What qualifications can you earn with the Yorkshire & Humber Institute of Technology?
Posted on 3rd February 2025 at 16:21
If you think there’s only one route towards your dream career in a STEM industry, think again!
Our education partners across the region offer a variety of qualifications ranging from level 3 to level 6 - so there’s something for everyone, no matter what stage of your education journey you’re at.
We understand that everybody learns and thrives in different ways, so each qualification offers different styles of learning and different levels of flexibility.
Read on to find out more.
T Levels
A T Level is a level 3 qualification equivalent to three A levels, usually undertaken by students after their GCSEs.
T level courses take two years to complete and they combine theory and practical learning, focusing on vocational skills that will help students into skilled employment, higher study or an apprenticeship.
T Level students spend approximately 80% of their time in a learning environment and the other 20% of their time in an industry placement. The industry placement lasts at least 45 days, giving students valuable experience in a real-life work environment.
Higher National Certificate (HNC)
An HNC is a work-related or vocational higher education qualification, which is based at level 4. They take approximately one year to complete full-time and two years to complete part-time.
They're equivalent to the first year at university, so students can generally enter a Bachelor’s degree at year two once they’ve completed an HNC.
When studying for an HNC, students learn skills related to a specific industry that can be used in a particular job, which is perfect for those wanting to head straight into work.
Higher National Diploma (HND)
An HND is similar to an HNC in that it’s a work-related or vocational qualification, but HNDs are based at level 5. They take approximately two years to complete full-time and three to four years to complete part-time.
HNDs are equivalent to two years at university, so students are able to enter a Bachelor’s degree at year three once they’ve completed an HND.
Again, students learn skills related to a specific industry that can be used in a particular job, which is perfect for those wanting to head straight into work.
Foundation Degree
Foundation degrees are level 5 qualifications, meaning they’re the academic equivalent of two-thirds of a Bachelor’s degree.
They focus on developing in-demand technical skills for a particular job or profession, providing a strong platform for people seeking employment.
They usually take two years to complete full-time or longer for part-time students and, if you decide you’d like to do a full degree after starting a foundation degree, you can continue for a further year to gain a full Bachelor’s degree.
Bachelors Degree
A Bachelor’s degree is a level 6 qualification and typically takes three years to complete.
Students generally specialise in one subject for the duration of the degree (although joint honours degrees are an option) and they study this subject in great detail.
There are several different types of Bachelor’s degrees available, but the most common are Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BSc) - both of which are offered by our education partners.
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeships range from level 2 to level 6 and mainly involve learning through practical, hands-on experience.
Apprenticeships are jobs where students learn and gain valuable experience, at the same time as earning money. As well as gaining real-life experience in their job, apprentices also spend at least 20% of their working hours completing classroom-based learning with a college, university or training provider.
They are available for people at all different stages of life, whether you’re in your early career, looking to upskill or looking for a career change.
Increase your earning potential
Studying a further education or higher education qualification can help to increase your earning potential in the future.
A study by the Social Mobility Commission shows that:
On average, those who study qualifications in higher education or further education earn more compared to those who do not
At the age of 29, men who attend higher education tend to earn 25% more than those with five GCSEs (A* to C grades) but who did not go to university
For women, attending higher education is associated with 50% higher earnings
Within further education, higher-level qualifications such as level 4 and 5 are associated with higher earnings when compared to level 3 qualifications
The highest returns within further education are for level 4 for men and level 5 for women
So, what are you waiting for?
If you’re interested in earning a qualification with the Yorkshire & Humber Institute of Technology, fill in our contact form or visit our education partner websites below.
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