Levels Explained

Bury College University Centre is proud to deliver higher education programmes up to Level 6. There are five levels of qualifications which you can choose to work towards under the framework for Higher Education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (FHEQ).

These include:

Level 4

This qualification is equivalent to the first year of a degree. Upon completion you may choose to progress to the second year of a degree course. To achieve a Level 4 qualification you must be able to:

Evaluate the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems
Communicate the results of your study/work accurately and reliably, and with structured and coherent arguments
Undertake further training and develop new skills

Securing a Level 4 qualification will equip you with the knowledge and transferable skills to progress directly into employment or onto further training.

Level 5

Securing a Level 5 qualification prepares you for careers in specific occupational areas. To achieve this qualification you must be able to:

Use a range of established techniques to initiate and undertake critical analysis of information, and 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 techniques of the discipline effectively
Undertake further training, develop existing skills and acquire new competences that will enable you to assume significant responsibility within organisations.

On completion of a Level 5 qualification you will have transferable skills necessary for employment and be confident in taking personal responsibility for specific situations and making decisions. You will also have the ability to progress to further appropriate training.

Level 6

A Level 6 qualification further builds on the skills and knowledge you achieved when studying your previous levels. To achieve this level of qualification you must be able to:

Apply the methods and techniques that you have learned to review, consolidate, extend and apply your knowledge and understanding
Initiate and carry out projects
Critically evaluate arguments, assumptions, abstract concepts and data to make judgements, and to frame appropriate questions to achieve a solution or identity a range of solutions to a problem
Communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences

Once you have gained a Level 6 qualification you will have the skills required for employment as well as the confidence to accept personal responsibility and decision making in complex and unpredictable contexts. You will also have the ability to progress to further appropriate training.