Qualifications Explained

Whatever your ultimate goal, its important to have the right qualifications.  Being well trained and having a recognised qualification is vital if you want to start a job, improve your career, or go to university.

National Certificates / City and Guilds

These are normally one year, full-time courses at non-advance level.  Many require no, or few, entry qualifications and are equally suitable for those returning to study or looking for a first step up from school education.  Many students completing these courses are successful in finding jobs, whilst others chose to further their education and progress to related non-advanced courses or to Higher National Certificate or Diploma level.

National Qualifications

These include National Units and National Courses.  Courses within this framework prepare candidates for further and higher education and also for training programmes linked to particular occupations.  These qualifications are offered at five levels:  Access, Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2, Higher and Advanced Higher.

Scottish Vocational Qualifications

SVQs are available to people of all ages and at all stages of their careers.  They are designed in consultation with employers and are based on standards set directly by the relevant industry.  As a result, they are a guarantee of ability to do a job of work to a high standard.  They are made up of units, designed to be assessed in the workplace, or under simulated workplace conditions and are available at five different levels.

Higher National Certificate and Higher National Diploma (HND / HND)

HNCs and HNDs are widely respected by employers and are recognised by many professional and technical bodies.  They are accepted for entry to many degree courses, often directly into the second or third year.  Both qualifications comprise Higher National units.  These can be taken through full or part-time learning and many are also available on a flexible learning basis.

Degree (BA / BSc)

These are advanced courses of study lasting between 3 and 5 years.  An HNC may allow entry into year 1 or 2 of a degree and HND may allow you to progress directly into year 2 or 3.