An undergraduate degree, also known as a bachelor’s degree, is a higher education qualification available to students after completing 12 or 13 years of secondary school. It is typically the first degree pursued at a university or college after high school. Students normally after completing a bachelor’s degree, may either enter the employment or continue with postgraduate studies for further specialization.
The duration of an undergraduate degree varies depending on the country of study. In Australia, Ireland and the UK, a typical bachelor’s degree lasts three years, while in Canada and the USA, the standard duration is four years. However, these timelines can vary based on the type of degree and whether it includes an industrial placement year or not.
Some degrees – like Medicine, Dentistry or Vet Science – can take up to five or seven years. Associate degrees in Canada or fast-track degrees in the UK usually takes two years to complete respectively.
Undergraduate degrees come in various types, with each country offering its own classifications based on academic structure. However, many countries such as the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, and Australia share common degree types across different fields of study.
Typical classifications of undergraduate degrees include:
United Kingdom
Student needs to achieve total 360 credits in 3 or 4-years duration
Australia
Bachelors degree in Australia normally consists of 144 credit points (equivalent to 24 units worth 6 credit points each).
Canada
Usually 120 credit hours of study and four years to complete.
United States
Student generally requires 120 credits to complete degree. However, few university programs exceed 140 credit hours
Ireland
Total of 180 – 240 ECTS Credits, depending on degree duration (60 credits at each level)
International students can study Single Honours or a Joint/Double Honours degree. In the UK and Australia, universities typically offer Single Honours degrees, focusing on one subject area, while some universities provide dual degree options. Single Honours degrees allows students to focus on one subject area throughout their degree, gaining in-depth knowledge and expertise in their chosen field. It is ideal for those with a clear interest in a specific subject and who want to specialize in that area.
Universities and Colleges in the USA and Canada offer greater flexibility, allowing students to tailor their degree based on personal interests and career aspirations, often combining multiple disciplines and graduating with joint/double honours degrees. These degrees enable students to study two subjects simultaneously, with one as the primary focus. For example, a student may combine subjects like History and Politics, or Business and Psychology.
Degrees such as Medicine, Dentistry, and Vet may have higher tuition fee.
3 A Level usually AAB for most universities.
However, this requirement varies according to course and university
High School Grade 12th
Students from CBSE or FBISE required foundation year for most universities. However, CBSE 70% and above are acceptable in many universities.
High school diploma
Student must do Foundation year before getting into undergraduate degree in UK or Australia. Direct entry to US and Canada possible
Thanawiya Amma (School Leaving Certificate) – Student must do Foundation year before getting into undergraduate degree
IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each band
PTE 65 overall with 59 in each band
LanguageCert accepted in few universities
Before applying, student needs to check the exact grades required by university or college, normally mentioned on every university course page.
Contact JNS Education to apply for an undergraduate degree. Our expert counselors will guide you through the entire admission process, including selecting the right bachelor’s degree program, securing an offer of acceptance, handling tuition fee payments, and processing your student visa application.