QUALIFICATION GUIDE

We are committed to helping you and guarantee your progression on to the next level of study with us.

LEVEL 3

ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION

LEVEL

LEVEL 4 4/5

HNC FdA/FdSc DEGREES

BTEC Higher National Certificates (HNC)

These undergraduate qualifications focus on industry skills and are valued by employers. HNCs are mainly assessed through assignments, projects and practical tasks that you complete throughout the course – not usually through exams. They are designed to lead straight to a career in industry or on to further study at university level. HNCs take between one and two years to complete depending on the study route you choose, and are generally equivalent to the first year of a full honours degree at university. You can continue your studies at The Bedford College Group University Centre by moving on to the HND qualification after your HNC.

Foundation Degrees (FdA/FdSc)

Foundation Degrees are qualifications that have been developed with employers to advance your skills in a specific industry sector. They are assessed through project work, reports, exams, practical work and presentations. A Foundation Degree takes two to four years to complete depending on the study route you choose. It is equivalent to the first two years of a full honours degree and, just like HNDs, you will have the option to ‘top-up’ your Foundation Degree and convert it into a full honours degree through an additional year of study.

LEVEL 5

HND, HTQ DEGREES

BTEC Higher National Diploma (HND)

HNDs represent the next level of study up from HNCs, taking an additional one to two years to complete, depending on the study route you choose. They are generally equivalent to the second year of university and you can top-up your HND with a further one or two years of study to convert it to a full honours degree. Alternatively, a HND is a standalone, recognised qualification that prepares you to progress directly into employment.

Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQ)

Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQ) are qualifications approved for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. These qualifications have been developed in collaboration with employers and businesses so that students get the specific training, knowledge and skills required for their chosen career. These courses are great routes for those who have studied T Levels at College.

LEVEL 6

BA (HONS) DEGREE OR BSc (HONS) DEGREE

BA and BSc ‘Top-ups’ (from HND or Foundation Degree)

In partnership with the University of Bedfordshire, The University of Huddersfield or The University of Northampton, these courses enable those who have graduated with a HND/HTQ or Foundation Degree in some subject areas to ‘top-up’ and achieve an honours degree qualification without the need to take a full three or four year degree programme. BA and BSc ‘top-ups’ take one or two years to complete depending on whether you study on a full-time or part-time basis respectively.

LEVEL 7/8

POSTGRADUATE TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS

Teacher Education

We offer Certificate in Education (Cert Ed) and Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (ProfGCE) qualifications that are designed to build your teaching skills if you’re looking to begin or develop your career within post-compulsory education. We also offer University Certificates in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) across a range of teaching skill areas, which may be taken as building blocks towards a full Bachelor’s degree qualification. Our Cert Ed and PGCE courses take one to two years to complete depending on the study route you choose. Each of our CPD University Certificates is offered on a part time basis via classroom learning, distance learning or through a combination of both, and take a year to complete.