Courses & study
Qualifications Explained
Anniesland College has 7 schools, offering a wide range of courses and levels of study. Courses are available to study on a full time, part time or flexible basis.
› Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQ)
› Access, Intermediate 1 and 2, SQA Highers
› National Certificate NC)
› Higher National Certificate & Higher National Diploma
› The Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework (SCQF)
Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQ)
SVQs are available in a range of areas and are work based.
They are based on evidence of the competence you show doing
your job, and are designed to meet current and future employment
needs, whilst encouraging progression to further learning.
Standards are determined by Sector Skills Councils established
by industry, and competence is assessed at 5 levels from foundation
training (level 1) to senior management development (level
5).
Anniesland College offers SVQs at Level 2 and 3 in a range
of courses detailed within the Training Unit Section.
Access, Intermediate 1 and 2, SQA Highers
Anniesland College offers a wide range of SQA, Intermediate
1, 2 and Higher subjects which are available to study on a
full or part time basis, during the day or the evening.
Different levels mean that there is much more scope for you
to demonstrate your abilities at whatever level suits you
best. Each level is designed to encourage you to progress
on to the next, helping you to get the most out of your education
and achieve your true potential.
Successful completion of Access courses may lead to progression
to Intermediate 1. Intermediate 1 is designed to allow progression
to Intermediate 2, which in turn is designed to allow progression
to Highers.
Each course usually consists of three units, plus there is
an exam for all levels at Intermediate 1 and above. Each of
the units counts as a qualification in its own right (National
Units), so even if you don’t pass the whole course you
still get credit for the units you have successfully achieved.
Successful completion of some Intermediate 2 courses may
allow progression to HNC courses.
Successful completion of Highers may lead to progression
to first year of university degree courses, or HNC or HND
depending on the grade and the number of Highers achieved.
National Certificate (NC)
These awards consist of national courses and units which are designed
to provide you with a balanced programme of study. Students are usually
assessed throughout the academic year and will study 5 practical core
skills. Completed units and core skills achieved will be recorded on
your Scottish Qualifications Certificate and will be celebrated at our
Summer graduation ceremony.
Successful completion of a NC may lead to progression to a Higher National
Certificate course.
Higher National Certificate (HNC) and Higher National Diploma (HND)
These awards are based on units, which have a credit value. Twelve
credits are required to gain the HNC and it is usually achieved after
one year of full time study. Successful completion of the HNC may lead
students to progress to the second year of a HND or a degree course.
Thirty credit units are required to gain the HND, which is usually
achieved after two years of full time study. Successful completion of
the HND may enable students to progress to the third year of a degree
course at University. Full details of progression routes are shown under
‘articulation’ for each course.
Achievement of the HNC or the HND will be recorded on a Scottish
Qualifications Certificate and will be celebrated at our Autumn
graduation ceremony.
The Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework (SCQF)
The Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework (SCQF) is designed to provide you with clear guidelines on how you can progress with current qualifications and how many credits you need to achieve additional qualifications. Some qualifications take longer than others to do and you may need to acquire more knowledge or skill/competence. When you've gained one qualification, it's possible that you won't need to spend time repeating that learning when you're studying for another related qualification. As you progress you may be able to move from one area of learning to another, such as progressing from an SVQ in Food Preparation and Cooking to a Scottish Group Award in Hospitality: Professional Cookery or, from an HND in Engineering to the third year of a Degree in Engineering. It will however be up to the SQA or individual universities and colleges to decide how many credit points will be given.
|
SCQF Level
|
National Units |
Higher National Units |
SVQs |
|
1
|
Access 1 - National Unit |
|
|
|
2
|
Access 2 - National Unit
Access 2 - National Cluster |
|
|
|
3
|
Access 3 - National Unit
Access 3 - National Cluster
Foundation Standard Grade |
|
|
|
4
|
Intermediate 1 - National Unit
Intermediate 1 - National Course
General Standard Grade |
|
SVQ 1 |
|
5
|
Intermediate 2 - National Unit
Intermediate 2 - National Course
Credit Standard Grade |
|
SVQ 2 |
|
6
|
Higher - National Unit
Higher - National Course |
|
SVQ 3 |
|
7
|
Advanced Higher - National Unit
Advanced Higher - National Course |
HN Unit (Higher National Unit)
HNC (Higher National Certificate)
Certificate of Higher Education |
|
|
8
|
|
HN Unit (Higher National Unit)
HND (Higher National Diploma)
Diploma of Higher Education |
SVQ 4 |
|
9
|
|
Graduate Diploma / Certificate
Ordinary Degree |
|
|
10
|
|
Graduate Diploma / Certificate
Honours Degree |
|
|
11
|
|
Masters Degree |
SVQ 5 |
|
12
|
|
Doctoral Degree |
|
*Transfer of SCQF Credits between programmes is at the discretion of
the organisation.