Courses > Qualifications Explained

Courses in most subject areas are offered at different levels - so there should be something to suit you!

There are three main types of qualification Eunits, courses and group awards.

National Units

National Units can be undertaken at school and at college. There are more than 3,500 units in a wide range of subjects from Agriculture to Zoology. National Units can be built up into National Courses, National Certificates (NCs) and Group Awards. National Units at the various SCQF levels are named: Access 1, 2 & 3, Intermediate 1 & 2, Higher, Advanced Higher. National Units are qualifications in their own right.

National Courses

These are usually made up of three National Units and an external assessment. There are National Courses from SCQF Level 2 to SCQF Level 7.

Groups Awards

National Qualification Group Awards are built up from National Units.

National Certificate (NC)

National Certificates prepare students for employment or further study by developing a range of knowledge and skills.

Scottish Baccalaureate

August 2009 marks the launch of the Scottish Baccalaureates in English and Languages and Maths and Sciences. These advanced level qualifications will combine Highers, Advanced Highers and an Interdisciplinary Project at Advanced Higher level and may become standard entry qualifications for some universities.

Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQ)

SVQs are available to people of all ages. They are designed in consultation with employers and are based on standards set directly by the relevant industry. As a result, they are a guarantee of an individual's ability to do a job of work to an agreed required standard. They are made up of units designed to be assessed in the workplace, or under simulated workplace conditions and are available at five different levels (SVQ Level 1 to SVQ Level 5).

Higher National Certificate (HNC)

HNCs are gained on successful completion of 12 named credits. Langside College offers a wide range of HNC courses on a full-time and part-time basis. To achieve an HNC takes one year of full-time study. You can also study on a part-time basis (part-time day study or evening classes).

Higher National Diploma (HND)

HNDs are gained on successful completion of 30 named credits. They usually take up to two years to complete on a full-time basis. Many HND courses are also available on a part-time basis.

Professional Development Award (PDA)

Langside College offers PDA Awards at Certificate, Advanced Certificate and Diploma level. Certificates may be made up of Higher National Units, National Units, Workplace Assessed Units or a combination of any or all of these. Advanced Certificates and Diplomas are composed of Higher National Units. There are PDAs at SCQF Levels 6 to 12.