDs take two years full time
to complete, or longer part time. HNCs can allow entry
into the second year of an honours degree, while HNDs
allow entry into the second or third year.
Diploma
in Higher Education (DipHE)
A DipHE is a two year course and is much like a degree,
but with less content. You can often convert to a full
degree by studying for an extra year.Certificate in
Higher Education (CertHE)
This is a one year qualification that can lead on to
a diploma and/or a degree course.
source: aimhigher "time to think about higher education" leaflet series |
types
of Higher Education (HE) course