In the US, there are also undergraduate courses called \u2018Associate Degrees\u2019. These are often vocational courses designed to prepare you for a specific role in industries like law<\/a> and healthcare<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A postgraduate degree is a more advanced academic degree. You normally study for a postgraduate degree after an undergraduate degree. Many universities do require an undergraduate degree for postgraduate applications, however, many students are accepted without any formal higher education. Postgraduate degrees include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n The entry requirements for undergraduate courses in the UK vary depending on the subject and where you want to study it. For example, some universities may only need two passes at A-Level, whilst others may require up to four A-Levels with grades between A and A*. <\/p>\n\n\n\n With US undergraduate entry requirements, applicants will usually need a high school diploma and a minimum GPA of 2.50 to 3.60.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many universities, however, also encourage applications from students without the required grades. In the UK, this is part of an approach to improve access to higher education<\/a>. It\u2019s always worth asking your chosen university to see how they can support your application even if you don\u2019t hit the entry requirements at first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The entry requirements for postgraduate degrees are usually higher than for undergraduate degrees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the UK, many universities require an undergraduate degree such as a BA, with at least a lower second-class honours degree (2:2) to get onto a Master\u2019s degree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The entry requirements in the US for Master\u2019s applicants mean you\u2019ll need a Bachelor\u2019s with a minimum GPA of 2.5 to 3.0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To progress to a Doctoral degree in the UK, you\u2019ll need a Bachelor’s degree with an upper second-class honours degree (2:1) as well as a relevant Master’s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For a Doctoral degree in the US, the expected minimum GPA for applicants increases to 3.3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To help you understand what\u2019s in store for you during this exciting phase of your learning journey, we\u2019ve highlighted some key differences in terms of course structure and course length \u2013 and how they\u2019re going to supercharge your growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest difference between an undergraduate and a postgraduate degree is the depth at which you study a subject. <\/p>\n\n\n\n An undergraduate degree will give you a good understanding of a subject but won\u2019t make you an expert. Your course will often involve group work, lectures and some independent work towards a final dissertation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A postgraduate course, such as a master\u2019s, will give you more in-depth knowledge of a topic. It\u2019s often more research-focused, and you\u2019re expected to do a lot more independent study towards your final research project or thesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Undergraduate degrees usually last 3 years<\/strong> although they can be an accelerated degree of 2 years with 1 year of work experience included. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Postgraduate degrees can take anywhere from a few months to several years<\/strong>. We\u2019ve broken down typical course durations for some of the most common postgraduate degree types below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n![](\"https:\/\/www.futurelearn.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/arden.svg\")
\n <\/div>\n BA (Hons) Business Management<\/a><\/h2>\n \n
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What is a postgraduate degree?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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What are the requirements for an undergraduate degree?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What are the requirements for a postgraduate degree?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
More differences between undergraduate and postgraduate degrees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Undergraduate vs. postgraduate degree: Course structure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Undergraduate vs. postgraduate degree: Course length<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n <\/div>\n MBA<\/a><\/h2>\n \n