There are lots of different types of courses you can take in university. Before you decide which course you’re interested in, it can be helpful to figure out how broad or narrow you want your focus to be. Do you want to learn about a range of subjects or delve deep into one specific area? Knowing this can help ensure you get everything you want out of your education. Joint Honours and Single Honours degrees are well known, but they are not the only options. Here is a look at Combined and Flexible honours degrees, what they are, and the pros and cons of each.
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What Is A Combined Honours Degree?
The term ‘Combined Honours’ is often used synonymously with the phrase Joint Honours. Both involve a varied mode of study between different fields. However, in some cases Joint Honours may indicate two subjects whereas Combined Honours may indicate as many as three.
Combined Honours courses are not advisable for those who have a single fixed interest or career path in mind. If that is the case, a Single Honours course is usually a better option. It’s also worth noting that Combined Honours courses usually involve juggling timetables from different university departments. Because the timetables are not coordinated, there are often conflicts between them that it is up to the student to resolve.
However, Combined Honours courses can also be highly rewarding. It allows you to study your varied interests and learn about a variety of subjects. Not only does it allow you to study different fields, but it also allows you to find unique parallels and intersections between those subjects.
What Is A Flexible Honours Degree?
A Flexible Honours Degree refers to a course of study that is interdisciplinary. One way in which it differs from a Combined or Joint Honours Degree is that it involves having one subject as a main focus of study while the other is added on as a Minor.
As a result, those wanting to study multiple subjects with an equal amount of time spent on each are more suited to a Combined Honours Degree. This is often the case if you enjoy multiple subjects, but can’t choose one over another as a favourite interest.
However, if you have one predominant interest, and another interest that you see as supplemental, a Flexible Honours degree can be the perfect option. It allows you to study broadly in your main field while still incorporating the other subject into your degree.
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