Further Education Qualifications

Levels	Qualification	14-16 Years	16-19 Years	19+ Years	Entry Requirements
3	Access Programmes				Interview
1-3	City & Guilds		Some		Work Experience
1-3	NVQs		Some		Work Experience
3	AS/A2				5 GCSEs C or above
3	Extended Diploma				4/5 GCSEs C or above
2	Diploma / Certificate				GCSEs C/Ds
1	Introductory Diploma / Certificate				GCSEs D/Es

Higher Education Qualifications for 18+

Qualifications	Entry Requirements	Part-Time	Full-Time
Post Graduate	Appropriate Degree
Full Degrees BA/BSc including Diploma Higher Education	Appropriate level 3
Foundation Degrees	Appropriate level 3 or suitable employment experience
Higher National Certificate (HNC) Higher National Diploma (HND)	Appropriate level 3 qualification or relevant job role
City & Guilds	Relevant work experience or C&G level 3
NVQs 4-5	Relevant work experience or NVQ level 3

Vocational Diplomas

• Available at levels 1 - 4
• Level 3 Extended Diploma is equivalent to 3 A Levels
• Focuses on a specific subject area
• Combines vocational and academic study
• Designed to give you the knowledge and skills you need for employment or higher education.

AS and A Levels

• The AS Level comprises three modules and is about 40% of a full A Level
• It is normally studied over one year
• The full A Level comprises six modules (three taken from AS Level)
• This is the second year of the course and is sometimes referred to as an A2
• Designed to prepare you for higher education and employment.

NVQ's and City and Guilds

• Designed to give you the skills you need to do a particular job
• Linked to a specific career
• Available at a range of levels.

GCSE

Benchmark qualification for school leavers

Degrees

Most undergraduate degree courses lead to a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BSc) qualification.

Foundation Degrees and Higher National Diplomas (HND)

Foundation degrees and HNDs provide an alternative route for those not wishing to study for a full bachelor's degree. Shorter in study time, HNDs and Foundation degrees have a vocational focus. Students can progress to the final year of a degree programme.