Also known as a Batchelor’s degree, this traditional qualification involves three years’ full-time study, with many courses offering a part-time option. This increases to four years if you also do a year's work placement or complete a foundation year.

At the University of Bedfordshire, we award the following Honours degrees:

• BA Honours (Bachelor of Arts)
• BEng Honours (Bachelor of Engineering)
• BSc Honours (Bachelor of Science)
• LLB Honours (Bachelor of Law)

If you are a full-time student, you are expected to complete 120 academic credits of study each year (four 30-credit modules). Part-time students normally study 60 credits each year.

Find out more about credits

A degree with a professional practice year (often called a 'sandwich year' degree) takes four years. The third year is spent in a year-long work placement to ensure you have all the experience you need to enter the workplace.

Find our courses with a professional practice year

This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will need to complete the foundation year successfully to progress to the first year of your Bachelor’s degree.

Find out more about our foundation year courses

The University of Bedfordshire works with a broad range of local, regional and national employers – both private and public sector – to help deliver our apprenticeship programmes. Our apprenticeship opportunities include administration and management; marketing; digital technology; nursing and midwifery; healthcare; and social work. If you are working in any of these fields, it may be worthwhile approaching your employer about an apprenticeship. All employers can take advantage of the apprenticeships' landscape.

Find out more about our apprenticeships

Different to degrees with a foundation year, Foundation degrees are designed in association with employers to provide a more occupationally based route through higher education. The emphasis is on work-focused learning. They are normally completed over two years full time or two and a half to four years part time; FD courses are delivered at the University and also at some of our partner colleges. They are the equivalent to two-thirds of a Bachelor's degree.

After successfully completing a Foundation degree, there is often the opportunity for advanced entry onto the final year of an associated Bachelor's course. It may also be possible for those with HND, HNC, DipHE or CertHE qualifications to apply for advanced entry.

Find out more about advanced entry

Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) are specialist Level 4 and 5 qualifications for students seeking a practical, employer-led route into employment. They have been developed in partnership with industry so you get the practical training and technical know-how you need to step into your chosen career, retrain or progress on in higher education.

Find out more about our HTQs

The University offers a selection of taught awards:

• Master of Arts (MA), normally awarded for a course in an arts subject
• Master of Science (MSc), usually awarded for a course in a science or technology discipline
• Master of Business Administration (MBA), for those specialising in business subjects
• LLM, which is a Master’s in Law

If you are a UK or EU student with settled/pre-settled status, we have a small number of courses that are available by distance learning with online support. There is no attendance requirement, which is ideal if you have other work or family commitments.

A research degree – or Master's by Research - is an independent, advanced study programme supervised by academic staff and lasting between one and seven years, giving you an opportunity to explore more deeply a topic of your choice. Across our 10 research institutes here at Bedfordshire, we have around 275 research students conducting their own unique research, and producing new knowledge and expertise that is innovative, relevant and enlightened. They are studying towards one of the following awards:

• Master of Arts by Research (MA by Research)
• Master of Science by Research (MSc by Research)
• Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
• Master of Professional Studies (MProf)
• PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) – an advanced-level academic course involving the submission of a thesis which is original academic research in a chosen field of study
• Professional Doctorates – these are practice-based research degrees. We currently offer a Professional Doctorate in Children and Young People’s Services.

• Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) is awarded after completing 60 credits of a Master’s degree
• Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) is awarded after completing 120 credits towards a Master’s degree

Once you have completed your PgDip, you have the option to ‘top up’ your credits by completing your Master’s.

Find out more about credits

Gaining this qualification is the most established way of undertaking initial teacher training leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). At Bedfordshire, we have a long-established history of teacher training, offering a wide range of PGCE routes into teaching and successful partnerships with over 500 schools, colleges and other organisations.

We currently offer PGCE courses in:

• Primary (3-7)
• Primary Education (5-11)
• Secondary Art & Design
• Secondary Design & Technology
• Secondary Drama
• Secondary English
• Secondary Geography
• Secondary History
• Secondary Mathematics
• Secondary Music
• Secondary Physical Education
• Secondary Religious Education
• Secondary Science with Biology
• Secondary Science with Chemistry
• Secondary Science with Physics