EXPLORING TYPES OF EXPLORING TYPES OF QUALIFICATIONS...QUALIFICATIONS...

GCE A/S AND A/2 GCE A/S AND A/2 LEVELLEVEL

BTECBTEC (Business & technology (Business & technology

Education Council – now Education Council – now part of Edexcel)- part of Edexcel)- example:example:

ConstructionConstruction EngineeringEngineering

HND & HNCHND & HNC FOUNDATION FOUNDATION

DEGREEDEGREE DEGREEDEGREE

BTEC NATIONAL BTEC NATIONAL DIPLOMAS/CERTIFICATES & DIPLOMAS/CERTIFICATES & AWARDS…AWARDS…

AWARDAWARD – This is level 3 qualification equivalent to a 6 – This is level 3 qualification equivalent to a 6 unit 1 A-Level; can be combined with a National unit 1 A-Level; can be combined with a National Certificate or with 2 A-Levels;Certificate or with 2 A-Levels;

CERTIFICATECERTIFICATE – This is level 3 qualification covering – This is level 3 qualification covering 12 units. It is equivalent to a 2 A – Levels. Eg 12 units. It is equivalent to a 2 A – Levels. Eg Construction in the Abbey. It prepares learners for Construction in the Abbey. It prepares learners for employment in the sector and will be suitable for 16/19 employment in the sector and will be suitable for 16/19 year olds who have already decided that they wish to year olds who have already decided that they wish to enter this area of work.enter this area of work.

DIPLOMA DIPLOMA – This is a Level 3 practical qualification – This is a Level 3 practical qualification which is both a route to Higher Education ( HND’s; which is both a route to Higher Education ( HND’s; Foundation degrees & Degrees) and a preparation for Foundation degrees & Degrees) and a preparation for employment in a vocational area. 2 years FT and employment in a vocational area. 2 years FT and consists of 18 units of study. It is equal to 3 A-Levels.consists of 18 units of study. It is equal to 3 A-Levels.

HIGHER NATIONAL S…HIGHER NATIONAL S…

HND & HNCHND & HNC – these are nationally recognised – these are nationally recognised qualifications, well known and well regarded in qualifications, well known and well regarded in industry, as they tend to industry, as they tend to have a more have a more vocational focus than degreesvocational focus than degrees. .

HNDs - They are full time over 2 years and HNDs - They are full time over 2 years and you may progress to a degree. you may progress to a degree.

HNCs are of the same standard as HNDs . HNCs are of the same standard as HNDs . HND’s allow entry to a 3rd year of a degree; HND’s allow entry to a 3rd year of a degree; HNC’s allow entry to a 2nd year of a degree.HNC’s allow entry to a 2nd year of a degree.

HIGHER NATIONALS eg’s.HIGHER NATIONALS eg’s.

FINE & APPLIED FINE & APPLIED ARTSARTS

PHOTOGRAPHYPHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS & BUSINESS &

FINANCEFINANCE LEGAL STUDIESLEGAL STUDIES MUSIC MUSIC

PRODUCTIONPRODUCTION SPORT & LEISURESPORT & LEISURE

CONSTRUCTIONCONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING: ENGINEERING:

CIVIL / CIVIL / MECHANICAL / MECHANICAL / ELECTRICAL / ELECTRICAL / MANUFACTURING;MANUFACTURING;

HEALTH & SOCIAL HEALTH & SOCIAL CARECARE

A question of which A question of which degree ???????degree ???????

Foundation DegreeFoundation Degree – is an innovative degree – is an innovative degree course, which course, which focuses on developing the work focuses on developing the work related skills that employers requirerelated skills that employers require. It is . It is developed in partnership with employers and a developed in partnership with employers and a university and is delivered in an FE College –university and is delivered in an FE College –SRC:Southern Regional College. It can be taken SRC:Southern Regional College. It can be taken PT or FT(2 years) and includes work experience.PT or FT(2 years) and includes work experience.

This is a qualification in its own right, but This is a qualification in its own right, but graduates may then ‘top-up’ to a relevant honours graduates may then ‘top-up’ to a relevant honours degree course through 1 more year of study.degree course through 1 more year of study.

FOUNDATION DEGREES…FOUNDATION DEGREES…eg’seg’s

SPORT, EXERCISE, FITNESS;SPORT, EXERCISE, FITNESS; ICT –SOFTWARE ENGINEERING;ICT –SOFTWARE ENGINEERING; COMPUTING;COMPUTING; EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDIES;EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDIES; CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING;CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING; ARCHITECTURAL TECHNOLOGY;ARCHITECTURAL TECHNOLOGY; APPLIED & MEDICAL SCIENCE.APPLIED & MEDICAL SCIENCE.

DEGREES …. DEGREES ….

A A first degreefirst degree takes 3 years if studied on a F/T takes 3 years if studied on a F/T basis. Some degrees are more vocational than basis. Some degrees are more vocational than others. The type of qualification you get depends others. The type of qualification you get depends on the subject:Eg Bachelor of Science BSc; on the subject:Eg Bachelor of Science BSc; Bachelor of Education Bed. There are 5 main Bachelor of Education Bed. There are 5 main types of degree:types of degree:

SINGLE HONOURSSINGLE HONOURS – You will graduate in one subject. – You will graduate in one subject. In 2In 2ndnd and 3 and 3rdrd year you will be able to choose subject year you will be able to choose subject options depending on your special interests.options depending on your special interests.

JOINT HONOURSJOINT HONOURS – involves the study of 2 subjects. In – involves the study of 2 subjects. In some cases the subjects may be related eg Maths & some cases the subjects may be related eg Maths & Physics, but can also be quite different.Physics, but can also be quite different.

Types of degrees cont’d..Types of degrees cont’d..

COMBINED HONOURSCOMBINED HONOURS – involves 2 or 3 – involves 2 or 3 subjects, each of which is studied equally subjects, each of which is studied equally within the framework of the same faculty.within the framework of the same faculty.

MAJOR / MINOR HONOURSMAJOR / MINOR HONOURS – you choose 2 – you choose 2 subjects to study, one of which is studied over subjects to study, one of which is studied over a longer period than the other.a longer period than the other.

SANDWICHSANDWICH – these involve alternative periods – these involve alternative periods of study and work related experience over a 4 of study and work related experience over a 4 employability prospects !!employability prospects !!

And finally……And finally……

POSTGRADUATE POSTGRADUATE – Certificates or Diplomas – Certificates or Diplomas offer vocational training or a professional offer vocational training or a professional qualification. Courses usually last for 1 or 2 qualification. Courses usually last for 1 or 2 years full time and may be integrated into years full time and may be integrated into Master degree programmes.Master degree programmes.

A MASTERsA MASTERs degree can be obtained by pure degree can be obtained by pure research or by a course of instruction – research or by a course of instruction – including a short research project and an examincluding a short research project and an exam

DOCTORATES DOCTORATES – are normally awarded after 3 – are normally awarded after 3 years of supervised research.years of supervised research.