Vocational Education - A popular choice for many int. students
Many international students come to the UK each year to study vocational qualifications at further education (FE) level. Vocational courses usually combine practical training with workplace training, and can provide the ideal preparation for a career. Others choose FE courses as they allow them to combine a skills-related course with opportunities to improve their English.
Completing an FE qualification usually takes between one and two years (though shorter courses are available), and you can study for at a range of institutions. Some schools in the UK have ‘sixth forms’ where current GCSE students stay on to complete further education qualifications (these are often open to new students too). Another other option is a further education college or sixth form college.
The choice of vocational further education qualifications in the UK is huge. From business management to travel and tourism, from media technology to beauty therapy, each course is designed to provide the skills needed for career entry. Students with an FE qualification also often find that the workplace experience completed as part of their course gives them an advantage when applying for jobs.
Many vocational qualifications have also been designed to enable you to proceed to a vocational higher education course, such as a BTEC HND or Foundation Degree, if you don’t want to take A-levels. Some institutions also accept vocational qualifications for entry to undergraduate degree courses.
However many students who progress to a BTEC HND or Foundation Degree later complete an undergraduate degree.
The types of vocational qualifications most frequently offered at FE level are described below:
Vocational Courses in the UK
BTEC Nationals
These are FE qualifications that offer a more practical learning experience than A-levels, and about 300 different qualifications are available. Entry requirements are at least four GCSEs, grades A* to C, or a BTEC First Diploma in a related subject.
BTEC Nationals are mainly college-based and involve classroom study but may also include some work placements. Unlike A-levels, which tend to focus more on the theory of a subject, BTECs are designed to provide an insight into workplace practices.
They are available in a range of formats, each with a different name such as Certificate, Award or Subsidiary Diploma. The different qualifications vary in duration, commitment, difficulty and UCAS point’s value. For example, the Extended Diploma is worth up to 420 points (equivalent to three A-levels at A* grade), whereas the Subsidiary Diploma is worth up to 120 UCAS points.
BTEC Nationals are accepted for entry to HND and Foundation Degree courses and by some universities. More than 100,000 students each year who complete them progress to some form of higher education.
CACHE qualifications
CACHE qualifications are specialist career qualifications in child care and education administered by the Council for Awards in Care, Health and Education. For most CACHE qualifications there are no formal entry requirements, but in some cases you may need a lower level qualification or relevant experience.
Many CACHE qualifications are also accepted for entry to higher education courses in areas such as early years education, teacher training and child nursing. Delivered through a combination of college-based learning and work experience, CACHE Diplomas are worth up to 360 points on the UCAS Tariff.
NVQs
National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are work-based qualifications. With an NVQ, you learn the practical skills, based on national standards, to enable you to do a particular job. You are normally assessed in the workplace, so NVQs are available if you have a full-time or part-time job, or access to a work placement. If you need a visa to study in the UK, there are limits to how many hours you can spend at work or on a work placement
Cambridge Nationals
Cambridge Nationals (previously OCR Nationals) are similar to BTECs and are offered at three levels: Certificate, Diploma and Extended Diploma.
The Diploma
The Diploma is a qualification for 14- to 19-year-olds in England. It covers industry-sector subjects and is delivered by selected consortium of schools, colleges and employers. Usually a two-year course, the Diploma is designed to combine academic study in the classroom with hands-on experience related to a particular industry. Students over 16 can choose between the Progression and Advanced Diploma, worth up to 350 points on the UCAS Tariff.
