Higher Education refers to courses that normally require an advanced-level qualification to enter. The main advanced-level qualifications are:
• GCE A Levels and GCE AS Levels
• VCE A Levels and VCE AS Levels (formerly Advanced GNVQ)
• National Diplomas and Certificates.
These are not the only qualifications that enable you to enter higher education, but they are the most common.
Mature students can usually be considered for entry with alternative qualifications eg. An Access Course.
The qualification obtained at the end of a course in Higher Education would be a certificate, diploma or degree.
Courses range from the purely academic to those which train students for a profession.
Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) This diploma is an academic qualification in its own right at a standard equivalent to the first two years of a degree course, but it is also designed as a preparatory course for subsequent careers/vocational training. Some colleges permit transfer from DipHE to degree courses but check this out carefully beforehand.
BTEC Higher National Certificate/Diploma (HNC/HND)
- HNDs involve 2 years study. Courses may take 3 years to complete if a practical placement is involved. Some courses enable students to continue for a further one or two years in order to gain a degree.
- HNDs are vocational eg. business and finance, design, hotel and catering, engineering etc.
- HNCs cover a narrower range of topics, enabling students to complete them in 2 years by part-time study.
Foundation Degree
The Foundation Degree is an innovative degree course, which focuses on developing the work-related skills that employers require. It is developed in partnership with employers and a university and is delivered in an FE College. The course takes two years to complete when taken full-time, but can also be taken part-time and both include accredited work experience. The degree is a qualification in its own right, but graduates may then “top-up” to a relevant honours degree course. First Degrees • Full-time degrees usually involve three years of study. Courses may take four years to complete if a practical placement or study abroad is included.
• There are some enhanced courses that have additional elements, particularly in engineering and science, which take longer. Courses in a few subjects (eg.Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science) last for 5 years or more.
• There are several titles for first degree awards. The best known are BA (Bachelor of Arts), Bed (Bachelor of Education) or BSc (Bachelor of Science) which are awarded over a range of subjects. Other relate to a specific profession eg. MD (Medicine), LLB (Law) or Bmus (Music).
• Degrees can be vocational, ie. the course is a preparation for a certain career. Examples are applied science, business studies, engineering, medicine, pharmacy and teaching. Many courses are non-vocational, ie. the course does not presuppose any specific career intention but can lead to vocational postgraduate education or training. Examples are English, history and pure science.
• Some of these degrees give exemption from parts of various related professional qualifications. A student considering using a degree to prepare for entry to a profession should check with the appropriate professional body.
• There are different types of degree depending on course structure:-
Single Honours One main subject is studied within which a number of modules are often available. Some of these modules are optional, some compulsory.
Joint Honours This involves the study of two separate but equal subjects which can be related or even unrelated eg. German and maths; French and business studies.
Combined Honours This can involve the study of two, three or more closely related subjects or a selection from a range eg. French, business studies and law. Can also be called multi-disciplinary/ inter-disciplinary major and minor.
Major/Minor This involves the study of two subjects, the ‘major’ option taking more time than the minor option. These courses are usually inclusive of the word ‘with’ eg. French with business studies in which French is major and business studies minor.
Postgraduate • Postgraduate courses are those which can be entered with a first degree. Postgraduate diplomas and certificates can qualify for a particular career eg.teaching.
• Master degrees are awarded in Arts (MA), Science (MSc) and other categories. They usually last one or two years and allow you to study the subject in depth. They may be ‘taught’courses or obtained by research.
• Doctorates, often known as PhDs, can be studied after a first degree or after a Masters degree. Normally students will be required to have a First Class Honours or a 2.1 in their first degree. PhDs are usually obtained by undertaking original research. Students do this under the supervision of a senior academic.
NB: Some courses have their own distinctive pattern, eg. Art students often prove their aptitude for further training by completing a full-time foundation (pre-diploma) or appropriate BTEC course in Art and Design. This foundation year is followed by a three-year Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. These courses fall into four areas of study: fine art, graphic design, three-dimensional design and textiles/fashion.
Methods of Study • Full-time courses;
• Sandwich courses - part of the course is spent in a work placement;
• Part-time day or evening courses - more commonly taken by people in employment or those whose domestic circumstances prohibit full-time study; and
• Correspondence / distance learning - part-time courses by postal tuition.
For further information on individual courses contact the relevant universities or colleges of higher education.
Further Information See also the following articles in the General Information section:-
Applying to Higher Education Courses
Financial Help for Further/Higher Education
Decisions About Higher Education?