Qualifications: the stepping
stones to your degree
So your end goal is to achieve a degree qualification, but how are you going
to get there? Your first step is to think about the qualifications that you
already have and those you hope to achieve.
Every year over 100
students studying
at Fife College
graduate with a
degree awarded by
a university partner.
If you currently
have National 5s or
equivalent*
(SCQF Level 5)
Your next step will
probably be a course at
SCQF Level 6 (equivalent
to Highers). Fife College
runs lots of courses at
SCQF Level 6 which run
for one year. Successfully
completing one of these
courses means that
you will have gained the
qualification you need to
progress to an HNC course
or year 1 of an HND.
If you currently
have Highers and/
or a Foundation
Apprenticeship or
equivalent*
(SCQF Level 6)
Your next step will
probably be a course at
SCQF Level 7 (equivalent
to Advanced Highers).
Depending on the
number of Highers and
the grades you have, or
if you have a Foundation
Apprenticeship, you could
apply for an HNC or year
1 of an HND at college.
Studying for an HNC or
HND at college could
mean that you are able to
progress to year 2 or 3 of
a university degree.
If you currently have
Advanced Highers or
equivalent*
(SCQF Level 7)
Advanced Highers are
the same level of study
as an HNC, or year 1 of
a degree course. This
means that, depending on
the number of Advanced
Highers and Highers you
have and the grades you
achieved, you may be
able to apply for an HNC
or HND course.
*Equivalent qualifications at each level can
be found on the Qualification Ladder on
the next page
Visit our website to find
out more about what
courses are available
and how you can
progress from Certificate
level to Higher National
qualifications (HNC and
HND) to degree.
What if I don’t have the
entry requirements for
an HNC or HND?
If you are an adult with few
or no formal qualifications
who has been out of fulltime
education for at least
three years (five years if
you have qualifications
above SCQF level 5), Fife
College offers courses
which are specifically
designed to help you back
into education.
These courses allow
you, in a single year, to
gain the qualifications
required to progress to
an HNC, HND, or year 1
of a degree at university.
They are delivered through
our partnership with the
Scottish Wider Access
Programme (SWAP).
For more information on
SWAP, and conditions
of participation, please
visit their website: www.
scottishwideraccess.org
10 | Fife College Degree Guide 2021/22