A Degree Above
"Higher Education will help you achieve your personal goals and career development, and increase your earnings potential".
It is a common misconception that vocational establishments such as the Colleges in the Black Country offer only Further Education (FE) and training services and that they stop there.
For ours is a much wider offer. Six of the seven colleges – City of Wolverhampton, Dudley, Halesowen, Sandwell, Stourbridge and Walsall – are also significant providers of Higher Education (HE) qualifications, many of which are validated by the University of Wolverhampton or one of our other partner universities.
Our contribution at this higher level is significant and includes college based Higher National Certificates, Higher National Diplomas and professional qualifications.
As part of the Birmingham, Black Country and Solihull Lifelong Learning Network we are continually seeking to develop more progression opportunities for people with vocational qualifications and for those people at work to enter and succeed in higher education.
More detailed information about specific courses can be found on the individual colleges' websites but a brief description of each of the HE qualifications is listed below.
National Vocational Qualifications – work based, enabling learners to combine learning with employment. A level 4 NVQ is equivalent to other undergraduate HE qualifications and is appropriate for people in a managerial role, finance or resources.
HE Certificates and Diplomas – Can be academic or vocational. Appropriate for people working as higher grade technicians, professionals or managers.
HNC/HND – Often studied part-time. HNCs allow entry into the second year of an Honours Degree. HND allow entry at second or third year level.
Professional Qualifications –Sector specific accredited by professional bodies and, among others, include the Chartered Institutes of Marketing, of Purchasing & Supply and of Personnel & Development.
Foundation Degrees – Employment related, they combine academic and work based study, taking between two and four years.
Access Programmes – Mainly aimed at preparing adult learners from non-traditional backgrounds and under-represented groups for admission to undergraduate education.
BA Honours Degrees – To enter this programme students are required to have achieved a full level 3 qualification or an appropriate Foundation Degree or have two or more A2 levels. Mature students on an Access to HE programme may also be suitable.
