Course is a course. It is of level 5 work based or vocational course. This course provides specialist vocational learning at the levels 4 and 5, which reflects the requirements of all the professional organizations. The course is available in more than 40 subjects, which are delivered by all the universities and colleges in the United Kingdom. Ideal for studying at high level, students apply for these courses to make better career in their respective academic discipline. The course is recognizable round the glob and is considered to be very professional based on practical skill development with expert knowledge and complete understanding of the sector. Based on strong emphasis on the technical skills of high professional level, the course addresses to the understanding of various aspects of the industry within and outside the country.
According the to the Edexcel, it is a “semi vocational/semiprofessional qualification diploma, which is usually studied for full time, limiting to 2 to 3 years of study and it can be taken as both full time and part time. The course is equivalent to the first two years of a four year honors degree and the same level of the second year of an ordinary bachelor degree or to the Diploma of Higher Education.
The two years course is divided in several compulsory and optional units depending on the choice of course selection. The study content and material of any course may include the followings:
- Core units which will cover all the essential underpinning knowledge along with practical and professional skills development
- A wide range of several optional units which the student can choose, which will focus on technical specialties and knowledge development
- A wide range of qualification pathways which will reflect upon the areas of expertise in the sector.
- A wide range of units which are devised to reflect the needs of a particular area of expertise.
combines several real life examples based on practical units which will help the students to gain necessary skills and expertise in this highly changing and dynamic atmosphere of world. Studied both as a full time and part time course, most of the students go full time mode of studying.
The assessment of units is internally done majorly. The university/college grades the students for each and every unit individually either as pass, merit or as distinction grade. The assessment can be done in several different ways, as follows:
- On the basis of surveys, accounts, written reports and presentations.
- On the basis of production diaries and log books
- On the basis of regular observation of academic performance and practical tasks.
- Based on the press releases and journals
- Through self-assessment and peers
- Based on the audio and video material production, specimens, artifacts products etc.
Students who complete their successfully with good can start up their professional career or they can apply for higher academic course in their desired academic domains in the leading universities. Employers all around highly value courses along with organizational memberships. qualification enables the learner to be prepared for the employments in the business organizations/sectors.
A student must have following to achieve the diploma:
- 240 credits from a valid combination of units completed
- Achieve at least 125 credits at Level 5.
For calculating the overall grade of the diploma, the best combination of valid units will be used. For example, if the student has completed more than the minimum number of the optional units given, from these all, the best performance will be taken. The grade calculation of the qualification is done on the basis of the best performance of the student in all the units which are either at the level or above the qualification level. This means that only units at the level 5 will be counted for the value of all 75 credits for grading.
- The student should achieve 75 grades from a maximum of total 240 credits which is the valid combination rule.
- The 75 credits which the student achieves should be from the entire qualification which includes the core units, mandatory units of the level 5 units.
Points Criteria for course
Unit points available per credit for specified unit grades at the level 5 only
| Unit Points per Credit | ||
| Pass | Merit | Distinction |
| 0 | 1 | 2 |
Qualification Grading
| Level 5 | ||
| Points Range Grade | ||
| 0 – 74 | Pass | p |
| 75 – 149 | Merit | M |
| 150 | Distinction | D |
| Level | Credit | Grades | Grade Points | Points per Unit (weighting x credit points) | ||
| Unit 1 | Core | 4 | 15 | P | X | |
| Unit 2 | Core | 4 | 15 | M | X | |
| Unit 3 | Core | 4 | 15 | M | X | |
| Unit 4 | Core | 4 | 15 | M | X | |
| Unit 5 | Core | 4 | 15 | M | X | |
| Unit 6 | Core | 5 | 15 | P | 0 | |
| Unit 7 | Core | 5 | 15 | M | 1 | 15 |
| Unit 8 | Core | 5 | 20 | P | 0 | |
| Unit 20 | Specialist | 5 | 15 | M | 1 | 15 |
| Unit 21 | Specialist | 5 | 15 | P | 0 | |
| Unit 23 | Specialist | 5 | 15 | P | 0 | |
| Unit 25 | Specialist | 4 | 15 | P | X | |
| Unit 26 | Specialist | 5 | 15 | M | 1 | 15 |
| Unit 29 | Specialist | 4 | 15 | M | X | |
| Unit 33 | Specialist | 4 | 15 | M | X | |
| Unit 35 | Specialist | 5 | 15 | M | 1 | 15 |
| Qualification grade totals | Min 125 at Level 5 | 245 | 60 |
- X: these units are below the level of diploma and thus are not counted for the grades
- Only the points are counted from level 5 units for the best 75 credits
Example: Qualification with a Merit Grade
| Level | Credit | Grades | Grade Points | Points per Unit (weighting x credit points) | ||
| Unit 1 | Core | 4 | 15 | P | X | |
| Unit 2 | Core | 4 | 15 | M | X | |
| Unit 3 | Core | 4 | 15 | M | X | |
| Unit 4 | Core | 4 | 15 | M | X | |
| Unit 5 | Core | 4 | 15 | M | X | |
| Unit 6 | Core | 5 | 15 | M | 1 | 15 |
| Unit 7 | Core | 5 | 15 | D | 2 | 30 |
| Unit 8 | Core | 5 | 20 | D | 2 | 40 |
| Unit 20 | Specialist | 5 | 15 | M | 1 | 15 |
| Unit 21 | Specialist | 5 | 15 | M | 1 | (15) |
| Unit 23 | Specialist | 5 | 15 | P | 0 | |
| Unit 25 | Specialist | 4 | 15 | P | X | |
| Unit 26 | Specialist | 5 | 15 | M | 1 | (15) |
| Unit 29 | Specialist | 4 | 15 | M | X | |
| Unit 33 | Specialist | 4 | 15 | M | X | |
| Unit 35 | Specialist | 5 | 15 | D | 1 | (15) |
| Unit 36 | Specialist | 5 | 10 | 2 | 20 | |
| Qualification grade totals | Min 125 at Level 5 | 260 | 105 | 60 |
The learner can be considered for a merit:
- only count the points from the best 75 credits from a valid combination of 240 credits
- X these units are below level of the qualification so cannot be counted for grading
- The best 75 credits include both core and optional units
- () these are not counted
Example: Qualification with a Distinction Grade
| Level | Credit | Grades | Grade Points | Points per Unit (weighting x credit points) | ||
| Unit 1 | Core | 4 | 15 | P | X | |
| Unit 2 | Core | 4 | 15 | M | X | |
| Unit 3 | Core | 4 | 15 | D | X | |
| Unit 4 | Core | 4 | 15 | D | X | |
| Unit 5 | Core | 4 | 15 | M | X | |
| Unit 6 | Core | 5 | 15 | D | 2 | 30 |
| Unit 7 | Core | 5 | 15 | D | 2 | 30 |
| Unit 8 | Core | 5 | 20 | D | 2 | 30 |
| Unit 20 | Specialist | 5 | 15 | D | 2 | 30 |
| Unit 21 | Specialist | 5 | 15 | D | 2 | 30 |
| Unit 23 | Specialist | 5 | 15 | P | 0 | |
| Unit 25 | Specialist | 4 | 15 | P | X | |
| Unit 26 | Specialist | 5 | 15 | M | 1 | (15) |
| Unit 29 | Specialist | 4 | 15 | M | X | |
| Unit 33 | Specialist | 4 | 15 | M | X | |
| Unit 35 | Specialist | 5 | 15 | M | 1 | (15) |
| Qualification grade totals | Min 125 at Level 5 | 245 | 105 | 60 |
The learner can be considered for a distinction:
- only count the points from level 5 units for the best 75 credits from a valid combination of 240 credits
- ()not counted
- X not counted as below the level of the qualification.
Other Assignments
