About British degrees

There quite a few types of degree programs in the UK: Bachelors Degrees, Foundation Degrees, Masters Degrees and Doctorates, which are all globally recognised qualifications. You can choose either a 3-year degree and graduate with to a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc) or a four-year sandwich course which includes one year’s professional experience in industry or a year studying abroad.

If you choose to study in Scotland, you can study and graduate with an MA (Master of Arts) or MSc (Master of Science) degree after four years. These are undergraduate degrees (not Graduate degrees and not equivalent to a Master's degree you would take after a Bachelor's degree) and more similar to the US undergraduate degrees in that you can take a more varied range of subject areas, however, you still declare a main focus throughout the UK degree program (though this can be changed during your studies) and it still tends to be more focused from the beginning of the degree program than a normal US degree.

British taught Master's degrees have a structure that is similar to American Master's programs, however, the British version is arguably a bit more professionally oriented and can be completed in just 12 months, compared to 2 years in the US, thus saving you time and money.

Main differences between American and UK degree programs

UK degrees tend to focus on the main degree subject from the beginning of the degree program and thus more professionally oriented than the US liberal arts education, which requires each student to learn a broader curriculum. For students who have a clear idea of what they want to study, a British degree is ideal as you are allowed to specialize in your subject area from the start.

UK undergraduate degrees are typically 3 years in length, with the exception of Scotland, where undergraduate programs take 4 years to complete.

The UK style of education is particularly suitable for students who want to immerse themselves in a specific subject or combination of subjects straight out of high school. British Degrees leave the learning much more up to you, with the emphasis on lectures backed up by tutorials rather than a more interactive learning environment. Undergraduates are expected to extend their research conducted on their subject and to motivate themselves outside of lectures.

There is a high degree of flexibility and choice with UK degrees. You can pursue your interests and ambitions in fields as diverse as sound-engineering to marine biology or Creative Writing.

How are British degrees taught?

Lectures: formal presentations to large groups of students, who take notes on what is said.
Seminars: Small groups of eight to twenty students who discuss assigned topics with a tutor.
Tutorials: more informal meetings in which one to three students discuss their work with a tutor. The close contact between student and tutor in seminars and tutorials is a particular strength of UK degree courses.

Continuous assessment: Depending on your degree course you will be expected to produce course-work, projects, seminar participation, ongoing exams, etc. Plus, usually, a final dissertation and final exams.

Degree programs available in Britain