Qualifications Explained
With a plethora of options, all valued by employers, sometimes it can be hard to decide what option what option will be best for you. Ultimately, it depends on how long you’d like to study, whether you’re currently employed and how much work experience you need while you’re studying. Here’s a handy guide explaining all of the options.
Professional Courses
- Accredited by a professional awarding body (entry level to Level 7)
- Linked to a specific industry
- Develop relevant skills to a particular career path
Foundation Degrees
- Equivalent to two-thirds of a bachelor’s degree
- Combine study with workplace learning in your chosen industry
- Option to ‘top-up’ with additional study to achieve a full degree either at college or a university
Degrees
- A Level 6, three year course
- GC offers a degree in Film Production and Applied Technology and post-graduate level 7 courses in leadership and management, and teacher training
Higher Apprenticeships
- Combine on-the-job training with studying a degree-level qualification (Level 4 to Level 6)
- Many offer the opportunity to gain professional accreditations and memberships too
- Earn while you learn and get ahead
HNCs and HNDs
- HNC (Level 4) is equivalent to the first year of a degree, and HND (Level 5) is the equivalent of the first two years’
- Work-related qualifications that focus on skills for a particular job
- Option to ‘top-up’ with additional study to achieve a full degree at college or university