Bachelor's degree Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! Switch editorYou have switched to source editingCloseYou can switch back to visual editing at any time by clicking on this icon.Visual editingSource editingMorePreviewAdvancedSpecial charactersHelpHeadingLevel 2Level 3Level 4Level 5FormatInsertLatinLatin extendedIPASymbolsGreekGreek extendedCyrillicArabicArabic extendedHebrewBanglaTamilTeluguSinhalaDevanagariGujaratiThaiLaoKhmerCanadian AboriginalRunesÁáÀàÂâÄäÃãǍǎĀāĂ㥹ÅåĆćĈĉÇçČčĊċĐđĎďÉéÈèÊêËëĚěĒēĔĕĖėĘęĜĝĢģĞğĠġĤĥĦħÍíÌìÎîÏïĨĩǏǐĪīĬĭİıĮįĴĵĶķĹĺĻļĽľŁłŃńÑñŅņŇňÓóÒòÔôÖöÕõǑǒŌōŎŏǪǫŐőŔŕŖŗŘřŚśŜŝŞşŠšȘșȚțŤťÚúÙùÛûÜüŨũŮůǓǔŪūǖǘǚǜŬŭŲųŰűŴŵÝýŶŷŸÿȲȳŹźŽžŻżÆæǢǣØøŒœßÐðÞþƏəFormattingLinksHeadingsListsFilesDiscussionReferencesDescriptionWhat you typeWhat you getItalic''Italic text''Italic textBold'''Bold text'''Bold textBold & italic'''''Bold & italic text'''''Bold & italic textDescriptionWhat you typeWhat you getReferencePage text.<ref>[https://www.example.org/ Link text], additional text.</ref>Page text.[1]Named referencePage text.<ref name="test">[https://www.example.org/ Link text]</ref>Page text.[2]Additional use of the same referencePage text.<ref name="test" />Page text.[2]Display references<references />↑ Link text, additional text.↑ Link text====United Kingdom==== {{See also|British undergraduate degree classification}} The bachelor's degree is the standard undergraduate degree in the United Kingdom, with the most common degrees being the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BSc). Most bachelor's degree courses (apart from the very rare postgraduate awards, and those in [[Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery|medicine]], [[Bachelor of Dental Surgery|dentistry]] and [[Bachelor of Veterinary Science|veterinary science]]) lead to [[honours degree]]s, with ordinary degrees generally only being awarded to those who do not meet the required pass mark for an honours degree. With the exception of the postgraduate bachelor's degrees and bachelor's degrees in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, UK bachelor's degrees (whether honours or non-honours) are first cycle (end of cycle) qualifications under the [[Bologna Process]]. Postgraduate bachelor's degrees and bachelor's degrees in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science are second cycle (end of cycle) qualifications. Some bachelor's degrees in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science offer intercalated degrees en route to the final qualification.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/medicine/undergraduate/intercalateddegrees/|title=Intercalated Degrees|website=School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing|publisher=[[University of Glasgow]]|access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/medicine/intercalate|title=Intercalated Degree of Medical Science|publisher=University of Sheffield|access-date=7 August 2016|website=The Medical School}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intercalate.co.uk/|title=The UK Database of Intercalated Medical, Dental and Veterinary Courses|access-date=7 August 2016|website=intercalate.co.uk|publisher=[[Hull York Medical School]]}}</ref> Bachelor's degrees should not be confused with baccalaureate qualifications, which derive their name from the same root. In the UK, baccalaureate qualifications, e.g. [[International Baccalaureate]], [[Welsh Baccalaureate]], [[English Baccalaureate]], are gained at secondary schools rather than being degree-level qualifications. Until the 19th century, a bachelor's degree represented the first degree in a particular faculty, with Arts representing undergraduate study, thus the Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) at Oxford and the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at Cambridge, for example, were postgraduate degrees. Vestiges of this system still remain in the ancient universities, with Oxford and Cambridge awarding BAs for undergraduate degrees in both arts and sciences (although both award undergraduate BTh degrees through associated [[theological college]]s, and Oxford awards BFA degrees in addition to the BA) and defining other bachelor's degrees (e.g., BPhil, BCL) as postgraduate awards equivalent to [[master's degree]]s,<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/media/global/wwwadminoxacuk/localsites/educationcommittee/documents/policyguidance/University_awards_framework.pdf |title= University awards framework |publisher= [[University of Oxford]] |date= 2015 |access-date= 6 August 2016 |archive-date= 1 August 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200801072703/https://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/media/global/wwwadminoxacuk/localsites/educationcommittee/documents/policyguidance/University_awards_framework.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.theofed.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/ |title= Undergraduate |website= [[Cambridge Theological Federation]] |access-date= 6 August 2016}}</ref> although many postgraduate bachelor's degrees have now been replaced by equivalent master's degrees (e.g., LLM for the LLB at Cambridge and MSc for the BSc at Oxford).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.mcl.law.cam.ac.uk/the-faculty-of-law |title= The Faculty of Law |publisher=[[University of Cambridge]] |access-date= 6 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/statutes/regulations/307-072.shtml |title= Regulations for Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates |publisher= [[University of Oxford]] |work= Statutes and Regulations |at= Conversion of BLitt, BPhil, and BSc to MLitt, MPhil, and MSc |access-date= 6 August 2016 |date= 16 September 2015 |archive-date= 27 July 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160727184601/http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/statutes/regulations/307-072.shtml |url-status= dead }}</ref> The same historical usage of indicating an undergraduate degree by it being in the faculty of arts rather than being a bachelor's degree gives rise to the [[Oxbridge MA]] and the [[Scottish MA]]). Common bachelor's degrees and abbreviations: {{See also|British degree abbreviations}} * [[Bachelor of Arts]]: BA * [[Bachelor of Science]]: BSc * [[Bachelor of Laws]]: LLB * [[Bachelor of Civil Law]]: BCL * [[Bachelor of Engineering]]: BEng * [[Bachelor of Education]]: BEd * [[Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery]]: MBBS, MBBCh, BMBS, BMBCh * [[Bachelor of Dental Surgery]]: BDS =====England, Wales and Northern Ireland===== In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, bachelor's degrees usually take three years of study to complete, although courses may take four years where they include a year abroad or a placement year. Degrees may have titles related to their broad subject area or faculty, such as BA or BSc, or may be more subject specific (e.g. BEng or LLB). The majority of bachelor's degrees are now [[honours degree]]s, although this has not always been the case historically. Although first degree courses are usually three years (360 [[Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme|credits]]), direct second year entry is sometimes possible for students transferring from other courses or those who have completed [[foundation degree]]s, via [[recognition of prior learning|accreditation of prior learning]] or more formal credit transfer arrangements. Some universities compress the three-year course into two years by teaching for a full calendar year (180 credits) rather than a standard academic year (120 credits), thus maintaining the full 360-credit extent of the course.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4918652.stm "Two-year Honours Degrees Offered:] The 'fast-track' Degrees Will Be Piloted at Five Universities". ''[[BBC News]]'', 18 April 2006, accessed 8 October 2007: "Students in England can do honours degrees in two years, under new 'fast track' plans to save time and money."</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buckingham.ac.uk/about/twoyear|publisher=[[University of Buckingham]]|title=Bachelor's + Master's in Just Three Years|access-date=6 August 2016}}</ref> In addition to bachelor's degrees, some institutions offer integrated [[master's degree]]s as first degrees in some subjects (particularly in STEM fields). These integrate teaching at bachelor's and master's level in a four-year (five-year if with industrial experience) course, which often shares the first two years with the equivalent bachelor's course. The normal academic standard for bachelor's degrees in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is the ''[[honours degree]]''. These are normally [[British undergraduate degree classification|classified]] into one of four classes of honours, depending upon the marks gained in examinations and other assessments: * First class honours (1st) * Second class honours, divided into: ** Upper division, or upper second (2:1) ** Lower division, or lower second (2:2) * Third class honours (3rd) Some institutions have announced that they intend to replace this system of classifying honours degrees with an American-style [[Grade Point Average]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://next.ft.com/content/d71da156-9d7f-11e0-9a70-00144feabdc0|title=UCL set to abandon old degree classifications. Other British universities to follow suit and adopt US-style grading|newspaper=[[Financial Times]]|date=23 June 2011|first=Chris|last=Cook|url-access=subscription }}</ref> An ''ordinary'' (or ''unclassified'') degree, which only requires passes worth 300 credits rather than the 360 of the honours degree, may be awarded if a student has completed the full honours degree course but has not obtained sufficient passes to earn a degree. Completion of just the first two years of the course can lead to a [[Diploma of Higher Education]] and completion of only the first year to a [[Certificate of Higher Education]]. On the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications, standard undergraduate bachelor's degrees with and without honours are at level 6, although the courses include learning across levels 4 to 6. Honours degrees normally require 360 credits with a minimum of 90 at level 6, while ordinary degrees need 300 credits with a minimum of 60 at level 6. Bachelor's degrees in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science are at level 7, with learning spanning levels 4 to 7, and are not normally credit rated. The Diploma of Higher Education is a level 5 (second year of bachelor's degree) qualification and requires 240 credits, a minimum of 90 at level 5; The Certificate of Higher Education is a level 4 (first year of bachelor's degree) qualification and requires 120 credits, a minimum of 90 at level 4.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qaa.ac.uk/publications/information-and-guidance/publication?PubID=2730|publisher=[[Quality Assurance Agency]]|title=Higher education credit framework for England: guidance on academic credit arrangements in higher education in England|date=August 2008|access-date=6 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817191542/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/publications/information-and-guidance/publication?PubID=2730|archive-date=17 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Other qualifications at level 6 of the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications or the Regulated Qualifications Framework, such as [[graduate diploma]]s and [[Graduate certificate|certificates]], some [[Business and Technology Education Council|BTEC]] Advanced Professional awards, diplomas and certificates, and the graduateship of the [[City & Guilds of London Institute]] are at the same level as bachelor's degrees, although not necessarily representing the same credit volume.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/compare-different-qualification-levels|title=Compare different qualifications|website=Gov.uk|access-date=13 July 2016}}</ref> =====Scotland===== At Scottish universities, bachelor's degrees (and the equivalent [[Scottish MA]] awarded by some institutions) are normally ''[[honours degree]]s'', taking four years of study (or five with a year abroad or in industry), but may also be ''ordinary degrees'' (also known as ''pass'', ''general'' or ''designated'' degrees) requiring three years of study. Honours degrees may be awarded as BA (Hons) or MA (Hons) in the arts and social sciences, or BSc (Hons) for sciences, or have more specific titles such as BEng. As in the rest of the UK, integrated [[master's degrees]], taking five years in Scotland, are also offered as first degrees alongside bachelor's degrees.<ref name="AGCAS">{{cite web|url=http://www.agcasscotland.org.uk/resources/he_guide.pdf|title=Employer's guide to scottish higher education|publisher=AGCAS Scotland|date=April 2008|pages=4–5|access-date=7 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012043901/http://www.agcasscotland.org.uk/resources/he_guide.pdf|archive-date=12 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> An honours degree may be directly linked to professional or vocational qualifications, particularly in fields such as engineering, surveying and architecture. These courses tend to have highly specified curricula, leaving students without many options for broader study. Others, following a more traditional route, start off with a broad range of studies across the faculty that has admitted the student or, via modular study, across the whole university. Students on these courses specialise later in their degree programmes.<ref name="AGCAS" /> Typically degree grades are based only on the final two years of study, after a specialisation has been chosen, so broader study courses taken in the first two years do not affect the final degree grade.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Independent|url= https://www.independent.co.uk/student/into-university/studying-in-scotland-our-friends-in-the-north-875562.html|title=Studying in Scotland: Our friends in the north|date=23 July 2008|first=Chris|last=Green}}</ref> Honours degrees are subdivided into [[British undergraduate degree classification#Degree classification|classes]] in the same way as the rest of the UK, depending on the overall grade achieved. These are, from highest to lowest; first class, upper second class (2:1), lower second class (2:2), and third class. Ordinary degrees are awarded to students who have completed three years at university studying a variety of related subjects.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qaa.ac.uk/publications/information-and-guidance/publication?PubID=2674|title=The Framework for Qualifications of Higher Education Institutions in Scotland|publisher=[[Quality Assurance Agency]]|date=June 2014|access-date=7 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107092634/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/publications/information-and-guidance/publication?PubID=2674|archive-date=7 November 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> These may be taken over a broad range of subjects or (as with honours degrees) with a specialisation in a particular subject (in the latter case, they are sometimes known s ''designated degrees''). As ordinary degrees in Scotland constitute a distinct course of study, rather than a grade below honours degrees, they can be graded (from lowest to highest) as "pass", "merit" or "distinction".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/senateoffice/policies/general/glossaryoftermsoccurringintheregulationsfortaughtdegrees/terminology/|title=Standard Terminology: Glossary of Terms for Taught Degrees|publisher=[[University of Glasgow]]|access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stir.ac.uk/regulations/undergrad/assessmentandawardofcredit/|title=Assessment and Award of Credit|publisher=[[University of Stirling]]|access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref> As in the rest of the UK, Certificates and Diplomas of Higher Education may be earned by those completing one and two years of a bachelor's degree course respectively.<ref name="AGCAS" /> The first two years, sometimes three, of both an ordinary degree and an honours degree are identical, but candidates for the ordinary degree study in less depth in their final year and often over a wider variety of subjects, and do not usually complete a dissertation. A Scottish ordinary degree is thus different from ordinary degrees in the rest of the UK in comprising a distinct course of study from the honours degree. In keeping with the Scottish "broad education" philosophy, ordinary degrees (and more rarely honours ones) may mix different disciplines such as sciences and humanities taught in different faculties and in some cases even different universities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.staffordglobal.org/university/dundee|title= Dundee – Scottish University |access-date=18 July 2017}}</ref> Bachelor's degrees with honours are at level 10 of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) and require 480 [[Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme|credits]] with a minimum of 90 at level 10 and 90 at level 9. Ordinary degrees are at level 9 and require 360 credits with a minimum of 90 at level 9.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scqf.org.uk/framework-diagram/Framework.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140616065231/http://scqf.org.uk/framework-diagram/Framework.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 June 2014|title=The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework|publisher=Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework|access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref> Both honours degrees and ordinary degrees qualify as first cycle (end of cycle) qualifications in the [[Bologna Process]]. Bachelor's degrees in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science are at level 11 of the SCQF and are second cycle (end of cycle) qualifications in the Bologna Process.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qaa.ac.uk/publications/information-and-guidance/publication?PubID=2843|title=The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies|date=November 2014|publisher=[[Quality Assurance Agency]]|page=17|access-date=7 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013061809/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/publications/information-and-guidance/publication?PubID=2843|archive-date=13 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page