If you plan to study abroad, it’s important to understand the levels of study available. From foundation to undergraduate and postgraduate, different study levels have different academic requirements and can bring different career opportunities after graduation. Combined with the fact that they vary around the world, we know that it can all seem complicated. To help, our guide sets out how different levels of study work.
Levels of study by country
Study levels and the way they fit together vary between countries. In the world’s top study destinations, they are broadly as follows:
Australia and New Zealand
- Foundation programmes and diplomas
- Undergraduate degrees, including:
- Bachelor’s degrees
- Bachelor’s degrees with honours (also known as honours degrees)
- Postgraduate qualifications, including:
- Master’s degrees
- Doctoral degrees (PhDs)
- Postgraduate certificates and diplomas
Canada
- Foundation programmes and diplomas
- Undergraduate degrees, including:
- Bachelor’s degrees
- Graduate qualifications, including:
- Master’s degrees
- Doctoral degrees (PhDs)
- Postgraduate certificates and diplomas
UK and Ireland
- Foundation programmes and diplomas
- Undergraduate degrees, including:
- Bachelor’s degrees
- Postgraduate qualifications, including:
- Master’s degrees
- Doctoral degrees (PhDs)
- Postgraduate certificates and diplomas
USA
- Foundation programmes and diplomas
- Undergraduate degrees, including:
- Associate degrees
- Bachelor’s degrees
- Graduate qualifications, including:
- Master’s degrees
- Doctoral degrees (PhDs)
- Postgraduate certificates and diplomas
Foundation programmes, diplomas and associate degrees
Foundation programmes
Foundation programmes offer a pathway into undergraduate study for students who may not meet the academic requirements for their chosen course. Specifics vary between study destinations but they typically last for one year. Upon completion, students usually transfer into the first year of a bachelor’s degree.
In some countries (e.g. the UK, Ireland and New Zealand), foundation programmes are offered as a pathway for international students who would not otherwise meet the English language requirements for their preferred study programme. Pre-sessional English courses may also be suitable in this case.
The UK also offers a two-year foundation degree that combines academic and vocational skills. This is equivalent to two-thirds of a standard bachelor’s degree. Students can use a foundation degree to transfer into the third year of a bachelor’s degree.
Learn more from our guide to foundation programmes.
Diplomas
At this level, diplomas provide a route into specific kinds of work, or undergraduate study. Many diplomas are vocational, but some have the academic focus required to prepare you for a full degree. In most cases, they are completed in one to two years.
Diplomas are defined differently across study destinations. Broadly speaking, they are a qualification that is obtained after high school, but does not carry as many credits as a degree. However, in many cases, students can transfer diploma credits onto a relevant degree course.
Higher-level diplomas may carry more credits than those at lower levels. At some universities, you can follow one with a top-up degree. This type of course takes one year to complete, and is equivalent to the final year of an undergraduate degree. This is what you will receive upon graduation.
Some countries offer types of diploma that you may not find elsewhere. In the UK, the Higher National Diploma (HND) is a practical qualification with a distinct career focus. It is equivalent to two years of an undergraduate degree. Upon completion, students can transfer directly into year three of a related bachelor’s degree.
High school students may also be interested in the International Baccalaureate Diploma. This two-year course is often taken by those with an interest in studying abroad.
Get to know more from our guide to diplomas.
Associate degrees
Associate degrees are obtained at community colleges in the USA. These qualifications are typically two years in length and can offer a more affordable route into the American higher education system.
You can use an associate degree to transfer into the third year of undergraduate study at most US universities.
Find out more from our guide to associate degrees.
Undergraduate study
Bachelor’s degrees
Bachelor’s degrees are the most common type of undergraduate degree. In most cases, they take between three and four years to complete. However, some subjects can take up to six years.
Bachelor’s degrees are usually taught as a mixture of lectures, seminars and tutorials, with laboratory work and/or practical sessions as appropriate to the subject. You may be assessed through coursework, exams or both.
Common examples of bachelor's degrees include:
- Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Bachelor of Science (BS or BSc)
- Bachelor of Engineering (BEng)
The average length of full-time bachelor’s programmes in top study destinations is as follows (Prospects, 2024):
- Australia: three years, or four years for an honours degree
- Canada: three or four years
- Ireland: three years
- New Zealand: three years, or four years for an honours degree
- UK: three years, but four years in Scotland
- USA: four years
Read more about the different types of bachelor's degree.
Honours degrees
Bachelor’s degrees may be awarded with or without honours. Honours are denoted by the description of your degree, e.g. BA (Hons).
Honours can hold a different meaning depending on where in the world you study. In general, it signifies a higher level of achievement than an ordinary bachelor’s degree. In some countries – such as Australia and New Zealand – an honours degree requires an additional year of study.
Get to know more from our guide to honours degrees.
Associate degrees
As well as being a pathway to a bachelor’s degree in the USA, associate degrees are degrees in their own right. They open the door to better job opportunities and higher salaries than a high school qualification provides (National Center for Education Statistics, 2022).
Common examples of associate degrees include:
- Associate of Arts (AA)
- Associate of Applied Business (AAB)
- Associate of Science (AS)
Postgraduate study
Master’s degrees
A master’s degree is a specialist qualification that typically includes a combination of taught learning and independent research. Some also offer practical sessions and/or industry placement opportunities. Assessment generally involves the submission of a lengthy piece of coursework, often referred to as a master’s thesis.
Common examples of master's degrees include:
- Master of Arts (MA)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Master of Science (MS or MSc)
Entry requirements vary, but applicants usually need a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification. Bachelor's degrees typically need to have been awarded with second class honours (2:1 or 2:2) or a GPA of 3.0-4.0. If you do not meet these academic requirements, some institutions may accept relevant work experience instead.
The average length of full-time master’s programmes in top study destinations is as follows (Prospects, 2024):
- Australia: one or two years
- Canada: one to three years
- Ireland: one year (two years for some research degrees)
- New Zealand: one or two years (with two years most common)
- UK: one to two years
- USA: two or three years (with some universities offering one-year programmes)
Learn how to qualify for a master's degree.
Doctoral degrees
Doctoral degrees (PhDs) are lengthy, research-intensive programmes. Students must undertake significant original research in their specialist area and present their findings in a detailed thesis.
Ordinarily, PhD students must have a master’s degree. This will usually be in a field related to their research area.
The average length of full-time PhD programmes in top study destinations is as follows (Prospects, 2024):
- Australia: three years
- Canada: two to three years, plus additional time to work on your thesis
- Ireland: three to four years
- New Zealand: three to four years
- UK: three to four years
- USA: four to six years
Find out more from our guide to PhDs.
Postgraduate certificates and diplomas
Postgraduate certificates and diplomas (PGCert and PGDip) are typically short courses that provide specialist training. They are particularly helpful to students looking to specialise or advance their career.
Taught vs research
At postgraduate level, you must decide whether a taught or research degree is the right choice for you. Taught courses, including PGCert, PGDip and most master’s courses, involve face-to-face teaching in the form of lectures, seminars and tutorials. Research degrees (MPhil, MRes and PhD) require much more independent study and are less structured.
Choosing the right level of study
All international students want to choose the level of study that is right for them. To do this, you should consider things like:
- Academic background
- Do you hold the grades required for your chosen course?
- Does the course require experience in any particular subjects?
- Professional experience
- Do you have relevant work experience, if required? This is most common with vocational and postgraduate courses.
- Career goals
- Have you researched what study level is required to work in your desired job in the country where you would like to do it?
- Do you hope to work in industry or research?
- Personal interest
- Do you want a broad overview of a subject or deeper and more specialised study?
A degree is useful for career and academic progression. In the UK, graduates have been shown to have better job prospects and higher employment rates than non-graduates (Graduate Labour Market Statistics, 2022).
Postgraduate degrees offer an extra edge when applying for jobs. They are especially likely to open doors when they are specialised in a relevant area (Prospects, 2024). Furthermore, there are certain jobs for which a master’s or doctorate is essential. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported more than 100 such professions in the USA in 2023.
Try some more tips on deciding which study level is right for you.
Now that you know more about different levels of study and the types of qualification on offer, why not explore further? Discover subjects and courses at a range of study levels using our simple search tool.
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