Version 1.0 - Last Updated: 25 Oct 2023
Creating a part-time undergraduate course - Course duration
Common durations of full-time courses
Ordinary full-time duration – 1 year:
- Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE)
- Higher National Certificate (HNC)
- Honours degree (1-year top-up)
- Honours degree (1-year intercalation)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
Ordinary full-time duration – 2 years:
- Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)
- Higher National Diploma (HND)
- Foundation degree
- Honours degree (2-year top-up)
- Honours degree (condensed)
Ordinary full-time duration – 3 years:
- Ordinary degree
- Honours degree (full course)
Ordinary full-time duration – 4 years:
- Honours degree (with integral foundation year)
- Honours degree (with integral placement year)
- Honours degree (with study abroad year)
- Integrated master’s degree
Ordinary full-time duration – 5 years:
- Honours degree (with integral foundation year and integral placement year)
- Honours degree (with integral foundation year and study abroad year)
Scenarios for deciding part-time course duration
Scenario 1
BA degree studied part-time over 6 years with the full-time version of the course completed in 3 years.
You should add this course to CMS with a duration of 3 years full-time equivalent.
Scenario 2
Integrated master’s studied part-time over 6 years with the full-time version of the course completed in 4 years.
You should add this course to CMS with a duration of 4 years full-time equivalent.
Scenario 3
HND studied part-time over 4 years with no full-time version.
It normally takes 2 years to complete a full-time HND. You should therefore add this course to CMS with a duration of 2 years full-time equivalent.
Scenario 4
BA (hons) degree studied part-time over 7 years with no full-time version.
It normally takes 3 years to complete a full-time BA (hons) degree. You should therefore add this course to CMS with a duration of 3 years full-time equivalent.
Fixed durations
If you offer part-time courses with a fixed duration (for example a 15-month or 18-month course), you must add these to CMS with a one-year full-time equivalent duration. Returning students should apply to the one-year course and you should submit a CoC with the remaining term dates to correct the application.
This will make sure your students receive the correct level of funding.
Do not split out these courses (for example, one course for year 1 and another course for year 2).
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