Varndean25 - Flipbook - Page 6
CHOOSING YOUR STUDY PROGRAMME
CHOOSING YOUR
STUDY PROGRAMME
This prospectus is aimed at helping you to decide which combination of subjects you would like to
study at college. However, we fully recommend that you view the more detailed information on our
website and visit us at one of our Open Events during the Autumn.
Please do not worry if you do not know at this stage which career path you wish to pursue. A large
percentage of students who come to study with us do not know what they wish to do following college,
but they find their niche once they have started their studies here.
At Varndean College, we offer two levels of study:
Advanced Level (Level 3)
Foundation Level (Level 2)
Which level you follow is dependent upon your predicted GCSE grades and whether you meet the entry
requirements at enrolment.
Advanced Level (Level 3)
An Advanced Study Programme is a two-year
programme and will typically consist of three subjects.
This could be a combination of A Levels, Level 3
Vocational courses or you can combine A Levels with
Vocational courses.
What is the difference between A Levels and
Vocational Courses?
A Levels are predominantly assessed by exams at the
end of the second year, whereas Vocational courses
have a greater range of assessment methods.
Alternatively, you could choose to study the popular
International Baccalaureate Diploma which is an
alternative to A Levels and recognised by universities
worldwide (see pages 42-45).
Foundation Level (Level 2)
For those students who do not meet the entry
requirements of a Level 3 Advanced programme, we
can offer a one-year Level 2 Foundation Programme
instead. This will comprise of a mix of GCSEs
and Level 2 vocational courses and will facilitate
progression onto an Advanced Programme. Students
need to meet the entry requirements.
WHEN CHOOSING YOUR
SUBJECTS, THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF FACTORS
YOU NEED TO CONSIDER:
What are the entry requirements? Will the
GCSEs I’m taking allow me to take the courses I
have chosen?
What do I enjoy? What am I good at?
Do I prefer coursework or exams?
Do I know what career I would like to pursue?
If so, do I require any specific A Levels for
entry onto a university degree? You can
research the entry requirements for university
at www.ucas.com/undergraduate
Do I want a course that will lead to an
apprenticeship or straight into employment?
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