Apart from moving through academic route to higher education, British students can also follow a career-focused route via vocational qualifications, such as BTEC Nationals, NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications), CACHE Diplomas in children’s care and education, and Cambridge Nationals, to proceed to vocational higher education courses, which include Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) and Foundation Degrees, or some degree courses. Vocational qualifications are modular, and are typically acquired over the course of the student’s career.
1. BTEC Nationals (Certificate / Diploma)
BTEC Nationals are equivalent to AS/A-levels. Unlike A-levels, which focus more on the academic theories, BTECs are designed as specialist qualifications focused on specific industry sectors to provide an insight into workplace practices.
BTEC nationals are one year certificate or two-year diploma courses in career-related subjects, including business, engineering, applied science, art and design, media, computing. There are more than 250 qualifications that students can choose. They provide an excellent foundation for higher education courses in the same subject area, and are accepted for entry to HND and Foundation Degree courses and for possible entry to some degree courses by some universities.
2. NVQs
National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are work-based qualifications. Students learn practical, work-related skills based on National Occupational Standards to develop competency for a particular job. Most students take about one year to complete an NVQ Level 1 or 2, and two years at Level 3.
3. CACHE
CACHE qualifications are career-based further education specialist qualifications in child care and education, ranging from Entry Level to Level 5. They are delivered through a combination of college-based learning and work experience, and are accepted for entry to higher education courses in areas such as early-years education, teacher training and child nursing.
4. Cambridge Nationals
Like BTEC Nationals, the Cambridge Nationals are also career-based vocational further education qualifications, offered at three levels: 1 year Certificate, 2 years Diploma or Extended Diploma. The courses are industry-relevant, geared to key sector requirements, where students learn practical transferable skills in areas applicable to the modern workplace.
