This discussion is now closed.
Check out other Related discussions
- Open University
- How to be a counsellor with OU degree
- Is anyone doing open uni 2024?
- Does a certificate of higher education and a diploma make a degree
- transfer from open university
- Applying to SOAS
- Applying to a brick university as a mature student
- ICE Cambridge. What rights do ICE students have?
- Psychology with counselling open university
- OU masters vs diploma in engineering
- Do I still get ucas points?
- University Finance and Application Help - OU to Brick Uni after 1 year
- 存档可查（美国ou毕业证书）奥克兰大学毕业证如何办理q/微1954292140原版仿制奥克兰大学毕业证书成绩单电子版|高仿美国ou文凭学位证书|奥克兰大学中留服认证证书|
- Disaster please help! HESA ID
- Studying at OU and applying at a Dutch university
- Can I get into King's College Physiotherapy BsC Hons with a D*D*D* in Sport?
- ESG Management MSc - King's college London
- Btec applied science , help!!!
- BTEC level 3 certificate in sport vs extended diploma
- Does KCL Accept wjec criminology diploma?
OU Certificates and Diplomas
Hi, anyone able to help me out here.
The National Qualifications Framework is used to define the level of each type of qualification.
e.g. GCSE's A-C are level 2, A levels are level 3, BaHons are around level 6.
The open university offers a range of good-lookin' courses...in many cases you can get around 60 points for a 'certificate' 120 for a diploma and lots more for a whole degree.
I am wondering whether an OU certificate is on the NQF and what level it is. I know that 'Certificates of higher education' are level 4 which is higher than A level. I'm looking to take a languages certificate or A level during my gap year: my problem therefore is which course is higher up the NQF?
I know the OU offers a childcare course which is a certificate of higher education, but I'm not sure if the other certificates are the same sort.
I will be using the A level or OU certificate when I apply to university and obviously if an OU cert is higher then I would rather take that course... anyone know the solution, having taken a certificate etc? Anyone from the OU?
Thanks for your time
Your a 
The National Qualifications Framework is used to define the level of each type of qualification.
e.g. GCSE's A-C are level 2, A levels are level 3, BaHons are around level 6.
The open university offers a range of good-lookin' courses...in many cases you can get around 60 points for a 'certificate' 120 for a diploma and lots more for a whole degree.
I am wondering whether an OU certificate is on the NQF and what level it is. I know that 'Certificates of higher education' are level 4 which is higher than A level. I'm looking to take a languages certificate or A level during my gap year: my problem therefore is which course is higher up the NQF?
I know the OU offers a childcare course which is a certificate of higher education, but I'm not sure if the other certificates are the same sort.
I will be using the A level or OU certificate when I apply to university and obviously if an OU cert is higher then I would rather take that course... anyone know the solution, having taken a certificate etc? Anyone from the OU?
Thanks for your time
Your a Hi,
I've just completed the OU course Discovering Science (S103). If I have passed this, I will be eligible to claim a Certificate in Natural Sciences. S103 is a level 1 course. The OU state that level 1 courses are equivalent to the first yr of a degree at a brick uni. However, I don't think this is true. Having completed science A-levels in 2001, I'd say that S103 is equivalent to A-level material and touches on first year undergraduate material.
Do you have A-levels already or will your uni application depend upon the qualification you choose to pursue during your gap year?
I've just completed the OU course Discovering Science (S103). If I have passed this, I will be eligible to claim a Certificate in Natural Sciences. S103 is a level 1 course. The OU state that level 1 courses are equivalent to the first yr of a degree at a brick uni. However, I don't think this is true. Having completed science A-levels in 2001, I'd say that S103 is equivalent to A-level material and touches on first year undergraduate material.
Do you have A-levels already or will your uni application depend upon the qualification you choose to pursue during your gap year?
I am thinking of studying the Certificate in Astronomy there. Depending if I can do it in 1 year if not I might try Cambridge's one.
Lotts
Hi,
I've just completed the OU course Discovering Science (S103). If I have passed this, I will be eligible to claim a Certificate in Natural Sciences. S103 is a level 1 course. The OU state that level 1 courses are equivalent to the first yr of a degree at a brick uni. However, I don't think this is true. Having completed science A-levels in 2001, I'd say that S103 is equivalent to A-level material and touches on first year undergraduate material.
Do you have A-levels already or will your uni application depend upon the qualification you choose to pursue during your gap year?
I've just completed the OU course Discovering Science (S103). If I have passed this, I will be eligible to claim a Certificate in Natural Sciences. S103 is a level 1 course. The OU state that level 1 courses are equivalent to the first yr of a degree at a brick uni. However, I don't think this is true. Having completed science A-levels in 2001, I'd say that S103 is equivalent to A-level material and touches on first year undergraduate material.
Do you have A-levels already or will your uni application depend upon the qualification you choose to pursue during your gap year?
I want to do a Certificate in French at the OU. Would a uni accept this as replacement for an A-level in French (which I don't have)?
Spunkal Trumpet
I want to do a Certificate in French at the OU. Would a uni accept this as replacement for an A-level in French (which I don't have)?
Ask their admissions department, though I'm sure they will accept it.
I have some documentation that tries to answer the academic equivalence of an OU module.
It says that the answer is not straightforward.
It says that there are 3 major points to be considered academic rigour / notional study hours and course content.
In the case of comparing NVQs with University study, equivalence is further complicated due to the vocational nature of NVQs.
NVQ's are considered to be at the folloing levels:
NVQ3 is equivalent level to 'A' Level study.
NVQ4 is the equivalent level to 2nd year undergraduate study (level 2).
NVQ5 is the equivalent level to 3rd year undergraduate study (level 3).
Level 1's equate to being the first year of undergraduate degree study.
OU study is at undergraduate level and therefore in nature beyond that of 'A'
level study in general.
OU undergraduate study is accepted by many authorities as demonstrating competencies equal to and beyond GCSE and 'A' level study and is accepted by many universities as suitable for entry onto teacher training programes.
Courses prefixed with the letter A or D are acceptable replacements for GCSE or A-level English
Courses prefixed with the letter M or T are acceptable replacements for GCSE or A-level Maths
Courses prefixed with the letter S are acceptable as replacement for GCSE or A-level Maths/Science
So reading all of this I would draw the conclusion that 1 OU module at level 1 is roughly equivalent to an NVQ3 and a bit (but under an NVQ 4).
Sue
It says that the answer is not straightforward.
It says that there are 3 major points to be considered academic rigour / notional study hours and course content.
In the case of comparing NVQs with University study, equivalence is further complicated due to the vocational nature of NVQs.
NVQ's are considered to be at the folloing levels:
NVQ3 is equivalent level to 'A' Level study.
NVQ4 is the equivalent level to 2nd year undergraduate study (level 2).
NVQ5 is the equivalent level to 3rd year undergraduate study (level 3).
Level 1's equate to being the first year of undergraduate degree study.
OU study is at undergraduate level and therefore in nature beyond that of 'A'
level study in general.
OU undergraduate study is accepted by many authorities as demonstrating competencies equal to and beyond GCSE and 'A' level study and is accepted by many universities as suitable for entry onto teacher training programes.
Courses prefixed with the letter A or D are acceptable replacements for GCSE or A-level English
Courses prefixed with the letter M or T are acceptable replacements for GCSE or A-level Maths
Courses prefixed with the letter S are acceptable as replacement for GCSE or A-level Maths/Science
So reading all of this I would draw the conclusion that 1 OU module at level 1 is roughly equivalent to an NVQ3 and a bit (but under an NVQ 4).
Sue
I'm sorry for asking this and it might seem a stupid question but i didnt know where to ask it so here goes:
as the courses are in modules and you gain points.. if you gain say 3 diplomas at 120 points each after a few years of studying with the OU could you trade them in for a degree of 360 points?!?!
as the courses are in modules and you gain points.. if you gain say 3 diplomas at 120 points each after a few years of studying with the OU could you trade them in for a degree of 360 points?!?!
Yes, you can
Hmmm I've forgotten to think about studying at the OU whilst in full time employment. Might take it up still.
At a brick uni you'd usually need 120 points (1 years study) to get a certificate but with the OU you can get a certificate of Social sciences, science or Humanities with just 60 points.
I was wondering, if you complete a diploma (240 points) do you get a graduation ceremony?
I was wondering, if you complete a diploma (240 points) do you get a graduation ceremony?
Rosy Harper
I was wondering, if you complete a diploma (240 points) do you get a graduation ceremony?
Did you ever find out the answer to that?
I have since looked at Cambridge and Oxford more since many of the subjects they do I can't at GCE 'A' level. The Advanced Diploma at Oxford looked good but I left it too late to apply. :/ The main problem would be expense.
I wonder what universities' approach on students who undertake these courses as an alternative or an addition to current or previous academic qualifications such as GCE 'A' levels. If I knew these existed after completing my GCSEs I wouldn't have bothered picking subjects I just used asa filler and pick a subject I really enjoyed. Why I bothered with maths is beyond me.
Related discussions
- Open University
- How to be a counsellor with OU degree
- Is anyone doing open uni 2024?
- Does a certificate of higher education and a diploma make a degree
- transfer from open university
- Applying to SOAS
- Applying to a brick university as a mature student
- ICE Cambridge. What rights do ICE students have?
- Psychology with counselling open university
- OU masters vs diploma in engineering
- Do I still get ucas points?
- University Finance and Application Help - OU to Brick Uni after 1 year
- 存档可查（美国ou毕业证书）奥克兰大学毕业证如何办理q/微1954292140原版仿制奥克兰大学毕业证书成绩单电子版|高仿美国ou文凭学位证书|奥克兰大学中留服认证证书|
- Disaster please help! HESA ID
- Studying at OU and applying at a Dutch university
- Can I get into King's College Physiotherapy BsC Hons with a D*D*D* in Sport?
- ESG Management MSc - King's college London
- Btec applied science , help!!!
- BTEC level 3 certificate in sport vs extended diploma
- Does KCL Accept wjec criminology diploma?
Latest
Trending
Last reply 1 month ago
Help with Completing My Degree – 220 Credits, Need 20 More for Level 5Last reply 3 months ago
Has anyone taken B126 Business data analytics & decision making with Open University?Last reply 4 months ago
Open Uni - Question regarding start date and modules per yearLast reply 5 months ago
Does Open Uni Maths allow progression into post-grad studies?
