If you're studying for an undergraduate honours degree, you can generally expect it to be delivered over a three or four year period on a full-time basis. Foundation degrees, which are normally studied with our partner institutions, take two years on a full-time basis. Depending on the nature of your course, your time will be divided between lectures, practical work, professional placements and private study. You'll also attend thought-provoking seminars, tutorials, debates and discussions.
- During lectures, a large group of you will listen and take notes from a lecturer at the front. Some lecturers do like to interact with their audience, but this depends on the individual and the size of the group.
- Tutorials are much smaller, more interactive groups. You might tackle certain exercises as a group with a tutor, or simply discuss your course together.
- A student who has researched a particular topic usually leads a seminar, acting as a trigger for further group discussion and debate.
If your course includes field work or organised study trips, you'll have the opportunity to take your research out of the university or college and into a real-life setting. If you're planning to qualify as a health professional, teacher or social worker, undertaking professional placements will be an integral part of your course. Supported by a mentor you'll gain professional experience in schools, the community or clinical practices throughout the south-west region, becoming more autonomous as your studies progress. During your placement you'll follow the normal working pattern of your mentor, which in the case of some of the health professions will include shift work.
