Undergraduate degrees

What are degrees?
Undergraduate degrees can be called bachelors degrees, first degrees, or higher or tertiary education. Degrees are mostly Honours degrees, which means graded, but some are Ordinary or ungraded. They are awarded for completing a course of study that follows on from secondary schooling, with or without a gap in time. This course can be almost purely academic in subjects like history, economics and politics; heavily biased towards a particular career in fields such as medicine, law and agriculture; or may contain large vocational elements as is the case with engineering, art and design, and nursing.

There are over 50,000 courses available at well over 300 institutions through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), and these figures do not include part-time learning since UCAS is only concerned with full-time courses. The government's target is for 50 per cent of 18-30 year olds to take part in higher education by 2010, so degrees are just as much a part of an individual's development as any other award.

Honours degrees are undergraduate degrees passed at a higher level than the Ordinary award. Many degree subjects can be studied part-time or through distance learning as well as on full-time academic courses. Increasingly degrees consist of the accumulation of points or credits for completing a mixture of compulsory and elective modules, with the number of credits awarded reflecting the time taken and difficulty of the module. So students select degree courses that tie in with their personal or professional requirements.

Mature students - most Service people - are aged over 21 or over (20 or over in Scotland). They make up somewhere around 20 per cent of all full-time students, and the vast majority of part-time learners. Most institutions welcome mature students as having knowledge and life experience to offer, and provide a range of flexible learning programmes to accommodate their needs. Many will give credit for learning already undertaken, reducing the time needed to gain a degree.

According to the Department for Education and Skills, people with degrees on average:
• earn £400,000 more than non-graduates during a lifetime
• are more likely to be employed
• get ahead of those without them.

Degrees and Service people
Many Service people, particularly those employed in technical appointments, require degrees for their jobs - some join with them, others gain them while serving; yet others are taking distance and open learning degrees out of interest, to further their Service career or to prepare for resettlement.

So do not think that a lack of GCSEs or A-levels, a poor school record or difficulty with spelling rules out a degree; that may have been the case once but those days are over. Most people who pass the entrance tests for the Armed Forces and who then get through training will have the basic ability to become educated to degree level - as is shown by the people who have achieved this and told Quest about it.

Entry criteria
Straight As (possibly with the occasional B) at A-level and a number of A* passes at GCSE, or an International or European Baccalaureate are needed for the most popular courses at top universities. For less popular subjects at other universities, entry criteria could be much lower. Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) and Certificates (HNCs), National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and Modern Apprenticeships, as well as Advanced Certificates of Education and GCSEs may also fulfil entry requirements.

For mature students, academic qualifications are less important, with due notice taken of the ability to study, and other learning and work that the individual has completed; each case is judged on its merits. Entry tutors need to be satisfied that the individual has the necessary 'understanding background' to study the subject and the motivation to complete the course.

Many colleges also run access courses; some are for specific subjects or subject areas; others provide general access to higher education. They are all designed for mature students or under-represented groups, and they bring the individual up to the right starting standard for a degree course. Some institutions offer a foundation year before starting a degree to students without much knowledge of the subject.

Many Service people and leavers will soon gain foundation degrees directly through their training, or by taking additional modules after a military development programme. Some can already be awarded HNCs or HNDs and other vocational qualifications. These can, and in the case of a foundation degree will, provide 240 of the 360 points needed to gain most first degrees.

A rule of thumb is that 60 points takes six months' full-time study and 12 months' part-time. So a three- or four-year full-time degree takes six years or longer part-time. Some institutions offer flexible arrangements that enable a mix of full- and part-time study. Another rule of thumb is that it takes seven hours' study a week to pass a 30-point module in a year, and 14 hours for a 60-point one.

The Open University has a wide choice of degree courses designed for people who may have no qualifications. However, many universities and colleges now offer qualifications that can be taken by people with few formal qualifications but some experience of life and an enthusiasm for learning.

Applications for all full-time courses, except for those offered by the Open University, must be processed through UCAS. People interested in any form of part-time higher education should talk directly with the institution(s) concerned. The relevant website(s) will contain full information.

What degree to choose
When selecting a degree course, the subject should preferably have strong links with their area of work, or a hobby or interest that they already pursue. In some cases it may be possible to link a degree with an employment area they wish to enter in the future, and that requires this level of qualification. Few people have the determination to follow a lengthy and very challenging study regime on top of a full-time job unless they have a genuine and deeply held interest in the subject.

It is also important for individuals to select degree courses that fit in with their lives. It might be possible, for example, to study a theoretical subject under conditions in which it would be impossible to undertake practical work; a particular Service employment might offer opportunities to complete a number of on-the-job modules quite easily. They should also consider whether they prefer a combination of exams and continuous assessment, or unseen exams at the end of each academic year.

Ways of studying
Almost all degree subjects may be studied full-time, part-time, through distance and supported open learning, and now on the Internet. Many full-time higher education courses also require an ability to learn independently; so there may not be as much difference between that and part-time study as many people imagine.

Most Service people, like others in employment, will opt for some sort of part-time learning; but it is very important that people choose the right type of course. Some like learning in a group so evening and weekend classes will suit them best. Others are happy studying by themselves so that distance learning is an option. Yet more are completely comfortable with IT so they can consider Internet-based courses. However, all will need to consider changes in their working lives during the length of their course and use the method of study that best suits their circumstances.

Anther big choice will be the learning provider. A good start is to ask around other people who have studied recently, and seek advice from work superiors and education specialists. Look at magazines like Quest, draw up a shortlist, search websites, ask for prospectuses, attend open days, and visit likely colleges and universities. It is a good idea to enlist the support of employer and family because they will be affected by the decision to study for a degree.

Fees and financial help
Currently all students have to pay up to £1,100 a year towards their tuition costs (with the government paying the other three-quarters of the tuition). Both full- and part-time higher education students can take out a student loan to help with food and accommodation if they meet certain criteria. Amounts vary with personal circumstances. Costs and loans are administered by Local Educational Authorities (LEAs).

Some health degrees - medical, nursing and allied professions - may attract NHS bursaries, and there are cash incentives to study for certain teaching qualifications. Educational institutions, trusts and charities may also have funds available to support needy individuals who want to undertake degree courses. Other funding is outlined in 'Factfile' and includes Learning Credits and Career Development Loans.

Further information

Department for Education and Skills information line: 0800 731 9133

learndirect: 0800 100900

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), Rosehill, New Barn Lane, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 3LZ Tel: 01242 227788 Fax: 01242 544960 Website: www.ucas.com

Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA Tel: 01908 653231 Fax: 01908 655070 Website: www.open.ac.uk

National Extension College, The Michael Young Centres, Purbeck Road, Cambridge CB2 2HN Tel: 01223 400350 Fax: 01223 400325 Website: www.nec.ac.uk

Open College of the Arts, Freepost SF10678, Barnsley S75 1BR Tel: 0800 731 2116 Fax: 01226 730838 Website: www.oca-uk.com

Association of British Correspondence Colleges, PO Box 17926, London SW19 3WB Tel: 020 8544 9559 Fax: 020 8540 7657 Website: www.homestudy.org.uk

Educational Grants Advisory Service, 501/505 Kingsland Road, London E8 4AU Tel: 020 7254 6251

National Institute of Adult Continuing Education, 21 De Montfort Street, Leicester LE1 7GE Tel: 0116 204 4200 Fax: 0116 285 4514 Website: www.niace.org.uk

Open College Networks (information on access courses): National Open College Network, c/o University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby DE22 1GB Tel: 01332 591071 Website: www.nocn.org.uk