Detailed description

Common diplomas of England, Wales and Northern Ireland

General Certificate of Secondary Education in 6 subjects, with marks ranging from D-G

l Duration of schooling: 5 years.

l Type of education: general lower secondary education.

l Purpose of diploma: access to vocational secondary education and upper pre-university education.

General Certificate of Secondary Education in 6 subjects, with marks ranging from A* to C or 9 to 4

l Duration of schooling: 5 years.

l Type of education: general lower secondary education.

l Purpose of diploma: access to vocational secondary education and upper pre-university education.

BTEC Level 3 Diploma

l Duration of schooling: 2 years (part-time).

l Type of education: secondary vocational education.

l Purpose of diploma: access to the labour market.

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma

l Duration of schooling: 2 years.

l Type of education: secondary vocational education.

l Purpose of diploma: admission to higher education.

Access to HE Diploma

l Type of education: combination of general secondary and secondary vocational

l education (foundation programme).

l Purpose of diploma: admission to higher education.

General Certificate of Secondary Education in 4 subjects with marks ranging from A-C, plus a General Certificate of Education with 2 subjects at advanced subsidiary level (6 different subjects in total)

l Duration of schooling: 5 + 1 years.

l Type of education: general secondary education.

l Purpose of diploma: preparation for advanced levels (A levels).

General Certificate of Secondary Education in 3 subjects with marks ranging from A*-C, plus a General Certificate of Education with 3 subjects at advanced level (6 different subjects in total)

l Duration of schooling: 5 + 2 years.

l Type of education: general secondary education.

l Purpose of diploma: access to higher education.

Higher National Certificate

l Duration of schooling: 2 years (part time).

l Type of education: higher professional education.

l Purpose of diploma: access to the labour market and to university bachelors.

Higher National Diploma

l Duration of schooling: 2 years (part time).

l Type of education: higher professional education.

l Purpose of diploma: access to the labour market and to university bachelors.

Higher National Diploma

l Duration of schooling: 2 years.

l Type of education: higher professional education.

l Purpose of diploma: access to the labour market and to the third year of a university bachelor.

Honours Bachelor degree (3 or 4 years)

l Duration of schooling: 3 to 4 years.

l Type of education: professional or research oriented education.

l Purpose of diploma: access to university masters.

Master of Science/Master of Arts (1 or 2 years)

l Duration of schooling: 1 to 2 years.

l Type of education: professional or research oriented education.

l Purpose of diploma: access to doctorate programmes.

Master of Science/Master of Arts (1 or 2 years)

l Duration of schooling: 2 years.

l Type of education: research oriented education.

l Purpose of diploma: access to doctorate programmes.

Common diplomas of Scotland

Scottish Qualifications Certificate with 4 Highers

l Duration of schooling: 5 years.

l Type of education: general secondary education.

l Purpose of diploma: access to higher education.

Scottish Qualifications Certificate with 2 Advanced Highers (plus 4 Highers)

l Duration of schooling: 6 years.

l Type of education: general secondary education.

l Purpose of diploma: access to the second year of university bachelors (4 years).

Honours Bachelor degree (Scotland)

l Duration of schooling: 4 years.

l Type of education: professional or research oriented education.

l Purpose of diploma: access to university masters.

Master of Arts (Honours) degree (4 old universities)

l Duration of schooling: 4 years.

l Type of education: professional or research oriented education.

l Purpose of diploma: access to university masters.

Master of Science/Master of Arts degree

l Duration of schooling: 1 to 2 years.

l Type of education: professional or research oriented education.

l Purpose of diploma: access to doctorate programmes.

** EQF = European Qualifications Framework