1. What is further education?

- Further education in Britain means education after GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) exams taken around the age of 16. Further education is also a general heading used to describe an enormous range of qualifications from very basic to university entrance level. - Further education includes A levels, AS levels and vocational qualifications. It offers a wider range of full-time and part- time courses. - Vocational Training and Career- Based Training are two other terms that are often used to descibe many of the qualifications and courses found in further education in the UK. And they are focussed on providing students with precise and marketable skills that will benefit their career directly. **Types of colleges: There are a wide variety of state- funded colleges offering further education courses in the UK. These include: + Colleges of further education + Colleges of technology + Colleges of Art and Design + Colleges of Commerce + Sixth- form colleges ** And state colleges receive government funding, so their course fees are often lower in price than independent ones. If you are under 19 years of age it is likely that your tuition will be free in a state- funded college. 2. AS levels and A levels: - Many students take A level and AS level qualifications in year 12 & 13 after completing their GCSEs. - AS level: is an examination of a standard between GCSE and A level which allows more subjects to be studied than is possible at A level because less information needs tobe learned for it.

- A level : a public examination taken by student aged 17, 18. + AS levels involve 180 guided learning hours- the number of hours of supervised or directed study time you will need to do for qualification- and its takes a year to complete if studied full time alongside other courses. + A levels involve 360 guided learning hours and if studied full time alongside other courses, its takes 2 years to complete. -It need 3 A levels to get into university.

3. Vocational qualifications: 3.1. NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications): a British qualification in a technical or practical subject which shows that a person has a range of skills useful for work. -You can take NVQs if: o You are employed o You are studying at college and have a part time job or access to a work placement. - You can study NVQs at work, college or as a part of an apprenticeship. ** Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a structured competency based set of skills, it ranged from craft occupations or trades to those seeking a professional license to practice in a regulated profession. -What subjects can you study NVQs in? There are over 1300 different NVQs to choose, they are available in the vast majority of business sectors including: + Business and management + Sales, maketing and distribution + Health care + Food, catering and lecsure services

+ Construction and property + Manufactering, production and engineering NVQs are available from level 1 to 5 on the National Qualifications framework. The framework conpare different type of qualifications based on the how demanding they are to study. And they are no maximum time limit to complete an NVQ, it's design to taken at a pace that suits your needs. However, many learners take about 1 year to complete an NVQ at level 1 and 2, and around 2 years for an NVQ at level 3. 3.2. BTEC (Business and Technology Education Council) BTECs which are taken by learners aged over 16 in combination with other qualifications such as GCSEs . BTEC qualification are asually studied full time or past time at college => Its available in seven levels from BTEC Introductory diplomas and certificates to BTEC advanced Diplomas, Certificates and Award. With each level, the qualifications are available in a range of sizes, taking different amounts of time to complete. Level 1 : BTEC Introductory diplomas and certificate this gives you base knowledge and skills to show you can do a certain job Level 2 : BTEC First diplomas and certificates o This gives you good knowledge and understanding of a subject and the ability to perform a variety of tasks with some guidance or supervision. It can be very useful to refer to when aplying for jobs. Level 3 : BTEC Diplomas, Vertificates and Awards, and BTECT Nationals o This level gives you the ability to gain or apply a range of knowledge, skills and understanding, at a detailed level. It cound be appropriate of you plan to go to university, work independently, or (in some case) supervise and train others in their field of work. Level 4: BTEC Professional Diplomas, Certificates and Awards. o This level provides specialist learning, involving detailed analysis of a high level of information and knowledge in an area of work or study. It

can be appropriate for people working in technical and professional jobs, and/or managing and developing others. Level 5 BTEC Professional Diplomas, Vertificates and Awards o This level can help tou deepen your knowledge and understanding of an area of work or study, so you can respond to complex problems and situations. It in volves a high level or work expertise and competence in managing and training others. It could be appropriate for people working as higher grade technicians, professionals or managers.

Level 6 BTEC advanced Professional Diplomas, Certificates and Award o This gives you specialist, high-level knowledge for an area of work or study, to enable you to use your own ideas research in response to complex prolems and situations. It could be appropriate for people working as knowledge-based professional or in professional management positions.

Level 7 BTEC advanced Professional Diplomas, Certificates and Awards o This give you a highly developed and complex levels of knowledge, enabling you to develop original response to complicated and unpredictable problems and situations. Can be appropriate for senior professionals and managers.

BTECs range from ISO guided learning hours for a level 2 BTEC first certificate and 1080 hours for a level 3 BTEC National Diploma. It you take a qualification at levels you can earn points on the UCASTariff for entry into higher education. 3.3Sandwich course: is an educational course which you have periods of study between periods of being at work.

It can last from 6 months to 2 years all depending on what you are studying for. Taking this course, you get to do a placement with a company, build up your work experience, enhance your employability, and establish contacts in your chosen industry.

 Some sandwich courses are run by companies in partnership with a university. Youll get to do placements at that specific company and itll increase chances of getting a job with them when you graduate. Of course, youll need to make sure youre interested in working for the company in ther first place. Sandwich courses is that they are dominated by business, engineering and science subjects. Sandwich courses are not offered by every university in the UK. Consequently, there are a limited number of options to choose from.