Career-based courses
These qualifications tend to be more work-related than academic and can put you on a fast-track route within your current career, into a new career or on to a degree course. Career-based courses in the UK often involve strong links between institutions and industry. This ensures the continuing relevance of these qualifications to the world of work, which, in turn, improves the career prospects of the students who take them.
Courses at this level tend to be particularly flexible. Many do not have specific entry requirements, so, no matter what qualifications you currently have, you can find a course that will let you get a foot on the educational ladder. And, as you'll see from the table below, some of these courses meet the entrance requirements for degree courses, allowing you to supplement your newly found practical skills with academic knowledge.
These courses involve classroom instruction, essays, projects and practical work. Class sizes tend to be relatively small, so students benefit from personal contact with tutors. There is continuous assessment of coursework plus examinations. Some career-based/professional programmes are offered only as degree courses - e.g. medicine, dentistry, law - so it's best to also check the degree section of the chapter as well.
You can find more information on career-based courses in each subject section.
Career-based courses - Scotland
Higher National Certificates
(HNCs)(Scottish Credit and
Qualifications Framework
(SCQF)level 7).
Higher National Diplomas (HNDs)
(SCQF level 8). |
All HNCs and HNDs in Scotland are awarded by the Scottish Qualifications
Authority (SQA)and are subject to SQA's national quality assurance system.
HNCs and HNDs are advanced, higher education group awards covering broad occupational areas and are offered by colleges and some universities. They are made up of Higher National Units which are assessed against outcomes and performance criteria to ensure national standards and all centres are subject to external moderation and other quality assurance requirements. In the SCQF, the HNC is aligned with the first year of a degree course at level 7 and the HND is aligned with the second year of a degree course at level 8 (see SCQF diagram on page 1052). There are opportunities for holders of HNCs to progress to the second year of degree studies and for holders of HNDs to the third year where the HNC/D articulates with the degree. However, individual institutions and departments make their own decisions on the specific credit to be granted to HNCs and HNDs for particular degree programmes.
|
Scottish Vocational
Qualifications (SVQs)
(SCQF levels 4, 5, 6, 8 and 11).
SVQs are available at five levels:
SVQ 1 (SCQF level 4),
SVQ 2 (SCQF level 5),
SVQ 3 (SCQF level 6),
SVQ 4 (SCQF level 8) and
SVQ 5 (SCQF level 11). |
SVQs are based on the skills and competences required to do a job or range of jobs in a specific industry, from basic operative to senior management. They are accredited by SQA and offered by a range of awarding bodies, including SQA. SVQs are equivalent to National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) accredited for England, Wales and Northern Ireland by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA).
SVQs are unit based and are assessed in the workplace or in simulated work-
place conditions. They incorporate national occupational standards developed
by standards-setting bodies, which are mainly Sector Skills Councils (previously National Training Organisations (NTOs). Although the focus is on performance, the importance of underpinning knowledge and understanding, particularly at the higher levels, is now well recognised. SVQs at levels 3 and 4 may be used for entry to HE whereas levels 4 and 5 may be used for entry to higher degrees and are sometimes offered in HE as part of postgraduate programmes.
Full information on all the SQA qualifications described above can be obtained via the SQA website www.sqa.org.uk or by contacting:
Scottish Qualifications Authority Helpdesk,
Hanover House, 24 Douglas Street, Glasgow G2 7NQ
Tel +44 (0)141 242 2214 Fax +44 (0)141 242 2244 Email helpdesk@sqa.org.uk
|
Skillseekers and Modern
Apprenticeships.
SVQs can also be delivered through
the Scottish Executive's national
training programmes - Skillseekers
and Modern Apprenticeships.
These programmes are managed and
delivered by Scottish Enterprise and
the Highlands and Islands Enterprise
through the Enterprise Network. |
Skillseekers
The Skillseekers programme is aimed at young people aged 16 to 17. The main elements of the programme are training leading to a recognised qualification up to SVQ Level 3 (SCQF 6), an individual training plan and employer involvement.
See www.scottish-enterprise.com/skillseekers for more details.
Modern Apprenticeships
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) offer 16 to 24 year olds paid employment combined with the opportunity to train at craft, technician and trainee management level. The training must lead to SVQ level 3 or above and include core skills at a minimum of Intermediate 1 (SCQF 4). Industry specific qualifications may also be included. Following removal of the upper age limit in March 2001, local enterprise companies have discretion to fund MAs for employees over 25.
See www.sconto.org.uk/modapps.htm for more details. |
Career-based courses - England, Wales and Northern Ireland
| Qualifications offered |
Purpose of course |
Entrance requirements |
Duration |
| General National
Vocational Qualifications
(GNVQs). Offered at two
levels: Foundation and
Intermediate. GNVQs are
due to be phased out once
suitable alternative
provision for each subject
area has been identified
and agreed by the DfES. |
An alternative to more
traditional academic
courses. Sometimes taken
alongside one or more
GCSEs (see the table on
page 24), and can lead to
A-level study or as a
preparation for a general
career area. |
Foundation:
general education.
Intermediate: four
GCSEs (grades D to G)or
Foundation GNVQ or
equivalent. |
Usually one year. |
| BTEC/Edexcel First
Diploma. Comparable to
GNVQ Intermediate. |
As above. |
General education. |
One year. |
| Vocational A-level
(formerly Advanced
GNVQ). Also known as
Vocational Certificate of
Education (VCE). A
double award (equivalent
to two GCE A-levels)is
also available. |
A new alternative to
more traditional academic
courses. Sometimes taken
alongside one or more
A-levels or Scottish Highers
(see the table on pages
23-24) and is of an
equivalent standard.
Recognised for admission
to undergraduate study. |
Four/five GCSEs (grades A*
to C)or Intermediate GNVQ
or equivalent. |
Two years. |
| BTEC/Edexcel
National Diploma. |
An option if you want to change career direction, but want to obtain a good qualification in a short space of time. Roughly comparable to vocational A-level and can be used for entry to undergraduate study. |
Four/five GCSEs (grades A* to C) or BTEC First Diploma or equivalent. |
Two years. |
| BTEC/Edexcel Higher
National Diploma (HND). |
A respected qualification in its own right, the HND may also allow you to transfer onto the second or third year of a degree course. |
Two A-levels or BTEC
National Diploma or equivalent. |
Two years. |
Modern Apprenticeships.
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) provide a mixture of work-based training and education. There are two types of Modern Apprenticeship: Foundation and Advanced. A young person needs to be between 16 and 24 to join an MA and complete the MA prior to their 25th birthday. The Learning and Skills Council (LSC), which manages the MA as a national programme across England, has 47 local offices. More information about the LSC and MAs can be found at www.lsc.gov.uk |
|
|
