How to Qualify for a Top-Up Degree as a Mature Student

A top-up degree is a course designed for people who already have the equivalent of the first two years of undergraduate study. Gaining an undergraduate degree via this route is a viable option for many, and can be a quicker route for mature students taking accelerated online courses.

If you have been working for several years, have an HND or another higher-level qualification, or have built up substantial professional experience, you may not need to start a degree from the beginning.

Which Qualifications Count

The first thing to do is look at your existing qualifications and transcripts.

The key information the admissions team will look for is 120 credits at level 4 and 120 credits at level 5.

Examples include:

• Higher National Diploma (HND)
• Higher National Certificate (HNC) combined with additional Level 5 study
• Foundation Degree
• Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)
• Relevant Level 4 or Level 5 diplomas
• Other recognised qualifications carrying the appropriate level and credit

If Your Qualification Doesn’t Match

This is where things can become a little less straightforward. For international students or applicants with multiple qualifications, the university will need to assess the equivalent levels and credit amount.

When previous qualifications do not meet the full requirements the steps required to meet them can vary depending if it is a partial match or not suitable at all for admissions.

If you are unsure it is usually better to send the university your transcript and ask if it meets the criteria. Some universities will help but others won’t.

Unfortunately, a number of universities will say the only way for them to access your suitability is to submit a full application. It’s not the university being lazy or difficult, it’s just that often the admissions team are busy departments and don’t have time to assess qualifications from potential students at the beginning of their decision making journey.

Using Work Experience Instead (APEL)

If you are working in the same field as you want to get a degree in then your career experience can be a way to access a top-up degree. The key for this pathway is having the right amount of substantial career experience and the university accepting experience in place of paper qualifications.

In that situation, ask whether the university considers Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).

APEL is a way of assessing what you have learned through employment or other experience. It isn’t simply a matter of telling a university that you have worked in an industry for ten years. You normally have to provide evidence showing what you actually know and can do.

That evidence might include:

• Work reports or projects
• Professional qualifications
• Training records
• Examples of work you have produced
• Employer references
• A portfolio
• An interview or academic assessment

The exact process varies considerably between universities that offer this route.

There can also be a separate charge for an APEL assessment, so ask about the process and cost before starting an application. If you are unsure if this would be an option for you we can provide feedback on your suitability and advise on which universities accept APEL. Send us a message using the form on our Contact Us page.

International Qualifications

If your previous qualification was obtained outside the UK, the university will need to establish how it compares with UK qualifications.

This can involve an international qualification assessment and, depending on the circumstances, advice from organisations such as ECCTIS. The university will be interested in both the level of the qualification and the amount and type of study involved.

If your documents are not in English, you may also need certified translations.

Contact Admissions Directly

Once you have found a top-up course that interests you, contact admissions rather than relying entirely on the information on the website if you are not sure you meet the stated requirements.

Get Your Paperwork Together

Before contacting universities, find whatever evidence you still have from your previous study and employment.

Ideally, have:

• Qualification certificates
• Full transcripts or unit results
• Details of professional qualifications
• Evidence of relevant training or CPD
• An up-to-date CV
• Employment dates and job titles

If the qualification is old, you may need to contact the college or awarding body for replacement documents. Doing this before applying can save a surprising amount of time.

The rules vary between universities, so getting an answer based on your actual qualifications is much more useful than trying to work out from a generic list on the internet whether you qualify.

Not Ready Yet? Get Pathway Options

If you are not at the right stage to join a top-up degree based on prior certificates or career experience, then you will need to take suitable level 4 and 5 courses to get the required number of credits. Depending on the time you have available to study you can realistically gain the required qualifications in as little as 11 months with some education providers.