The Uk Bachelors Degree – A Sound Basis for Flexible Engagement with an Unregulated Labour Market?

Abstract

The higher education system in the United Kingdom has traditionally consisted of a two-cycle structure for taught programmes, leading to two main qualifications: the Bachelor’s degree at undergraduate level, which is normally awarded “with honours” and is often termed the first degree; and the Master’s degree at postgraduate level. These are equivalent to first and second cycle qualifications respectively in the framework for qualifications of the European Higher Education Area (FQ-EHEA). The doctorate degree (equivalent to a third cycle qualification in the FQ-EHEA) is a research-focussed higher degree, and follows on from studies at the undergraduate level plus research training (often provided through a Masters degree). Of the 2.4 million students in UK higher education in 2008/09 over half (56 per cent) were studying at Bachelors (first) degree level; a further 21 per cent were studying at “other undergraduate level” (equivalent to short cycle qualifications in the FQ-EHEA); and the remaining fifth (22 per cent) were studying at postgraduate level. Some 670,000 higher education qualifications are awarded every year: half of these are Bachelor’s/first degrees; a fifth are “other undergradduate” qualifications, and the remaining 30 per cent are postgraduate awards.