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Many of the subject areas listed in this prospectus give you the opportunity to broaden your degree and acquire new skills by studying on different pathways. These include: taking a language; studying or working abroad; a 'sandwich' year working in industry; learning extra computing skills; or taking the new Kent Enterprise programme.
Kent offers both full and part-time study. Some programmes offer both modes, and some either one or the other. The Facts box for each subject should indicate which mode of study is available for that programme.
Kent offers a variety of degree programmes
Single honours
Single honours where you study one main subject, sometimes with the option of taking up to 25% of your degree in another subject.
Joint honours
Joint honours where you study two subjects on a 50:50 basis.
Major/minor honours
Where the majority of your study is in one subject and the minority in another, for example, Law with a language.
Part-time study
Where you can take a full-time degree programme on a half-time basis, or do an honours degree by working your way through interim awards.
Honours degrees with a foundation year
If, for whatever reason, you do not have appropriate qualifications for direct entry, some science honours degrees offer a foundation year, and there are general foundation years especially for international students whose academic qualifications or English language is not at the required level for direct entry to a degree.
Foundation degrees
Foundation degrees are interim higher education awards, which start at a point before honours degree entry and end at a level significantly below an honours degree. There are usually good progression routes on to a related honours degree or a specific top-up honours degree.
Higher National Diplomas
Higher National Diplomas are interim higher education awards, which start at a point before honours degree entry and end at a level significantly below an honours degree. There are usually good progression routes on to a related honours degree or a specific top-up honours degree.
Top-up honours degrees
Top-up honours degrees are one year programmes designed to allow progression from foundation degrees or HNDs to bachelor honours degree level.
Kent degrees divide into stages, as follows:
| Full-time | Part-time | |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | First year | Generally two years (but can be up to a total of four years) |
| Stage 2 | Second year | Two further years |
| Stage 3 | Third year | Two further years |
Degrees that include study abroad or a work placement in industry usually involve an extra year on a full-time basis. A few degrees in the sciences and in engineering include a fourth year these are also usually on a full-time basis. The Drama and Theatre MDrama includes an extra full-time fourth year and the MArch degree in Architecture requires five years' full-time study. Normally marks from both Stages
Normally marks from both Stages 2 and 3 count towards your final degree result. You have to pass Stage 1 to be allowed to go on to Stages 2 and 3.
Honours programmes at Kent offer academic credits on a nationally agreed scale. You normally take 120 credits at increasingly higher levels at each of Stages 1, 2 and 3, making a total of 360 for a full honours degree. Degrees involving a fulltime fourth year total 480 credits. Foundation degrees carry 240 credits, generally 120 credits per year for two full-time years.
Kent has adopted the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). This system was developed by the Commission of the European Communities in order to guarantee academic recognition of studies throughout universities and colleges across Europe. Each module at Kent carries an ECTS weighting, which is usually half of the credits allocated by the University, so that a Kent 30-credit module has 15 ECTS credits, and a 15-credit module carries 7.5 ECTS credits.
If you have been studying higher education programmes elsewhere and have academic credits that are recent, relevant and at the right level, you can apply to transfer the credit you have accumulated to a relevant programme at Kent, subject to the formal agreement of the University. Equally, credit you gain at Kent can transfer to appropriate programmes elsewhere.
Courses at Kent divide into a number of modules (up to a maximum of eight) at each stage. Each module carries a credit rating (according to its 'weight') of 15, 30 or occasionally 45 credits. Some degrees have set modules that you are required to take, particularly if you are studying a subject that leads towards professional recognition, for example, law or accounting.Other subjects allow more choice, particularly at Stage 1, which gives you the opportunity to diversify and broaden your experience by studying topics outside your main subject area.
Class hours vary depending on which subject you take. For example, science-based degrees can include full-day practical laboratory sessions, while other degrees may only have one lecture and seminar per module each week and require you to spend more time in private study and reading.
There are a number of ways you can qualify to study a degree – see our general entry requirements, and details of Access, certificate and diploma courses and foundation programmes. Many foundation degrees, also have linked or relevant honours degrees which you can move on to once you gain your foundation degree award.
Graduating does not have to be the end of your university career Kent offers a large number of postgraduate courses, and many of our students have gone on to take further academic qualifications. Some courses qualify you for careers that need further study in order to gain a professional qualification, for example, law, actuarial science, and architecture.