Course Types

Your choice of what to study is quite confusing! This section will tell you about the different qualifications and how they all fit together. It will help you decide what is right for you. Before you click on a type of course to find out more about it, have a look at the ‘Levels’ diagram. It is helpful to know where your choices might take you next. You also need to choose a course that suits the way you like to do your learning (eg coursework, exams, or in the workplace). So once you know what level you are looking for, click on the various qualification types on the right to find out more.

Levels and Pathways

Each qualification is offered at one or more ‘levels’. You need to know what level is right for you in order to choose the right course! This diagram gives you an idea of what types of qualifications are at each level and how you can progress from one type of qualification to another as you go up the levels. Note, that you do not have to start at the bottom level, nor do you have to go up the levels in a straight line!

	Apprentice Route	Diploma Route	Vocational Route	GCSE & A Level Route
Level 8	Doctorate
Level 7	NVQ Level 5 Masters Degree (e.g. MA, MSc, MEd)
Level 6	Honours Degree (e.g. BA, BSc, BEd)
Level 5	NVQ Level 4 Higher National Diploma (HND) Foundation Degree (Year 2) Degree (Year 2)
Level 4	NVQ Level 4 Higher National Certificate Foundation Degree (Year 1) Degree (Year 1)
	Progress from level 3 to any of the above
Level 3	Advanced Apprenticeship	Advanced Level Diploma	NVQ Level 3 BTEC National Diploma	A Level
Level 2	Young Apprenticeship	Higher Level Diploma	NVQ Level 2 Applied GCSE BTEC First Diploma	GCSE Grades A* - C
Level 1	e2e	Foundation Level Diploma	NVQ Level 1 Applied GCSE BTEC First Award	GCSE Grades D - G
Entry Level	e2e	Foundation Learning
Or you can mix and match! You start at the level that is right for you and progress when you are ready. You can transfer across routes if needed.

 

Higher Education

Any level 3 course could lead you to higher education. You need to check the entry requirements for each individual higher education course that you are interested in at the particular university or college that you would like to go to.

If you are wanting to progress to higher education, you'll need a certain number of points from your existing qualifications. (UCAS points). These relate to the exams you've passed. You get a certain number of points for each grade at A level and for BTEC courses, Advanced Apprenticeships etc. You also get points for each of the Key Skills - Communication, Application of Number and Information Technology. However, as you usually have to apply through the UCAS system before you get your results you don’t actually know what your grades are, so people choose more than one possible higher education in case they do not get the grades they were expecting.

Click here for more information on the UCAS tariff

Click here for more advice on progressing into higher education