Level 4 Courses

What are Level 4 courses?

Level 4 courses are more in-depth than A-Levels, and as they are equal to the first year of an undergraduate degree, will contain the same level of complexity as a degree would. Level 4 courses are a great way for you to find out whether you’d like to go on to complete a degree program, or whether you’d rather gain the qualification and go directly into the workplace.

Many Level 4 courses are more vocational than bachelor’s degrees and are more diverse in terms of the amount of work experience, the course materials and the payment options. You can study in class at a local college or university, or online here at CoursesOnline. The following are just a few examples of what Level 4 courses you can study:

• AAT Level 4 Professional Diploma in Accounting
• Health and Social Care (University Levels 4 and 5)
• Pearson HND in Business Management
• CMI Level 4 Award in Management and Leadership
• IDM Award in Digital Marketing

You can study all of the above online, from anywhere in the UK, in the learning environment that suits you. These flexible distance learning courses allow you to work around your current schedule, working as and when you can to complete your studies. 

The courses vary in their length, ranging from a certain number of hours and several weeks to 1.5 years. Higher National Certificates and other standard Level 4 courses often take a year full time or two years part-time. The time it takes to complete your course will depend on the requirements for the qualification, the type of subject and the depth of the units included.

What are the entry requirements?

The entry requirements for a level 4 course vary depending on the subject. For example, a Level 4 Certificate in Management may require all students to be presently employed in a leadership role. Some subjects also require prior knowledge in the form of a level 3 qualification or other further education qualifications such as A-Levels in any subject. 

Some courses also have lower requirements such as entry-level qualifications or GCSEs including English and maths. However, if you have no previous experience and are not employed in the field you are studying either, then you can still enrol on some courses such as the Level 4 Teaching Assistant Course and use this qualification to get a head start in a career you want.

What can I do after a level 4 course?

Upon completion of this course, there are a variety of options available to you. When you complete a vocational level 4 course such as a Diploma in Education and Training, you can go straight into work, building up your work experience and going on to study a higher apprenticeship or teaching qualification. Level 4 courses are a great way into higher-level qualifications and allow you to go on to study a foundation degree or a bachelor’s, provided successful completion of your level 4 course.