Study options: student stories

Studying for an undergraduate degree doesn't always have to be a traditional full-time course. Here at BCU, we encourage students to study in a way that works for them. Hear from our students that have studied a foundation year, part-time, a placement year and a degree apprenticeship to see how their mode of study worked for them.

Canaan - BA Art and Design with foundation year

Foundation years are perfect if you don’t meet the entry requirements for a particular degree course, as they will enable you to develop your learning to an appropriate standard in preparation for the first year of the degree.

Canaan chose to study a foundation degree in Art to develop his artistic knowledge and practice before jumping into an undergraduate degree.

Find out more about a foundation year

Leese - Part-time BSc Speech and Language Therapy 

Most of our courses can be studied on a part-time basis. Part-time courses are studied over a longer period of time than their full-time equivalents, but you spend fewer hours per week in a classroom, meaning you don't have to put your life on hold to study with us.

Part-time study has made university study a possibility for Leese, it allows her to balance her commitments whilst working towards her goals.

Find out more about part-time study

Pravjoth - BA Business Management with placement year

Many of our courses include an optional placement year. A placement year allows you to take a year away from your studies to gain real-world industry knowledge. Our dedicated Careers+ team provide support for all BCU students during the placement search and application process.

Pravjoth knew she wanted to use her degree to boost her employability. Incorporating a placement year into her degree has changed her outlook on what her future career might look like.

Find out more about placement years

Hollie - BSc Chartered Surveyor Apprenticeship

A degree apprenticeship enables you to gain a higher-level qualification at the same time as earning a full-time wage, plus, it offers a practical alternative to traditional, classroom-based learning.

Hollie wanted a hands-on way to get her degree, learning on the job has enabled Hollie to earn a wage whilst developing her skills.

Find out more about degree apprenticeships