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Choices at University Level
Foundation Degrees
Foundation Degrees are a relatively new type of degree, in fact the first new Higher Education qualification in the UK for more than 25 years. Launched in 2001, they are proving incredibly popular. Application rates rose by nearly 20% again last year and more than 87,000 people are now studying towards a foundation degree. Recent national surveys reinforce this popularity, highlighting strong levels of student satisfaction with their programmes as well as clear evidence of progression to graduate level employment or Honours degree top-ups.
As the Secretary of State for Education and Skills commented in the white paper on The Future of Higher Education, “We will drive forward foundation degrees, making them the main work-focused higher education qualification.” Because foundation degrees are designed in partnership with employers, the practical knowledge and skills that you learn on the course will be valuable in your career. This in turn makes you much more employable once you’ve graduated. Your future employers will know that you’re not only academically qualified, but that you’ve also got the practical experience and workplace skills they really want to see.
Honours Degrees
Honours Degrees aim to provide graduates with the ability to investigate, think independently, research and innovate. Graduates will develop a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject, elements of which will be at the forefront of current academic thinking and research.
Employers require graduates who can analyse current practices and processes, evaluate evidence and then use sound judgement to make decisions, often in complex and unpredictable circumstances. We offer honours degrees in a number of vocational subjects to enable students to understand both the detailed academic theory and, to a lesser extent than in the foundation degree, the practical knowledge of their chosen discipline.
If you have already studied a Foundation Degree or a Higher National Diploma and would like to gain an Honours Degree, many of our subjects offer final year BA/BSc (Hons) progression routes or bespoke one-year top-up options.
For more information, contact us, speak to a careers advisor or see us at one of our HE Open Days, or at a UCAS event near you.