The UK academic year
The school year begins in September or October and finishes in June or July. Most universities have three terms a year, beginning in September or October, January and May. But some universities have moved towards the American concept of having two semesters a year, starting in September or October and January.
There’s a course to suit everyone
Depending on your experience, you would enter university at different stages. Here’s a quick explanation of each level.
Foundation courses or 'Year 0' programmes target students who want to enter specific subject areas but don’t have the entry requirement qualifications.
A Higher National Diploma (HND) and a Diploma of Higher Education are two-year courses that stand alone, but some students choose to top up these qualifications into a degree by staying on for an extra year.
Bachelor (undergraduate) degrees are three-year courses while Master's (postgraduate) degrees are four-year courses that can involve a year in industry or abroad. You can also get a master's degree by doing a one-year course after completing an undergraduate degree.
Another type of master's degree is the MRes, (Master in Research) which is designed to prepare students for doctoral research. Doctorates are the highest qualification you can reach in the UK, usually taking three to four years to complete.