Choosing a degree is one of the biggest decisions a student can make, and understanding how demanding a course really is can help set expectations from the start. While every subject comes with its own challenges, some degrees require significantly more time, focus, and resilience than others.
Whether you’re preparing to apply or simply curious about how different subjects compare, this breakdown offers an evidence-based look at what makes certain degrees more challenging than the rest.
In this guide, we explore the most competitive degrees in the UK for 2024, using UCAS statistics and official admissions data from universities. You’ll find not only which courses are the toughest to get into, but also insights into what makes them so selective – and how you can prepare to maximise your chances of success.
Hardest Degrees – Definition & Methodology
When it comes to determining which degrees are harder to complete, there’s no single universal metric. That’s because course difficulty can be very subjective, depending on factors such as motivation, prior subject knowledge, age, learning style, and personal circumstances. However, there are several indicators that can point towards a degree being objectively more demanding than others. These include:
1. Dropout/Non-Continuation Rates
Courses with higher withdrawal rates often suggest that students are experiencing greater academic pressure or intensity. According to HESA (the Higher Education Statistics Agency), some students leave very early in the academic year for reasons unrelated to the course itself or the institution. To account for this, HESA excludes anyone who withdraws within the first 50 days of starting their course from their insights. Because this guide uses the latest available HESA’s official drop-out data (2019/20 entry), it follows the same approach.
A. Universities With The Lowest and Highest Drop-Out Rates
Before analysing drop-out rates by degree subject, it’s worth noting that the UK average drop-out rate in 2019/20 was 5.3%. Some universities though had exceptionally low drop-out rates. For example, The Open University in England, The University College of Osteopathy, The Royal Veterinary College, The University of St. Andrews, and both Oxford and Cambridge had fewer than 1% of UK-domiciled first-degree students leaving between their first and second year. In contrast, other institutions saw far higher levels of withdrawal – Arden University, for instance, recorded a drop-out rate of 32.3%, followed by Point Blank Music School with a drop-out rate of 19.2%.
B. Degrees With The Highest Drop-Out Rates
Data from HESA
According to HESA, the subjects with the highest drop-out rates for the 2019/20 entry, are:
- Computing (7.7%)
- Creative Arts and Design (7%)
- Comms and media (6.8%)
- Business and management (6.6%)
- Biological and sport sciences (6.6%)
- Architecture Building and planning (5.7%)
- Engineering and Technology (5.3%)
- Agriculture (5.1%)
- Psychology (4.8%)
- Subjects allied to medicine ( 4.7%)
Data from Debut Careers
According to a more recent report by Debut Careers, the subjects with the highest drop-out rates are:
- Computer Sciences (9.8%)
- Business and Administrative Studies (7.4%)
- Mass Communications and Documentation (7.2%)
- Engineering and Technology (7.2%)
- Creative Arts and Design (7.2%)
- Biological Sciences (6.7%)
- Architecture, building, and planning (6.7%)
- Education (6.2%)
- Agriculture and related subjects (5.9%)
- Subjects allied to medicne (5.8%)
2. Academic Workload
Degrees that involve labs, clinical placements, fieldwork, or studio sessions often demand significantly more hours than classroom-based courses. This level of ongoing practical engagement can make it difficult for students to balance academic tasks, independent study, and personal commitments.
A few examples of degrees with heavy workloads:
A. Medicine
Full days in lectures, clinical skills sessions, and multi-year hospital placements.
B. Veterinary Medicine
Intensive practical work and long hours in clinics and animal hospitals.
C. Engineering
Extensive lab work, group projects, and technical coursework.
D. Architecture
Studio hours, design projects, and regular crit sessions that can extend well beyond typical study hours.
3. Entry Requirements
High entry requirements can signal that a course is both highly competitive and academically demanding. Subjects with tougher entry requirements typically expect strong performance in relevant A-levels, often in subjects that are themselves challenging. This usually indicates a course with a fast pace, technical content, or high expectations from the outset.
The degrees with the toughest entry requirements in the UK are:
A. Health Sciences
For example, Medicine is often considered the most competitive, with rigorous entry requirements such as the arguably most difficult admissions test – UCAT – along with intensive rounds of interviews (MMI). Dentistry, Veterinary Science, and Nursing are also courses with rigorous entry requirements and limited spaces due to the high number of applicants.
B. STEM Subjects
Subjects such as engineering, maths, physics, and computer science tend to also be very competitive with rigorous admissions stages, including challenging admissions tests, and intensive rounds of interviews, especially at top UK universities. These courses typically have demanding entry requirements due to both the high competition for limited places and the intellectual rigour of their curriculum. Students are expected to enter with strong foundational knowledge and well-developed analytical skills to keep pace with the fast, technical nature of the coursework.
C. Other Subjects With Demanding Entry Requirements
Other competitive subjects include Creative Arts and Design, which often require strong portfolios demonstrating creativity, originality, and technical skill, as well as Law, Education, and various Social Sciences. When considering competitiveness as a factor in course difficulty, however, it’s important to distinguish between subjects that are competitive due to rigorous admissions processes and those that appear competitive simply because of high applicant demand. In many cases, subjects like Law or Education attract large numbers of applicants, making them seem highly competitive even when their entry requirements are less selective than those of STEM or medicine-related courses.
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The Hardest Degrees in The UK – Top 10
After analysing drop-out rate data, entry requirements, expected academic workload, the abstractness of coursework, and relevant Reddit discussions to capture real student perspectives, we’ve ranked the UK’s hardest degrees – from the least to the most challenging. While this isn’t a definitive list, it provides a data-informed look at how demanding each subject typically is.
10. Psychology
Psychology is intellectually demanding, requiring students to understand complex theories, conduct research, and interpret statistical analyses. Dropout rates are relatively low (4.8%), indicating that while challenging, students who are motivated and organised generally succeed. The degree’s difficulty comes from balancing academic reading, essay-writing, and practical research projects, along with the mental effort of analysing human behaviour critically.
9. Business Management & Administration
Business Management and Administration courses have one of the highest dropout rates in the UK (6.6%-7.4%), highlighting the pressures students face balancing theory with real-world applications. Group projects, presentations, case studies, and internship expectations contribute to a heavy workload. Students must manage multiple competing deadlines, develop strategic thinking, and demonstrate practical business skills under pressure.
8. Architecture
Architecture is known for its intense workload and relatively high drop-out rates (5.7%-6.7%), largely due to long studio hours, design projects, and frequent crit sessions. Students are required to combine creativity with technical knowledge, producing high-quality work under strict deadlines. Success depends on resilience, time management, and the ability to incorporate critical feedback into complex design solutions.
7. Communications and Media
Communications and Media have higher dropout rates (6.8%-7.2%) than some traditional academic subjects, reflecting the combination of academic and creative challenges. Students must manage coursework in writing, media production, and digital content while meeting tight deadlines. The practical element – editing, filming, or producing content – demands time, technical skill, and creativity, which can overwhelm students who struggle with multitasking.
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6. Law
Law has moderate-low dropout rates, but the degree is academically rigorous, with demanding essay-based assessments, case analysis, and critical thinking exercises. Students must develop precise legal argumentation, understand complex legislation, and perform under tight deadlines. While fewer students drop out, the proportion achieving top grades is often lower, reflecting the high intellectual demands of the course.
5. Maths And Physics
Maths and Physics are highly abstract and problem-solving intensive. Dropout rates are lower than other subjects – STEM courses have rigorous admissions processes ensuring only high-potential candidates get admitted – however, achieving top grades is difficult due to the intellectual complexity and cumulative learning structure. Students must master advanced theory, logical reasoning, and rigorous calculations, often dedicating extensive independent study to keep up with the fast pace of the courses.
4. Computer Science
Computing and Computer Science has the highest dropout rates (7.7%-9.8%), highlighting the technical demands and problem-solving intensity of the course. Students must learn programming languages, algorithm design, and software development, often alongside large projects and teamwork tasks. Balancing theory and practice, while keeping up with rapidly evolving technology, makes this subject very challenging.
3. Engineering (e.g., Aerospace, Electrical)
Engineering in general – and some areas of engineering specifically, such as aerospace and electrical engineering – combines a high workload, complex calculations, lab work, and collaborative projects. With dropout rates at around 5.3%-7.2%, students face pressure to master technical content while completing demanding practical assessments. Success requires analytical thinking, creativity, and excellent time management, as students are expected to deliver precise solutions under strict academic standards.
2. Creative Arts & Design
Creative Arts and Design have dropout rates between 7% and 7.2%, reflecting the challenges of producing original work while meeting rigorous assessment standards and tight deadlines – just like in real-world creative professional environments. Students must dedicate long hours to studio sessions, projects, and critiques, requiring both technical skill and resilience. Although lower than STEM subjects in theoretical difficulty, the constant performance pressure and subjective assessment/grading make it one of the hardest degrees to complete.
1. Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Medicine and Veterinary Medicine rank among the hardest degrees due to their demanding academic content, long hours, and the high emotional and practical responsibility involved. The workload is intense from the very first year, with full days of lectures, clinical skills training, and multi-year placements that require sustained focus and resilience. Despite this, these degrees also rank among the highest-paying in the UK and have relatively low dropout rates — largely because the exceptionally competitive entry requirements mean that most entrants are already well-prepared for the level of intensity.
Conclusion
While difficulty is subjective and every student’s experience is different, the data shows clear patterns across UK degree subjects. Courses with heavy practical components, complex theoretical content, or demanding creative workloads tend to place more pressure on students – which often shows up in higher dropout rates or more intense academic expectations. Understanding these factors can help future students decide not only what they want to study, but what environment and workload they’re best suited for.
Ultimately, the “hardest” degree isn’t necessarily the one with the toughest material, but the one that requires sustained commitment, strong time-management skills, and the ability to handle academic and practical challenges simultaneously. If a subject aligns with your interests and goals, its difficulty becomes far more manageable – and often deeply rewarding. Whatever you choose, going in informed is the best first step toward succeeding in your degree.
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