BSc and BA (Hons) are both Bachelor's degrees at exactly the same academic level. The difference is not about which one is "better" or harder; it is about the type of subject, how it is taught, and how it is assessed. BSc stands for Bachelor of Science, and BA stands for Bachelor of Arts.
The confusing part for most people is the "(Hons)". This guide explains what Honours actually means, which subjects typically carry a BSc or a BA label, and how to choose between them if your course is offered as both.
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What Does BSc Stand For?
BSc stands for Bachelor of Science. It is typically awarded for subjects that are scientific, technical, data-driven or business-focused, such as Computing, Psychology, Accounting, Construction Management, Business Management, Health and Social Care, and Project Management. A BSc course usually places more weight on data, research methods, technical skills and structured problem-solving.
What Does BA Stand For?
BA stands for Bachelor of Arts. It is typically awarded for subjects rooted in the humanities, languages, the arts and some social sciences, such as Business and Entrepreneurship, Global Business, and other subjects with a strong focus on theory, communication, strategy and critical discussion rather than technical or laboratory work.
In practice, many business-related courses are offered as a BA rather than a BSc, even though they are not "arts" subjects in the traditional sense, simply because of how the course was originally classified by the awarding university.
What Does "(Hons)" Actually Mean?
This is the part most guides skip. "(Hons)" is short for Honours. It means your degree result is classified into one of four bands based on your overall marks across the course, rather than being an unclassified pass.
| Classification | Typical Mark Range |
|---|---|
| First Class Honours (1st) | 70% and above |
| Upper Second Class Honours (2:1) | 60-69% |
| Lower Second Class Honours (2:2) | 50-59% |
| Third Class Honours (3rd) | 40-49% |
Almost every undergraduate degree awarded in the UK today is an Honours degree. An unclassified "ordinary" or "pass" degree, without Honours, is now rare and is typically only awarded if a student narrowly falls short of the marks needed for Third Class Honours.
So in everyday use, "BSc" and "BSc (Hons)" mean the same thing for the vast majority of graduates, and the same is true for "BA" and "BA (Hons)".
BSc vs BA: Which Subjects Use Which?
The subject usually decides the label, not the student. Some universities even offer the same subject, such as Geography or Psychology, as either a BA or a BSc, depending on which modules and electives you choose. As a general guide:
- Usually BSc: Computing, Health and Social Care, Accounting and Financial Management, Construction Management, Project Management, Applied Psychology
- Usually BA: Business and Entrepreneurship, Global Business, Humanities, Languages, Fine Art
- Offered as either, depending on the university: Psychology, Geography, Business Management, Economics
Teaching Style and Assessment Differences
BSc courses tend to lean more heavily on structured assessment: problem sets, data analysis, lab or practical work, and exams with a single correct method or answer. BA courses tend to lean more on essays, dissertations, case studies, presentations and open-ended critical discussion, with more than one valid way to argue a point. Neither style is harder overall; they simply reward different strengths.
Careers: BSc vs BA (Hons)
Employers overwhelmingly care about your degree classification, subject knowledge and transferable skills, not whether your certificate says BSc or BA. BSc graduates are not limited to scientific or technical roles, and BA graduates are not limited to arts or humanities roles. Both develop research, writing, analysis, teamwork and communication skills that transfer into management, administration, education, consultancy and many other fields well beyond the subject studied.
What About Combined or Joint Honours Degrees?
Some universities let you study two subjects together as a combined or joint Honours degree, such as "Business Management and Psychology BA (Hons)" or "Computing and Mathematics BSc (Hons)". The letters still follow the same logic: if the combination leans towards science, technology or data, it is usually labelled BSc; if it leans towards humanities, business strategy or social science, it is usually labelled BA. Joint Honours courses split your study time roughly evenly between both subjects, so your weekly timetable, coursework and exams cover both areas rather than one being a minor add-on to the other.
Other Types of Bachelor's Degree You Might See
BSc and BA are the two most common undergraduate titles, but they are not the only ones. Depending on the subject, you may also come across:
- BEng (Hons): Bachelor of Engineering, for engineering degrees, broadly equivalent in level to a BSc (Hons)
- LLB (Hons): Bachelor of Laws, the standard qualifying law degree in England and Wales
- BMus (Hons): Bachelor of Music, for specialist music degrees
- BEd (Hons): Bachelor of Education, which combines a degree with teacher training
All of these sit at the same Level 6 as a BSc (Hons) or BA (Hons). The different letters simply reflect the professional body or tradition attached to that subject area, not a difference in academic standing.
Can You Switch Between a BSc and a BA?
Sometimes, but it depends on the university and course. If a subject is offered as both a BSc and a BA, you can usually switch between them in your first year by choosing different optional modules, since the core degree structure is often very similar. Switching between genuinely different subjects, such as from a BSc in Computing to a BA in Business, is a bigger change and is better treated as changing course entirely. In either case, speak to your university's student services or your AEC Consultant advisor as early as possible, since deadlines for switching modules or courses are often tighter than students expect.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose based on the subject you actually want to study and how you prefer to learn, not the three letters in front of "(Hons)". If you enjoy structured, evidence-based, technical work, a BSc-labelled course in that subject area is usually the natural fit. If you enjoy argument, theory, strategy and written analysis, a BA-labelled course usually suits you better. Where a subject is offered as both, look at the actual module list rather than the title alone, since two courses with different letters can sometimes overlap more than their names suggest.
It is also worth thinking about where the degree leads. If you already have a specific career in mind, for example accountancy, construction management or social work, the professional body or employer expectations for that career often point clearly towards either a BSc or a BA, regardless of your personal preference for essays or lab work.
Can I Get a BSc (Hons) or BA (Hons) Without A-Levels?
Yes. Many of AEC Consultant's partner university courses are offered as a BSc (Hons) or BA (Hons) with Foundation Year, an extra preparatory year built onto the start of the degree for students without standard A-Level grades or with a non-traditional academic background. You finish with exactly the same BSc (Hons) or BA (Hons) qualification as a student who entered through standard A-Levels, just one year later than a direct-entry student.
Mature students and career changers are routinely accepted onto these Foundation Year routes through an interview and a short assessment instead of formal qualifications, since universities recognise that work and life experience can prepare you for degree-level study just as well as recent exam results.
How to Fund a BSc or BA (Hons)
Funding works the same way regardless of whether your degree is a BSc or a BA. Student Finance England covers both with a Tuition Fee Loan and a means-tested Maintenance Loan, and a Foundation Year is funded in exactly the same way as the rest of the degree, simply adding one extra year of eligibility. For the full breakdown of amounts, eligibility and how to apply, see our Student Finance England guide.
How AEC Consultant Helps
AEC Consultant has helped over 5,000 students choose the right course and apply with confidence since 2015. If you are torn between a BSc and a BA route, or unsure whether a Foundation Year is right for you, our advisors talk it through with you for free and help with your Student Finance application from start to finish. Browse our full range of BSc (Hons) and BA (Hons) courses to see which routes are currently open, including Foundation Year options in business, computing, health and social care, psychology and construction management.
To talk through your options, contact our team on +44 7946 279253 or via WhatsApp. The service is completely free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is BSc Hons?
BSc (Hons) stands for Bachelor of Science with Honours. It is the standard undergraduate science degree in the UK, awarded with an Honours classification (First, 2:1, 2:2 or Third) based on your overall marks across the course.
What does BSc Hons mean on a certificate?
It means you completed a full Bachelor of Science degree and were awarded Honours, the standard classified result given to the vast majority of UK graduates, rather than an unclassified ordinary or pass degree.
What is the difference between BSc and BA?
BSc (Bachelor of Science) is usually awarded for science, technology, computing, business and data-focused subjects, while BA (Bachelor of Arts) is usually awarded for humanities, arts, languages and some social science subjects. The letters mainly signal subject focus and teaching style rather than a difference in academic level.
Is BSc Hons a real degree?
Yes. A BSc (Hons) is a full, recognised undergraduate honours degree, equivalent in level to a BA (Hons), an LLB (Hons) or a BEng (Hons). It is not a lesser or partial qualification.
What does Hons mean in a degree?
"Hons" is short for Honours. It means your degree result is classified into First, Upper Second (2:1), Lower Second (2:2) or Third class based on your marks, rather than being an unclassified ordinary degree, which is now rare in the UK.
Is BSc or BA better?
Neither is academically "better"; they are equal in level. Which one is right for you depends entirely on your subject and whether you prefer a more practical, data or lab-based approach (BSc) or a more theoretical, discussion and essay-based approach (BA).
Can I get a BSc (Hons) without A-Levels?
Yes. Many UK universities and partner colleges offer a BSc (Hons) with a built-in Foundation Year for students without standard A-Level entry requirements, adding one extra preparatory year to the start of the degree.
What is the difference between a BSc and a BSc (Hons)?
Today they are almost always the same thing. Nearly all BSc degrees awarded in the UK are Honours degrees by default; an unclassified "ordinary" or "pass" BSc without Honours is now unusual and typically only awarded if a student narrowly misses Honours-level marks.
Does it matter if my degree says BA or BSc on a job application?
For most employers, no. Both are recognised Bachelor's degrees at the same academic level. Employers are generally far more interested in your degree classification, subject and relevant skills than whether it was awarded as a BA or a BSc.
What is a bachelor's degree?
A bachelor's degree is the standard undergraduate qualification awarded after a course of study, typically three years full-time in England, covering a specific subject in depth. BA, BSc, LLB and BEng are all types of bachelor's degree.
What is a joint Honours degree?
A joint or combined Honours degree lets you study two subjects together, such as Business and Psychology, splitting your timetable, coursework and exams roughly evenly between both. Whether it is labelled BA or BSc depends on whether the overall combination leans more towards science and data or towards arts, humanities and strategy.
Is a BEng the same as a BSc?
They are both Honours-level Bachelor's degrees at the same academic level, but BEng (Bachelor of Engineering) is used specifically for engineering courses, while BSc covers a much wider range of science, technical and business subjects. Neither is a higher qualification than the other.
Can I fund a BSc or BA (Hons) with Student Finance?
Yes. Student Finance England funds both equally through the same Tuition Fee Loan and means-tested Maintenance Loan, including Foundation Year routes for students without standard A-Levels.
"Not sure whether a BSc or BA route is right for you, or need help applying? AEC Consultant can help, completely free."
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