A General Degree allows you to study a number of different subjects without having to specialise in any particular one. However, it does not provide the same depth or level of specialism as an Honours programme. For this reason, it is advised that most prospective students apply to a named Honours degree programme in preference to the General Degree.

An MA (Master of Arts) or BSc (Bachelor of Science) General Degree is typically awarded after three years of full-time study or six years of part-time study. A full-time student will take 120 credits in each year of study to gain 360 credits in total.

Some students who start with the intention of taking an Honours degree change track partway through the programme, and graduate instead with a General Degree. Likewise, if you apply for a General Degree and decide to continue on to an Honours degree, you may apply to an Honours programme at the end of your second year if you meet the requirements of the academic school(s) involved.

Students who are unsure of the subject that they wish to study at the University may find that it is useful to apply to the General Degree initially and make the final commitment to change to an Honours programme later in the course.