Four-year extended degrees
University staff
- What is a four-year extended degree?
- Why should you study an extended degree?
- Just do the sums
- What can I study?
- Employment opportunities in Northamptonshire
What is a four-year extended degree?
The four-year extended degree is a new degree format that offers the flexibility of working part-time while you study. This work will be directly related to your studies and become part of your learning and assessment. While you study, you will be able to apply what you learn on your course to your workplace - a great benefit to you and your employer.
Why should you study a four-year extended degree?
- Earn while you learn - and still pay only the same tuition fees as a traditional three-year degree student
- Gain skills directly relevant to your job
- Differentiate yourself from other graduates
- Differentiate yourself from other graduates by getting practical experience supported by work-based learning
- Careful timetabling gives classroom contact over two or three days, leaving the rest of the week to plan your working hours
Just do the sums
You can spread the cost of your degree if you choose to study over four years - and have a part-time income. Not only will you be able to earn during term-time, when it comes to the summer break you can boost your income by working full-time.
In the fourth year, you are free to work full-time, as you become a part-time or distance learning student to complete one module and your dissertation.
Total fees for the degree are the same as a three-year course and as a full-time student you are eligible for bursaries, loans and other financial support.
You can defer payment of fees until after you finish studying by taking out a tuition fee loan (eligibility criteria apply), which you don't have to repay until you're earning £15,000 a year.
What can I study?
The University of Northampton is offering extended four-year degrees in:
- BSc (Hons) Business Computing Systems
- BA (Hons) Business Studies
- BA (Hons) Financial Services
- BA (Hons) Human Resource Management
- BA (Hons) Marketing
- BA (Hons) Retail Marketing
Further information can be found by downloading our four-year extended degree brochure (PDF 2.30MB) and by visiting the Northampton Business School four-year extended degrees page for detailed course information.
Employment opportunities in Northamptonshire
If you live in Northampton or nearby you will know that there is high employment here and great opportunities for part-time work.
The University also has a Jobshop which helps match employers to students, so there are lots of opportunities to find the work you will need during your studies.
If you are considering giving up a full-time job to return to education, talk to one of our tutors first, as you may be able to carry on this work as part of your course but on a part-time basis.
This combination of studying and work will enhance as you progress through the course and gain more experience - all positive results for your future career.