Understanding Higher Education Qualifications

Access to Higher Education (HE) courses are university recognised full level 3 qualifications which will help develop your skills and abilities so you can progress on to a HE course, even if you left school without a technical qualification or A-Levels.

Next step: A level 4 qualification including; foundation degree, degree, higher technical qualification (HTQ) or a HNC.

Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) have been developed in partnership with employers and are delivered by industry experts and as specialist technical courses focus on the skills, knowledge and behaviours that are in-demand by employers.

Whether you’re looking to take the next step in your chosen career or want to retrain into a new industry, an HTQ can help you gain the skills you need for a specialist technical job.

Next step: An apprenticeship or undergraduate degree.

A higher national certificate (HNC) is the equivalent of the first year of a university degree or a certificate of higher education (CertHE).

It is a level 4 qualification on the UK Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), and is typically one year full-time, or two years part-time.

An example of one of our HNC qualfications is Esports.

Next step: A career or a Higher National Diploma (HND).

A Higher National Diploma (HND) is equivalent to the second year of a bachelors degree. It takes two years of full-time study to complete, or three to four years part time, and is designed to equip you with skills relevant to your chosen career. It uses studying and practical elements to prepare students for a particular job and/or career although not as technically focused as an HTQ. They are mostly classroom taught, but assessment is by projects, presentations and practical tasks rather than traditional exams. 

Those looking to enter practical industries such as health and social care, engineering or agriculture may benefit more from an HND than a bachelors degree.

An example of a HND qualification is Animal Management.

Next step: A career or a level 6 qualification (final year of a full degree).

A foundation degree offers a combination of workplace learning and academic study and there are no set entry requirements. It carries the same weight as two-thirds of a bachelors degree and classed as a level 5 qualification in the UK, which is equivalent to the first two years of an honours degree.

Candidates looking to formalise their workplace knowledge with a qualification, or those looking to enter a specific profession may wish to consider a foundation degree.

Most top up degrees, like our Assistant Practitioner Health and Social Care will allow you to complete the final year of an undergraduate degree and gain a level 6 qualification. 

Next step: A career / Bachelors Degree / Level 6.

A higher or degree level apprenticeship is an exciting way to gain a sought-after qualification and boost your career prospects.

They can be a hands-on approach to getting started in your career, or give your existing career a boost by consolidating your know-how with new knowledge and skills.

We design and deliver our apprenticeships with key local businesses. This ensures you’re equipped with the essential experience and skills needed for success in your industry of choice.

You’ll be employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week and the cost of your apprenticeship is usually paid through your employer via their Apprenticeship Levy payments or with up to 95% Government-backed funding.

Higher and degree apprenticeships at levels 4, 5 and 6 are equivalent to a foundation degree or above.

Next step: A level 7 qualification / Masters Degree.

In the UK, an undergraduate degree is an academic step up from a level 3 (T Level, BTEC, A-Level, Apprenticeship), typically completed at a university or other higher education institution.

There are generally three kinds of undergraduate course:

• Those leading to a degree (BA, BSc)
• Intermediate qualifications in the form of certificates or diplomas (HTQs, HNCs, HNDs)
• Those combining workplace learning and academic study (Higher/Degree Level Apprenticeship)

Next step: A Masters Degree.

A masters degree is a postgraduate, level 7 qualification – placing them above bachelors degrees but below PhDs. Study is intense and typically involves completing a series of modules and writing a dissertation. In the UK, masters degrees are worth 180 credits.

A full-time masters course usually involves one or two years of study, while part-time programmes last between two and four years.

Visit this link to see our Master of the Arts and Education and Professional Development.

Next step: A PhD.

They both fall under the umbrella term of ‘higher education’, but they relate to different levels of qualification.

An undergraduate is someone enrolled in higher education who hasn’t yet received their first degree.

A postgraduate is any student engaged in higher education beyond their first degree.

While the majority of undergraduate degrees include lectures and group projects, postgraduate courses tend to involve more research-based, independent study, culminating in a final dissertation.

This self-dictated learning may initially be a shock, but it allows you to specialise in a field you’re passionate about.