In addition to the UK’s traditional, academic qualifications such as GCSEs, A levels and bachelor degrees, the UK education system offers various types of vocational courses and qualifications that use a more “hands-on” approach to studying.
Some A levels or bachelor degrees are necessary for certain careers, whereas many other careers, often highly skilled ones, such as childcare, photography, catering, aircraft maintenance, etc. require more vocational style training. Vocational courses are aimed at providing students with practical, work related skills and knowledge. Courses are available at different levels and for different age groups, at many schools, colleges and universities throughout the UK, in a wide range of subjects covering many different industries and professions.
On most of these courses, students study towards UK vocational qualifications which are equivalent to UK academic qualifications. Below is information about the main vocational qualifications overseas students can study towards in the UK, including details of how they compare to GCSEs, A levels and degrees.
· Vocational GCSEs (VGCSEs)
VGCSEs, also known as “Applied GCSEs”, are career based versions of the conventional GCSE, designed to introduce students to a broad sector of industry or business. They are primarily offered to 14-16 year olds, who can study for them, alongside conventional GCSEs. They are available in subjects such as art & design, applied business, engineering, leisure & tourism, etc. and are all double awards, i.e. considered equivalent to 2 academic GCSEs.
During the 2 year course of study, students carry out their own projects and investigations to produce a portfolio of work, which accounts for 70% of overall marks. Exams, used to test students' knowledge and understanding is used for the remaining 30%.
VGCSE courses can be studied at certain state and independent schools that offer them or at further education colleges in the UK.
VGCSEs were introduced to replace some of the UK’s previous vocational qualifications at this level; Part one, Foundation and Intermediate GNVQs. They are equivalent to the current BTEC First Certificates and Diplomas (see below).
· Vocational A levels / Vocational Certificates of Education (VCEs)
Vocational Certificates of Education (VCEs), also known as “Vocational A levels”, were introduced to improve the recognition of vocational qualifications and to increase the choices available to students in the UK aged 16+ embarking on A level studies, as they may be studied alongside academic A/AS levels. They are considered directly equivalent to conventional A levels and are given equal status to A levels in the UCAS points tariff system for UK university applications.
Entrance onto a VCE course can depend on a student having studied that subject at a previous level, i.e. VGCSE. However this is not always the case as admission policies vary from school to school and place to place.
Like A levels, VCEs are studied over a 2 year course. They are available in a range of industry and business related subjects. They aim to provide broad vocational training, emphasising knowledge, skills and understanding. Coursework, based upon investigative work and assignment writing, constitutes two-thirds of the assessment, while the other third is assessed by exams.
VCE courses can be studied at certain state and independent schools that offer them or at further education colleges in the UK.
They are offered as half, single or double awards, equivalent to one AS level (half an A level), one A level and two A levels, respectively. The VCE double award replaces the previous vocational qualification at this level, the Advanced GNVQ, which covered a similar amount of content, and was also considered equivalent to two A levels. VCEs are equivalent to the current BTEC National qualifications (see below).
Foundation degrees are career related, higher education qualifications, designed to provide higher level, specialist technical knowledge and skills for employment purposes. Employers aid in the conception, design and evaluation of the courses. Their flexibility allows students to study full or part time, so students already in the workplace can continue with their studies.
Study of a full time foundation degree is 2 years duration. Students will usually be aged 18+ at the start of the course. Many students will progress to a foundation degree after taking VCEs and/or A levels or equivalent qualifications and course entry is based upon students having suitable qualifications at that level.
Foundation degree courses are available at higher education colleges and universities, in a wide range of career specific subjects such as aircraft engineering, E-business, fashion design, sports science, nursing, journalism, personnel management, etc.
Because they are broadly equivalent to the first two years of a bachelor degree course; on completion of a foundation degree, students may progress to a full bachelor degree, in the same or very similar subject, upon completion of a further course of study, usually about one year duration. This is an increasingly popular way for both UK and overseas students studying vocational subjects to obtain a bachelor degree in the UK.
The foundation degree is a relatively new qualification and is equivalent to the current BTEC Higher National Diploma (HND) (see below).
· BTEC First Certificates / DiplomasThese are basic vocational qualifications for students aged 16+, broadly equivalent to GCSEs and VGCSEs. They provide work related training for students who have already chosen the industry in which they wish to work. They can be taken in subjects such as agriculture, motor vehicle studies, performing arts, etc.
BTEC First Diplomas are full time courses studied over one year at further education colleges. The courses encourage the development of personal and work related skills, and provide a foundation either for work or progression to further study at a higher level.
· BTEC National Awards / Certificates / Diplomas
BTEC National courses are the next level up from BTEC First courses. They are related to broad occupational areas such as engineering, fashion, music, public services, etc. They are designed to train specialists or technician level workers.
The BTEC National Award is broadly equivalent to 1 A level, the National Certificate to 2 A levels and the National Diploma to 3 A levels. Courses are available at further and some higher education colleges.
BTEC Nationals are recognised and incorporated into the UCAS points tariff system for UK university applications, so they provide a foundation either for work or progression into higher education.
· BTEC Higher National Certificates (HNC) / Diplomas (HND)
A further step up from BTEC Nationals, more advanced, specialist courses are also available to train higher technicians and professionals. BTEC Higher National Certificates and Diplomas (HNCs and HNDs) are available at higher education colleges and universities, in a similarly wide range of subjects as that of foundation degrees.
HNCs are the first half of a HND course, as well as a stand alone qualification. HNDs usually take 2 years to complete, sometimes longer, and are equivalent to the newer foundation degrees and indeed formed much of the basis for the newer qualification. Similar to foundation degrees, HNDs are also broadly equivalent to the first two years of a bachelor degree course (first year only for HNCs). Therefore, on completion of a HND course, students may progress to a full bachelor degree, in the same or very similar subject, upon completion of a further course of study, usually about one year duration (two years for HNC graduates). This is an increasingly popular way for both UK and overseas students studying vocational subjects to obtain a bachelor degree in the UK.
| Academic qualifications | Vocational qualifications |
| GCSE | VGCSE or BTEC First |
| A level | VCE or BTEC National |
| 1st year bachelor degree | 1st year foundation degree or BTEC HNC or 1st year BTEC HND |
| 2nd year bachelor degree | 2nd year foundation degree or 2nd year BTEC HND |
| 3rd year bachelor degree | None |
Further to the UK’s expansive range of standard vocational courses and qualifications, the most common of which are described in the above sections; training courses for certain industries / professions are also available in the UK, which work towards specific career based qualifications, rather than qualifications based around the UK’s “National Qualifications Framework”.
Whilst some industries / professions have their own specific qualifications as well as those based around the national framework, offering people a choice of accreditation routes. Other industries / professions rely solely on using their own system(s) of personnel training and accreditation.
Example professions, requiring such specialist training, include; commercial airline pilots, air traffic controllers, accountants, actuaries and many others. Some professions have specialist schools to carry out the training whilst others expect people to use more of a self-study approach whilst working full time in that industry. Qualifications are usually formulated and provided by an industries’ governing body or other similar organisation.
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