|
In Scotland, there are a variety of tertiary level options available for students,the most important of which are the colleges of further education,the central institutions, teachers colleges and the universities. The colleges of further education provide vocational and technical education,and enroll more students than all other tertiary institutions combined. Central institutions provide courses leading to the Higher National Diploma (HND),bachelor's degrees and some specialized master's degrees. These institutions do not have the authority to directly validate degrees and tend to offer a narrower range of subjects than the universities. Many have close ties to local businesses, offering cooperative work experiences that provide students a period of practical training. Scottish universities are quite distinct from their British counterparts. In fact, they more closely resemble European or American universities. The standard Scottish university degree is a four-year Honors degree (BA Hons). Students are rarely admitted directly to a degree "course." Usually they are admitted to a faculty or simply admitted to the university as a whole. Scottish university students begin with a broad-based program during the first year and choose a specialization after the second or even the third year. Students may also elect to complete a three-year Ordinary degree. This is a broad-based degree that (unlike in England) does not represent a "failed" Honors degree. |
