Undergraduate

It’s one of the most important decisions you’re ever likely to make.  That’s why we’re determined you should have all the information you need about the wide range of undergraduate courses we offer here at Bucks New University.

The options at Bucks New University and our partner colleges are extensive.  Full-time and part-time HNCs and HNDs.  BA, BSc and LLB degrees.  And, of course, Work Based Foundation Degrees too. 

Some of the subjects are career-related – jewellery design, journalism, advertising or social work, for instance.  Others, such as fine art, sociology and film have more of a pure academic flavour.  Whatever subject you’re studying, however, you can rely on excellent facilities and strong links with relevant industry sectors.

Take a look at our jargon buster below that explains the different types of qualifications available:

HND/HNC stands for Higher National Diploma or Certificate. Usually two years long, it’s vocational (work-related). And if you choose to continue to study, you could join an undergraduate degree course for its final year to convert your HND into a BA or BSc degree.

Diplomas are pre-degree qualifications that generally last two years.

Foundation Degrees are ideal if you’ve got a specific job in mind.  Directly related to your industry sector, they take two years to complete. They’ll improve your career prospects whatever stage you’re at, and directly support the ambitions of the industries with whom we work. We are particularly strong in the areas of business, leisure and tourism, so if that’s what you’re interested in, give a Foundation Degree some thought.

BA stands for Bachelor of Arts undergraduate degree. A three-year course in a non-science subject, the grades are awarded from First Class, Second Class with upper and lower divisions, Third and Pass. The top three grades give you an Honours degree.

BSc stands for Bachelor of Science undergraduate degree. This is the same as the BA, but focusing on more science-orientated subjects.

LLB refers to Bachelor of Laws. This is a qualifying law degree (QLD), which means it meets the requirements of the Law Society and Bar Council for those who wish to become a solicitor or barrister.

Single Honours means that you only study one subject for your degree.

Joint Honours means you are studying two subjects to which you give equal importance.

Major/Minor means that you are studying two subjects that have differing importance. Often the first subject is weighted at 75 per cent of your final award.

Modules are what we call the different topics that make up our degrees, diplomas and HND/HNCs.  There are usually a number of core modules you have to study and then there are several that you can choose from depending on your interests. The modules won’t just teach you about your subject;

they will also develop your skills in learning, IT, communication, problem solving, teamwork and numeracy. All of which will be crucial in your career.