Your Options Explained
Whether you are leaving school and planning your next step, looking to progress on to a university programme or want to retrain or up-skill to boost your career, the options and qualifications available to you are vast.
School leavers
It is mandatory for a young person completing their GCSEs at 16 to stay in either further education (A-levels, diplomas or baccalaureates), an apprenticeship or a job with substantial training until the age of 18. GCSEs are benchmarked at Level 2, so on the whole courses available to you are Level 2 or 3 upon completion of GCSEs, dependent on your grade profile. See our chart to see these further education qualifications explained
Industry Placements
An Industry Placement is a new opportunity to improve your employability skills and get industry relevant experience, you may be able to take part in this scheme as part of your full-time study programme. Currently placements are available in these subject areas:
- Agriculture & Environment
- Animal Care
- Business & Administration
- Catering & Hospitality
- Construction
- Creative & Design
- Digital
- Education & Childcare
- Engineering & Manufacturing
- Hair & Beauty
- Health & Science
- Legal, Finance & Accounting
You need to commit to a minimum of 45 days of work experience, in an Industry Placement, in a one year period. Our Skills to Business Team have worked with local employers to ensure you have a wide choice of placements available (both paid and voluntary), they must be in the same sector as the qualification you are currently studying.
To find our more get in touch: workexperience@cornwall.ac.uk
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University study
We offer the widest range of foundation degrees in the region (the first two years of a full degree), BSc and BA Honours degrees, higher national certificates and diplomas plus select postgraduate study. Our degree programmes are run in partnership with Plymouth University, The University of St Mark & St John and Falmouth University. We also offer a range of Access to Higher Education diplomas, if you need to gain extra qualifications to gain entry onto degree programmes.
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Adults returning to learn
We have a broad range of practical skills training, apprenticeships and professional qualifications, that are available to you either full- or part-time. These are often available in the evening so you can study around work and family commitments. Often as an adult you do not need specific prior qualifications to study our courses, as we take into consideration your prior work and life experience. We also offer short return to study coaching programmes to help you freshen up those study skills.
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