Academic levels of our validated courses

Our courses are assessed at academic levels recognised by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education and are designed to achieve the following assessed outcomes:

Certificate (C) level: first year of a Bachelor's Degree/Certificate of Higher Education

At this level students should demonstrate:

  1. knowledge of the underlying concepts and principles associated with their area(s) of study, and an ability to evaluate and interpret these within the context of that area of study;
  2. an ability to present, evaluate, and interpret qualitative and quantitative data, to develop lines of argument and make sound judgements in accordance with basic theories and concepts of their subject(s) of study.

Typically, they will be able to:

  • evaluate the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems related to their area(s) of study and/or work;
  • communicate the results of their study/work accurately and reliably, and with structured and coherent arguments;
  • undertake further training and develop new skills within a structured and managed environment;

and will have qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring:

  • the exercise of some personal responsibility.

Intermediate (I) level: Second Year of a Bachelor's Degree/Foundation Degree

At this level students should demonstrate:

  1. knowledge and critical understanding of the well-established principles of their area(s) of study, and of the way in which those principles have developed;
  2. ability to apply underlying concepts and principles outside the context in which they were first studied, including, where appropriate, the application of those principles in an employment context;
  3. knowledge of the main methods of enquiry in their subject(s), and ability to evaluate critically the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems in the field of study;
  4. an understanding of the limits of their knowledge, and how this influences analyses and interpretations based on that knowledge.

Typically, they will be able to:

  • use a range of established techniques to initiate and undertake critical analysis of information, and to propose solutions to problems arising from that analysis;
  • effectively communicate information, arguments, and analysis, in a variety of forms, to specialist and non-specialist audiences, and deploy key techniques of the discipline effectively;
  • undertake further training, develop existing skills, and acquire new competences that will enable them to assume significant responsibility within organisations;

and will have qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring:

  • the exercise of personal responsibility and decision-making.

Honours (H) level: Bachelors Degree with Honours

At this level students should demonstrate:

a systematic understanding of key aspects of their field of study, including acquisition of coherent and detailed knowledge, at least some of which is at or informed by, the forefront of defined aspects of a discipline;

  1. an ability to deploy accurately established techniques of analysis and enquiry within a discipline;
  2. conceptual understanding that enables the student:
  • to devise and sustain arguments, and/or to solve problems, using ideas and techniques, some of which are at the forefront of a discipline; and
  • to describe and comment upon particular aspects of current research, or
    equivalent advanced scholarship, in the discipline;

3.   an appreciation of the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of knowledge;                                                                                                                                                              4.    the ability to manage their own learning, and to make use of scholarly reviews and primary sources (eg refereed research articles and/or original materials appropriate to the discipline).

Typically, they will be able to:

  • apply the methods and techniques that they have learned to review, consolidate, extend and apply their knowledge and understanding, and to initiate and carry out projects;
  • critically evaluate arguments, assumptions, abstract concepts and data (that may be incomplete), to make judgements, and to frame appropriate questions to achieve a solution - or identify a range of solutions - to a problem;
  • communicate information, ideas, problems, and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences;

and will have qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring:

  • the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility;
  • decision-making in complex and unpredictable contexts; and
  • the learning ability needed to undertake appropriate further training of a professional or equivalent nature.