West London Institute of Technology - Qualifications explained

With so many qualifications to choose from, it can be really daunting trying to find the right one for you. We understand this and have put together the following information, which we hope will help you to choose the right path.

To start with, it's important to understand levels and which level is right for you. See below for further information, however if you are still confused please contact us and we can suggest the best course to suit your needs.

What is Higher Education?

Higher Education qualifications can be confusing if you’re not familiar with the terminology. The first thing to be aware of is the academic “Level” of the course. Level 2 and 3 are equivalent to GCSE and A-Levels respectively.

Higher Education is Level 4 and above. Level 4 is equivalent to the first year of a traditional three-year batchelor’s degree, Level 5 to year two and Level 6 to year three.

Level 3

Higher education courses generally require you to have Level 3 (A Level or equivalent) qualifications although your occupational experience may be taken into account. If you’ve been out of education for a while you can complete an Access to Higher Education Diploma; this is a Level 3 course, but will prepare you for Level 4 study and above, including a full degree.

Level 4:

Equivalent to the first year of a university degree programme and usually HNCs. As these are university level courses, they are classed as Higher Education (HE) rather than Further Education (FE) qualifications.

Level 5:

Equivalent to the second year of a university degree programme. These are usually HNDs or Foundation Degrees (which combine Level 4 and 5 over 2 years). Once a Level 5 qualification is complete, you normally have an option to top up your qualification to a full degree at a university, if you want to.

CPD courses:

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses are subjects and learning activities aimed at adults and business professionals to further develop or broaden their skill sets.

CPD courses are used to assist in improving current skills, keeping individual qualifications up-to-date and using the learning activities as an opportunity to progress in your chosen or future career choices.

HNC – Higher National Certificate

HND – Higher National Diploma

CIPD Associate Diploma

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships combine real work with training and study. Being an apprentice isn’t the same as being a college or university student. You won’t just study and gain new knowledge. As an apprentice, you’ll be putting what you learn straight into practice. Apprenticeships are available from Level 2 all the way up to Level 6, so it is possible to gain a degree level qualification, without the tuition fees and loans.

Apprenticeships vary from job sector to sector, depending on the needs of the employer. Most Apprenticeships will be 80% the job and 20% study. This could mean that you are in college one day a week, or it could mean that you designate 20% of your working week to your study and an accessor will come to your workplace. Either way, you will have support throughout your apprenticeship.

Access to Higher Education

Higher Education at College

Colleges offer Higher Education in the form of vocational courses and Apprenticeships (see above). The difference is vocational HE courses provide a style of education that is more practical than the traditional route and provides the skills and knowledge for the workplace.

HE qualifications offered at colleges usually include:

Higher National Certificates/Diplomas (HNC/Ds)
Foundation Degrees
Apprenticeship Degrees
Professional qualifications.

Progression routes

Our courses are widely recognised self-contained qualifications. However, they come with the option to progress to a full degree at a university. For example, after completing a Level 5 HND, you could top up that qualification at a university to a Level 6, joining for just the final year or two. This usually works out as a cost-effective way to gain a full degree. This also gives you the flexibility of keeping your options open in a changing job market.

Find a course

Not sure what to choose? Talk to us.

Qualifications explained