Vocational Qualifications Guide

What are vocational qualifications?

Vocational qaulifications offer practical learning programmes that relate to specific job roles or employment sectors.

There are many different types of vocational qualifications in a wide range of subjects at all levels - from entry level, up to Level 8.

Vocational courses are designed to teach students in a practical way about a particular job area. This helps them to obtain the skills required to start a job, move forward in their career or go on to higher levels of education such as a university degree.

Vocational qualifications can lead to employment and also to higher education.

Some Level 3 vocational qualifications, such as BTECs, allow you to earn UCAS points towards higher education, like you would with A levels.

What is an NVQ?

An NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) is a work-based way of learning – which is carried out at a college, school, or workplace.

Each NVQ level involves a range of on-the-job tasks and activities that are designed to test you on your ability to do a job effectively.

You may start out by applying your knowledge to basic tasks, and progress to incorporating fundamental principles into a variety of contexts.

What is a HNC?

HNC stands for Higher National Certificate and is a qualification awarded by Edexcel in England, and a Higher National awarded by the SQA in Scotland.

What is a HND?

An HND (Higher National Diploma) is a two year course, equivalent to the first two years of university. This means a HND is a more advanced qualification than a HNC.

What is an NVQ?

An NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) is a work-based method of learning that you can complete at a college, school, or workplace.

Each NVQ level involves a range of workplace tasks and activities that will test you on your ability to do a job effectively.

You might begin by applying your knowledge to basic tasks, and progress to incorporating fundamental principles into a variety of contexts.

What is a Foundation Degree?

A foundation degree is the academic equivalent of two-thirds of a Bachelors degree, a Higher National Diploma (HND) and Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) - at Level 5 of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).

A foundation degree will normally take two years to complete.