Qualifications available

There are many ways to study at higher education level and different types of qualification available.  Here is an explanation of some of the qualifications available at Wakefield College:

Foundation Degree

Foundation Degrees are qualifications at university level developed in collaboration with employers.  They combine academic study with workplace learning, and are designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge that businesses are looking for. They can normally be studied full or part-time. Foundation Degrees can often lead straight to a job, or can be used to progress to a bachelors degree (BA/BSc) with further study (this normally takes about a year if studies full-time).

Getting onto a Foundation Degree course
Universities and colleges set their own entry requirements, but it’s not always necessary to have formal qualifications. Universities and colleges will often take into account your experience, achievements and commitment to learning.

The Employer Guide to Foundation Degrees states:
‘Made in the workplace for the workplace, a Foundation Degree is a vocational higher education qualification which combines academic study with work-based learning and experience. Foundation Degrees were introduced in 2001 and are now being studied by thousands of people on hundreds of different courses. They are designed by employers working closely with further and higher education colleges and universities. Sector Skills Councils and other professional bodies are also actively involved in their design and implementation.’
(DfES, 2004, Employers Guide to Foundation Degrees, DfES Publications, Crown copyright)

Higher National Certificate and Diploma

HNCs and HNDs are designed to give you the skills for a particular field of work so they can lead straight  to a career. You can also use them to progress within your current career. You may also be able to convert your HNC or HND to a foundation degree or bachelors degree with extra study. HNCs and HNDs are highly valued by employers in some industrial sectors.  HNCs can take one year to complete full time and two years part time. HNDs take two years full time and can also be taken part time (which takes longer).

BA (Honours) ‘top-up’ degrees

These courses are aimed at those who have successfully completed a Foundation degree or HND and want to progress to a full honours degree.  Full and part-time modes of study are normally available.