Whats the difference between a Diploma and a Degree?
The main difference is a bit historic – degrees could only be given by universities or by the CNAA (Council for National Academic Awards). With the demise of Polytechnics these distinctions have been rather blurred since anyone (more or less) can call themselves a university and award degrees nowadays. It is all a bit confusing as one glance at some of the answers you are getting shows. Degrees are normally awarded in either Science or Arts – you then had honours in the particular subjects you studied (though you can have Bachelor of Architecture, or Medicine for example). Diplomas are simply awarded in whatever subject you undertook and may be higher or lower than a degree, or the equivalent. I have a degree and a diploma – the diploma is higher than the degree, I also have a post-graduate diploma which is higher still. The only people to whom this will matter will be an employer who will know the difference. You get to have a ceremony whatever it is called, and if you are lucky a nic
