As more institutions become modular, however, it is increasingly common for them to offer combined honours degrees, which allow you to follow a range of subjects. A full-time honours degree usually takes three years, although may involve an additional year away from university. For instance, language students often spend a year in a foreign country, and many vocational courses involve sandwich years when the student undertakes an industrial placement. For information on how long part-time courses take to complete contact the university of your choice. In Scotland, an ordinary degree usually takes three years, with honours degrees taking four years.
Students undertake a broader range of subjects in their first years, and only specialise later on.
This is designed to give you a wider range of options and subjects in the early years, with more scope to change your first degree subject midway. However, if you have good A-levels, it is possible to enter the second year of some Scottish first degrees. For more information on attaining QTS, consult the Teacher Training Agency. HNDs usually last two years, and tend to have a more explicitly vocational focus. Successful completion of an HND can lead to second year entry to a related degree.