Something for everyone
Shrewsbury Colleges Group offers a wide range of subjects and has a qualification or course for you, whatever your situation. We offer academic excellence at our Welsh and English Bridge campuses and vocational excellence at our London Road Campus.
No matter what level you are at, we will have something appropriate for you, whether that be A Levels, T Levels, Vocational Diplomas, Higher Education, Apprenticeships, GCSEs in Maths and English, or our Preparation Route Programmes. We also offer a broad range of part-time courses for those wishing to develop a skill or hobby. The jargon can be confusing, so below we have aimed to explain what the various qualifications are. Please contact us or attend our next Advice Event if we can help clarify this further.
Choices vary with different levels but you can choose to study:
- A Levels
- Vocational subjects (sometimes combined with A Levels)
- T Levels
- Subjects on a full-time or part-time basis
- Apprenticeships
- Higher university / degree-level courses
A Levels
A Levels will suit you if you perform well in exams, if you want to study a range of subjects, or if you have a particular career in mind which requires specific A Level qualifications. A Levels are two-year courses with assessment through exams at the end of that period. Although mostly exam-based, some subjects, such as the arts, include ongoing projects and
coursework.
We offer the widest choice of A Levels in the region; you can choose from 38 A Levels, including 4 A Level equivalent courses. An academic study programme will typically consist of three courses. If you have mainly Grade 7 or above at GCSE, you may want to consider studying four A Levels to stretch yourself or to improve your chances of a place at a competitive university or on a competitive course. One of the advantages of our A Level programme is that as one of the largest colleges in the country, you will be able to study almost any combination of three subjects - you won’t find that your choices are restricted because of timetable clashes. There are however three subject combinations that are not allowed by exam boards:
- A Level Combined English with either A Level English Literature or A Level English Language
- A Level Business with CTECH Extended Certificate Business
- A Level Modern History and A Level Medieval History.
You can study both English Literature and English Language, but this would only be advisable if you intended to study English at university. If you want to study A Level Further Maths you must also study A Level Maths and will typically need to study four A Levels.
- A Level entry requirements
To study A Levels, you need a minimum of five GCSEs at Grade 4† or above, including English Language. If you do not gain a Grade 4 or higher in GCSE Maths, you will have to study GCSE Maths alongside your A Levels. There are additional entry requirements for some subjects which are set out on the right. If these prevent you from studying a subject that is central to your progression plans after A Level, we will help you explore alternative routes. Each subject page also states the specific entry requirements.
You will need five GCSEs at Grade 4† or above, including Maths, to study these subjects:
- Applied Science CTECH
- Business A Level and CTECH
- Geography
- Geology
- Physical Education
- Product Design
- Psychology
† For those applying from Welsh schools, this is Grade C. If you have overseas qualifications then please check with our Admissions team, who will do a comparison with UKNARIC to check if your qualifications are GCSE equivalent.
You will need five GCSEs at Grades 4 or above and specific entry requirements to study these subjects:
- Fine Art, Graphic Communication, Photography, and Textiles: 4 or above in an art and design subject. If you have not studied a GCSE art and design subject you will be considered on an individual basis. You will need to demonstrate your interest in the subject through a visual portfolio.
- Applied Science: 4 or above in any two sciences or 4:4 in Combined Science.
- Biology: 5 or above in two sciences including Biology or 5:5 or above in Combined Science, 5 or above in Maths.
- Business: 4 or above in Business (if taken at GCSE).
- Chemistry: 5 or above in two sciences including Chemistry or 5:5 or above in Combined Science, 5 or above in Maths.
- Computer Science: 5 or above in Maths, 4 or above in Computer Science (if taken at GCSE).
- Economics: 5 or above in Maths.
- Electronics: 5 or above in Physics or 5:5 or above in Combined Science, 5 or above in Maths.
- English Language, English Literature, English Language & Literature: 4 or above in English Literature.
- French, German and Spanish: 5 or above in the language to be studied or proven linguistic ability.
- Geography: 4 or above in Geography (if taken at GCSE.)
- Geology: 4 or above in Chemistry or Physics or 4:4 or above in Combined Science.
- History: 4 or above in History (if taken at GCSE).
- Maths: 7 or above in Maths.
- Further Maths: 7 or above in Maths.
- Music: At the start of the course you must be able to play an instrument or sing to Grade 4 standard or higher. (If no graded exam results are available, you will be required to audition.)
- Physical Education: 5 or above in Biology or 5:5 or above in Combined Science.
- Physics: 5 or above in two sciences including Physics OR 5:5 or above in Combined Science, 5 or above in Maths.
- Psychology: 4 or above in any science or 4:4 or above in Combined Science.
- Statistics: 5 or above in Maths.
Vocational courses
Our vocational courses give you the knowledge, skills, work experience and qualifications to progress to higher education, an apprenticeship, or into full-time employment. They also provide employability skills that will give you a head start in your chosen career. Our vocational courses are almost all taught at our London Road Campus, except vocational arts courses, which are taught at the English Bridge Campus. Depending on your GCSE achievement and equivalent qualifications, you will start your course at Levels 1, 2 or 3, though in some trades, everyone starts at Level 1 or 2 regardless of their qualifications, as you need to build up your industry-specific skills before progressing to an advanced level.
Extended Diplomas are two-year courses that allow you to progress to higher education or employment. They are worth three A Levels and are highly valued by both universities and employers. It may be possible, in some cases, to study an A Level alongside an Extended Diploma. You will need to have achieved the entry requirements for the course, typically four GCSEs at Grades 9 to 4, though individual subjects have different specific requirements.
Vocational courses in Hair, Beauty, Construction Trades, Fabrication & Welding, Engineering, Motor Vehicle, and Hospitality & Catering require specific manual skills and you will start studying at either Level 1 or Level 2 regardless of your grades at GCSE.
- Vocational entry requirements
Our vocational courses have different entry requirements. As many of the courses help to develop skills for a trade, there are differing levels of academic qualifications or experience required and these requirements are entirely dependent on the course itself. However, with a number of courses, there is no minimum number of GCSE grades required. Please refer to the individual course page for further details.
Level 3
This could be either T Levels, Extended Diploma, Diploma or Subsidiary. Normally taken over two years and suitable if you have gained four or more GCSEs at Grade 4 or above or have passed a Level 2 qualification with an overall Merit or Distinction, with either Maths or English at Grade 4 or above. Higher entry requirements are needed for some subject areas. However, a Level 3 course can be one year if it is as a progression from Level 2 in trade and skill areas.
Level 2
A one-year course, suitable if you have achieved some GCSEs at Grades 3-1 or have passed a Level 1 qualification. For some subjects, this is the first Level based on skills development (see specific course pages for details.) You can then progress to Level 3 courses or an apprenticeship.
Level 1
A one-year course in vocational skills subject areas. It is often the starting point, regardless of previous academic qualifications and experience, and helps you to develop trade skills. You can work at your own pace and develop Level 2 skills within that first year. Progression to Level 2 as a second year is required for employment or can be studied as an apprenticeship.
T Levels
T Levels or Technical Levels are ground-breaking new qualifications equivalent to 3 A Levels. T Levels offer students a mixture of classroom learning and on-the-job experience during an industry placement of at least 315 hours (approximately 45 days).
T Levels have been developed in collaboration with employers and businesses so that the content meets the needs of the industry and prepares students for work, training, or further study. They are ideal if you have completed your GCSEs and want to continue your studies, but also want to get into a skilled job. T Levels are also great if you prefer a practical approach to your studies. They enable you to gain knowledge and build experience at the same time, ideal if you are focused on a particular career or work skills and want to progress to university, further training, an apprenticeship, or employment.
Entry / Level 1
Equivalent to BTEC Introductory Diploma and NVQ Level 1
These courses are normally for one year and are suitable if you do not have the entry requirements for Level 2 qualifications or if you wish to do a technical qualification you have no previous experience in.
Level 2
Equivalent to 4 or 5 GCSEs, NVQ Level 2 or BTEC First Diploma
Usually, one year and is suitable if you have achieved some GCSEs at grades D-G or have passed a Level 1 qualification. Entry criteria grade 3.
Level 3
Equivalent to A Level, BTEC National Diploma or NVQ Level 3
Normally taken over two years and are suitable if you have gained four or more GCSEs at grade C or above or have passed a Level 2 qualification with overall merit or distinction. Entry criteria grades 4.
Level 4 / Level 5
Equivalent to HNC, HND, Foundation degree
This is a higher level qualification and during year 2 of a Level 3 course, you may work towards units of a Level 4 qualification with the option of continuing with this the following year. Many students do progress from a Level 3 course to a HE course.
NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications)
Based on an area of work and the skills needed to do a specific job within that area. They are available at Levels 1-5 and assess the competency and knowledge required to do a particular job. NVQs can be studied full-time in subjects such as Hairdressing and Catering, where the College can provide a realistic working environment. NVQs are also available through work-based learning, where students split their time between college and work, perhaps on an Apprenticeship programme.
Professional Industry-recognised qualifications
A range of well-respected and widely recognised qualifications are offered in professions such as Accountancy, Administration, Beauty Therapy, Catering, Childcare, Construction, Hairdressing and Teaching. These courses are often available from Level 2 to Level 6 and include AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians), and CACHE (The Council for Awards in Children's Care and Education).
Apprenticeships
These work-based learning courses give you the opportunity to earn money with an employer whilst attending college. View the occupational areas we offer apprenticeships in.
Preparation Routes
There is a range of Pre-entry programmes for young people who need more time to explore their options and develop Maths/English and communication skills. These routes prepare you for both full-time studies, employment and Apprenticeships. The core subject is employability skills and based on individual circumstances and interests can include time in a variety of vocational subjects working to awards where appropriate.