How courses work

What makes a degree?

You may want to go to University but are a little unsure about what studying at degree level involves, or how courses work. Kent offers a number of degree types - all designed with you in mind through a progressive approach - to provide the right study experience for you.

Our progressive new approach to Higher Education

Types of degrees

We offer a range of pathways and degree options so you can learn in a way that suits your own timeline, interests, passions and talents. All of our degrees are designed with employability at their core. From day one you'll develop skills and grow your confidence so you're career and life ready.

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Single honours

This is the choice most students take, your degree is dedicated to studying one main subject. You'll gain deep subject knowledge of your chosen subject while developing the skills you need to kickstart your career. These degrees are 3 years full-time.

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Joint honours

Similar to a single honours degree, but you'll split your degree over two subjects, for example Law and Criminology. This allows you to take a broader approach, or cover more areas if you can't decide between two. These degrees are 3 years full-time.

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Year in Industry or Year Abroad

For most of our courses you will have the option to take a Year Abroad or a Year in Industry. This adds an additional year to your degree where you can either get crucial work experience in a real word setting, or expand your horizons and spend a year in another country. These degrees are 4 years full-time.

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Degree with Foundation Year

Not everyone's path is the same. Foundation Years are designed to help you make the transition to studying at University and get degree ready for a year before you start your main degree. These degrees are 4 years full-time.  

Course duration

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Stage 0

Stage 0 is exclusive for Foundation Year Degrees. This will be the year prior to your degree where we'll support you in making rapid progress and getting university ready.

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Stage 1

If you are full-time, Stage 1 is your first year. If you are part-time Stage 1 is typically your first and second years. Stage 1 is where you build your knowledge, skills and confidence around the central ideas and themes of your subject.

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Stage 2

If you are full-time, Stage 2 is your second year. If you are part-time Stage 2 is made up of your third and fourth years. Stage 2 is where you will deepen your knowledge and have the opportunity to become a specialist in your field.

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Year Abroad or Year in Industry

If you choose to take a Year Abroad or a Year in Industry, you will do this between Stage 2 and Stage 3, adding a year to your degree.

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Stage 3

If you are full-time, Stage 3 is your third and final year. If you are part-time Stage 3 is made up of your fifth year and your sixth and final year. In Stage 3 you'll further develop, building skills to make you future ready following graduation.

Modules and class hours

All of our courses are structured through modules. Modules act as the building blocks of your degree. In Stage 1, typically all modules will be compulsory, with Stages 2 and 3 in most cases, introducing optional modules so you can tailor your degree to your interests. 

You will take up to six modules each year, usually with two, twenty credit modules per term. Our curriculum and module structure is designed with you and your ambitions at its core. All of your assessment will be in the term that that module has been taught in, with no long waits for assessment or to find out how you did. You'll have your holidays to yourself, with all assessments carried out before your breaks. 

Contact hours vary depending on which subject you take. For example, science-based degrees can include full-day practical laboratory sessions, while other degrees lecturers and seminars. The minimum for any module will be four contact hours per week, made up of a range of different types of teaching.

Our progressive new approach to Higher Education

Academic credit

Academic credit is how we value each module you do. Most modules are 20 credits, while some larger modules will be 40 credits, these are usually dissertations or large project based modules. 

Honours programmes at Kent offer academic credits on a nationally agreed scale. You normally take 120 credits at increasingly higher levels at each of Stages 1, 2 and 3, totalling 360 credits for a full honours degree. Four-year degrees typically total 480 credits. 

Kent has adopted the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). Each module at Kent carries an ECTS weighting, which is usually half of the credits allocated by the University. A 40-credit module at Kent has 20 ECTS credits, and a 20-credit module carries 10 ECTS credits.

If you have studied higher education programmes elsewhere, you can apply to transfer the credit to a relevant programme at Kent. Contact us for more details.


We’ve created the most progressive approach to higher education in the UK.

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Every term you study and complete modules.

Rather than waiting for the end of the year to take exams for a module you studied at the start of the year, we make sure you learn, grow and develop step by step. This means:

  • Less stress
  • Less revising over the holidays 
  • No big gap between learning and exams
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Each term builds on the last for steady progress.

With each term building on the last, you can react to the feedback on your assessments as you go along, this means you can develop throughout each year and see your growth making an impact.

  • Your knowledge builds step by step
  • Brick by brick
  • And so does your confidence
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Study is spread evenly over the year.

Our approach means you’ll be able to be more focussed on your modules as you study them. So your assessments can be your chance to produce, and be judged, by your very best work.

  • No big stressful exam term 
  • No big gaps when you’ve handed in your coursework.
  • Equal terms. Equal hours. Equal spread of effort and energy
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Our degrees are designed with you in mind.

While your studies are important, we know they aren't the only thing you have in your life. Our approach to timetabling ensures you know your class schedule as early as possible and allows you the time and certainty you need.

  • You can better plan your schedule in advance
  • This gives you more time to work alongside your degree
  • And more time for yourself, your friends and family
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Your career journey starts with us. On day one.

Our progressive careers support and embedded employability at Kent is all about giving you the tools your need to succeed in your career. We're all about opening doors, not closing them. 

  • We make sure you recognise the skills you are building, so employers can see all the things that make you, you
  • Our connections with industry inform all of our teaching. So all your learning is relevant to your interests, and your future.  
  • The skills, confidence and knowledge you develop at Kent will serve you after graduation, and so will we. We offer careers support for up to three years after graduation.  
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It's more than careers. It's about your future.

We don't settle for making you job ready, we make sure you're life ready.

  • We don't just create graduates for job roles, we create graduates who are ready to make a real impact.   
  • The world of work is constantly evolving, fields develop and demand for positions shift. However, all fields need innovators, problem-solvers and leaders. And this is what Kent is all about.   
  • No one's career journey is linear and this is a good thing! You'll be ready to pivot, take risks and forge new paths.