Prerequisites and study levels

British university degree programmes are very specialised, with students choosing their major before starting university and usually taking three years to complete their degree. Modules taken in the first year are known as certificate level, second year modules as intermediate level, and final year modules as honours level. By the time students reach their final year, they are very specialised in their field of study.

Our online course catalogues list any prerequisites that are required for particular modules. As far as possible students should have completed a similar course to that prerequisite at their home university in order to take such a module.

When choosing your modules, please bear in mind that American and Japanese universities generally recognise that their second year classes are the equivalent to modules taken in the first year of study in the UK.