Qualifications Explained
Glossary of other qualifications
SWAP – Scottish Wider Access Programme
These courses are specifically designed for those who have been out of formal education for some time and want to return and progress to Higher Education .
SVQ – Scottish Vocational Qualification NVQ – National Vocational Qualification
School College Partnership ( SCP ) Courses and Foundation Apprenticeships ( FAs )
These courses are available whilst you are still a Fife high school pupil . Speak to your school ’ s Guidance team or SDS Advisor for more details
National 4s , National 5s and Highers These courses are the same level as you would find at school
Higher Education ( HE ) qualifications
Higher National Certificates ( HNC )
SCQF Level 7 – the equivalent to year 1 at university
HNCs are normally completed in one year full-time or in two years with parttime study . Upon successful completion of an HNC , you have options which may include progressing to an HND at Fife College , or a degree with one of our partner universities ( often entering the degree course in year 2 ), or employment .
Higher National Diplomas ( HND )
SCQF Level 8 – the equivalent to year 2 at university
An HND is two years of study if done as a fulltime course . If you ’ re progressing from HNC , you will go straight into the second and final year of the HND . They give you the option of progressing through to a degree ( often entering year 3 of the degree course ) or employment .
Degrees
SCQF Levels 9 ( Degree ) and 10 ( Honours Degree )
As well as routes to a wide range of degree courses at other institutions , by working alongside our partner universities , we offer a great range of degrees right on your doorstep at Fife College campuses , so that you can study your whole degree with us in Fife . These degrees are awarded by our university partners so are the same as those issued to their own students . Either way , you have the benefit of studying the first one or two years locally .
( Note : An Honours degree in Scotland takes 4 years of full-time study to complete , but in the English system an Honours degree takes 3 years .)
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