Jargon
We've put together this guide to help you through some of the important words that you might come across when planning your future.
A
A Levels in Applied Subjects
A Levels in Applied Subjects focus on work related topics such as Health and Social Care, Applied Business, or Manufacturing.
Advanced Extension Awards
Students taking A Levels may work towards an Advanced Extension Award or AEA. These awards are aimed at helping universities discriminate between students with the highest grades. The awards are based on the same material used for the A Level but require the student to demonstrate their ability to use critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis. The awards are graded Merit or Distinction. There are AEAs available in over 20 subjects.
Apprenticeships
An Apprenticeship involves working for an employer, learning on the job, building up relevant knowledge and skills, and gaining a qualification and even earning some money. The choice of apprenticeships is huge they cover all kinds of different work and different levels of study. You will need to be in work before you can access training through an Apprenticeship, and there might be entry requirements such as GCSE English and Maths. Check with your local college or training provider to find out more. If you're looking for an apprenticeship 'Click Here'
B
BA and BSc
A BA is a Bachelor of Arts and a BSc is a Bachelor of Science. These are the two main types of Degree which you can study for. If you want to work in certain industries you will need a degree, for example Law and Medicine.
The majority of courses last three years but there are also four-year sandwich courses where one year of your study will be spent in industry.
Degrees are designed to give you a thorough understanding of your subject, also developing analytical, intellectual and essay and report writing skills.
If you study for and complete your degree you will dramatically increase your chances of getting a job with a higher salary.
You need to remember that when studying for a degree much more of the responsibility for managing your learning will be down to you.
If you have a First Degree you can progress onto studying at a higher level if you want to, with a Masters Degree or Doctorate.
D
Degree
You can study for various degrees such as Bachelor Degrees, ordinary Degrees, and Foundation Degrees. If you want to work in certain industries you will need a degree, for example Law and Medicine.
The majority of courses last three years but there are also four-year sandwich courses where one year of your study will be spent in industry.
Degrees are designed to give you a thorough understanding of your subject, also developing analytical, intellectual and essay and report writing skills.
If you study for and complete your Degree you will dramatically increase your chances of getting a job with a higher salary.
You need to remember that when studying for a Degree much more of the responsibility for managing your learning will be down to you.
If you have a first Degree you can progress onto studying at a higher level if you want to, with a Masters Degree or Doctorate.
Diplomas
The Diploma is a new qualification for 14-19 year olds, the Diploma is a combination of existing qualifications and purpose-designed qualifications to make up a two year course. The Diploma is designed to offer more practical, hands-on way of gaining the essential skills employers and universities look for to support your next move - whether that's further study at school or college, work-related training, going on to university or a job with training
There are three levels of Diploma, each taking two years to complete:
- Foundation Diploma - a level 2 qualification, equivalent to five GCSEs at grades D to G
- Higher Diploma - a level 2 qualification, equivalent to seven GSCEs at grades A* to C
- Advanced Diploma - a level 3 qualification for those over 16, equivalent to three and a half A Levels
Another option for those over 16 is the Progression Diploma (also a level 3 qualification). This will suit students who don't want to do a whole Diploma.
A Diploma consists of:
- Functional Skills (English, maths and ICT you may need for everyday life),
- Principal Learning (This is the part about your chosen Diploma subject)
- Additional and Specialist Learning (These are options you pick)
- Learning and thinking skills (team working, being creative, studying and organising yourself)
- Project (This is about creating something to show what you've learnt. It can be about anything that interests you)
- Work Experience
There are up to 10 subjects to choose from in September 2009 in different areas of the country. By 2011, there will be 17 subjects in total.
5 Diploma courses are running in schools and colleges now:
- Construction and the Built Environment
- Creative and Media
- Engineering
- Information Technology
- Society, Health and Development
5 more subjects will be added for September 2009:
- Envoronmental and Land-based Studies
- Business, Administration and Finance
- Manufacturing and Product Design
- Hospitality
- Hair and Beauty Studies
Another 4 will start from September 2010:
- Travel and Tourism
- Public Services
- Sport and Active Leisure
- Retail Business
And 3 more will start from September 2011:
- Humanities
- Languages
- Science
www.direct.gov.uk/diplomas
E
e2e
An e2e is for those who want to go to work but don't feel ready for an Apprenticeship or job with training. The e2e will help develop motivation, confidence and personal effectiveness. The course is designed specifically for each student, to meet his or her particular needs and future plans. The courses are between 16-40 hours per week and can include basic skills, key skills, Entry Level or Level 1 qualifications.
Edexcel BTEC
The BTEC qualifications are focussed on a single area of work, for example, childhood studies, graphic design, catering and hospitality. They include the BTEC First Certificate, BTEC First Diploma and the BTEC National. The next step from these qualifications is the Higher National Certificate and the Higher National Diploma (HNC/HND) which are usually taken in Higher Education. The difference between the HNC and HND is that HNDs are generally full time in college, and HNCs are generally part time in college.
Employer's Training Scheme
There are employers that run their own training schemes. The only thing to check is that the scheme leads to a nationally recognised qualification. A qualification will make sure there is evidence of the time and effort invested in training to show new employers.
F
Foundation Degree
Foundation Degrees have been developed by the higher education sector in partnership with employers to ensure the skills that they need are met.
As a vocational qualification, Foundation Degrees offer you the flexibility to earn and learn and increase your career opportunities and earning potential.
On completion of a Foundation Degree, there are opportunities to continue your professional development through progression to other professional qualifications, or to an Honours Degree on either a full or part-time basis.
You will receive the specialist technical knowledge and skills needed at associate professional and higher technician level, such as Teaching Assistants, Hotel Managers, Aircraft Engineers and Legal Executives.
Foundation Degrees are accessible and can be studied at home, in the workplace or at a college or university. They are for people of all ages and experiences and even if you are already in work you can still apply.
There are no nationally set entry requirements for Foundation Degrees. It will be up to the place offering the course to decide if you are eligible.
Foundation Degrees are delivered in a variety of ways, such as part time, full time, work-based, distance learning and web-based online learning. You can also study in the workplace, at a FE college, an HE college or a university if they offer the course
The exact mix will depend on the subject and where the course is offered.
Further Education
Further Education is any study that you complete after the age of 16. So if you decide to stay on for 6th form you are in Further Education. If you go to your local college, you are also in Further Education. In a similar way, if you decide to go onto university then this is known as Higher Education.
G
GCSEs
General Certificate of Secondary Education. Two year qualifications taken in Year 10 and 11 across a broad range of academic subjects.
General AS and A Levels
A Levels are now split into a two stage qualification. The first year involves studying three AS units to complete an AS Level. The AS Level is a qualification in its own right. The second year three A2 units can be added on to gain the higher A Level. A2 units are more demanding, require a deeper understanding and may be more specialist. AS and A Levels are available in all the subjects studied at GCSE as well as new subjects such as Law, Sociology and Philosophy.
GNVQs
The Vocational A Level has now replaced the Advanced GNVQ. Some one year GNVQs may still be offered in sixth forms or colleges but be aware that this qualification is now being phased out. All GNVQs will be replaced by October 2007.
H
Higher Education
Higher Education refers to courses which are taught at and beyond level 4. These courses tend to be taught in either Universities or Colleges and include Degrees, Masters, Foundation Degrees, PhDs and Higher National Diplomas.
HND / HNC
If you are unsure whether you want to, or maybe feel you are not yet ready to go into higher education you can choose to take a HNC or a HND first. Alternatively, should you decide to go into employment following your studies, both HNCs and HNDs are recognised qualifications by employers.
A HNC is often studied part-time by students who are also working. If you complete a HNC you may wish to choose to go into higher education where you would have to complete the second and third year of a course.
A HND is studied for two years full time or longer if part time. If you complete a HND you may wish to choose to go into higher education where you would have to complete the third year of a course.
HNCs and HNDs are available in a wide range of subjects from accounting to video production. Pass marks are usually Pass, Merit or Distinction.
K
Key Skills
Key Skills are small unit qualifications at Levels 1 to 5. There are currently six units: communication, application of number, information technology, working with others, improving own learning, problem solving. NVQs, Apprenticeships and AS and A levels include these units as part of the programme.
M
Masters Degree
An academic degree from a college or university which is completed after at least one year of study beyond a bachelor's degree (BA or BSc for example)
N
NVQs
NVQs or National Vocational Qualifications are gained by those in full-time work, this can include those on a work placement or work simulation or in a part-time job while studying in sixth form or college. Trainees are given paid time off for study, one day a week, in a local college or with a training provider and are assessed in the workplace. There are five levels of NVQs from Level 1 which includes foundation skills needed in work through to Level 5 covering the skills needed by chartered, professional and senior management occupations. Employees start at whichever level reflects their ability to do their job.
O
On Board
On Board is for those that need more help before beginning an e2e programme. On Board offers sessions for up to 14 weeks that help build confidence and the abilities ready to take on an e2e, Apprenticeship or a job.
P
PhD
A Ph.D is a degree granted at the completion of extensive academic work in a particular field of study. Although originally granted exclusively for work in philosophy, today Ph.D.s are awarded in nearly all fields of the sciences and humanities. In most countries Ph.D. students go through two distinct phases. In the first phase students typically complete required courses and some form of comprehensive examination. The successful completion of the examination marks the beginning of the second phase and entitles the student to refer to him or herself as a Ph.D. candidate. The major task of the candidacy stage is the writing and defence of a major original contribution to his or her academic discipline. This contribution usually amounts to a written dissertation ranging in length, depending on discipline, from 50 to 800 pages (or 50,000 to 100,000 words). Dissertations typically consist of a comprehensive literature review, an outline of a methodology, and also include several chapters of scientific, social, historical, philosophical, or literary analysis.
In some fields, such as some specific branches of physics, a doctoral degree is practically essential for employment.
S
Student Loan
A Student loan is the money which people who go into Higher Education are able to borrow to help cover costs of living such as rent and food. The amount you are able to borrow depends on where you are going to study - people who are going to London can borrow more, as it costs more to live there. Student loans go up each year with inflation, and the repayments do not have to be made until a person is earning more than £15,000 per year. If you would like to find out more about student loans, go to http://www.slc.co.uk/
T
TfST
Time off for Study and Training. All 16 to 19 year olds who have not gained a Level 2 qualification are entitled to paid time off for study and training. This is a Government initiative that ensures young people can get paid time off to study or training. For more information contact your Personal Adviser.
V
VRQs
Vocationally-Related Qualifications or VRQs are designed to train trades, crafts and skills ready for employment, for example to train electricians, gas installation engineers or child minders. Awarding bodies include: Edexcel BTEC, The Council for Awards in Children's Care and Education (CACHE) and City and Guilds.
W
Work Experience
While studying for qualifications in sixth form or college students can take an opportunity to get some experience of work. This can involve holding a part time job, perhaps for one or two days a week or a work placement spending a short period in employment or a taster perhaps for one or two weeks.
Y
Year Out
A Year Out is a planned activity year between two courses of education. Most people take a year out between their level 3 course and Higher Education e.g. between A levels and a University Degree. A year out gives you the opportunity to save money for your study and get experience which will be useful to you in the future, as well as possibly twinning this with travel and fun. There are lots of companies who help people to organise year out activities depending on your area of interest.