A levels are one route into higher education. They are the most visible and the most discussed, and they are the route the Tariff describes most easily, but they are not the majority route for adults and they are not the only route for eighteen-year-olds. This guide sets out the alternatives honestly, including the one this site is paid to recruit for, and says plainly which ones carry points and which do not.
Vocational Level 3 qualifications
BTEC Nationals, Cambridge Technicals and T Levels are all on the UCAS Tariff, and at the top grades they match A levels point for point. They are taken at school or college over two years, assessed by coursework and, increasingly, by some external assessment, and accepted by most universities for most courses that quote points.
They are the strongest alternative for someone aged 16 to 18 who does not want three examined subjects. They are less useful for someone who is already 20 and working, because they are structured for full-time college study.
Access to HE Diploma
The Access to HE Diploma is designed for adults, usually 19 and over, who left school without Level 3 qualifications. It is a one-year, full-time or part-time course at a further education college, 60 credits in size, validated by regional agencies under the QAA.
It does carry UCAS Tariff points, scored credit by credit across the 45 graded credits. All Distinctions gives 144, all Merits 96, all Passes 48, and most real results fall between. Universities know it well and many have specific Access offers. Some subject-specific Access courses, in nursing or science for example, are the standard adult route into those degrees.
If you are an adult and you want a university degree by the conventional route, an Access course is usually the first thing to look at.
University foundation years
Many universities run a Year 0, sometimes called an integrated foundation year, attached to specific degrees. You apply through UCAS, often with lower requirements than the degree itself, complete the foundation year at the university, and progress to Year 1 if you pass.
Foundation years carry no Tariff points of their own, because they are not a qualification; they are the first year of a four-year degree. They are a good route if you know the university and the subject, and can commit to four years. They are also charged at full undergraduate fees.
Direct entry with experience
Some universities will admit mature applicants on the strength of work experience, a portfolio or an interview, without Level 3 qualifications. This is most common in creative subjects, in part-time and distance degrees, and at institutions with a stated commitment to adult learners. It is entirely at the university's discretion, it is rarer than people hope, and it cannot be planned around.
Higher and degree apprenticeships
An apprenticeship at Level 4 and above combines paid work with study towards a qualification, sometimes a full degree. Entry requirements are set by the employer and vary widely; some want A levels or equivalents, others accept Level 2 plus experience. There are no UCAS points involved, because you apply to the employer, not through UCAS. Competition for the best-known schemes is intense.
Level 3 diploma, then Level 4 through a centre
This is the route delivered by the London School of Planning and Management (LSPM), the approved centre this site acts as an independent recruitment agent for, so read this section knowing that we have an interest in it.
OTHM and Qualifi offer Level 3 diplomas, regulated by Ofqual, in subjects from business and law to health and social care, computing and engineering. They are assignment-assessed, can be studied online, blended or in the evening, and are open from age 16 or 18 depending on the awarding body, with no grade requirements.
They do not carry UCAS Tariff points. Completing one does not give you a points total and does not meet a points-based university offer. What it does is make you eligible for a Level 4 diploma at LSPM. Level 4 is the first year of higher education on the qualifications framework; Level 5 is the second. Some universities then consider Level 5 diploma holders for entry to the final year of a related degree, and a few will consider Level 3 or Level 4 diploma holders for first-year entry, each at its own discretion.
The route suits people who want to start now, study flexibly, avoid examinations and reach degree-level study step by step. It does not suit anyone who needs a particular university, a regulated profession such as nursing or teaching, or a points total for an offer already in hand.
Choosing
Ask yourself three questions. Do you need points for a specific offer? If yes, only the Tariff-scored routes will do. Are you 19 or over and able to study full-time for a year? If yes, look hard at Access to HE. Do you want to study while working and reach Level 4 without going through UCAS? Then the Level 3 diploma route is worth a conversation, and we will tell you if it is not the right one, before anything goes to LSPM.