STEP BY STEP, YOU CAN GET THERE!

ENTRY LEVEL

No formal qualifications required. Courses focus on personal and social development.

LEVEL 1

No formal qualifications required. Recognised qualifications; BTEC Awards, Certificates, NVQ’, Skills for your Life and Skills for Work courses.

LEVEL 2

Entry requirements: 4 GCSEs at Grades D to G or successful completion of a Level 1 related qualification. Recognised qualifications; BTEC Awards, Certificates, Diplomas, NVQ’, Training for Success, Apprenticeships, or Skills for Work. Automatic progression is not guaranteed.

LEVEL 3

Entry requirements: 4 GCSEs at Grades C or above including English Language and/or Maths (please check individual course details), or successful completion of a Level 2 related qualification. Recognised qualifications; BTEC Diplomas, Apprenticeships, and Access to Higher Education courses.

LEVEL 4

Entry requirements: A-Levels or successful completion of Level 3 related qualification or related industry experience. Recognised qualifications; Higher National Certificates (HNCs), Higher Level Apprenticeships (HLAs). Subject to interview.

LEVEL 5

Entry requirements: Successful completion of a Level 3 or 4 qualification orrelated industry experience.Recognised qualifications; Higher National Diplomas (HNDs), Foundation Degrees. Subject to interview.

LEVEL 6

Entry requirements: Successful completion of a Level 5 qualification or related industry experience. Recognised qualifications; Bachelor’s Degree. Subject to interview.

YOUR GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING QUALIFICATIONS

AT SWC WE OFFER A LARGE RANGE OF COURSES WHICH ARE FULLY RECOGNISED BY EMPLOYERS AND UNIVERSITIES. THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT PATHWAYS AND PROGRESSION ROUTES WHICH ALLOW FOR FURTHER STUDY OR EMPLOYMENT.

ENTRY LEVEL

A suite of programmes to develop your personal, social development, living skills and employability skills. These programmes are designed for those with learning barriers and special skills needs.

LEVEL 1
(Certificate and Award, NVQ, Skills for your Life, Skills for Work) Level 1 courses are for those students who have few qualifications but who are looking to develop their professional and employability skills. These courses are ideal if you have special educational needs or have experienced barriers to education or employment. They will give you a good foundation of skills which you can build upon to progress to Level 2.

LEVEL 2 (First Diploma, Certificate, Skills for Work, Apprenticeship) A Level 2 qualification gives you good knowledge, understanding and practical skills of a range of subjects. You will have the ability to perform a variety of tasks with some guidance or supervision. Success at Level 2 will enhance your ability to progress to employment or to further study at Level 3. A Level 2 Apprenticeship will equip you with foundation level knowledge and skills for employment within your industry sector.

LEVEL 3 (Subsidiary Diploma, 90-credit Diploma, Diploma top up, Extended Diploma top up, Apprenticeship) A Level 3 qualification gives you the ability to gain or apply a range of knowledge, skills and understanding, at a detailed level. Level 3 Diplomas can help you progress to employment or to Higher Education courses at Level 4 or Level 5 programmes either at SWC or University. A Level 3 Apprenticeship will equip you with the knowledge and skills within your employment sector.

LEVEL 4 (Higher Level Certificate, Higher Level Apprenticeship) These are popular with students who are already in employment as they enable you to put the skills you learn into practice within your current job. You can study at Level 4 and then progress to further study at Level 5.

LEVEL 5 (Foundation Degree, Higher Level Diploma, Higher Level Apprenticeship) These qualifications combine academic study with work-based learning. They are designed to equip you for a particular area of work, as well as giving you advanced technical and managerial skills, problem solving techniques and knowledge for your chosen career.

LEVEL 6 (Degree) This qualification helps you develop advanced understanding of professional and technical areas. A Degree will help you develop your analytical, intellectual and report writing skills. You will also develop leadership and management skills.

ACCREDITATION OF PRIOR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING (APEL)

SWC operates an Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) process to acknowledge unaccredited learning experiences. APEL is a process through which the learning students have gained from experience can be counted. This process relates to prior learning which has been gained by students that has not already been formally assessed. This includes prior learning gained through community based learning, workplace learning and training, continuing professional development and independent learning.

APEL can help students to:

• Get a place on an appropriate Foundation Degree. If you don’t have the normal entry qualifications but can demonstrate that you have the necessary knowledge, skills and understanding.
• Gain credit towards modules of a Foundation Degree to shorten the normal period of learning.

Who is APEL for?

• ​Individuals in the workplace looking for recognised credit for entry to an academic programme at higher education level.
• Learners who may have exited a Higher Education programme prior to completion or the receipt of credit and who wish to count that learning towards another award.
• Learners who wish to ‘top-up’ an existing qualification.

For further information: Contact the relevant Course Coordinator outlined in this prospectus or Liam Curran HE Co-ordinator. E: liam.curran@swc.ac.uk

ACCESSNI

Some of our courses particularly those in relation to Health Care and Early Years require an AccessNI Criminal Record Check. This will disclose any criminal records or cautions that you may have and ensure that you are safe to work with the general public. There is a cost of £33 associated with this and it will be your responsibility to pay for this check, in order to enrol on the course.