Higher Education Qualifications & Qualification Levels

With our campus set in a convenient location and our fees lower than many universities, we offer affordable excellence on your door step and what’s more our courses are flexible, allowing you to fit your studies around work and/or family life.

Stratford-upon-Avon College offers courses for those living or working in Birmingham, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Warwickshire or other areas of the West Midlands.

Higher National Certificates concentrate on both skills and knowledge of specific industries. The content studied is very similar to a HND, but you will study fewer modules and attend College on a part-time basis. Most HNCs can take you directly onto the second year of a full honours degree. They can also be used as a stepping stone to gain a managerial role or professional status within your employment.

Higher National Diplomas concentrate on both skills and knowledge of specific industries. They focus on learning by doing and can lead into a new career or help you progress in your current line of work. Most HNDs can take you directly onto the second or third year of a full honours degree.

Foundation Degrees equip learners with a combination of technical skills and university-level academic knowledge. The qualifications are specifically designed to fill skills gaps in the job market. The Foundation Degree is equivalent to the first two years of an undergraduate degree and can be topped up to gain a full honours degree. Due to the nature of study, you may be entitled to a student loan to support your learning.

Top-Up Degrees allow you to upgrade your HND, Foundation Degree or equivalent qualification to a full honours degree. The Top-Up is designed to give you the knowledge and skills required for your new and exciting career in industry. Top-Up Degrees are studied over one year full-time or over 18 months if studied part-time.

Bachelor’s Degrees develop your analytical, intellectual and essay writing skills that are increasingly being demanded by employers. They are studied through lecture and seminar-based learning with practical components where the subject requires and are assessed through projects, written assignments, and examinations and, in most cases, a dissertation.