Hartpury University Prospectus

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Degrees explained

Choosing which subject to study at university can lead to some big questions. But what about the type of qualification you choose? How will this affect your future and which one is the best fit for you? Here we help you understand your options at Hartpury.

Bachelor of Science (BSc) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree?

Foundation degree (FdSc) 2 years or 3 years with integrated placement year A foundation degree will support you to enter the vocational part of your industry. The content is hands-on and includes increased work placements and a diverse range of practical assessments. At the end of the foundation degree you should be ready to enter employment or progress onto a one- year level 6 top-up qualification to achieve a full BSc (Hons) degree. BSc (Hons) Level 6 Top-up degree 1 year A top-up qualification comes after a foundation degree or equivalent in a relevant subject. It enables you to top-up your existing qualification to a full BSc (Hons) degree in one year. Integrated Master's (MSci) degree 4 years or 5 years with integrated placement year An MSci is an exciting qualification, combining undergraduate and postgraduate-level study in one. You’ll study your full BSc (Hons) degree, with an extra year of study enabling you to pursue your subject in more detail and develop advanced research skills. It offers a great platform from which to move into employment, academia or research-based professions. Integrated placement year Gain extra hands-on experience through an optional one-year placement in industry, which will extend your course to four or five years. This could help you stand out from the crowd.

3 years or 4 years with integrated placement year The most popular undergraduate qualification is a bachelor’s degree. This is usually pursued after A-levels, diplomas or international equivalent qualifications. Bachelor’s degrees come in science (BSc) or arts (BA) subjects. A bachelor’s degree is perfect if you’re keen to develop more specialist knowledge in a particular subject while gaining skills and experience ready for your dream career. Honours or no Honours? Most first degrees in higher education come with ‘Honours’ (Hons). Although ‘Honours’ isn’t a grade, it is a mark of quality. It could help your job application stand out to an employer or your application for postgraduate study. BSc or BA (Hons) degree with foundation year? 4 years or 5 years with integrated placement year Most of our degrees offer a foundation year option, which takes an extra year to complete on top of your three or four year degree. A foundation year is ideal if you need to develop subject-specific skills ready for degree-level study. You might have been away from education for a while or you could be changing your career direction and needing to bridge a knowledge gap. You may also have studied international qualifications of a different level to those required for a UK-based degree. On successful completion you'll progress onto the first year of your degree, alongside other first year students.