Diploma of Higher Education
A Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) is a higher education qualification in the United Kingdom. It is awarded after two years of full-time study at a university or other higher education institution.
The Diploma certifies that a student has achieved a minimum standard for 2nd Year courses in science, liberal arts, and in the case of nursing, 3rd Year courses as well. If a student is undertaking a full Bachelor of Arts, a Diploma of Higher Education marks two-thirds of his or her undergraduate degree. Thus allowing the British Diploma to rank ahead of the American Associate of Arts (which in American parlance is a two-year undergraduate, or half of a BA/BS). That being said, American universities generally consider UK Diplomas equivalent to a college level Associate of Arts even though a British student typically holds more credit hours (and therefore more study time) in the arts, humanities and/or sciences.