Bachelor Degree

Bachelor Degrees Around the World

A bachelor’s degree is typically an academic degree awarded to undergraduates for a major or course that usually lasts for three or four years. In some countries and particular cases, a bachelor degree program may last up to five or six years. Some types of postgraduate degrees are also called bachelor’s degrees, like the Bachelor of Civil Law that is granted by Oxford University.

There is a distinction between honors degrees and pass degrees under the English system of academic degrees. English systems of academic degrees influence many countries’ systems, including the Irish, Canadian, Maltese, Indian, Hong Kong and Singaporean academic systems.

An honors degree typically requires a higher standard than a pass degree. In many areas of the world an additional year of study is required in order to be awarded with an honors degree. Such degrees are usually written as ‘B.A. (Hons)’.

In England, Northern Ireland and Wales, there are ordinary degrees and honors degrees. Some universities offer both options for all majors. Though the courses are all portrayed as honors degree programs, students can opt not to participate in the honors classes and receive an ordinary degree instead.

In Australia there are pass degrees and honors degrees. For the most part, honors degrees are awarded based on academic performance and achievement. In many science related areas of study, attaining an honors degree requires an additional year of study that includes a thesis and original research project.

Today, undergraduate degrees are split into two major groups, Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science. Before the late 19th century all undergraduate degrees were considered Bachelor of Arts degrees. Then in the latter portion of the 1800s universities began awarding the two different kinds of undergraduate degrees.

In the U.S. many universities and colleges, especially those known as ‘liberal arts’ colleges, aware Bachelor of Arts degrees for all academic subjects of study. Many times such schools offer primarily academic courses as opposed to pre-professional training. Schools that off both pre-professional and academic courses will award Bachelor of Science degrees to pre-professional students, such as those studying nursing or finance.

It is also quite common for schools to award Bachelor of Arts degrees for academic courses and Bachelor of Science degrees for areas of study involving mostly physical sciences. At many universities and colleges students may choose between BS and BA courses of study for the same subject.