Qualifications

Higher National Certificates - HNC

HNCs are two year, part-time courses that are popular with employed students. HNC students usually attend College on one day or two evenings a week.

Higher National Diplomas - HND

HNDs are two year, full-time courses, although it can be possible to study an HND for three years, part-time. HNDs are popular with school and college leavers who have completed a National Diploma or A levels. Some HNDs involve work placements.

After an HND, students can go directly into employment or progress to an honours degree.  Many colleges and universities will accept HND graduates directly into the final stage of a degree course so that they can gain an honours degree with just one further year of full-time study.

Foundation Degrees - FdA, FdSc or FdEng

Foundation degrees combine specialist employment and academic skills so that students relate their studies to existing employment or to a placement in a relevant industry. A foundation degree is often studied for two years, full-time or three years, part-time.

Some Warwickshire College foundation degrees can be studied over two years but with only part-time attendance at college. This approach is designed for people who are in full-time employment in an appropriate role.

For non-employed foundation degree students, work placement is an essential component of the course which provides graduates with valuable employment skills and contacts. Foundation degree students have guaranteed progression to the final stage of an honours degree course so that they can gain an honours degree with just one further year of full-time study.

Honours Degrees - BA (Hons) or BSc (Hons)

Honours degrees (also known as bachelors degrees) are usually studied for three years, full-time but can also be four year sandwich courses (which include one year spent on placement).

There are many honours degree courses designed for students who have completed an HND or foundation degree and focus only on the final stage of the honours degree. These are usually called top-up degrees and they allow students to ‘top-up’ an HND or foundation degree to an honours degree with just one year of full-time study (or longer if part-time).

Diploma of Higher Education – DipHE

A Diploma of Higher Education is equivalent to the first two years of an honours degree.

This qualification is ideal for someone who does not wish to commit to three years of study or someone who prefers to study at a college for the first part of their degree and complete the final stage at university so that they can gain an honours degree with just one further year of full-time study.