To get ahead in today's highly competitive job market, you will need qualifications to show employers that you have the skills, knowledge and experience for which they are looking.
The City of Wolverhampton College offers courses which enable you to choose the qualifications and approach to learning which most suits you, from introductory up to degree level.
Understanding Modern Qualifications
When a wide range of qualifications are on offer, it can be very confusing.
To help you understand where the various qualifications fit in the scheme of life, this page provides a brief summary of the qualifications and their equivalents.
General Qualifications
General qualifications show the achievement of a certain standard in a subject. These include GCSEs, AS and A Levels and some degreees.
Entry Level Certificates
These qualifications are taken as a stepping stone to Level 1 and other higher qualifications such as GCSEs. There are three Levels 1, 2 and 3 with 3 being the highest.
GCSE - General Certificate of Secondary Education
GCSEs are the most common qualification taken by 14 to 16 year olds. They are also popular for older students because of their national recognition. GCSEs are available in a wide range of subjects and assessment is via both course work and a final examination.
Applied GCSEs in vocational subjects
These GCSEs aim to:
- increase understanding of the world of work
- enable students to start getting the skills for working life
- introduce students to an industry or business sector, such as engineering or leisure and tourism
- help develop some of the skills used in a chosen sector
They are called Double Awards as they are the same size as two other GCSEs. They include some more 'traditional' classroom based teaching. However, to learn what happens in the work place, they also involve more practical learning approaches such as visits to industries or businesses to gain practical experience, group project work, role play and workplace simulations.
After GCSEs
There is a choice of directions which build upon students' previous achievements in both general and vocational qualifications. You could move onto 'AS'and 'A2' courses, an NVQ or even an Apprenticeship.
GCE - 'AS' and 'A2' Levels
'A' Levels are offered in a wide range of subjects and historically provide a well-established accepted route to higher education. Full-time students generally study for three 'A' Levels over a two year period but one year programmes are available for mature students and school leavers who may wish to repeat 'A' levels.
Applied ALevels are related to different sectors for example Art and Design, Engineering, Health and Social Care.
'AS' and 'A2' courses
These courses are available in either Advanced General Certificate of Education or Advanced Vocational Certificate of Education. Both are equivalent under the UCAS system for gaining access to Higher Education.
Students have a variety of choices over the two years, choosing from general and vocational subjects.
In the first year of study students take four subjects leading to 'AS' Level qualifications. 'AS' Levels are equivalent to half an 'A2' qualification. In the second year students usually continue to study three subjects in depth to gain full 'A2' qualifications. These are equivalent to the former 'A' Levels.
The College offers a wide variety of over 30 'AS'/'A2' courses through a variety of study modes. You can attend daytime or evening classes, or study by distance learning.
AEAs (Advanced Extension Awards)
These awards have been designed to test the most able students in greater depth than A Levels. New A levels will incorporate AEA questions and able learners will get A* grades to reflect higher achievement.
Diplomas
These new qualifications, aimed at young people aged 14 to 19, combine theoretical study with applied and practical learning. They will be offered at three levels:
Diplomas may lead directly to employment or to further study,including Higher Education. Employers and awarding bodies have teamed up with schools, colleges and universities to form Diploma Development Partnerships (DDPs) to develop high-quality content for the new qualification. These are sector-related qualifications designed with the input of employers and linked to fourteen different business sectors.
- Foundation Diploma - a level 1 qualification equivalent in time to taking four or five GCSEs
- Higher Diploma - a level 2 qualification equivalent to taking five or six GCSEs
- Advanced Diploma - a level 3 qualification equivalent to taking three A levels. A Progression Diploma, equivalent in time to two A levels, will also be available.
Students will learn about a broad employment sector and develop work-related skills, knowledge and understanding. They will also develop the functional skills of English, maths and ICT and also personal, learning and thinking skills, such as team work. Students can take options that allow them to go into more depth about a specialist area, or to broaden their studies. Diplomas include a project and at least 10 days' relevant work experience. Other qualifications, such as GCSEs and AS/A levels can be taken alongside a Diploma or included in the Diploma programme.
Vocational Qualifications
These show the achievement of a certain standard in vocational or work related qualifications and understanding of the skills related to industry.
These can include iplomas, NVQs, City and Guilds, BTECs and OCR Nationals and vocational degrees directly relevant to employment for example law, medicine, teaching, engineering and health.
BTEC Introductory, First and National qualifications
BTEC courses and examinations are nation-wide qualifications which have a vocational bias. They are designed for everyone from senior managers to young people just starting their careers. Some students taking BTEC courses have no previous qualifications - others look to them to add to their existing examination successes. There is no upper age limit. BTEC courses can lead to HE courses.
The following qualifications are available:
- BTEC Introductory Certificate/Diploma (at level 1)
- BTEC First Certificate/Diploma (at level 2)
- BTEC National Award/Certificate/Diploma (at level 3 and equivalent to one A level, two A levels or three A levels respectively).
OCR National qualifications
OCR Nationals are work-related qualifications aimed at 14-19 year olds, and available at levels 1-3. They can be studied full- or part-time. OCR level 3 Nationals attract points on the UCAS Tariff. Subjects available include health and social care, business and ICT.
National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)
National Vocational Qualifications are a nation-wide system of qualifications designed to provide a more vocational qualification related to a particular employment area such as business or health studies. They are equally acceptable to both employers and Higher Education. There are 5 levels, from basic to professional-level skills. NVQs at levels 2 and 3 are achieved through Apprenticeships and Advanced Apprenticeships.
Other qualifications
There are many vocational qualifications relating to particular jobs which can be gained through full- or part-time study at further education colleges or by distance learning. These qualifications are offered by bodies such as City & Guilds and OCR.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) and the Welsh Baccalaureate Diploma are growing in popularity. The IB Diploma, and the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Diploma are both acceptable for entry to HE. The Cambridge Pre-U is a new qualification designed to prepare students for university. Subject to accreditation, it will be offered by a limited number of state schools from September 2008.
Levels of Study
Each course is designed for students at different stages of their education. You will receive guidance to help you select a course at the appropriate level. The College provides opportunities to progress from introductory to higher level courses.
Entry level
Courses that develop the basic skills needed to progress to further courses, for example, numeracy and literacy skills.
Foundation – Level 1
Courses that provide a foundation of knowledge and skills, for example, BTEC Introductory, NVQ level 1, and GCSE grades D to F. Foundation courses enable students to explore several vocational areas, as preparation for progression to Intermediate level programmes.
Intermediate – Level 2
Courses that provide a broad range of skills and knowledge, for example, GCSEs, BTEC First and NVQ level 2. These courses are usually taken over one year of full-time study.
Advanced – Level 3
Courses that develop skills and understanding of more complex issues, which can lead to university level study, for example, 'A' Levels, Access to H.E. courses, BTEC National Diplomas and NVQ Level 3.
Advanced level courses are usually taken over 2 years of full-time study.
Level 4
Study at degree or higher national diploma level and NVQ Level 4.
Higher Education - Level 5 and above
The City of Wolverhampton College has developed a range of courses for people who want to study higher levels close to home. We have an expanding portfolio of Higher National Diplomas (HND's) and Certificates (HNC's) and through partnership with several universities, the chance to study for Bachelor degrees (BA, BSc) in a number of different subject areas.
Award Equivalents
This table shows how the various levels of Qualifications and Awards are related:| Level | National Qualifications | Higher Education Qualifications |
| Entry | Certificates of achievement, Literacy, Numeracy, ESOL, Pre-NVQ, Entry to Employment, Entry to Workforce | |
| 1 | Literacy, Numeracy, ESOL, GCSE (Grades D to F), Foundation Diploma/Level 1 Diploma, NVQ 1, BTEC Introductory, Young Apprenticeships, Entry to Employment | |
| 2 | Literacy, Numeracy, ESOL, Functional Skills, GCSE (Grades A* to C), NVQ 2, BTEC First/QCF Credits, Higher/Level 2 Diploma, Apprenticeships | |
| 3 | ESOL, Functional Skills, AS/A2 Levels, NVQ 3, BTEC National, Level 3 Diploma, Advanced Apprenticeships | |
| 4 | Functional Skills, Vocational certificates and diplomas, NVQ 4, Higher Apprenticeships, | Certificate of Higher Education (HNC), Foundation Degrees, |
| 5 | Key skills vocational certificates and diplomas, NVQ 5 | Diplomas of Higher Education and Further Education, Higher National Diplomas |
| 6 | Vocational certificates and diplomas, NVQ 5 | Bachelors degrees, graduate certificates and diplomas |
| 7 | Vocational certificates and diplomas, NVQ 5 | Masters degrees, Postgraduate certificates and diplomas |
| 8 | Vocational diplomas, NVQ 5 | Doctorates |
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