CHAPTER 15

Education and Qualifications

  • The education system in the UK

    The UK has a huge number of educational opportunities across many different areas and at all levels.

    These can be offered by colleges, universities, online providers, and private companies.

    You can get an idea of the types of education offered in the table below.

  • There are lots of good reasons to enrol in formal education courses.

    Education can help improve your health, give you better life satisfaction, and help you get better jobs and earn more money in the long term.

    Some jobs require certain levels of education or qualifications.

  • When you explore your career options, you can look at job descriptions to see which level of education or qualification is needed. Your Employment Adviser can help you work out which qualifications you need and how to get them.

  • If you already have formal education or qualifications, your Employment Adviser can help you get these measured against UK qualifications by contacting UK ENIC. There are also some programmes which specifically help refugees to requalify in the UK in certain fields.

    Some jobs require UK-specific qualifications, such as needing a CSCS card to work in construction.

  • Yes: you don’t need to choose between studying and working. It is very common for students to have a part-time job to help support themselves financially.

    Many universities and colleges have careers departments which can help you find suitable roles offered by local employers.

  • A university is an organisation that provides different courses at undergraduate or postgraduate level.

    These courses usually last between one and four years, and they teach you detailed information about a certain subject.

  • There are university courses for almost everything. Some examples include Business, Economics, International Relations, and Psychology, but there are hundreds to choose from.

  • You might find that you need to wait a few years and study some more to get to the right level.

    To be accepted onto an undergraduate course, you will usually need a Level 3 qualification, such as an Access Course. The Open University also offers Access Courses, which have lower barriers to entry. You can find a link in the More Information section at the end of this chapter.

    You will also need a very good level of spoken and written English.

    Universities may ask you to achieve a certain score in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam.

    For most university applications, you will also need to write a personal statement, which is similar to a cover letter.

  • PROs

    • You can become an expert in a certain subject

    • You can start a certain career path

    • Generally, you will end up earning more money throughout your career

    • You will meet lots of people with similar interests

    • You will gain lots of transferable skills, such as how to learn effectively

    CONs

    • University is very expensive

    • You will be committed to studying for a long time

    • Usually, you will not be able to continue claiming benefits

    • Lots of jobs do not require a university degree

  • There are lots of questions to consider before deciding whether you would like to go to university. For example:

    • How long is it going to take me to get to the right level to apply for university?

    • Do I need a degree to do my chosen career?

    • Am I confident that I can spend most of my time studying and writing?

    • How much will it cost?

    • Am I happy to take out a student loan?

    • Will I be able to work while I’m studying?

    • How long will it take me to finish my degree?

    • What are the alternatives?

    There are also free introductory courses to university that you can access online. You can find these in the More Information section.

  • Student Finance is a government-funded organisation which can provide you with money for university tuition fees, living costs, and sometimes a grant.

    Your tuition fee loan is paid directly to the university, and your other loans and grants are paid into your bank account.

    If you receive Student Finance as a full-time student at university, you will not be able to receive benefits as well.

    You may be able to keep getting some benefits if you do a part-time course, or if you have childcare responsibilities.

    It is important to speak to your Employment Adviser and your JCP work coach to understand the impact of becoming a student on your benefits.

    You have to pay loans back to the government when you start working and are earning more than £21,000 a year. You only start paying a very small amount per month, and it gets taken out of your wages automatically.

    It is important to note that you have to pay interest on these loans.

  • Some universities offer money for people from refugee backgrounds who want to study there. You can find a list of these in the More Information section on the opposite page.

  • One of the best alternatives to going to university is to do an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships are explained in more detail in Chapter 9.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
LEVEL HEADER 1 HEADER 2 HEADER 3 HEADER 4
Level 8 Doctorate (highest formal level of education possible in the UK) • Develop new approaches outside of existing knowledge • Needed to become a fully qualified doctor • Professional doctorate (PhD or DPhiI) • Level 8 Award, Level 8 Certificate, Level 8 Diploma • Level 8 NVQ Cell
Level 7 • Very high level of knowledge which allows you to develop original responses to unpredictable situations • Appropriate for senior staff and managers • Master’s degree • Integrated master’s degree • Level 7 Award, Level 7 Certificate, Level 7 Diploma • Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) • Postgraduate Diploma • Level 7 NVQ • Level 7 (Master’s degree) apprenticeship • Highest level of apprenticeship available • Similar to graduate scheme but more competitive • Takes between three and six years
Level 6 • Uses student’s original research and ideas to solve problems • Aimed at senior management and professional roles • University degree e.g. Bachelor of Arts (BA) hons, Bachelor of Science (BSc) hons • Level 6 Award, Level 6 Certificate, Level 6 Diploma • Graduate Certificate • Graduate Diploma • Professional Graduate Certificate in Education • Level 6 NVQ • Level 6 (degree) apprenticeship • Offered by some universities • Usually strict requirements for entry • Takes between three and six years
Level 5 • Complex decision-making and problem-solving • Useful for people in middle management roles or those working in technical jobs • Equal to foundation degree or the first two years of university • Level 5 Award, Level 5 Certificate, Level 5 Diploma • Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) • Higher National Diploma (HND) • Level 5 NVQ • Level 5 (higher) apprenticeship • May have more specific requirements (e.g. additional industry-specific qualifications) • Takes between three and five years
Level 4 • More advanced knowledge in a specific area • Means you can gain a higher education qualification without committing to a three-year course • Equal to first year of university • Level 4 Award, Level 4 Certificate, Level 4 Diploma • Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) • Higher National Certificate (HNC) • BTEC Professional Diploma • Level 4 NVQ • Level 4 (higher) apprenticeship • Will usually need a Level 3 qualification • Will be chartered by an institute • Could be managing people, projects, or equipment • Usually takes between three and five years
Level 3 • Required to work independently • Can move into work without any further qualifications or study • Can move on to university studies afterwards • A Level – grades A*, A, B, C, D, E • AS Level • International Baccalaureate Diploma (dependent on points) • Level 3 ESOL • Level 3 Award, Level 3 Certificate, Level 3 Diploma • Access to Higher Education Diploma • Level 3 BTEC Nationals, Diplomas, Awards • T Level • Music grades 6, 7, and 8 • Level 3 NVQ • Level 3 (advanced) apprenticeship • Requires experience of working in the industry • 80% work; 20% study • Alternative to university • Usually takes 15 to 18 months
Level 2 • Develop skills and knowledge by building on what you’ve learned at Level 1 • Good for anyone looking to further their education • Level required for many job roles • CSE – grade 1 • GCSE – grades 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, or 4 or grades A*, A, B, C • Level 2 ESOL • Level 2 Award, Level 2 Certificate, Level 2 Diploma • Level 2 Essential Skills, Level 2 Functional Skills • BTEC First Diploma, BTEC First Certificate • Music grades 4 and 5 • Level 2 NVQ • Level 2 (intermediate) apprenticeship • Equal to five GCSEs • 30–40 hours per week of working in the industry • 80% work; 20% study • Usually takes 12 to 18 months
Level 1 • First rung on the ladder of formal qualifications • Good for anyone looking to further their education • Practical introduction to a vocational area • Prepares you to move on to intermediate level programmes • GCSE grades 3, 2, or 1 or grades D, E, F, G • Level 1 ESOL • First Certificate • Level 1 Award, Level 1 Certificate, Level 1 Diploma • Level 1 Essential Skills, Level 1 Functional Skills • Music grades 1, 2, and 3 • Level 1 NVQ • Study programmes and traineeships • Usually take around 12 months

Additional resources

Glossary

UK ENIC
the UK National Information Centre for the recognition and evaluation of international qualifications and skills. Previously called NARIC

Scholarship
money given by a school, college, university, or other organisation to pay for the studies of a person with great ability but little money

Bursary
a sum of money given to a person by an organisation, such as a university, to pay for them to study or support their living/travel costs

More information

Explore “STAR Network refugee scholarships”
Explore “Futurelearn aim higher”
Explore “MOOC list”

Find out more