Higher education in UK is offered by different types of educational institutions, including specialised schools, colleges, and universities. They offer various degrees like bachelors (undergraduate degrees), masters and doctoral degrees (Postgraduate degrees), and diplomas/certifications.
![Higher Education System in UK]()
Following are their critical details:
Bachelors Degree
Bachelors degree is an undergraduate degree that a student can pursue right after completing his or her schooling. A bachelors degree in UK takes around 3 years to complete. However, there are some programs that take up to 4 years to complete, which includes one year of professional experience.
Further, the states like England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales offer bachelors degrees with a duration of 4 years.
Common bachelors degree for students in UK are as follows:
- Bachelor of Law (LLB)
- Bachelor of Education (B.Ed)
- Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Bachelor of Science (BSc)
Masters Degree
If you're planning to do a masters in UK, it is a one-year-long course, but there is an option for students to carry forward and do it in two years by adding work placement opportunities to the course. These degrees are more focused on a particular area of a subject. Students choosing this degree can gain in-depth knowledge and develop diverse skills to flourish in their chosen field.
If you're eager to do a masters right after school, you can go for an integrated masters program in UK. It takes four to five years to complete the integrated masters degree (including both bachelors and masters degree).
Furthermore, the masters degrees in UK are broadly classified in two types:
Degree
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Description
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Taught Masters Degree (PGT)
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In taught master’s degree, students will have regular classes in their first half of the course and research in other parts.
MA and MSc are considered to be PGT programs.
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Research Masters (PGR)
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A research-based degree is one to two years. In this, a student is expected to work independently on one or more extended research projects and submit a thesis at the end of the course.
MRes and MPhil are common PGR programs.
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Common masters degree for students in UK are:
- Masters of Science (MSc)
- Integrated Master’s degree
- Master of Laws (LLM)
- Master of Engineering (MEng)
- Master of Research (MRes)
- Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
Doctoral Degrees
To pursue a doctorate degree in the UK, the students first need to finish their masters in the selected field. Besides, they will have to work on an original research topic and then conduct research to submit a thorough thesis. It takes around three to four years to obtain a doctoral degree in UK.
Common doctorate degrees for students in UK are:
- New Route PhDs in UK
- Professional Doctorates
- Higher Doctorates
- Doctorate of Philosophy
Certificate & Diplomas
Apart from the degree programs, higher education institutions also offer several diplomas and certificate programs. Here is a quick view of them:
Program
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Duration
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Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Diploma (HND)
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1 to 2 years
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Certificates or Diplomas of Higher Education (Cert HE/Dip HE)
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1 to 2 years
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Postgraduate certificates and diploma (PG Cert/PG Dip)
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9 to 12 months
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Suggested: Find out all about the Intakes & Deadlines for UK Universities
Next, let’s check the measure to score credits in the UK education system.