Bachelors or Bachelor’s: Which Form Is Correct Today?

You finish your degree. Now you want to write it on your CV, LinkedIn, or email. But suddenly, you pause. Should you write bachelors degree or bachelor’s degree? This small apostrophe creates big confusion.

Many students, job seekers, and writers search for “bachelors or bachelor’s” because they want to be correct in formal writing.

This question appears often in resumes, academic documents, and professional emails. Using the wrong form can make your writing look less professional, even if your qualification is correct.

The confusion happens because English uses apostrophes for possession and plural forms. Some people think “bachelors” means more than one bachelor.

Others think the apostrophe is optional. Both ideas can lead to mistakes.

This guide will give you a quick answer, clear examples, history, spelling rules, and professional advice. By the end, you will know exactly which form to use in every situation.

Bachelors or Bachelor’s – Quick Answer

Bachelor’s is correct when referring to a degree.
Bachelors is usually incorrect in this context.

The correct form is:

✅ bachelor’s degree
❌ bachelors degree

Why?

The apostrophe shows possession. The degree belongs to a bachelor.

Examples:

✅ She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology.
✅ He completed his bachelor’s degree in 2024.
❌ She earned a bachelors degree in biology.

Exception (plural possessive):

When talking about multiple degrees:

✅ bachelor’s degrees
Example: The university offers many bachelor’s degrees.

The Origin of Bachelors or Bachelor’s

The word bachelor comes from Old French bacheler. It meant a young knight or student. Later, universities used the word for students who completed their first degree.

The term bachelor’s degree appeared in medieval universities. It showed that the degree belonged to a bachelor. This is why the apostrophe is used.

The apostrophe shows possession. It means:

degree of a bachelor
bachelor’s degree

Over time, this became the standard academic form.

Major style guides like the The Chicago Manual of Style and Associated Press also recommend using bachelor’s degree.

Without the apostrophe, the meaning becomes plural, which is incorrect in most cases.

British English vs American English Spelling

Both British and American English use the same spelling: bachelor’s degree.

There is no spelling difference between regions.

This is different from words like colour/color. In this case, both forms agree.

Examples in American English (United States):

She has a bachelor’s degree in engineering.
He completed his bachelor’s degree at Harvard.

Examples in British English (United Kingdom):

She earned a bachelor’s degree in law.
He is studying for a bachelor’s degree.

Comparison Table

Context	Correct Form	Incorrect Form
Single degree	bachelor’s degree	bachelors degree
Multiple degrees	bachelor’s degrees	bachelors degrees
General reference	bachelor’s	bachelors
Academic writing	bachelor’s degree	bachelors degree
Resume	bachelor’s degree	bachelors degree

Both British and American English follow the same rule.

Which Spelling Should You Use?

Your audience matters, but the rule stays the same.

Use bachelor’s degree if your audience is in:

United States
United Kingdom
Canada
Australia
International audiences

This form is correct everywhere.

Use bachelor’s degree in:

CVs and resumes
Academic papers
Job applications
LinkedIn profiles
Emails
University documents

Example resume:

Correct:

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science

Incorrect:

Bachelors degree in Computer Science

Always use the apostrophe for professional writing.

Common Mistakes with Bachelors or Bachelor’s

Many people make these mistakes. Here are the most common ones.

Mistake 1: Missing apostrophe

❌ bachelors degree
✅ bachelor’s degree

Mistake 2: Using plural incorrectly

❌ I have a bachelors
✅ I have a bachelor’s degree

Mistake 3: Wrong resume format

❌ Bachelors of Science
✅ Bachelor of Science
✅ bachelor’s degree in science

Note: When writing the full degree name, no apostrophe is needed:

Bachelor of Arts (correct)
Bachelor of Science (correct)

Mistake 4: Adding apostrophe in plural bachelor

❌ bachelor’s are invited
✅ bachelors are invited

Here, bachelors means multiple people, not a degree.

Quick correction table

Wrong	Correct
bachelors degree	bachelor’s degree
bachelors in IT	bachelor’s degree in IT
I finished my bachelors	I finished my bachelor’s degree
Bachelors of Arts	Bachelor of Arts

Bachelors or Bachelor’s in Everyday Examples

Here are real-life examples.

Email example

Correct:

I completed my bachelor’s degree in marketing last year.

Wrong:

I completed my bachelors degree in marketing last year.

Resume example

Correct:

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, 2023

Wrong:

Bachelors degree in Computer Science, 2023

Social media example

Correct:

Finally finished my bachelor’s degree today!

Wrong:

Finally finished my bachelors degree today!

News example

Correct:

She earned her bachelor’s degree from a top university.

Formal academic writing

Correct:

A bachelor’s degree is required for this position.

Bachelors or Bachelor’s – Google Trends & Usage Data

According to Google search data, bachelor’s degree is far more popular than bachelors degree.

Popular regions using bachelor’s degree:

United States
United Kingdom
Canada
Australia

Why bachelor’s is more popular:

Used in universities
Used in resumes
Used in official documents
Used in academic writing

Search intent data shows people search:

bachelors degree meaning
bachelor’s degree correct spelling
bachelors or bachelor’s resume

This proves the confusion is common.

Usage comparison table

Version	Popularity	Correctness
bachelor’s degree	Very high	Correct
bachelors degree	High	Incorrect
bachelor’s	High	Correct
bachelors	Medium	Only correct for plural people

Comparison Table: Bachelors vs Bachelor’s

Form	Meaning	Correct Usage
bachelor’s	Possessive form	Correct for degree
bachelors	Plural noun	Correct for people
bachelor’s degree	Academic degree	Correct
bachelors degree	Incorrect spelling	Incorrect
bachelor’s degrees	Multiple degrees	Correct

FAQs About Bachelors or Bachelor’s

1. Is bachelors or bachelor’s correct?

Bachelor’s is correct when referring to a degree.

Correct example: bachelor’s degree
Incorrect example: bachelors degree

2. Why is there an apostrophe in bachelor’s degree?

The apostrophe shows possession. The degree belongs to a bachelor.

3. Can I write bachelors degree on my resume?

No. Always write bachelor’s degree. This is the correct professional form.

4. Is Bachelor of Science correct without apostrophe?

Yes. Bachelor of Science is correct. No apostrophe is needed in this full title.

5. What is the plural of bachelor’s degree?

The plural is bachelor’s degrees.

Example:
The university offers many bachelor’s degrees.

6. Is bachelors ever correct?

Yes, when referring to multiple unmarried men.

Example:
The party was full of bachelors.

7. Which form is correct worldwide?

Bachelor’s degree is correct in all English-speaking countries.

Conclusion

The difference between bachelors or bachelor’s is simple but important. The correct form for academic degrees is always bachelor’s degree.

The apostrophe shows possession, meaning the degree belongs to a bachelor. Without the apostrophe, bachelors becomes a plural noun, which refers to multiple people, not a degree.

This rule applies everywhere, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Universities, employers, and professional organizations all use bachelor’s degree as the standard form.

Using the correct spelling makes your resume, emails, and academic writing look professional and correct.

Remember one simple rule: if you are talking about a degree, always use the apostrophe. This small mark makes a big difference in clarity and professionalism.

By using bachelor’s degree correctly, you show attention to detail and strong writing skills. This helps you communicate clearly in academic and professional settings.