What is a top-up degree?

A Top-up degree is equivalent to the final year of undergraduate study, and it usually takes one year to complete. This course allows you to achieve a full Bachelor level qualification and graduate with a BSc (Hons) or BA (Hons). As the name suggests, these courses enable you to ‘top-up’ an existing qualification, whether that’s a Foundation degree or another relevant qualification, for example, an HND.

There are a number of benefits in topping up your current qualification to an Honours degree.

• Firstly, it will help you demonstrate to an employer that you have the academic, organizational, and management skills required for your chosen career path.
• Secondly, it may also open up further opportunities available to you in the future.
• Many graduates taking this route of a top-up degree eventually decide to spend another one year in the UK to pursue a Master’s degree in higher-ranked universities.

How many credits is a top-up degree?

Is there a rule about how many credits make up a degree?

• a full-time year of undergraduate study is normally 120 credits.
• an Honours degree is normally at least 360 credits.
• a full-time year of postgraduate study is normally 180 credits, reflecting the 12-month length of most Masters courses.
• a Masters degree is normally at least 180 credits

Is a top-up degree the same as a normal degree?

A Top-up degree is equivalent to the final year of an undergraduate degree. These courses are aimed at students who have previously completed a related foundation level degree (or equivalent, e.g. an HND) and they provide a route for students to achieve a Bachelors’s degree.

Why choose a top-up?

You can gain a full Sheffield Hallam degree, making you more attractive to employers. And if you choose to study the top-up at your college, you can gain a university degree without coming to university. You can also take your top-up degree at Sheffield Hallam, even if you’ve taken your foundation, HND, or other qualification at a different institution.

What top-ups are available?

We run top-ups in a range of subjects including

• accounting and finance
• business and management
• computing
• engineering
• facilities management
• food and nutrition
• health and social care
• marketing
• real estate
• teaching and education
• tourism and hospitality