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Levels Explained

There is a huge range of higher education options available, so it can get a little confusing. Here’s a helpful guide to explaining what it’s all about.

Higher National Certificate (HNC) and Higher National Diploma (HND): Higher National Certificates (HNCs) and Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) are vocationally based, work-related higher education qualifications which give you the practical, hands-on experience required to progress your career. HNC is equivalent to the first year and HND is equivalent to the second year of a Bachelor’s Degree.

Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE): Similarly, to a Higher National Certificate, a Certificate of Higher Education is equivalent to the first year of a full-time Bachelor’s Degree, it can be used to support a career change or progression in a current career.

Foundation Degree: Foundation Degrees are higher education qualifications which equate to the first two years of a Bachelor’s Degree and will give you sector relevant employability skills appropriate for the industry in which you wish to develop your career.

Bachelor’s Degree: A Bachelor’s Degree (often presented as a BA, BSc, BEd or BEng depending on your subject of study) is an undergraduate qualification. This is the qualification that people typically think of when considering a degree programme at a university and it usually involves three years of full-time study, or longer if part-time.

Bachelor’s Degree (Top-Up): Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree (Top-Ups) will transform your Foundation Degree allowing you to build upon your existing qualification to achieve a Level 6 qualification and help you to stand out in a competitive job market.

Degree Apprenticeships Degree Apprenticeships combine valuable work-based experience with studying for a university-level qualification. Like a traditional degree, you will gain hands-on experience whilst gaining academic theory and knowledge at Yeovil College University Centre. All our degree level programmes are validated by one of our partner universities or Pearson Education.

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