Qualification Terms Explained

Here are some common terms you may come across when looking at qualifications :

Access Courses

These courses are designed to upgrade the study skills of adults who want to go back into education, but do not have the relevant qualifications.

• They are offered on a full- and part-time basis.
• They normally take one year to complete, although some may be two years in length.
• For adults, an Access course is an alternative to A-levels or National qualifications.
• They are offered in a variety of single and/or combined subjects.
• The successful completion of an Access course is widely accepted as a way into higher education.

City and Guilds

City & Guilds (C&G) accredits a wide variety of vocational qualifications such as NVQs. The qualifications recognise skills used in the workplace.

There are no entry requirements.

• Courses can be studied on a full- or part-time basis.
• C&G awards are given at three levels: I, II and III.
• Awards are graded Pass, Credit and Distinction.

Degrees

First Degrees

These are higher education courses studied at universities and colleges of higher education. The usual entry requirement for a degree is two A-levels, and GCSEs (A-C) in three other subjects. No qualifications are required for the Open University courses.

The most Common awards are:

• Bachelor of Arts (BA)
• Bachelor of Science (BSc)
• Bachelor of Engineering (BEng)
• Bachelor of Education (BEd)

Degrees are offered as single, double, joint and combined subjects. There are two levels of degree: Ordinary and Honours. Honours degrees are given different classifications to indicate how well students have done. These are:

• First Class (1)
• Upper Second (2:1)
• Lower Second (2:2)
• Third Class (3)

Degrees normally take three to four years to complete on a full-time basis, but can take up to six or seven years to complete on a part-time basis.

Higher Degrees

These are normally referred to as postgraduate qualifications. A first degree is normally required for entry to a higher degree.

The most common awards are:

• Master of Arts (MA)
• Master of Science (MSc)
• Master of Education (MEd)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)

They can be studied on a full- or part-time basis. They can take between one and two years to complete.

Even Higher....

The next step is a Doctorate. The most common of these include: PhD, DPhil (both mean Doctor of Philosophy), DSc (Doctor of Science) and DLitt (Doctor of Letters) and usually involve a long period of in-depth research.

Foundation Degrees

These are new employment-related higher education qualifications that can be taken over two years, full-time. They have been developed with the help of employers and are available at a limited number (under 100) of higher and further education institutions.

Foundation degrees can be used to improve career opportunities and earning potential, as they provide a mix of work-related specialist skills and academic learning. They can also be used to progress onto a related honours degree (with one further year of study).

They are delivered flexibly in a variety of ways, such as over the internet, by distance learning and on a part-time basis. There are no set academic entry requirements for foundation degrees.

Edexcel (BTEC)

Edexcel (BTEC) is an examining and awarding body. It provides a range of qualifications from GCSEs to GNVQs and BTEC Nationals. BTEC Nationals have been modularised into a new unit structure to allow more flexibility. There are three main sizes of qualifications:

• National Awards (6 units). These are short courses which target specific skill areas and are available at three levels.
• National Certificates (12 units). These are equivalent to two A-levels, and allow progression to a degree.
• National Diplomas (18 units). These are equivalent to three A-levels, and also allow progression to a degree.

Some subjects do not have a National Qualification in all three sizes. BTEC Higher Nationals develop the skills that are needed for the workplace. They feature work placements, coursework and practical work. They can be used to convert to a degree course and may be studied part-time.

GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education)

These can take from one to two years to complete.

• Grades range from A* (the highest) to G (the lowest), with grades A* to C being considered a good pass. Grade U is an unclassified fail.
• There are GCSEs in a wide variety of subjects, including new vocational subjects.
• GCSEs can be studied in schools, sixth form colleges and colleges of further education.
• A GCSE short course takes half the time to study and counts as half a GCSE.

GCSEs in Vocational Subjects

These are available from September 2002 and are largely based on Foundation and Intermediate Part One GNVQs. They are made up of three units and are equivalent to two GCSEs. They are graded from A-G and are available in a range of vocational subjects. They provide an introduction to the broad vocational area and enable progression to further education, training and employment.

Key Skill Qualifications

Key Skill qualifications are made up of units of communication, application of number, IT, working with others, improving your own learning and performance, and problem-solving. They help students to prepare for the world of work and assessment is based on a portfolio of coursework and tests. A certificate is awarded for each key skill achieved showing the level reached from 1-4.

National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)

These are vocational work-based qualifications. There are no entry requirements, but you usually move from one level up to another. The Scottish equivalents are called SVQs.

• They cover a wide range of occupational areas.
• They are offered at five different levels ranging from level 1, which is the simplest level, to level 5, which is the most advanced.
• They can be studied in the workplace, in colleges and on training programmes for young people or adults.
• They can be taken at your own pace.

OCR

OCR (Oxford and Cambridge and RSA Examinations) develop and award a range of qualifications, including A-levels and AS-levels, NVQs, GNVQs, RSA qualifications and Key Skill Qualifications.

• RSA are probably best known for their office-based qualifications such as the RSA typing examinations.
• The majority of courses are single subjects and are offered at three levels: elementary, intermediate and advanced.
• Awards are graded Pass, Credit and Distinction.

Professional/Trade Association Qualifications

Many professional bodies offer qualifications that relate specifically to their particular area of work.

Vocational A-levels

Vocational A-levels are also known as Advanced Vocational Certificates of Education (AVCEs). They are available in 12, 6 and 3-unit awards. The 12-unit qualification is equivalent to two A-levels, and is called a 'double award'. The 6-unit qualification is equivalent to one A-level, and the 3-unit is equivalent to one AS-level. Vocational A-levels are graded A-E and are available in a range of vocational subjects. They can be taken in combination with A/AS-levels.