Study programmes
In today’s competitive market employers and universities are looking for much more than a skills qualification – so Bedford College will ensure you have an advantage.
Your full-time course at Bedford College will consist of a study programme. This means that alongside your industry-recognised qualification, you’ll also study English and maths and improve your personal and employability skills.
In short, your study programme will provide you with:
- A nationally-recognised qualification
- English and maths skills
- Work experience
- Personal development skills
- Study skills
- Employability skills
And possibly additional vocational learning and qualifications, depending on the course you choose.
Why study English and maths?
English and maths are essential to your employment and further or higher education prospects. Many employers state that too many young people lack the literacy and numeracy skills needed for work – these are the skills they demand above all others. If you want to continue in education, you’ll find that entry on to higher level courses also require A*-C GCSE qualifications in English and maths.
The requirement to continue studying English and maths is not about resitting exams, but increasing your skills and widening your opportunities.
BTECs
These are qualifications designed to link
closely with industry that are recognised
by universities and employers as an
alternative to studying A-Levels, but still
attract UCAS points. They allow you to
demonstrate your knowledge and skills
through practical work, which is assessed
through coursework only – there are
no written exams.
Entry Level Certificates
These are nationally recognised
qualifications with no entry requirements
that aim to build your skills and increase
your confidence in a subject.
National Vocational
Qualifications (NVQs)
Designed to develop your knowledge and
skills in a specific job, NVQs cover the vast
majority of business sectors and don’t
involve exams – you’ll be assessed through
your practical work in the College’s
realistic working environments.
Functional skills
Qualifications designed to develop or
improve your English, Maths and ICT
skills – essential for employment,
further study and everyday life.
Industry-accredited
qualifications
We also offer qualifications accredited by
leading national industry training bodies,
so that the career skills you develop are
exactly what your industry demands,
including:
- Association of Accounting
Technicians (AAT)
- City & Guilds (C&G)
- Construction Industry Training Board
- Construction Skills (Cskills Awards)
- Council for Awards in Care,
Health and Education (CACHE)
- The Institute of the Motor Industry
(IMI).
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships are training programmes
that combine paid employment with study
at College to gain both work experience
and a recognised qualifications in your
chosen career. To start an apprenticeship,
you must already be employed within the
industry you wish to train in – we list a
range of vacancies on our website to help
get you started if you don’t already have
a job. Visit our Apprenticeships section to find out more.
Employability skills
As part of your study programme you’ll
also receive training in the extra skills
employers look for to help make you
more employable, from written and verbal
communication skills to teamworking
skills.