2.1 Awards offered by the University

The University offers a small number of standalone programmes aimed at preparing students for higher education study, and leading to the award of a Foundation Diploma.

This award consists of 120 credits at level 3, but may include a proportion of credit (no more than 50%) at level 4, as such programmes are usually designed to prepare students for degree-level study; however, the credit passed on a Foundation Diploma programme may not be counted towards the credit requirements for any other award. To qualify for a Foundation Diploma, students must meet the credit requirements within two years, and no more than four semesters within that time period. Students on standalone programmes leading to Foundation Diploma awards are funded under FE, rather than HE, rules*.

The Foundation Diploma in Art and Design is delivered at Oxford Brookes, but awarded under licence with the University of the Arts London (UAL) Awarding Body.

*Note: The Foundation Diploma differs from the ‘foundation year’, in that the latter is a level 3 programme integrated with an undergraduate degree course to form a four-year programme (when studied full-time) leading to the award of a Bachelor’s degree (see 2.1.2 below). The foundation year has a similar credit structure to the Foundation Diploma, in that it usually consists of 120 credits at level 3, but may include up to 60 credits at level 4. The level 4 credits taken as part of a Year 0 programme may not be counted towards the level 4 requirements of Year 1 of the Bachelor’s degree programme to which the foundation year leads.

The most well-known target award for undergraduate students is the Bachelor’s degree with Honours (or, sometimes, without Honours, if insufficient level 6 credit has been passed) – it is sometimes referred to as a ‘first degree’. There are a number of different types of Bachelor’s degrees, and they are classified according to practice in the relevant discipline, rules for registration with the relevant professional body, and/or curriculum content:

• Bachelor of Arts (BA)
• Bachelor of Engineering (BEng)
• Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
• Bachelor of Medical Science (BMedSci)
• Bachelor of Science (BSc).

Bachelor’s degrees consist of 120 credit programmes of study at level 4, 5 and 6 (a total of 360 credits), and are typically studied full-time over three years, although part-time study options are also available for some programmes. Some programmes have mandatory elements of professional placements included within the three year study period; while others may be studied over four years, if taken as a ‘sandwich’ course with a year-long placement in the third year. As noted in 2.1.1 above, a degree programme may also be four years in duration if it is integrated with a one-year, level 3, foundation year.

The following awards are typically available as exit awards from Bachelor’s degrees at levels 4, 5 and 6, but may be offered as target awards in their own right, where appropriate:

• Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) - level 4
• Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) - level 5
• Bachelor’s degree (as in the list above) without Honours - level 6 (this is often referred to as an ‘Ordinary’ degree).

Another form of Bachelor’s degree is a one-year programme consisting of 120 level 6 credits, often referred to as a ‘top-up’ course. These programmes are designed as progression routes to enable holders of specific level 5 awards, such as Foundation degrees (see 2.1.3 below), Higher National Diplomas, or other equivalent qualifications, to gain a Bachelor’s degree; and are typically associated with partnership arrangements, both in the UK and internationally. An Ordinary Bachelor’s degree is available as an exit award to students who fail to complete the requirements for the Bachelor’s degree with Honours, but who pass at least 60 credits of the level 6 programme.

If the student is not progressing from an Oxford Brookes programme at level 5, the student must achieve 90 credits in order to be awarded an Ordinary degree from a top-up award.

A key sector reference point for these awards is the Foundation degrees characteristics statement published by the QAA.

The Foundation degree is a level 5 qualification consisting of 120 credit programmes of study at levels 4 and 5 (a total of 240 credits), and are typically studied full-time over two years, although part-time study may be available as an option. Most of the programmes leading to Oxford Brookes foundation degree qualifications are delivered at partner colleges through the Associate College Partnership, but some are delivered on campus at the University or through other partnership arrangements. Foundation Degrees integrate academic and work-based learning, in order to equip students with the skills and knowledge relevant to their employment, and they also provide a route to studying for a Bachelor’s degree for students who may not previously have considered entering higher education (see the note on level 6 ‘top-up’ programmes in 2.1.2 above).

As with Bachelor’s degrees (see 2.1.2 above), there are a number of different award types associated with foundation degrees, according to practice in the discipline studied:

• Foundation degree in Arts (FdA)
• Foundation degree in Engineering (FdEng) - primarily for courses that lead to registration with the relevant professional body
• Foundation degree in Science (FdSc).

The level 4 Certificate of Higher Education (as noted in 2.1.2 above) is typically available as an exit award for students who are not able, or choose not, to complete the full Foundation degree programme. 

These programmes integrate the Bachelor’s degree with study at Master’s level, and are found in specific disciplines, often linked to some form of professional accreditation or recognition. Integrated Master’s programmes are typically studied over four years (when studied full-time), and consist of 120 credit programmes of study at levels 4, 5, 6 and 7 (a total of 480 credits). The University offers programmes leading to the following integrated Master’s qualifications:

• Master of Biology (MBiol)
• Master of Engineering (MEng)
• Master of Mathematics (MMath)
• Master of Planning (MPlan)
• Master of Psychology (MPsych)
• Master of Science (MSci).

The following exit awards may be available to students who do not complete the full integrated Master’s programme:

• Certificate of Higher Education - level 4
• Diploma of Higher Education - level 5
• Bachelor’s degree, with or without Honours - level 6.

A key sector reference point for these awards is the Master’s degree characteristics statement published by the QAA. Programmes leading to Master’s degrees are a highly diverse group in terms of curriculum focus (they may cover specialist/advanced study or professional/practice), and they therefore vary in respect of credit requirements and mode/length of study. Information about programmes leading to specific awards will be set out in the approved programme specifications and student handbooks. They all typically include an element of research methods training, and a major element of advanced independent work (the project or dissertation).

The following level 7 awards are offered by the University:

• Master of Architecture (MArch)
• Master of Architectural Design (MArchD)
• Master of Arts (MA)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Master of Fine Art (MFA)
• Master of Law (LLM)
• Master of Public Health (MPH)
• Master of Science (MSc)
• Master of Teaching and Learning (MTL)
• Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)*

The following awards are typically available as exit awards from full Masters programmes, but may also be offered as level 7 target awards in their own right, where appropriate:

• Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip)
• Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert)

*Note: The PGCE is a graduate teacher training programme (linked to the award of Qualified Teacher Status) which may be offered at either level 6 or level 7. 

There are a number of level 6 awards which are defined as postgraduate in terms of when they are typically studied, or the requirement for a minimum amount and level of experience, rather than by academic level:

• Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)*
• Graduate Certificate
• Graduate Diploma
• Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS).

*Note: The ProfGCE is offered at level 6 and may or may not be linked to the award of Qualified Teacher Status.

The Master’s degree characteristics statement is also a key sector reference point for Research Master’s degrees, which include MPhil, MRes, and Master’s by Research degrees. These programmes are typically designed to prepare students for a career or further study in research. They involve the student carrying out independent research to investigate and critically evaluate an approved topic, specific to the individual; and demonstrate an in-depth understanding of research methods appropriate to the chosen field. Candidates are required to present and defend a thesis by oral examination. In the case of the Master’s by Research degree, the programme may include a taught element.

Awards offered by the University that fall into this category are:

• Master of Research (MRes)
• Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
• Master of Arts by Research (MA)
• Master of Law by Research (LLM)
• Master of Science by Research (MSc).

A key sector reference point for these awards is the Doctoral degree characteristics statement published by the QAA.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The most well-known doctoral degree is the PhD. These degrees are not credit rated, and most often involve the completion of an approved programme of supervised research to investigate and critically evaluate a specialist topic, over an extended period; culminating in the production of a thesis which they must defend by oral examination (or other method for visual and performing arts). The work must make an original contribution to a discipline or profession, and show an in-depth understanding of research methods appropriate to the chosen field. Candidates for doctoral degrees may work individually or as part of a research group.

The programme of research may take a range of forms. For example, a candidate may undertake a programme of research in which their own creative work forms the most significant part of the intellectual enquiry - this creative work may be in any field but must be undertaken within the scope of the registered research programme. A PhD may also involve the preparation of an edition of texts or other work - this allows the student to complete a programme of research where the main focus is the preparation of a scholarly edition of a text or texts, musical or choreographic work, or other original artefacts.

PhD programmes consist of an MPhil and PhD stage, and candidates are usually first registered on the MPhil stage, moving on to the PhD stage when they have met progression requirements; although it is possible to register for a PhD direct. The MPhil may be offered as an exit award to those who do not progress to the PhD stage, or fail to complete the PhD (see 2.1.7).

A PhD may also be awarded on the basis of a body of published work. The work submitted should reflect the same academic standards as those which operate for a traditional PhD based upon an approved programme of supervised research. The submitted work must form a coherent programme of research, demonstrate the use of appropriate research methodology, and, in the judgement of the examiners, make an original and sufficient contribution to the present state of knowledge in a particular field.

Professional doctorates

Professional doctorates are doctoral awards which are aimed at holders of Master’s qualifications and who are working within a specific professional context. They are typically studied part-time over a period of five years. These programmes of study include a significant taught element preceding the production of the doctoral thesis, in order to prepare students for undertaking a substantive research programme. A student must meet specified performance requirements in order to progress to the doctoral stage of the programme - at this stage they are required to carry out a substantial piece of independent and original research, with the support of a supervisory team, culminating in the submission of a doctoral thesis which makes a significant contribution to knowledge and professional practice in the discipline or field.

The taught element of the professional doctorate broadly equates to a Master’s programme (level 7), and an exit award at this level is available if a student meets the requirements of the taught stage of the programme, but does not meet progression requirements or decides not to complete the full doctorate.

The awards in this category offered by the University are:

• Doctor of Education (EdD)
• Doctor of Coaching and Mentoring (DCM)
• Doctor in Nursing (DNurs)
• Doctor in Midwifery (DMid)
• Doctor in Engineering (EngD).

Higher doctorates are a higher level of award than the PhD or the professional doctorates described in 2.1.8 above.  They are awarded to those with a significant track record for research in their field; and who can demonstrate that they are a leading (international) authority, and have made a significant contribution to the advancement or application of knowledge, in that field. The awards in this category are:

• Doctor of Letters DLitt
• Doctor of Science DSc.

Please note that these awards are normally only made as honorary degrees, and are not available as research degree programmes, as they are awarded to acknowledge achievements already recognised internationally. 

Also refer to:

• Procedure for nominating honorary award recipients