A vocational course is a further education route into a specific career, with studies that relate to the job and the wider sector of choice. The aim of a vocation-based program is to equip learners with the necessary skills to secure a career in their chosen field.
There are three kinds of vocational qualifications:
- Vocational courses: lead to a specific job.
- Vocational subjects: areas of study closely linked to the broader employment focus of the chosen industry.
- Apprenticeships: students train and work in a certain job role, and they are paid as they learn, and work aligns.
Vocational courses are often regarded as a traditional college route, because they lead students directly into work. A vocational course tends to be offered at a Further Education college, and the education provider will have a range of partnerships with local employers. In this way they differ the most from A-levels or higher education, as they fuse work experience with active learning.
Vocational subjects have widened in terms of scope, and there’s an extensive range of options available, giving learners the ability to turn their passions into employment. From marketing, accountancy, engineering science, and many more, learners of all ages can pursue these options as a further education route. This boosts both the chance to begin higher education, and also to secure career progression/employment.
Often regarded as a practical route for students, whereby in most cases study involves first-hand experience, giving students the chance to apply skills they have learned in the relevant career environment. From entry-level all the way through to Level 8 programs, vocational courses cater to a diverse range of experience in applicants.
A vocational course can be the perfect way for young people to make their first step towards a career they may have in mind, or in some cases, they can translate as backing in the form of UCAS points for students applying for higher education. Students who do choose to pursue higher education after having studied a vocational course have the benefit of practical experiences, which can inform the theory based aspect of most university courses. Students who pursue higher education directly after A-Levels may not have the same first-hand experience of the subject they are going to study, and vocational courses can be highly advantageous for this reason.
While most vocational courses are taught in colleges or offered as part of an apprenticeship, some options such as BTECs are taught in schools. Students who study a BTEC in school may also choose to continue studying for other qualifications such as A-Levels.
Whether your goal is to access a career that you have set your sights on, or if you’d like to broaden your skill set and boost your likelihood of securing a place at university, a vocational course could be the perfect option to match your ambition. Utilise the Advanced Course Finder Tool with Enrol today, and pursue your passions.