Main fields of study and degree requirements

General qualification (degree)

All higher education involves courses you can combine towards a degree. A general qualification often requires a set number of credits and specialisation in a main field of study, as well as credits earned from elective courses.

Your main field of study will be your degree subject and the title of your degree will be the same as your main field of study (not the programme). Check the programme syllabus to find out a course’s main field of study and its level.

First and second cycle general qualifications

There are two types of first-cycle (undergraduate) general qualifications – the Degree of Bachelor and Higher Education Diploma. There are also two types of second-cycle (postgraduate) general qualifications – the 60 credit and 120 credit Master’s degrees.

To be awarded a Master’s degree, you will need to have successfully completed a minimum of 180 credits at first-cycle level or hold an equivalent qualification from abroad.

If you are a student on a degree programme, check your programme syllabus to see which degree(s) you will be awarded on completion of your studies. Programme syllabuses can be found on the student web.