How to gain qualifications while you work
Posted on 10th June 2024 at 14:58
There are a variety of ways in which you can gain qualifications while you work, with partners throughout the Lincolnshire Institute of Technology (LIoT) offering flexible courses to help you to develop your vocational skills while still earning an income.
Higher technical qualifications (HTQs)
Higher technical qualifications are level 4 and 5 technical qualifications designed by employers to enhance the existing skills and training of their employees. Typically, HTQs help learners progress to more advanced roles that require a higher level of technical skill and understanding.
HTQs are designed for those 18 and over and already in employment, offering a well-recognised qualification that’s widely observed by employers within science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) based industries. Employers may wish to enrol existing staff onto HTQs to ensure they have the relevant skills and experience necessary to competently carry out their roles, or learners can enrol themselves.
HTQs take approximately one to two years to complete but can be studied part-time to enable flexibility, so you can learn around your other work or personal commitments.
You can apply to HTQ courses through colleges directly, or apply through UCAS. At LIoT, our partners can provide HTQs in a variety of fields such as computing, construction and health and science.
Higher National Certificates/Diplomas (HNC/Ds)
HNC/Ds are level 4 and 5 vocational qualifications that help you develop practical skills and enhance your capabilities, and they are particularly valued by STEM employers.
Enrolling onto an HNC/D course will develop your workplace skills and make you become more efficient and productive. Employers may wish to financially support you through this.
HNCs typically take one year to complete full-time, or for individuals already in employment and looking to take on additional qualifications part-time, two years. Similarly, HNDs take two years to complete full-time, or four years part-time.
Our partners offer a range of HNC/Ds in sectors such as mechanics, engineering, manufacturing, agriculture and digital technologies. You can apply to these courses directly through the colleges and universities directly. Colleges typically ask for at least one A-level or equivalent qualification to enrol.
Foundation Degrees (FDs)
A foundation degree (FD) is a flexible, level 5 qualification which enables you to gain workplace skills whilst gaining an undergraduate qualification. FDs are vocational and enhance your technical skills, providing you with critical experience and expertise for when you either enter the workforce, change career or upskill.
There are two types of FDs; courses for people already in employment, wishing to study alongside their current work, or courses for people who are looking to emerge into a particular area of employment.
You must be aged 18 or over to enrol onto an FD, and they take approximately two years to complete, although they can also be completed part-time over a longer period to enable flexibility and so you can work while studying. Our partners offer FDs in food science and technology, agriculture, farm business management and a variety of other subjects.
You can apply to enrol on an FD course directly through the university or college you wish to study at.
Apprenticeships
At LIoT, we work alongside our partners to deliver level 3 apprenticeships in a variety of sectors. Apprenticeships are real jobs that enable you to earn a salary while acquiring valuable workplace skills.
80% of apprenticeships take place on the job, while a further 20% take place in the classroom, providing you with a mix of real-life experience as well as valuable knowledge relevant to the workplace, suited to those who want to earn while they learn.
Level 3 apprenticeships are for those aged 16 and over and typically take between one and two years to complete. At LIoT, our partners offer a broad range of apprenticeships in fields such as engineering, welding, manufacturing, and digital marketing plus a variety of others.
Ready to pursue a career in STEM? Click the links below for further information on our partners and the variety of courses that they offer:
For information about funding courses and student finance, check the link below:
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