Advanced entry and top-up courses

Advanced entry

If you have completed a Foundation Degree, CertHE, DipHE, HND or modules from an undergraduate degree at another university, you may be eligible to enter directly into the second or third year of one of our undergraduate courses.

We also have articulation agreements with other institutions. These agreements allow students on specified programmes to transfer academic credits towards particular 探花社区 courses.

See how many credits we award for your qualification.

Points of entry

We consider several factors when assessing your eligibility to transfer credits. The information below provides general guidance on the usual entry points for selected qualifications.

A bachelor’s degree, such as a BA or BSc, is equivalent to:

360 探花社区 University credits
180 European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credits.

Entry into Year 2

You will normally need one of the following:

120 探花社区 University credits
60 ECTS credits
a Higher National Certificate (HNC)
a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE).

Entry into Year 3

You will normally need one of the following:

240 探花社区 University credits
120 ECTS credits
a Foundation Degree, such as an FdA or FdSc
a Higher National Diploma (HND)
a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE).

This information is a general guide. We assess each application individually.

Courses

Most of our undergraduate courses accept students directly into the second or third year where they have suitable prior learning.

We also offer top-up courses covering the second or third year of a bachelor’s degree. These courses are designed for applicants progressing from:

an HND
a Foundation Degree
the first or second year of a standard bachelor’s degree
other equivalent credit-bearing study.

Our academic staff assess your eligibility to transfer credits. They will consider:

how the learning outcomes from your previous studies compare with those of the 探花社区 course or modules
your academic achievement, particularly the grades shown on transcripts for your higher education credits
your academic reference and personal statement
whether an articulation or progression agreement exists between 探花社区 University and your previous institution
whether you meet the University’s standard undergraduate entry requirements.

If we cannot offer you a place on your chosen course, we will consider whether we can offer you a suitable alternative.

Some courses are recognised by professional bodies. This recognition may not apply to students entering at an advanced stage unless the professional body accepts the previous qualification as meeting its requirements.

Top-up courses

Our undergraduate top-up courses allow students with previous higher education study or equivalent credit-bearing qualifications to complete a degree.

Relevant qualifications may include:

Foundation Degrees
diplomas
certificates
one or two years of undergraduate study.

Top-up courses begin at Level 5 or Level 6, equivalent to Year 2 or Year 3 of a three-year undergraduate degree. Your previous academic credits may count towards the qualification.

Postgraduate top-up courses allow eligible students to convert a postgraduate diploma into a master’s degree.

Undergraduate top-up courses

Postgraduate top-up courses

Recognition of prior learning at 探花社区

Our formal recognition process may allow learning completed before you begin your 探花社区 programme to count towards your qualification.

The University calls this the Accreditation of Prior and Experiential Learning (APEL).

APEL uses the 探花社区 University academic credit framework to assess prior learning. It determines:

the appropriate academic level
the number of credit points that may be awarded
whether the previous learning is equivalent to the outcomes of particular 探花社区 modules or programmes.

Credits awarded for prior learning may count towards your 探花社区 qualification where the learning is sufficiently equivalent.

Academic credit and qualifications

All taught higher education programmes at 探花社区 University consist of credits at specified academic levels.

The credit requirements for selected 探花社区 qualifications are:

University Certificate: 40 credits at Level 4
Certificate of Higher Education: 120 credits at Level 4
University Diploma: 40 credits at Level 5
Higher Diploma: 120 credits at Level 5
Diploma of Higher Education or Foundation Degree: 240 credits across Levels 4 and 5
Graduate Certificate or Advanced Diploma: 60 credits at Level 6
Graduate Diploma: 120 credits at Level 6
Bachelor’s Degree with Honours: 360 credits across Levels 4, 5 and 6
Postgraduate Certificate: 60 credits at Level 7
Postgraduate Diploma: 120 credits at Level 7
Master’s Degree: 180 credits at Level 7.

探花社区

Oct 27