Warnborough College Distance Education

What our Levels mean

Our courses cut-across a wide range of levels, as they have been designed to meet the needs of students globally. Standards and classifications of course levels vary from country to country. For example, Level 2 means something very different in say, Australia or the United States. Whereas, Level 2 within the UK indicates: The ability to gain a good knowledge & understanding of the subject areas of work & study. Learning at this level involves building knowledge and skills in your area of work or subject area and is appropriate for many job roles.

Most of our qualifications match these requirements, while others are higher and are appropriate for people wishing to go to university, work independently, or in some areas in supervising or training them in their field of work.

Additionally, some courses, such as the Pre-Medical Programme recognise specialist learning that involve detailed analysis of a high level of information in a particular area. Learning at this level is appropriate for people working in professional and technical jobs or managing or developing others.

If you would like further information please email our student services.

Letter of Achievement
This usually appeals to people that are not seeking a higher qualification but are interested in a particular subject only.
Requires: On satisfactory completion of all assignments in a course, on request you will be issued with an official Letter of Achievement

Certificate (Cert.)
A certificate will appeal to those who seek to develop a good knowledge and understanding of a particular subject. This certificate will involve building your knowledge / or skills in relation to you Particular area of interest and is appropriate in many job roles.
Requires: 1 Module -100 Hours (you must complete all assignments and successfully complete one examination OR complete a Project)

Proficiency Certificate (Prof.Cert.)
A proficiency certificate is a specialist qualification, for people who already have a foundation knowledge of a subject; but who wish to undertake limited specialist study in that field. This certificate allows you to attain a formal qualification without needing to make as much of a commitment as a full honours certificate.
Requires: 2 modules-200 Hours plus 200 hours of work experience or industry meetings. Prerequisites: A reputable certificate or higher qualification; or significant industry experience which demonstrates a foundation knowledge in the subject; or over 21 years of age; or equivalent (contact school for more information).

Advanced Certificate (Adv.Cert.)
This would be generally considered equal to or higher than a trade level qualification.
Requires: 4 modules - 400 Hours
Prerequisites: 1 year of relevant full time work following or over 21 years of age; or equivalent (contact college for more information).

Diploma (Dip.)
This would normally be considered equal to, or higher than a supervisory qualification.
Requires: 6 modules- 600 hours plus 200 hours of work experience or industry meetings.
Prerequisites: year of relevant full time work; or a reputable certificate; or over 21 years of age; or equivalent (contact college for more information).

Advanced Diploma (Adv.Dip.)
This would normally be considered a management or professional qualification.
Requires: 8 modules - 800 hours normally including a Research Project plus 100 hours of work experience or industry meetings.
Prerequisites: A reputable certificate; or over 21 years of age; or equivalent (contact college for more information).

Higher Advanced Diploma (Hgh.Adv.Dip.)
This may in some situations be considered similar to a foundation degree or associate degree.
Requires: 12 modules - 1200 hours normally including Research Projects I and II plus 100 hours of work experience or industry meetings.
Prerequisites: A reputable certificate (of 600 hrs); or over 21 years of age; or equivalent (contact college for more information).

Note: All Modules are taught at the same quality and standard whether they are taken for a Letter of Completion or a Higher Advanced Diploma.

Summary of Our Qualifications

SUBJECTS/MODULES AND WORK EXPERIENCE AVAILABLE

Standard Modules
Almost any short course of 100 hrs duration, can be included in any of the above qualifications. Exceptions are courses designated specifically as hobby courses, or as not being relevant to a commercial situation. These include: Landscaping Home Gardens, Home Garden Expert Course, Home Vegetable Growing, Home Fruit Growing, Herbs (basic Course), Efficient Writing, Hobby Photography.

Online Training Modules
More information will be available shortly, and usually less than 100 hours duration.

Industry Meetings: To meet this requirement, the student must attend meetings such as conferences, seminars, trade shows, exhibitions, study tours, committee meetings, or any other industry events which might be considered as contributing toward their awareness and education of industry. Proof must be shown of attendance. This may be in the form of references or letters from the organisers of the event, by supplying a written report and photographs; or by any other reasonable method.

Work Experience
This must be shown to be both relevant to the qualification; and a valuable learning experience. Work that is menial or unchallenging may not be approved. A reference from an employer, client or colleague must be supplied, describing both the nature and duration of the work.

Research Projects
Research Projects I, II and III are generic 100 hour modules. Each module involves some formal studies to learn about research methods and techniques, followed by conducting some real research into a subject relevant to the discipline being studied.

APPROVAL CRITERIA

Your selection of modules must satisfy the following broad criteria:

• The structured qualification must be seen to be teaching new knowledge and skills. Modules will not be approved where the student has undertaken similar studies in the same subject area elsewhere in the recent past (within 5 years). Previous studies may be accepted for credit towards a qualification (see Exemptions), but obviously studying the same material again is of little help to the student.
• Modules selected must not cover the same topics excessively (eg. Introduction to Computers and Computer Studies I are both introductory computing courses. Both would not be allowed; Agricultural and Horticultural Soil Management are too close to each other).
• For Advanced Certificates and lower qualifications, all modules must bear a relationship to the title of the qualification.
• For Advanced Diplomas and above, 75% of modules selected must bear a relationship to the title of the qualification (ie. 25% can be non-related electives).
• The selected combination must make sense, and have purpose.

EXEMPTIONS

Students can apply for credit towards a qualification based upon previous studies or relevant work experience. Credit may be granted on the basis of:

• Past studies in a similar subject area. We will not grant more than 33% of a qualification on the basis of studies which have been used to gain credit in this or another institution.
• Work experience, which can be proven to be significant and accurate, in its learning value. This proof may be verified through reputable references; or alternatively through sitting an examination, for which a fee, double that of the normal examination fee, will apply.

Not more than 66% of any qualification will be granted by exemptions (i.e. both study and work experience); and rarely more than 50% if the case is exceptional.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Enrol in the same way that you would enrol for a course. Your combination needs to be approved by Warnborough College and/or a tutor before the application is accepted. If one or more subjects are not acceptable, we will suggest other options. If you are applying for exemptions based on prior work experience and/or study, then you will need to complete an application for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). The RPL form will need to be processed before your program is approved. The application will not be processed until you consider and accept any proposed options.