Levels of study

This is for you if you don’t have any formal qualifications. To benefit from the course you should be committed to improving your qualifications and skills.  

Types of courses

• Foundation Learning

You will get

Practical and independent skills which will help you progress to a Level 1 course.

This is for you if you are starting a new subject and want to gain basic knowledge of an area.

Types of courses

• Award
• Certificate
• Diploma
• NVQ
• Progression 2

You will get

Practical, employability and independent skills, plus an introduction to your subject. On successful completion, you could progress on to a Level 2 course.

This is for you if you are looking to improve your subject knowledge. Depending on your GCSE grades, it might be possible for you to start at this level if you have met the entry criteria. You could also secure a job.

Types of courses

• Award
• Certificate
• Diploma
• NVQ
• Intermediate Apprenticeship

You will get

Excellent subject knowledge and education, coupled with problem-solving skills, work experience and employability skills.

This level is for you if you want to progress on to university or degree level courses at the college. The level could also lead to a job.

Types of courses

• Certificate
• Diploma
• NVQ
• Advanced Apprenticeship

You will get

Outstanding subject knowledge and problem solving skills as well as adaptability, managing work relationships and business knowledge.

This level is for you if you want to become a specialist in your subject area and take your learning to the next level.

Types of courses

• HNC
• Foundation Degree - 1st Year
• Bachelor’s/Honours Degree - 1st Year
• Higher Apprenticeship - 1st of final stage of study
• Certificate

HNCs and HNDs are work related, internationally recognised undergraduate qualifications. They focus on ‘learning by doing’ and give you the skills you can use in a particular job. Highly valued by employers, they cost significantly less than equivalent courses at university and you have the added benefit of flexibility rather than making a three or four year commitment. You can progress from an HNC to the related HND and complete your study with one further year of study.

Higher apprenticeships are for people in work developing specific skills and knowledge for their workplace. Apprentices earn while they learning and this can avoid the debt that is associated with many full-time higher education courses.

At Level 4 you will get:

A range of advanced subject-specific skills, knowledge and competencies as well as transferable skills such as problem solving and communication.

At this level you will really be honing in on your subject understanding and be gaining the skills to find solutions to complex problems.

Types of courses

• HND
• Foundation Degree
• Bachelor’s/Honours Degree - 2nd Year
• Higher Apprenticeship
• Diploma

You can progress from an HND or Foundation Degree to a related Honour degree and complete your study with one or two further years of study. If you continue studying with Bournemouth and Poole College this progression or ‘top-up’ to Honours is usually just 1 year.

Higher Apprenticeships are for people in work developing specific skills and knowledge for their workplace. Apprentices earn while they learning and this can avoid the debt that is associated with many full-time higher education courses.

At Level 5 you will get:

A wide range of expert subject-specific skills, knowledge and competencies as well as transferable skills such as complex problem-solving, critical thinking and ability to apply concepts and principles.

This is the highest level you can study at our college. At this level you will be using your own research and ideas and could progress on to a postgraduate course at university.

Types of courses

• Bachelor’s/Honours Degree
• Degree Apprenticeship

Honours degree is the goal of many higher education students but there are a range of routes to achieve this qualification. If you don’t want to commit to 3 years of full time study consider part-time alternatives, staging your study via HNC, HND or Foundation degree or looking for a Degree apprenticeship.

Degree apprenticeships enable people in work to developing high level skills and knowledge closely related to their career choice. Apprentices earn while they learn enabling people to achieve an Honours degree without the debt that is accumulated by many full-time higher education students.

At Level 6 you will get:

A wide range of graduate level subject-specific skills, knowledge and competencies as well as transferable skills such as critical evaluation, research and the ability to initiate and carry out projects.