Degree, diploma or certification course - Which one should you go for?

Completing your 10^th grade is given so much importance in our society that it leaves students under so much stress and pressure. Barely clearing that hurdle, students are made to face yet another turning point in their lives – choosing their stream for higher studies after 10^th grade. Now, this can feel like an exhaustive task if you do not have a clear idea about the different undergraduate programs offered by UK institutions. The terminologies might be confusing enough. Sometimes the same word might mean a different thing at destinations abroad. That’s why we thought we’ll simplify some aspects of it for you.

Understanding these aspects will help you make informed choices based on your preferences and conveniences. Not all 2-year courses are masters courses and not all diploma courses can be completed in a year. So, let’s demystify the terms degree, diploma and certification course for you.

Undergraduate degree courses in the UK

Undergraduate courses are any course that you do soon after completing school. These include the bachelor’s courses, diplomas and certification courses.

Bachelor’s courses

Undoubtfully, this is one of the most popular undergraduate degree courses in the UK. It is similar to the bachelor’s degree programs in India, in that, you will be learning the general aspects of selected topics on a broader scale. Most bachelor’s programs are 3-years long except for some courses like medicine which will take 5 years.

Some of the different bachelor’s degrees you can apply for in the UK include:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Education and
• Bachelor of Engineering

Scotland’s undergraduate courses are 4 years long.

What is an honours degree?

If you intend to do a bachelor’s degree in the UK, you can go for an ordinary degree or an honours degree.

The difference between the two is in the total credit hours involved in the course. For example, for an honours degree from London Metropolitan University, you should attain 360 or more credits. An ordinary degree will mostly be around 300 credits. You can identify an honours degree with the suffix Hons added to the title of the course.

It might give you an edge in your resume as your honours degree indicates that you have undergone a more challenging program.

What is a dual-honours degree?

A dual-honours degree program is for candidates who are up for more intense academic learning, involving 2 different majors. It is also called a combined or joint honours degree.

Some joint honours programs give equal weightage to both majors. An example is the Joint Honours Psychology and Biology (Hons) offered by Newcastle University.

Some others have a distinct major course, along with which, you will learn a minor course too. An example is the Communications and Media with Game Design Studies offered by the University of Liverpool.

What is a sandwich course?

A sandwich course is when you have one year of work placement before you complete your regular 3-year degree program. Sandwich programs are thus generally 4 years long. Typically, you will study at the university for the first and second years before attending the internship or placement program. The sandwich program can be 9 – 12 months long. You will then return to academics in the final year.

What is a fast-track degree?

A fast-track degree program is a regular degree program scrunched into a 2-year program. It is an option to be employment-ready within a short duration while also saving on tuition fees and living expenses. An example of such a course is the Business Management and Sustainability (two-year accelerated) BA (Hons) offered by Staffordshire University.

What is a Foundation Degree?

If you are looking for career-based training and are keen on getting hands-on experience, a foundation degree might be the right fit for you. It is a 2-year course and is equivalent to the first two years of a bachelor’s degree. An example is the Early Childhood Studies FdA offered by Bath Spa University.

After completing the Foundation Degree, you can either look for full-time employment or join the third year of a related bachelor’s program. Such types of degree programs are called the top-up degree or the Honours Top-up degree.

A Foundation Degree can also be done as a part-time course, in which case, it will take longer to complete. A foundation degree is not the same as a Foundation Diploma or a Foundation Year course. Read further to find out.

What is a Foundation Year or a Foundation Diploma?

There are courses undertaken before you start your degree program. This is a preparatory course, to brush up on the basics of your main course, improve your English skills and to experience the UK educational system. Several UK universities offer Foundation Year courses along with the core degree program for international students. An example is the Biochemistry with a Foundation Year BSc (Hons) offered by the University of East Anglia.

Most foundation diploma programs can be completed in a year or lesser.

What is DipHE?

Diploma of Higher Education or DipHE is a 2-year undergraduate course and is generally considered equivalent to the first 2 years of a degree program.

What is CertHE?

Certificate of Higher Education or CertHE is a 3-year course with 1 year of full-time or 2 years of part-time studies. An example is the Health Science CertHE offered by Teesside University, Middlesbrough. It is a one-year course.

CertHE can be considered a basic higher education qualification.

What is a Higher National Diploma and Higher National Certificate?

HND and HNC are vocational qualifications. HNDs can take 2-years to complete if done full-time. An example is the Tourism, Hospitality and Events Management HND offered by Cardiff Metropolitan University. Completing an HND will provide a more direct route to the profession linked to your HND.

HNCs are also profession-oriented. It can be completed with 1-year of full-time study. An example is the Computer Science HNC offered by Staffordshire University.

There are more higher level qualifications in the UK. We’ll cover those in the forthcoming articles. If you wish to study any of these courses in the UK, you can reach out to our counsellors and they will guide you. Just fill the form on this page and our experts will be in touch with you. All the best for your study abroad journey!