Higher education qualifications
Not sure what higher education qualification is right for you? Here's a quick guide to the different qualifications you can study at university.
Not sure what higher education qualification is right for you? Here's a quick guide to the different qualifications you can study at university.
BA (Hons) is a Bachelor of Arts degree with honours. This is awarded to undergraduate courses that typically cover subjects to do with the liberal arts, such as humanities, literature, history, social sciences, communications and foreign languages.
The benefit of a BA (Hons) is that you traditionally study a broader spectrum of topics, giving you the chance to select modules that align with your own interests and goals.
Take a look at ARU’s BA degrees to find a course that is the perfect fit.
BSc (Hons) is a Bachelor of Science degree with honours. This is awarded to undergraduate courses that typically cover scientific topics such as chemistry, physics, biology, technology, mathematics, computer science, nursing and biochemistry.
The BSc (Hons) is traditionally a more specialised degree, making it the ideal choice for someone who is focused on one specific subject.
If this sounds like the right choice for you, ARU have a number of different BSc degrees available.
BEng (Hons) is a Bachelor of Engineering degree with honours. This is a professional undergraduate degree that is accredited by one of the Engineering Council’s professional engineering institutions.
The BEng is an excellent choice for students with a keen interest in science and mathematics. With engineers in high demand across multiple disciplines, there are a variety of career paths available to BEng (Hons) graduates.
If you’re interested in exploring engineering, ARU has BEng (Hons) degrees available.
LLB (Hons) is a Bachelor of Law degree with honours. This is a professional undergraduate degree that is accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Bar Standards Boards (BSB). It is the first step to becoming a solicitor or a barrister in the UK.
The LLB (Hons) is also a great choice for those who want to hone their legal knowledge for careers in business, finance or public service.
ARU offers LLB (Hons) degrees that are the ideal blend of study, professional practice and mentoring.
If you are currently working towards your A levels or BTEC qualifications, you don’t necessarily have to jump straight to studying a degree.
Many universities also provide foundation courses or degrees that have a foundation year. This is a great way to bridge any skills gaps you might have from further education to higher education, provide additional support from qualified professionals and some foundation options will even provide an additional qualification.
You can find ARU foundation courses by visiting our course search and selecting 'Full-time with foundation year' as your mode of study.
FdA stands for Foundation Degree of the Arts. This is a Level 4/5 qualification that is typically undertaken before a BA degree.
FdSc stands for Foundation Degree of Sciences.
An FdSc is a Level 4/5 qualification that is typically undertaken before a BSc degree.
A placement is a great opportunity for students to gain valuable work experience whilst studying for their degree. Employability is an important factor to consider when choosing what to study, so incorporating a year to form industry contacts and gain first hand experience working in your chosen field into your degree may the ideal choice for you. To find a course with a placement option visit our course search and select 'Full-time with placement' as your mode of study.
A masters degree is an ideal choice for students that want to extend their knowledge beyond a Bachelor degree. If you want to continue to study the same topic, you will be given the opportunity to conduct independent research and develop your thoughts and ideas in your field.
However, some students opt for a Masters in order to switch their area of study or make a career change. It’s important to check that the course you are interested in takes students from different Bachelor backgrounds.
Some students choose to study for a Masters degree as it has the potential to accelerate their career growth. Not only will a Masters degree potentially give you the upper hand compared to other colleagues and interview candidates, but you will also be more knowledgeable in your respective field.
Why not explore the masters degrees available at ARU.
An MA stands for a Master of Arts. This is a Level 7 qualification that is typically undertaken after a BA degree.
An MSc stands for a Master of Sciences. This is a Level 7 qualification that is typically undertaken after a BSc degree.