Discover a qualification
Arden University offers you degree qualifications at different levels depending on where you are in your career journey, your previous academic experience, and the amount of time you have available to study.
Here you can learn about the differences between the types of degrees we offer and learn more about which one is the right choice for you.
Foundation year entry degrees give you the opportunity to first develop and refine the basic skills needed for degree-level study, covering areas such as academic reading and writing, numeracy, IT, research, presentation, and teamwork. Your foundation course will usually last for 12 months if studying full-time, after which you can progress to the first year of your undergraduate or bachelor’s degree.
At Arden we offer a number of our undergraduate degrees with an additional foundation year, designed to provide you with the extra support you need to successfully complete your full undergraduate degree.
This is the ideal choice if you’ve been out of education for some time, don’t have the standard entry requirements for an undergraduate degree, or just need to build your academic skills and confidence ahead of your studies.
Studying at Arden means doing it your way. You can study your degree entirely online from anywhere in the world, or combine online study with face-to-face teaching at one of our study centres.
A Foundation Degree is a flexible, two-year qualification equivalent to the first two years of a bachelor’s degree. It combines academic study with practical, career-focused skills, preparing you for work while allowing you to top up to a full honours degree later. Entry requirements are slightly higher than for Foundation Year courses. They’re a great choice if you want a quicker stand-alone qualification with a pathway to further study.
An undergraduate degree, also known as a bachelor’s degree, is the most common and widely studied degree qualification, and the first that you undertake when entering university. Our undergraduate degrees at Arden are typically studied over three to six years, during which you’ll gain an in-depth look into your chosen subject area.
We offer a wealth of diverse subject areas, all of which cover the latest and most in-demand industry trends. From specialisms in business, computing, and graphic design to psychology, healthcare, law, and everything in between, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for in our course offer. You can study any of our courses either part or full-time, via online or blended (a mix of online and face-to-face) learning, allowing you to fit your studies around your other life commitments.
The undergraduate qualifications awarded at Arden are the Bachelor of Arts, Science, and Law (BA, BSc, and LLB). Gaining one of these qualifications will open doors to a range of career opportunities, as well as provide the foundations necessary for further academic study, such as a master’s degree or MBA, which you can also pursue at Arden.
A top-up degree allows you to build on your existing qualifications, such as a BTEC, HND, or foundation year in a related subject. Top-ups are equivalent to the final year of a degree, allowing you to gain a full undergraduate or postgraduate qualification in as little as one year of study.
Studying a top-up degree with Arden will help you develop additional knowledge and skills in your subject area, demonstrate your commitment to lifelong learning and development to future employers, and gain a recognised qualification that will boost your career potential. Arden offers top-up degrees in a wide range of subjects to help you complement your current qualifications.
You can study your top-up degree entirely online via online learning, or opt for our blended learning route, which gives you a mix of online learning with face-to-face lectures at one of our study centres.
A master’s degree is the most common type of postgraduate qualification, and allows you to study in greater depth than on an undergraduate or bachelor’s course. A master’s degree usually lasts one or two years if you study full-time.
A postgraduate degree, also known as a master’s degree, allows you to build on your existing knowledge, skills, and qualifications to develop advanced subject proficiency and real-world professional skills.
To enrol on a master’s degree at Arden, you’re typically required to hold a second-class UK honours degree (2:2) or equivalent, though we also consider candidates with more than five years of relevant work experience.
The postgraduate qualifications awarded at Arden are the Master of Arts, Science, and Administration (MA, MSc, or MBA). Gaining one of these qualifications will help you upskill to a more senior-level role, taking your career to the next level.
Arden offers you the unique opportunity to gain an accredited, career-focused, and globally recognised postgraduate degree around your personal commitments. Through our two flexible study options, you can choose between studying fully online, or a mix of online and face-to-face classes at one of our study centres.
A Master of Business Administration, or MBA for short, is a specific type of master’s degree that covers the key areas of business practice and leadership, including business law, management, marketing, accounting, operations, communication, and ethics. An MBA is typically studied after gaining a few years of professional experience, rather than directly following an undergraduate degree.
Studying an MBA with Arden will help you develop today’s most up-to-date and in-demand business skills, expand your international business network, and advance your career potential. All of our MBA degrees are accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), a leading professional body that promotes the highest standards of management and leadership. That means gaining an MBA qualification from Arden will provide you with the skills and professional recognition you need to pursue the business career of your choice once you graduate.
Arden’s flexible MBA courses give you the option to study your degree at the pace that’s right for you, whether that’s entirely online or blended (a mix of online and face-to-face) learning. This way, you’ll be able to tailor your studies around your work or other life commitments.
A degree apprenticeship is designed to provide you with real work experience alongside the specialist knowledge and theory of a degree course. Studying a degree apprenticeship in your chosen profession will help you develop career-focused skills, enhance your CV, and gain a head-start in your career.
If you’re a working professional looking to advance your career through further study, Arden offers both undergraduate and postgraduate business degree apprenticeships to choose from. The courses will help you gain the practical workplace and management skills you need to succeed in today’s business world.
During the apprenticeship, you’ll attend Arden while working for one of our partner employers, splitting your time between your work and studies. The advantages of this route are that you’ll gain 3-6 years of professional experience, all while working towards a tuition-free degree and earning a salary while you study.
Depending on the course you choose, you’ll attend face-to-face sessions either one or three days a month and complete the rest of your learning online. This will allow you to fit your studies around your apprenticeship and other personal commitments.
