When starting the process of applying to university, there are many things to consider. You’ll have to think about which course to take, the required entry grades and writing a personal statement. When researching courses, you will want to consider the difference between an honours degree and other degree types to apply for the course best suited to you.
A degree with honours in the UK is a type of undergraduate qualification that shows you’ve achieved more than just a pass. It usually involves completing extra work, like a big project or dissertation, and shows a deeper understanding of your subject. It’s well-respected by employers and is often needed for further study.
To explore more about the meaning, benefits, and grading system associated with a degree with honours in the UK, keep reading!
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What is an honours degree?
In the UK, an honours degree is a bachelor’s degree that shows that you’ve completed your course to a higher standard of difficulty. These will often include extra requirements such as a final year project or dissertation, which allow you to dive deeper into your chosen subject area.
For most students, an honours degree takes the typical three to four years to complete, but this can vary depending on the course and university. However, most undergraduate degree courses in the UK are honours degrees by default.
Consider the following examples of what these may look like:
- Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA Hons)
- Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc Hons)
- Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (BEng Hons)
You do not need any pre-requisites to be able to take an honours degree. As long as you meet the entry requirements for the bachelor’s degree course you’re applying to, you can choose the honours option. This means there’s no need to worry about having different grades—as they’re the same for both versions.
Have a look at this Think Student article to see more about honours degrees, as well as the other classifications of degree.
What is a joint honours degree?
A joint honours degree lets you study two subjects equally, giving you the chance to explore different areas of interest at a time. It’s a great option if you’re passionate about more than one subject and don’t want to choose between them. Even though it covers two disciplines, a joint honours degree takes the same amount of time to complete as a single-subject degree—usually three to four years.
You might think that studying two subjects would mean double the workload, but don’t worry! The course is carefully designed so that the overall workload remains the same as any standard bachelor’s degree.
Here are some examples of popular subject pairings for joint honours degrees:
- English Literature and History
- Psychology and Sociology
- French and Spanish
How does a joint honours degree work?
In UK universities, degrees follow a credit system to make sure the workload is balanced. Each year, you’ll need to complete 120 credits, which can be a mix of:
- Compulsory modules — Core classes you must take for each subject.
- Optional modules — Classes you can pick based on your interests.
This structure ensures that your workload is manageable while giving you the flexibility to shape your degree around what you like the most.
For more information about how many credits must be studied each year, read this Open University article.
What is the difference between a degree and a degree with honours?
The main difference between a degree and a degree with honours comes down to the level of academic achievement and the extra requirements involved. As such, a regular degree contains less professionally oriented content, whereas an honours degree works to show the links between the degree content and real-life workplace situations.
As previously mentioned, in the UK, most undergraduate courses are designed to be honours degrees by default. However, if you don’t meet the honours requirements, you will still graduate with a regular degree.
Here’s a greater breakdown of what this entails:
Regular Degree:
- Shows that you’ve completed your course, but without meeting the extra criteria for honours.
- These degrees typically don’t require a dissertation, independent project, or advanced coursework.
Degree with Honours:
- A degree with honours reflects a higher level of academic achievement.
- It requires you to meet more rigorous grade thresholds and often includes completing a dissertation or major project.
Your honours degree will also include a classification, such as:
- First-Class Honours (1st) — The highest level of achievement.
- Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1) — A strong result.
- Lower Second-Class Honours (2:2) — A solid pass.
- Third-Class Honours (3rd) — The minimum level of honours.
This Think Student article looks at the university grading system in more detail.
Consider the following table for a more concise format of key differences between the two:
| Degree | Degree with Honours | |
| Final Project | Not required | Includes a dissertation or major project |
| Academic Standard | Basic pass level | Higher difficulty level |
| Recognition | General qualification | Arguably more respected by employers and universities |
| Classification | None (Pass/Fail system) | Includes honours classification (1st , 2:1, 2:2, 3rd ) |
One is required to study modules with 360 credits but is one required to obtain 360 credits. Is the extra work required for an hons degree sufficient if get less than 120 in fist year?
more difficult version of a *normal bachelor’s degree