Types of courses available at higher education level

The range of qualifications you can achieve in HE is wide:

Degrees
Degrees are widely recognised and respected, and come in many forms, for instance BA, BSc, BMus, BEd. Most HE qualifications are at degree level and can be broadly divided into full-time and part-time study.

Full-time degree courses can usually be gained over three years. Some courses take four years or longer, especially in Scotland.

Part-time degree courses are normally taken over a longer period, usually five years or more. Precise times may vary according to individual institutions, but increasingly they are able to offer flexible arrangements to suit your needs.

Single and combined degrees

While many students still aim to choose a course specialising in a single subject, it is increasingly common to combine two or more subjects. If you have a particular career in mind, it makes sense to check first that combined studies will qualify you for entry. It is possible that a professional body may have reservations about the depth of specialist study on a combined course and, for accreditation purposes, have a policy of only considering graduates with relevant single-subject degrees.

Modular degrees
The majority of higher education institutions have now adopted a modular structure for courses. This means that you can build a personalised degree by choosing modules or units of study from different subject areas.

In some cases, there is no doubt that the modular structure provides a wonderful level of flexibility and helps mature students to negotiate personalised programmes that perfectly match their needs. However, you should also be aware that this can be demanding: highly developed time management skills are a must and there may be constraints on what modules you can combine.

Foundation degrees
Foundation degrees are the equivalent of the first two years of an honours degree, may be studied full- or part-time, and consist of academic study integrated with relevant work-based learning undertaken with an employer. It may be studied as a stand-alone qualification, or upon completion you may progress to the final year of an honours degree.
Find out more about foundation degrees.

Higher National Diploma (HND) and Higher National Certificate (HNC)
HND and HNC courses are generally related to particular career areas, for example:

  • agriculture
  • art and design
  • business studies
  • hotel and catering.

They are validated by the Edexcel Foundation (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) and the Scottish Qualifications Authority (Scotland).

HNDs are fully recognised by employers as valuable qualifications and comprise units of study. They are usually taken full-time over two years, or longer if they include work experience or a placement in industry or are taken part-time. Some successful HND students may later transfer to the second or occasionally the third year of related degree courses.

HNCs are popular as a part-time study option for those in work, although they can also be taken full-time.

Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)
Two year, full-time DipHE courses are offered by some universities and colleges. These courses are normally equivalent to the first two years of a degree and can often be used for entry to the third year of a related degree course. There are relatively few DipHE courses and these are mainly linked to vocational areas such as nursing and social work.