Definition · Plain-language
Bachelor’s degree
A bachelor’s degree is an undergraduate qualification, usually taking three to four years, that is the standard first university degree.
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Types of bachelor’s degree
The two most common forms are the Bachelor of Arts (BA), typically awarded in the humanities, social sciences and arts, and the Bachelor of Science (BS in the US, BSc in the UK), awarded in the sciences and technical fields. Many specialised variants exist, such as the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) and Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). The distinction usually reflects the balance of subject matter and the proportion of broad versus specialised study, rather than a difference in level.
How long it takes
In the United States a bachelor’s degree conventionally takes four years of full-time study and about 120 semester credit hours. In the United Kingdom and many other countries the standard honours bachelor’s degree takes three years, because students specialise from the outset rather than taking broad general-education requirements first. Accelerated, part-time and online formats vary these timelines. Whatever the length, the bachelor’s is classed as an undergraduate degree, distinguishing it from postgraduate master’s and doctoral study.
Where it sits and where it leads
On the degree ladder the bachelor’s sits above the associate degree and below the master’s and doctorate. It is the most common university qualification and, in many fields, the minimum credential for professional employment. It is also the standard prerequisite for postgraduate study: a master’s programme normally requires a completed bachelor’s, and some doctoral programmes admit strong bachelor’s graduates directly. UK applicants typically apply through UCAS, the central admissions service for undergraduate courses.
Key facts
At a glance
- Definition: The standard first undergraduate university degree.
- Length: 3–4 years full-time (4 in the US, often 3 in the UK).
- US credits: About 120 semester credit hours.
- Main types: Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS/BSc).
- Leads to: Professional employment or master’s-level study.
- Ladder position: Above associate, below master’s and doctorate.
Common misconceptions
What people often get wrong
Often heard: A bachelor’s degree always takes four years.
Actually: Four years is the US norm, but the standard UK honours bachelor’s takes three years, and accelerated or part-time routes vary the length further.
Often heard: A BA is academically lower than a BS.
Actually: BA and BS sit at the same level; they differ in subject area and the balance of broad versus specialised study, not in rank or prestige.
Often heard: You can enter a master’s programme without a bachelor’s.
Actually: A completed bachelor’s degree is the standard prerequisite for master’s study. Exceptions are rare and usually require substantial equivalent experience.
