CertHE Courses

CertHEs can be taken part-time or full time, and you can take a certificate of higher education in numerous subjects such as maths, law, computing and engineering. Most CertHE courses will function in a similar way to the first academic year of a university undergraduate programme, whereby assessments will be in the form of coursework, group-work and classroom participation. 

Why should I take a CertHE?

Taking a certificate of higher education is the first step to being able to proceed further into academia and higher education, and upon successful completion, your certificate of higher education proves that you are capable of handling academic pressures at a more advanced level. 

Once your certificate of higher education is complete, you can choose to go onto a full-time undergraduate degree with the knowledge that you completed a year of study and are adept to the learning environment at higher education level. A CertHE course is less of a commitment than the three or four years that you are obligated to sign up to at the undergraduate level, which makes a CertHE the perfect option for those who are interested in university, but not entirely convinced yet to commit three to four years on one subject. 

How can I take a CertHE?

The entry requirements for a certificate of higher education vary depending on the subject, but certain universities will ask for something by way of academic qualification, perhaps an A-Level in your chosen – or a related – subject, or significant work experience during the application process. Other institutions might ask for UCAS points instead, whereas some institutions have no entry requirements for their courses at all. This makes it the perfect option for those without academic or scholarly qualifications keen to begin a progressive path into university or further education.

CertHE courses can be taken online as well as in classrooms, and many who wish to study around work or family commitments opt for the former. Course fees will depend on the subject and provider of the programme.

What can I do after a CertHE course?

After a CertHE course of one year, students can fast-track into the second year of an undergraduate degree programme at their chosen university. Others can simply use a certificate of higher education for their CV, enhancing their employability by demonstrating their interest in the subject as well as their love of skills and expertise. A certificate of higher education can also be ‘banked’ once complete, to be used in the future as a stepping-stone to further study, potentially to progress towards a bachelor’s degree or an honours degree.