Guide to Qualifications
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 | NVQ's | Some | |
Work Experience | |
| 3 | AS/A2 | |
|
5 GCSEs C or above | |
| 3 | Extended Diploma | |
|
4/5 GCSEs C or above | |
| 2 | Diploma | |
|
|
GCSEs C/Ds |
| 1 | Introductory Diploma | |
|
|
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 experiance or C&G level 3 | |
|
| NVQ's 4-5 | Relevant work experiance 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.
