Qualifications Explained

The Award, Certificate and Diploma are designed to offer a flexible route to full qualifications by enabling course progression in small manageable steps.

Completion of a qualification will result in a pass or fail grade. Students may still receive credit for the individual units they complete even if they do not achieve the full qualification.

Each ‘qualification level’ (Awards / Certificates / Diplomas) consists of a set number of credits. These credits are calculated by the estimated time it takes the average person to complete a unit.
1 credit = approximately 10 hours learning time.

Qualification Levels and Credits

Difficulty Level	1-12 Credits	13-36 Credits	37 + Credits
Entry (Level 1 / 2 / 3)	Award	Certificate	Diploma
Level 1	Award	Certificate	Diploma (Foundation)
Level 2	Award	Certificate	Diploma (Higher)
Level 3	Award	Certificate	Diploma (Advanced)

Each qualification has a difficulty rating ranging from ‘Entry Level’ (basic knowledge and skills) to ‘Level 8’ (Equivalent to a PHD).

Qualification Levels and Equivalency

Award / Certificate / Diploma	Equivalent Qualification
Entry (Level 1 / 2 / 3)	Functional Skills (Entry Level 1 / 2 / 3)
Level 1	GCSE (D-G), NVQ Level 1
Level 2	GCSE (A*-C), NVQ Level 2
Level 3	A-level, NVQ Level 3

Diplomas

The diploma combines theory and practice to equip students with the knowledge and experience to progress to higher education or work.
Completion of this qualification will result in a pass or fail grade. However, students may still receive credit for the individual qualifications they complete even if they do not achieve the Diploma.
The integrated program of study consists of three components:

Principal Learning

• Sector specific knowledge

Generic Learning

• 10 days work experience
• Personal, learning and thinking skills
• Functional Skills
• Projects

Additional and Specialist Learning.

• Broader knowledge and understanding

Students will have the opportunity to work towards Functional Skills as part of this course.

Foundation Diploma (Level 1 qualification)
Course Length: 9-12 months (approx)
Equivalent to: 7 GCSE’s at grades D to G
Progression: Higher Diploma (Level 2 qualification) / Apprenticeship

Higher Diploma (Level 2 qualification)
Course Length: 12-14 months (approx)
Equivalent to: 7 GCSE’s at grades A* to C
Progression: Advanced Diploma (Level 3 qualification)

Advanced Diploma (Level 3 qualification)
Course Length: 18 Months (Approx)
Equivalent to: 3.5 A-levels
Progression: Higher Education / supervisory or managerial position

The National Certificate is a standard vocational further education qualification.

It is typically rated at level 3 and is equivalent to A-level, BTEC National Diploma or NVQ Level 3 standards.

There are no formal academic entry requirements for this course type, however a basic level of numeracy and literacy skills is needed.

A National Vocational Qualification provides practical work related tasks giving you both the skill set and knowledge base that employers are looking for.
NVQ’s are evidence-based and have no fixed learning programme, components are completed upon availability. Assessment is achieved through practical assignments and portfolio evidence.
Grades are awarded as being either 'competent' or 'not yet competent'.

NVQ Level 1
Course Length: 9-12 Months
Equivalent to: 3-4 GCSE’s at grades D to E / BTEC First Certificate
Progression: NVQ Level 2

NVQ Level 2
Course Length: 14-16 Months
Equivalent to: 5 GCSE’s at grades A* to C / BTEC First Diploma
Progression: NVQ Level 3

NVQ Level 3
Course Length: 18 Months
Equivalent to: 2+ A-levels / BTEC National Diploma (OND)
Progression: Higher Education

Foundation degrees offer a route into higher education as well as providing the skill set and knowledge base to do the job effectively.

This type of degree is broadly equivalent to the first two years of a bachelor’s degree.

It is assessed by a mixture of exams and coursework, plus assessment of the learning you do in the workplace.

Grades are awarded as being ‘Fail’, ‘Pass’ or ‘Distinction’.

Typically you will move directly into work or progress into a bachelor’s degree taking, approximately, a further year.

This higher educational qualification is at an advanced level and provides a thorough understanding of the subject.

These degree programmes will take 3 years Full Time and 4 years Sandwich (includes a year in industry).
It is assessed by a mixture of exams and coursework with a written dissertation being produced in the final year.
Bachelor’s degrees are graded:

• first
• upper-second (2:1)
• lower second (2:2)
• third
• pass
• fail

(Third and above receive a grade with Honours)

Upon qualifying students will typically move into work.

The Top-Up Degree programme allows qualified veterinary nurses to progress their qualification to a single honours BSc degree.

Veterinary nurses have the option to undertake this course full time (2 years) or continue to work whilst studying part time (3 years).