The Length of the Course

Courses can differ markedly in length, varying from two years for most sub-degree courses to six years for a professional course in architecture and possibly longer for some part-time courses.

• The majority of full-time courses are three years, but some add a 'sandwich' or placement year (usually spent in work experience or as a year abroad).
• Most language courses last four years and many science and engineering courses lead to a Master's degree (such as MChem or MEng) after four years.
• The University of Northumbria has a four-year Law degree that enables candidates to meet the conditions to qualify as a barrister or solicitor.
• Sandwich courses are usually expressed as 4yr SW on UCAS directories and prospectuses.

It is sometimes possible to add a foundation year to the beginning of a course, making it a further year in length.

• These foundation courses vary somewhat in nature and entry requirements.
• Some are essentially a conversion course for students who have the 'wrong' subjects in their examinations and will expect the same or a similar standard for entry as the courses they lead on to (though key subjects for direct entry will not be required).
• Others are designed to take students who have performed below the normal entry requirements for a course to bring them up to speed. These courses will often have lower entry requirements.

In some cases the length of a course can be misleading if you intend to go on to a profession in the same subject.

• Five years of medicine or six of architecture will qualify you to start work as a doctor or an architect (though in both cases there are further hurdles before full qualification).
• However, three years of law does not qualify you to be a lawyer. You must undertake further training (often at your own expense) before you can work as a barrister or a solicitor.
• In the case of engineering, a four-year MEng course will give you maximum credit towards the status of Chartered Engineer, but if you take a BEng course you may have to undertake further study after you have finished.

The start of courses may vary, too.

• While the great majority still start in September or October there are a few that start in the spring.
• Many of these are nursing courses but some universities are offering a spring start in other subjects, too.

Next page: Course Structure