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Vocational Technical Courses

Studying a Vocational Technical course offers a hands-on, applied learning approach that prepares you with practical skills and real-world expertise highly sought after by employers in diverse fields. Technical qualifications allow you to progress into a career in your chosen field or onto further study.

Vocational courses are often referred to by the name of the exam board that awards the qualification – for example, BTEC (which stands for Business and Technology Educational Council, which used to issue the award before Edexcel and Pearson, who currently issue them), City & Guilds or UAL (which stands for University of the Arts London).

What to expect from a Vocational Training Qualification

Our students choose to study Technical courses because they specialise in areas of learning linked with work that they are interested in. You can build your confidence because you are developing practical skills that could help you secure a job in the future. Answers to assignments may be in written form but it is just as likely they will be in other forms too, such as film clips, project proposals, business plans and structured databases.

We are continually developing our Technical courses in response to the needs and skills required by employers. This ensures that you gain maximum benefit from your work while qualifying and that the qualifications stay relevant. Vocational courses are specifically designed to help you get into the workplace, but they also give you UCAS points to be able to study at university.

Once you’ve completed your course, you’ll have many transferable skills, such as independent thinking, problem-solving and business knowledge, enabling you to progress to higher education or the workplace.

We have a wide range of courses including Animal Care, Childcare, Computing and IT, Construction, Engineering, Hair and Beauty, Health and Social Care, Hospitality and Culinary Arts, Music, Performing Arts, Travel and Tourism and many more! Check out our full range of courses available here.

Interested in studying a Vocational Technical Course at one of our colleges? Why not come to an Open Day and check out our facilities for yourself, or if you already know what you’d like to study, find out more about how to apply.

Apply for a Technical Course

Apply from a wide range of Technical courses including Construction, Digital Media, Hair and Beauty, Health and Social Care and many more!

Student Support

Our Student Services team are here to support, encourage and help you thrive.

Technical Course Levels

They are available at a range of levels, depending on your current level of knowledge and experience:

Entry Level
If you don’t have any qualifications, studying for an Entry Level qualification is the best place to begin your journey. Once you’ve completed your course, you’ll have practical skills for work and independent living, and a qualification, which can help you progress to the next level.

Level 1
If you are new to a subject and would like to improve your basic knowledge, a Level 1 course is the best place to begin. Once you’ve completed your course, you’ll have skills for work and daily life, work experience, personal development and an introduction to your subject, that will help you progress to a Level 2 course.

Level 2
Many students go straight to a Level 2 course after achieving four GCSEs at grade 3 or higher; for many subjects, you can enter as a beginner at this stage. Once you’ve completed your course, you’ll have many transferable skills such as problem-solving and study skills, enabling you to progress to a Level 3 course or an apprenticeship.

Level 3
A Level 3 qualification is usually studied over 2 years and is the usual route to higher education, offering a vocational equivalent to A Levels. For most subjects, you will need five or more GCSEs at grade 4 or higher, including English Language, or a Level 2 qualification.

Course Fees and
Financial Help

Frequently Asked Questions

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