BSc Business and Management Studies Top-up

What is an Undergraduate Top Up

As the name would suggest an Undergraduate Top Up is a course of study which supplements learners existing qualifications to that of a full undergraduate degree. Undergraduate Top Up courses provide an access point for students to join the second or final year of study for a Bachelor’s Degree. This means that students who have been studying on other types of Higher Education courses can study towards a three year Bachelor Degree without the need to start from the first year.

What are the Entry Requirements to join an Undergraduate Top Up Degree Course?

In order to gain admission onto a Bachelors Undergraduate Top Up, students need to have successfully completed a two year Higher National Diploma (HND) in a relevant subject area to that of the Bachelor’s degree. Other qualifications which are eligible for entry onto a top up course include BTEC Professional Diplomas, NVQs and equivalent level 5 Higher Education awards.

Some colleges may be more lenient towards applicants who do not have the required qualifications if they are able to show that they have substantial prior learning in the subject area. This may be through vocational training and experience, but must indicate that the prospective student will be able to cope with the intended level of study, which is level 5 to level 6. Applicants without the specified qualifications are more likely to be able to join top up courses at the start of the second year of the bachelor’s degree, rather than the final year.

Is an Undergraduate Top Up qualification of Equal Value to a full 3 year Bachelor’s Degree?

An undergraduate top up qualification is the same value as a three year undergraduate Bachelor’s degree. As degree Top Up courses take into account specific, credit bearing, level 5 qualifications such as HNDs, this means that prior learning can be aligned with the first and second year of a Bachelor’s degree. In effect, a 2 year Edexcel HND qualification is no different to year 1 and 2 of a Bachelor’s degree and graduates completing an HND top up will qualify with the same qualifications as those graduating from a full three year Bachelor’s degree.

Advantages of Degree Top Up Courses

One of the main advantages of top up courses is that they offer many students a flexible route of study within UK Higher Education. Those who choose to study HND qualifications and progress onto an undergraduate top up course will gain both an HND qualification and a Bachelor’s degree at the end of three years of study.

An HND Top Up graduate will be equipped with an internationally recognized level 6 qualifications plus a level 5 vocational HND qualification, and due to the flexibility of the study route they have taken may also have a year or more of professional experience. Despite the current economic climate, in addition to having HND qualifications, completing a Bachelor’s degree awarded in a UK University or college, is still proven to increase Higher Education graduates career prospects in the long term. Employers prefer to recruit graduates who have a UK Bachelor’s degree over those who do not have one. Bachelor’s degree graduates develop a more diverse set of transferable skills such as written and verbal communication, analytical and problem-solving through their studies.

Ultimately, completing an undergraduate top up will hold students in good stead for employment.

For more information about the fees please visit LSBM Fees