With lots of uni-level choices comes lots of questions. What's a Foundation Degree? How long do I study for? What are 'levels'? Chill - we're here to help.
All of our Higher Education (or HE, if you're feeling fancy) options are the next step after A Levels and vocational qualifications like BTECs. They're available in a mix of levels, so you can pick the right one for you. If you're not sure what the difference in levels is, let us help you out...
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Level 4 provides you with knowledge, skills and competence to prepare you for Level 5 | Level 5 builds on what you developed at Level 4 and extends your theoretical and/or practical knowledge | Level 6 combines the skills you learned from Levels 4 and 5 with a new focus on analysis and evaluation |
So, now you know the difference between the levels what can we actually offer you? What a good question...
Higher National Diplomas (HNDs)
Higher National Diploma (HNDs) are a full time two-year programme, covering levels 4 and 5 (see diagram above). These qualifications focus on building your experience via ‘learning by doing’ opportunities.
After successfully completing an HND, many of our students then choose to complete a year at a university to top-up their qualification to a full honours degree.
Our HNDs include:
"The college offers good facilities, teaching was near to where I was living and it was priced reasonably. The course also had a work-based element which I felt would be really valuable when I completed” – Katherine, former Foundation Degree in Fine Art student
Foundation Degrees in partnership with the University of Hertfordshire
These qualifications have been created with employers to develop your practical skills in a specific industry sector. They are popular with students who want to work and study at the same time, and we often see these students top-up their qualification to a full honours degree.
For more information about what a Foundation Degree is please click here
Our Foundation Degrees include:
"The course allows you to develop skills you didn't have before and covers a wide range of areas such as designing concepts for retail, work placements, live briefs and more" - Brooke, Foundation Degree in Visual Merchandising student
Teacher Training
We have a selection of popular part-time Teacher Training qualifications, including:
- Certificate in Education and Training (Part-Time)
- Professional Certificate in Education (Part-Time)
- Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (Part-Time)
Extended Degrees in Science (in partnership with the University of Hertfordshire)
The Extended Science Degree is designed as a preparatory year to enable you to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills you need to progress to the first year of many science degrees at the University of Hertfordshire. Progression is dependent on achievement. Please note that some courses have specific academic and non-academic requirements in order to progress such as an interview and/or satisfactory DBS.
Our Extended Degrees include:
- Initial Year Science - Biomedical and Healthcare Science
- Initial Year Science – Geography & Environmental Sciences
- Initial Year Science – Sports
Top-up Year (Level 6) in partnership with the University of Hertfordshire
Hertford Regional College offer three Top-up Degrees which is the final year (Level 6) of an undergraduate degree course. The Top-up year allows students who have a Foundation Degree, Higher National Diploma or equivalent qualification, to top up their existing qualification to a full BA (Hons) degree.
Our Top-up Years include: