📚 What Awards and Certificates Do You Receive When Graduating from a UK University? | 英国大学毕业有哪些证书
When students graduate from a UK university, they do not simply receive one piece of paper. Depending on the course, level of study and professional route, they may be awarded a Bachelor's degree, a Master's degree, a Doctorate, a Diploma, a Certificate, or a Professional Qualification. Each award has a different purpose, length, academic level and recognition status. Understanding these differences is useful for students, parents, employers and anyone planning further study in the UK.
在英国大学毕业时，学生拿到的不只是一张纸。根据课程类型、学习阶段和职业方向的不同，毕业生可能获得学士学位、硕士学位、博士学位、文凭、证书或职业资格。每一种证书的用途、学制、学术层级和认可范围都不一样。对学生、家长、雇主以及计划在英国继续深造的人来说，弄清这些证书的区别非常重要。
1. The UK Award Framework at a Glance | 英国学历与证书体系概览
UK higher education awards are usually mapped to the Regulated Qualifications Framework, often shortened to RQF. The framework runs from entry level to Level 8. Certificates of Higher Education are at Level 4, Diplomas of Higher Education and Foundation degrees are at Level 5, Bachelor's degrees are at Level 6, Master's degrees and postgraduate diplomas or certificates are at Level 7, and Doctorates are at Level 8. This common framework helps universities, employers and international credential evaluators compare awards across the UK.
英国高等教育证书通常对应“受监管资格框架”，简称 RQF。该框架从入门级一直延伸到第 8 级。高等教育证书属于第 4 级，高等教育文凭和基础学位属于第 5 级，学士学位属于第 6 级，硕士学位、研究生文凭和研究生证书属于第 7 级，博士学位属于第 8 级。这个统一框架方便大学、雇主和国际学历评估机构对英国各类证书进行比较。
A useful way to see the whole picture is to compare the main awards by level, typical length and purpose. The table below summarises the most common qualifications a UK university graduate may hold.
要看清整体结构，可以把主要证书按层级、常见学制和用途放在一起比较。下表总结了英国大学毕业生最常见的几类资格。
| Award | RQF Level | Typical Length | 中文名称 |
| Certificate of Higher Education | Level 4 | 1 year full-time | 高等教育证书 |
| Diploma of Higher Education | Level 5 | 2 years full-time | 高等教育文凭 |
| Bachelor's Degree | Level 6 | 3 years full-time, often 4 in Scotland | 学士学位 |
| Master's Degree | Level 7 | 1 to 2 years full-time | 硕士学位 |
| Doctorate | Level 8 | 3 to 7 years | 博士学位 |
The framework does not mean every award is identical. A Certificate of Higher Education is not a shortened Bachelor's degree, and a professional qualification is not automatically the same as an academic degree. Each has its own assessment rules and recognition routes.
这个框架并不意味着所有证书都一模一样。高等教育证书并不等于缩短版学士学位，职业资格也不自动等同于学术学位。每一种资格都有自己的考核规则和认可路径。
2. Bachelor's Degree | 学士学位
A Bachelor's degree is the most common undergraduate award in the UK. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, it usually takes three years of full-time study, while in Scotland it often takes four years. Students may also complete a sandwich year with a work placement or a year abroad, which can extend the course. After receiving a Bachelor's degree, graduates can enter the job market or continue to postgraduate study.
学士学位是英国最常见的本科毕业资格。在英格兰、威尔士和北爱尔兰，全日制本科通常需要三年；在苏格兰，通常需要四年。学生也可以选择含实习或海外交换的“三明治年”课程，学制会相应延长。拿到学士学位后，毕业生既可以步入职场，也可以继续攻读研究生。
Most Bachelor's degrees in the UK are honours degrees. The title may appear as BA, BSc, BEng, LLB, BEd or another subject-specific abbreviation. Honours degrees are classified, usually as First Class, Upper Second Class, Lower Second Class or Third Class. Some students may receive an ordinary degree if they do not meet the full honours requirements, but this is different from an honours Bachelor's degree.
英国大多数学士学位都是荣誉学位，缩写可能是 BA、BSc、BEng、LLB、BEd 或其他与专业相关的形式。荣誉学位会分级，通常分为一等、二等一、二等二和三等。若学生未达到完整荣誉学位要求，有时会获得普通学位，但这与荣誉学士学位并不相同。
A Bachelor's degree normally includes lectures, seminars, tutorials, laboratory work, coursework and examinations. In the final year, many courses require a dissertation or a major project. The degree is awarded at RQF Level 6 and is widely recognised by employers and universities around the world.
学士学位课程通常包括讲座、研讨课、辅导课、实验、课程作业和考试。到最后一学年，很多专业还要求完成毕业论文或大型项目。学士学位属于 RQF 第 6 级，受到全球雇主和大学的广泛认可。
3. Master's Degree | 硕士学位
A Master's degree is a postgraduate award at RQF Level 7. A taught Master's course usually lasts one year full-time, while a research Master's or a course with a substantial research component may take two years. The qualification can strengthen employability and also provides a foundation for applying to doctoral study.
硕士学位属于 RQF 第 7 级的研究生资格。授课型硕士通常全日制一年，研究型硕士或研究成分较重的课程可能需要两年。获得硕士学位后，既能增强就业竞争力，也为申读博士打下了基础。
Common Master's awards include MA, MSc, MBA, LLM, MEng, MEd and MRes. Taught programmes are usually assessed through examinations, essays, presentations and a dissertation. Research Master's programmes place more emphasis on independent research and may require a longer thesis. Some Master's degrees are conversion courses, allowing students to change subject area, such as converting to computer science, law or psychology.
常见的硕士资格包括 MA、MSc、MBA、LLM、MEng、MEd 和 MRes 等。授课型项目通常通过考试、论文、展示和学位论文评估。研究型硕士更强调独立研究，往往需要更长的论文。部分硕士属于转专业课程，允许学生转换方向，例如转入计算机、法律或心理学领域。
Master's degrees are often classified as Distinction, Merit or Pass. Some universities also award a Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate if a student completes part of the Master's course but does not meet the full Master's requirements.
硕士学位通常分为 Distinction、Merit 或 Pass。若学生完成了硕士课程的一部分但未达到完整硕士要求，有些大学会授予研究生文凭或研究生证书。
4. Doctorate Degree | 博士学位
A Doctorate is the highest academic award in the UK and sits at RQF Level 8. Doctoral research generally lasts three to seven years, depending on whether the student is full-time or part-time and whether the project requires fieldwork, laboratory work or professional practice. After obtaining a Doctorate, most graduates enter academia or high-level research institutions to conduct scientific research.
博士学位是英国最高级别的学术资格，属于 RQF 第 8 级。博士研究一般持续三到七年，具体取决于学生是全日制还是非全日制，以及课题是否需要田野调查、实验室工作或专业实践。取得博士学位后，多数人选择进入学术界或高端研究机构从事科研工作。
The most common Doctorate is the PhD, also awarded as DPhil at some universities. There are also professional doctorates such as EdD, DBA, DClinPsy and EngD, which combine advanced research with professional practice. A doctoral candidate usually produces a substantial thesis and defends it in an oral examination called a viva voce.
最常见的博士学位是 PhD，部分大学也授予 DPhil。此外还有专业博士，如 EdD、DBA、DClinPsy 和 EngD，这类学位把高级研究与专业实践结合起来。博士生通常需要完成一篇分量较重的学位论文，并在称为 viva voce 的口试中进行答辩。
Doctoral awards are not usually classified in the same way as Bachelor's or Master's degrees. Instead, the outcome may be pass, pass with minor corrections, major corrections, or fail. The title "Dr" can normally be used after the degree is formally conferred.
博士学位的评定通常不像学士或硕士那样分级。结果可能是通过、小幅修改后通过、大幅修改后通过或未通过。学位正式授予后，通常可以使用 "Dr" 头衔。
5. Integrated Master's and Other Undergraduate Awards | 本硕连读与其他本科阶段学位
Some UK universities offer integrated Master's degrees, often in science, engineering or mathematics. Examples include MEng, MPhys, MChem and MMath. These programmes usually last four years full-time and lead directly to a Master's-level award, although they begin at undergraduate level. They are common in subjects where advanced technical knowledge is required for professional recognition.
英国一些大学提供本硕连读学位，常见于科学、工程或数学领域，例如 MEng、MPhys、MChem 和 MMath。这类课程通常全日制四年，最终直接获得硕士层级资格，但起点属于本科阶段。在需要高级技术知识才能获得职业认证的专业中，这类课程很常见。
Other undergraduate awards include the Foundation degree, the Diploma of Higher Education and the Certificate of Higher Education. These are not full Bachelor's degrees, but they can often be used as stepping stones to a Bachelor's degree. In some cases, students can top up a Foundation degree or Diploma to a full honours degree with additional study.
其他本科阶段资格包括基础学位、高等教育文凭和高等教育证书。它们不是完整学士学位，但常可作为升读学士学位的跳板。在某些情况下，学生可以通过额外学习，把基础学位或文凭“续读”为完整荣誉学士学位。
Students should check whether an award is a degree or a sub-degree qualification. The title alone can be confusing, especially when abbreviations are similar. The RQF level and the total credits are usually the clearest indicators.
学生应确认所获资格是学位还是学位以下资格。仅看名称有时容易混淆，尤其是在缩写相似的情况下。RQF 层级和总学分通常是最清晰的判断标准。
6. Postgraduate Diplomas and Certificates | 研究生文凭与研究生证书
A Postgraduate Diploma, often shortened to PGDip, is a Level 7 qualification that usually takes nine to twelve months full-time. It covers postgraduate-level material but may be shorter or less research-intensive than a full Master's degree. A Postgraduate Certificate, or PGCert, is also at Level 7 but is shorter still, often completed in one semester or one academic year part-time.
研究生文凭通常简称 PGDip，属于第 7 级资格，全日制一般需要九到十二个月。它涵盖研究生层级的内容，但可能比完整硕士学位更短，研究要求也更少。研究生证书简称 PGCert，同样属于第 7 级，但学制更短，通常一个学期完成，或非全日制一年完成。
These awards are common in teacher training, healthcare, law, business and continuing professional development. For example, the PGCE is a well-known postgraduate certificate for teacher training in England and Wales. Some students use a PGDip or PGCert as a route into a Master's degree, while others use them to gain a specific professional skill without committing to a full Master's programme.
这类资格常见于教师培训、医疗、法律、商科和持续职业发展领域。例如，PGCE 是英格兰和威尔士知名的教师培训研究生证书。有些学生把 PGDip 或 PGCert 作为进入硕士学位的路径，也有人用它获得特定职业技能，而不必完成完整硕士课程。
A key point is that a Postgraduate Diploma is not the same as a Diploma of Higher Education. The former is postgraduate and usually at Level 7, while the latter is undergraduate and usually at Level 5.
关键区别在于，研究生文凭不等同于高等教育文凭。前者属于研究生阶段，通常为第 7 级；后者属于本科阶段，通常为第 5 级。
7. Diploma: Diploma of Higher Education and HND | 文凭：高等教育文凭与国家高等文凭
A Diploma is often described as a qualification awarded after completing a systematic course in a field or industry, with an emphasis on practical knowledge and skills. In UK higher education, the most common examples are the Diploma of Higher Education, or DipHE, and the Higher National Diploma, or HND. These awards usually take two years full-time and sit at RQF Level 5.
文凭通常指完成某一领域或行业的系统课程后获得的资格，侧重实用知识与技能。在英国高等教育中，最常见的例子是高等教育文凭和英国国家高等文凭。这类资格通常全日制两年，属于 RQF 第 5 级。
The DipHE is often offered by universities and can be used as a stepping stone to a Bachelor's degree. The HND is more vocational and is often awarded by colleges or awarding bodies in subjects such as business, engineering, computing, art and design. HND holders may enter employment directly or top up to a degree with one or two additional years of study.
高等教育文凭通常由大学开设，可作为升读学士学位的跳板。国家高等文凭更偏职业导向，常由学院或颁证机构在商科、工程、计算机、艺术设计等专业授予。国家高等文凭持有者可以直接就业，也可以通过一到两年的额外学习续读本科学位。
Diplomas are not inferior by default. They are simply different in purpose. They can be highly practical, employer-focused and cost-effective, especially for students who want to enter a specific industry quickly.
文凭并不天然低人一等，只是用途不同。它们往往实用性强、面向雇主、性价比高，尤其适合希望快速进入某一行业的学生。
8. Certificate: Certificate of Higher Education and Short Courses | 证书：高等教育证书与短期课程证书
A Certificate is usually awarded after a skills training course or a short vocational course, and it confirms that the holder has acquired the relevant ability. In UK higher education, the Certificate of Higher Education, or CertHE, is a Level 4 award that normally takes one year full-time. It can be a useful introduction to university study and may allow progression to a Diploma or Bachelor's degree.
证书通常是在某项技能培训或短期职业课程结束后颁发，证明持有者具备相应能力。在英国高等教育中，高等教育证书属于第 4 级资格，通常全日制一年。它可以是进入大学学习的有用起点，并有可能继续升读文凭或学士学位。
Universities also issue many shorter certificates for continuing professional development, summer schools, language courses and online programmes. These certificates may not carry the same weight as a degree, but they can still be valuable for CVs, promotion and personal development. Students should check whether a certificate is credit-bearing, whether it is recognised by a professional body, and whether it can be used for further study.
大学还会为持续职业发展、暑期学校、语言课程和在线项目颁发许多短期证书。这些证书的分量可能不如学位，但对简历、晋升和个人发展仍有价值。学生应确认证书是否带学分、是否受职业机构认可，以及能否用于继续深造。
The word "certificate" is broad. It can refer to a formal higher education award, a professional examination pass, or a simple attendance record. Always read the awarding body and the level before judging its value.
"证书"一词范围很广。它可能指正式高等教育资格、职业考试通过证明，也可能只是出席记录。判断价值前，一定要看清颁证机构和层级。
9. Professional Qualifications | 职业资格
A Professional Qualification is a practising certification for a specific occupation, such as lawyer, doctor or accountant. It is often a required licence or registration for entry into the profession. Unlike academic degrees, professional qualifications are usually awarded or accredited by professional bodies, and they often require a combination of examinations, practical experience and ethical training.
职业资格是针对特定职业的从业认证，例如律师、医生、会计师等，往往是入行必备的资质。与学术学位不同，职业资格通常由专业机构授予或认证，并且往往要求考试、实践经验和职业道德培训相结合。
Examples include ACCA, ACA, CIMA and CIPFA for accountancy; SQE and the Bar course for law in England and Wales; GMC registration for doctors; NMC registration for nurses; and RIBA recognition for architects. Some professional qualifications can be studied alongside a degree, while others require a degree first. In certain professions, a degree alone does not permit practice without the additional professional award.
例如，会计领域有 ACCA、ACA、CIMA 和 CIPFA；英格兰和威尔士法律领域有 SQE 和律师执业课程；医生需要 GMC 注册；护士需要 NMC 注册；建筑师需要 RIBA 认可。有些职业资格可以与学位同时攻读，有些则必须先完成学位。在某些职业中，仅有学位还不能执业，必须额外取得职业资格。
Professional qualifications are often more important than the academic title for employment in regulated fields. Employers may ask for both the degree and the professional registration number.
在受监管领域，职业资格对就业往往比学术头衔更重要。雇主可能同时要求学位和职业注册编号。
10. Academic Transcripts, Degree Certificates and HEAR | 成绩单、学位证书与 HEAR
Graduates do not only receive an award title. They normally receive a degree certificate, an academic transcript, and sometimes a Higher Education Achievement Report, known as the HEAR. The degree certificate is the formal document confirming the award. The transcript lists the modules studied, credits, marks and the final classification.
毕业生拿到的不只是学位名称。他们通常会收到学位证书、成绩单，有时还会收到高等教育成就报告，简称 HEAR。学位证书是确认所授学位的正式文件。成绩单则列出所学模块、学分、成绩和最终等级。
The HEAR is used by many UK universities to provide a more detailed record of academic and extracurricular achievements. It can include awards, volunteering, positions of responsibility and verified activities. For international students, a Diploma Supplement may also be issued to explain the qualification in a standard European format.
许多英国大学使用 HEAR 来提供更详细的学业和课外成就记录，其中可能包括奖项、志愿服务、担任职务和经过核实的活动。对国际学生来说，学校还可能出具“文凭补充说明”，用欧洲通用格式解释该资格。
Employers and universities may ask for certified copies or electronic verification. Graduates should keep both paper and digital copies, and check the spelling of their name and the award title before leaving university.
雇主和大学可能要求提供认证副本或电子核验。毕业生应保留纸质和电子副本，并在离校前核对姓名拼写和学位名称是否正确。
11. Classification and Grading | 学位等级与评分
UK awards are often graded or classified. Bachelor's degrees with honours usually use the classification system: First Class Honours, Upper Second Class Honours, Lower Second Class Honours, and Third Class Honours. Some universities also award an unclassified ordinary degree. Master's degrees commonly use Distinction, Merit and Pass. Doctorates usually use pass, minor corrections, major corrections or fail.
英国资格通常有等级或评分。荣誉学士学位一般采用分级制度：一等荣誉、二等一荣誉、二等二荣誉和三等荣誉。有些大学还会授予不分等级的普通学位。硕士学位通常使用 Distinction、Merit 和 Pass。博士学位通常使用通过、小幅修改、大幅修改或未通过。
The classification can affect postgraduate admission, graduate schemes and employer screening. A 2:1 is often the minimum requirement for many competitive Master's programmes and graduate jobs. However, professional experience, portfolios, interviews and subject-specific tests can also matter.
学位等级可能影响研究生录取、毕业生项目和雇主筛选。很多竞争激烈的硕士项目和毕业生岗位通常要求至少二等一学位。不过，专业经验、作品集、面试和学科测试同样重要。
Different universities may use different marking scales, but the final classification must follow national quality assurance rules. Students should check their course handbook for the exact weighting of examinations, coursework and dissertations.
不同大学可能采用不同的评分标准，但最终等级必须符合国家质量保障规则。学生应查看课程手册，了解考试、课程作业和学位论文的具体权重。
12. Practical Tips: Verification, Recognition and Career Planning | 实用建议：核验、认证与职业规划
After graduation, students may need to prove their qualifications to employers, universities or immigration authorities. UK employers often use the Higher Education Degree Datacheck, or HEDD, to verify degrees. International recognition may require UK ENIC, formerly UK NARIC, to compare a UK award with qualifications from other countries. Professional bodies may have their own verification and registration processes.
毕业后，学生可能需要向雇主、大学或移民机构证明自己的资格。英国雇主常通过 Higher Education Degree Datacheck，简称 HEDD，来核验学位。国际认可方面，可能需要 UK ENIC，原称 UK NARIC，来把英国资格与其他国家的学历进行比较。职业机构则可能有自己的核验和注册流程。
When planning a career, students should ask three questions. First, does the job require an academic degree, a professional qualification, or both? Second, is the award recognised in the country where the graduate wants to work? Third, does the qualification allow progression to further study, such as a Master's or Doctorate? The answers can shape course choice, budget and long-term plans.
在做职业规划时，学生应问三个问题。第一，这份工作需要的只是学位，还是职业资格，或者两者都要？第二，该资格在毕业生想工作的国家是否被认可？第三，该资格能否继续升读更高学位，例如硕士或博士？这些答案会影响课程选择、预算和长期规划。
Finally
更多咨询请联系16621398022（同微信）
或截图后用「扫一扫 → 相册」选择本图