📚 What Certificates Do You Get When You Graduate from a UK University | 英国大学毕业有哪些证书
If you are finishing a degree in the UK, or planning to start one, it is worth knowing exactly what paperwork you will walk away with. UK universities issue a whole family of awards: Bachelor's degrees, Master's degrees and Doctorates, plus diplomas, certificates and professional qualifications that sit alongside them. Each one has a different length, level and purpose, and each is recorded differently on your transcript and your certificate.
如果你即将在英国完成学业,或者正准备申请英国大学,那么提前弄清楚"毕业后到底会拿到哪些证书"很有必要。英国高校颁发的资格是一个完整的体系:学士学位、硕士学位、博士学位,以及与之并列的文凭、证书和职业资格。它们的学习年限、学术层级和用途各不相同,在成绩单与学位证书上的呈现方式也不同。
1. Overview: The UK Qualification Family | 总览:英国学历资格家族
UK higher education awards are mapped onto the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and onto the SCQF in Scotland. Levels 4 to 8 cover everything from a one-year certificate up to a doctoral degree, so you can compare awards across institutions.
英国高等教育资格被纳入英格兰、威尔士和北爱尔兰的 FHEQ 框架(苏格兰使用 SCQF 框架),从 4 级到 8 级,覆盖了从一年制证书到博士学位的全部资格,因此不同院校之间的资格可以横向比较。
There are three broad families: degrees, diplomas and certificates, and professional qualifications. Degrees are academic awards made by a university. Diplomas and certificates are shorter, often more vocational awards. Professional qualifications are usually granted by a professional body, sometimes after a university course.
总体上可以分成三大类:学位(degrees)、文凭与证书(diplomas and certificates)、职业资格(professional qualifications)。学位由大学授予,属于学术资格;文凭与证书学制更短,往往更偏职业导向;职业资格通常由专业机构颁发,有时以大学课程为前提。
| FHEQ Level | Typical Award | Typical Length |
| Level 4 | Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) | 1 year |
| Level 5 | Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE), Foundation degree, HND | 2 years |
| Level 6 | Bachelor's degree with Honours | 3 years (4 in Scotland) |
| Level 7 | Master's degree, PGCE, PG Diploma, PG Certificate | 1-2 years |
| Level 8 | Doctoral degree (PhD, EdD, DBA) | 3-4 years |
One important point before we go further: in British English a 'diploma' is not the same thing as a degree certificate. In American English a 'diploma' is the graduation document itself, but in the UK that document is called a degree certificate. This single difference causes a lot of confusion.
在继续之前先记住一个关键点:在英式英语中,"diploma"并不等于学位证书。美式英语里 diploma 指的就是毕业时领到的那张证书,而英国把那张证书称作 degree certificate。这一个差异造成了很多误解。
2. Bachelor's Degree | 学士学位
The Bachelor's degree is the standard first degree. A full-time course normally takes three years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and four years in Scotland, where students take a broader range of subjects before specialising. A 'sandwich' course with a placement year also takes four years in total.
学士学位是最常见的第一个学位。在英格兰、威尔士和北爱尔兰,全日制课程通常三年;在苏格兰通常四年,学生先修读较广的科目再确定专业方向。带一年行业实习的"三明治课程"总时长也为四年。
Most students receive a Bachelor's degree with Honours, written as BA (Hons), BSc (Hons), BEng (Hons), LLB or BEd. Honours degrees are classified: First Class, Upper Second (2:1), Lower Second (2:2) and Third Class. A small number of students who do not meet the Honours criteria receive an Ordinary degree, which is a pass degree without classification.
大多数学生获得的是荣誉学士学位,写作 BA (Hons)、BSc (Hons)、BEng (Hons)、LLB 或 BEd。荣誉学位会分级:一等、二等一(2:1)、二等二(2:2)和三等。少数未达到荣誉学位标准的学生会获得普通学位(Ordinary degree),即不分类的及格学位。
The classification is based on the weighted average of marks across the final years, using a typical scale of: 70%+ for First, 60-69% for 2:1, 50-59% for 2:2, 40-49% for Third, and below 40% for a fail. Exact boundaries vary by university and by module weighting.
等级依据最后几年成绩的加权平均分计算,常见换算标准是:70% 以上为一等,60-69% 为二等一,50-59% 为二等二,40-49% 为三等,低于 40% 为不通过。具体分数线因学校和课程权重而异。
An Honours degree in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is worth 360 credits (180 ECTS) and sits at FHEQ Level 6. After graduating, you can enter the job market, apply for a Master's degree, or train for a profession such as teaching, law or accountancy.
英格兰、威尔士和北爱的荣誉学士学位共 360 学分(180 ECTS),属于 FHEQ 第 6 级。毕业后可以直接就业、申请硕士,或进入教师、法律、会计等职业培训路径。
3. Master's Degree | 硕士学位
The Master's degree is the standard postgraduate award. A taught Master's degree usually lasts one calendar year full-time and two years part-time, and is worth 180 UK credits (90 ECTS) at FHEQ Level 7. Common titles include MA, MSc, MBA, LLM, MEd and MRes.
硕士学位是最常见的 postgraduate(研究生)学历。授课型硕士全日制通常一年、非全日制两年,共 180 学分(90 ECTS),属 FHEQ 第 7 级。常见名称包括 MA、MSc、MBA、LLM、MEd 和 MRes。
There are two routes. Taught Master's degrees are assessed mainly by coursework, exams and a dissertation of around 10,000-15,000 words. Research Master's degrees, such as the MRes or MPhil, are assessed mainly by an extended thesis and are often used as preparation for a PhD.
硕士有两条路径。授课型硕士主要以课程作业、考试和一篇约一万到一万五千词的论文考核;研究型硕士(如 MRes、MPhil)主要以一篇更长的学位论文考核,常被用作攻读博士的过渡阶段。
Master's degrees are graded as Distinction, Merit or Pass, although some institutions use a simple pass or fail system. A Distinction typically requires an average of 70% or above, and a Merit around 60-69%.
硕士成绩一般分为 Distinction(优异)、Merit(良好)和 Pass(通过),部分院校只记录通过或不通过。Distinction 通常要求均分 70% 以上,Merit 大约在 60-69%。
Some science and engineering students take an Integrated Master's degree, such as MEng, MSci or MChem. This is a four-year undergraduate-entry course (five years in Scotland) that leads directly to a Master's-level qualification and is often the fastest route into a PhD or chartered status.
部分理工科学生选择本硕连读的整合型硕士学位,如 MEng、MSci、MChem。这类课程从本科入学起共四年(苏格兰五年),毕业即获得硕士层级资格,常是通往博士或特许工程师资格的最快路径。
4. Doctorate Degree | 博士学位
The Doctorate is the highest academic award in the UK and sits at FHEQ Level 8. A full-time PhD or DPhil normally takes three to four years; part-time study commonly takes six to seven years. Entry usually requires a good Master's degree, and some universities offer a 1+3 route combining a Master's year with three years of doctoral research.
博士学位是英国最高学术资格,属 FHEQ 第 8 级。全日制 PhD 或 DPhil 通常需要三到四年,非全日制往往六到七年。入学一般要求良好的硕士学位,部分大学提供"1+3"路径,即一年硕士加三年博士研究。
The core requirement is original research presented in a thesis of around 60,000-100,000 words, followed by an oral examination called the viva voce with two examiners. Outcomes range from pass without corrections, to minor or major corrections, to a lower award such as MPhil, or a fail.
核心要求是原创研究,成果写成约六万到十万词的学位论文,之后参加由两位考官主持的口头答辩(viva voce)。结果包括无需修改直接通过、小修、大修、改授 MPhil 等较低学位,以及不通过。
Professional doctorates are also available, such as the EdD for education, DBA for business, DClinPsy for clinical psychology, EngD for engineering and MD for medicine. They combine taught components with research and are aimed at senior practitioners rather than purely academic careers.
此外还有专业博士,例如教育学 EdD、工商管理 DBA、临床心理学 DClinPsy、工程学 EngD、医学 MD。它们把课程学习与研究结合,面向资深从业者,而不仅是纯学术路线。
Note that a PhD is a degree, not a certificate, and there is no such thing as a 'postdoctoral certificate'. A postdoctoral position is a job, not a qualification, even though you may receive an employment contract and a reference rather than an award.
请注意,博士学位是学位而非证书,也不存在"博士后证书"这种东西。博士后是一份工作而不是学历,你拿到的是雇佣合同和推荐信,而不是一份学术资格。
5. Diploma | 文凭
A Diploma in the UK is a qualification in its own right, usually shorter than a degree and often more practical. The exact meaning depends on the level: a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) is a two-year, Level 5 award worth 240 credits, roughly equivalent to the first two years of a degree.
英国的 Diploma 是一种独立资格,通常比学位短,也更偏实践。具体含义取决于层级:高等教育文凭(DipHE)是两年制、第 5 级资格,共 240 学分,大致相当于本科前两年的水平。
Other common diplomas include the Higher National Diploma (HND), a two-year vocational award often taken at a college, and the Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, a one-year preparatory course for art school applicants. Both can sometimes be topped up to a full Bachelor's degree with one extra year.
其他常见文凭包括高等国家文凭(HND)——两年制职业资格,通常在学院完成;以及艺术与设计基础文凭——一年制,为申请艺术院校做准备。两者有时可以通过一年"top-up"课程衔接成完整学士学位。
At postgraduate level, the Graduate Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) are typically one-year conversion or professional courses, worth 120 credits at Level 6 or Level 7. They are often used by graduates who want to change subject or gain eligibility for a professional route.
在研究生阶段,Graduate Diploma 和 Postgraduate Diploma(PG Dip)通常是一年制的转换课程或职业课程,为第 6 级或第 7 级的 120 学分。它们常用于希望转专业或取得某一职业路径资格的学生。
The key exam point: a PG Diploma is not a Master's degree. It covers the taught content but usually omits the dissertation, so it cannot be described as an MSc or MA on a CV.
关键的考试易错点:PG Diploma 不是硕士学位。它通常只完成授课部分而省略学位论文,因此简历上不能写成 MSc 或 MA。
6. Certificate | 证书
Certificates are the shortest awards in the framework. The Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) is a one-year, 120-credit qualification at Level 4, awarded to students who complete the first year of a degree but do not continue.
证书是框架中最短的资格。高等教育证书(CertHE)是一年制、120 学分、第 4 级资格,通常发给完成本科第一年但未继续学业的学生。
At postgraduate level, the Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) is worth 60 credits and typically takes one term to one year. The best-known example is the PGCE, the Postgraduate Certificate in Education, which combines teacher training with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in England.
在研究生阶段,研究生证书(PG Cert)为 60 学分,通常一学期到一年完成。最著名的例子是 PGCE(教育研究生证书),在英格兰它将教师培训与合格教师资格(QTS)结合起来。
Beyond formal awards, universities also issue short-course certificates, summer school certificates, language proficiency certificates and certificates of attendance. These are not regulated higher education qualifications and should not be presented as degrees.
除正式资格外,大学还会颁发短期课程证书、暑期学校证书、语言水平证书和出席证明。这些不属于受监管的高等教育学历,不应作为学位来呈现。
If you receive a certificate of attendance only, it confirms that you attended a course, not that you passed an assessment. Employers and admissions tutors do check this distinction.
如果你拿到的只是出席证明,它只能证明你上过这门课,而不能证明你通过了考核。雇主和招生官确实会区分这一点。
7. Professional Qualification | 职业资格
Professional qualifications are certifications issued by professional bodies, often after a university degree. They are required or strongly preferred in regulated professions such as law, medicine, accountancy, teaching, nursing and engineering.
职业资格由专业机构颁发,通常以大学学位为前提。在法律、医学、会计、教师、护理和工程等受监管行业中,这类资格是必需的,或至少是强烈优先的。
- Law: Solicitors in England and Wales now qualify through the SQE (Solicitors Qualifying Examination) plus two years of qualifying work experience, replacing the old LPC route. Barristers complete the Bar Practice Course (BPC) and a pupillage. In Scotland, the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice is required.
中文:法律方向,英格兰和威尔士的事务律师现在通过 SQE(事务律师资格考试)加两年合格工作经验取得资格,取代了旧的 LPC 路径;出庭律师需完成 BPC(出庭律师实务课程)和实习期。苏格兰则要求完成专业法律实务文凭。 - Medicine: The MBBS or MBChB is a primary medical degree, followed by a two-year Foundation Programme and registration with the General Medical Council. The UKMLA (UK Medical Licensing Assessment) is now part of the route to practice.
中文:医学方向,MBBS 或 MBChB 是本科医学学位,之后需完成两年基础培训计划并向英国医学总会(GMC)注册。UKMLA(英国医学执业考试)现已成为执业路径的一部分。 - Accountancy: The main qualifications are ACCA, CIMA, ICAEW (ACA) and, in Scotland, CA. They are examined by the professional bodies, not by universities.
中文:会计方向,主要有 ACCA、CIMA、ICAEW(ACA)以及苏格兰的 CA。这些考试由专业机构组织,而非大学。 - Teaching: A PGCE with QTS, or a school-led route, plus a two-year Early Career Teacher induction in England.
中文:教师方向,需取得带 QTS 的 PGCE 或学校主导的培训路径,并在英格兰完成两年的早期职业教师(ECT)入职培训。 - Nursing and engineering: Registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, or Chartered Engineer status through bodies such as the IMechE or IET.
中文:护理与工程方向,需向英国护理与助产委员会(NMC)注册,或通过 IMechE、IET 等机构取得特许工程师(CEng)资格。
The crucial administrative point is that a professional qualification is not a university degree certificate. You may hold a degree from one institution and a professional award from a separate body, and you will need to keep both documents safe.
关键在于:职业资格不是大学学位证书。你可能同时拥有某所大学的学位和另一家专业机构颁发的资格,两份文件都需要妥善保管。
8. Transcript, HEAR and Classification | 成绩单、HEAR 与学位等级
The degree certificate confirms that you were awarded a qualification. The transcript is a separate document listing the modules you studied, the credits, the marks and the final classification. Employers and graduate schools usually ask for both.
学位证书证明你获得了某个资格;成绩单则是另一份文件,列出你修读的模块、学分、分数和最终等级。雇主和研究生院通常要求两份文件都提供。
Many UK universities now issue a Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) alongside the transcript. The HEAR is an electronic record that includes academic results, prizes, positions of responsibility and verified extra-curricular activity.
许多英国大学现在会随成绩单一起出具高等教育成就报告(HEAR)。HEAR 是一份电子记录,包含学业成绩、奖项、担任的职务以及经过核实的课外活动。
| Classification | Typical Mark Range | 中文说明 |
| First Class (1st) | 70% and above | 一等荣誉学位 |
| Upper Second (2:1) | 60-69% | 二等一荣誉学位 |
| Lower Second (2:2) | 50-59% | 二等二荣誉学位 |
| Third Class | style="border
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