The description of degrees and qualifications (UK)
Bachelor’s degree — The Bachelor (2-4 years of training) — Diploma Level 1
The bachelor’s degree is the first degree of a full higher education. It can be received both at a college and at a university in 2-4 years.
This degree, having been rather convincing earlier, today, for the development of a personal career, most often demands continuation of education and reception of the master’s degree, which presupposes 1-2 years of training more and can be obtained at a university exclusively.
Thus, these are “higher school” stages of education. This notion has to do with programs and courses on completion of which the graduate receives “a degree”.
This is the list of degrees (e.g.):
- BA Bachelor of Arts
- BSc Bachelor of Science
- LLB Bachelor of Laws
- BEd Bachelor of Education
- EEng Bachelor of Engineering
- BMus Bachelor of Music
- BM or BS Bachelor of Medicine
Master’s degree — The Master (1-2 years of training after Bachelor’s course) — Diploma Level 2
This is a postgraduate education. The term “postdiploma” or “postgraduate” education means any education after having received higher education. It is possible to receive the master’s diploma in a year usually (sometimes two years) provided that one has the higher education diploma.
Postgraduate programs are divided into theoretical (taught) and scientific and research ones.
The theoretical course (taught program) is finished either by reception of a degree of the diploma or the corresponding certificate, or by awarding of the master’s degree. During the studies the results are estimated on the basis of written works. On the studies completion graduation paper (usually of 20 thousand words) is written.
The research course (research program) differs from the theoretical course that students attend lessons more rarely and devote more time to their independent researches. This course enables students to carry out their own researches which , as a rule, make part of a wider research project of the university. The final aim is taking the highest academic degree — Doctor of Philosophy, PhD.
Postgraduate degrees (e.g.):
- PGCE, Postgraduate Certificate in Education
- DMS, Diploma of management Graduate
- MA, Master of Arts
- MSc, Master of Science
- MBA, Master of Business Administration
- LLM, Master of Law
Vocational training
The following certificates of completion are given: GNVQ (Professional qualification) and AV-levels (Intermediate Vocational Education Certificate). These are recognized by all higher educational institutions and employers, and allow to continue university studying.