BTEC National Qualifications
A Guide for Higher Education
Admissions Staff
Enhancing Progression Opportunities
for Vocational Learners
September 2009
CONTENTS
Introduction 1
Structure 2
Duration of Course 2
Entry Requirements 2
Assessment 2
Unit Grading 3
Overall Grading 3
UCAS Tariff 3
Functional Skills 3
Other BTEC Qualifications 3
The Future 4
Progression Agreements 4
1. Introduction
BTEC qualifications have been running for twenty five
years and are offered by the Edexcel awarding body,
created in 1996 by a merger of BTEC and the University of
London Examinations and Assessment Council. BTEC
remains a brand and is offered only by Edexcel. In 2007,
more than one million students enrolled on a BTEC
course.
The level 3 BTEC National qualifications are work
related qualifications which aim both to accommodate
the needs of employers and to allow progression to
university. They provide work related learning with key
theoretical background, and are based on relevant
National Occupational Standards (NOS) as determined by
sector skills councils.
BTECs are flexible, enabling students to study them
full-time or part-time. They can be taken as well as, or in
place of, GCSEs and A levels in schools and colleges, as
part of an apprenticeship or as part of the Additional
Specialist Learning (ASL) component of the new
Advanced Diploma.
Teaching of the new BTEC qualifications in their
current form began in September 2002. They are
currently undergoing further development to be
accredited onto the new national Qualifications and
Credit Framework (QCF) from September 2010.
The BTEC National qualification is at NQF (National
Qualifications Framework) level 3 and is expected to be
accredited onto the QCF at level 3 (broadly equivalent to
A levels).
1
BTEC National Qualifications
2. Structure including GCSE English or Key Skills Communication 6. Unit Grading Grade Tariff Points
The BTEC National has three ‘sizes’: Award, Certificate Level 2 or equivalent. Sometimes five GCSE passes or All assessment for BTEC Nationals is criterion
Diploma Certificate Award
and Diploma. Maths or Science GCSEs may be specified, or for some referenced, based on the achievement of specified
DDD 360
The BTEC National Award: The 6-unit National Award subjects a portfolio. learning outcomes. Each unit has specified criteria
seeks to provide a unit-based specialist qualification Alternatively a BTEC First Diploma may offer entry which are used for grading. DDM 320
that focuses on particular aspects of employment with a minimum overall grade specified. Mature DMM 280
within a vocational sector. students may be admitted with other relevant level 2 A summative unit grade can be awarded at pass, MMM DD 240
The BTEC National Certificate: The 12-unit National qualifications and knowledge and experience in the merit or distinction: MMP DM 200
Certificate seeks to provide a specialist work-related relevant sector or industry. • to achieve a ‘pass’ a learner must have satisfied all MPP MM 160
qualification that covers the key knowledge and the pass criteria PPP MP D 120
practical skills required in a vocational sector and 5. Assessment • to achieve a ‘merit’ a learner must additionally PP M 80
also offer a different emphasis through the choice of Each unit is assessed and graded through have satisfied all the merit criteria
P 40
specialist units. It is broadly equivalent to two GCE A assignments. All units are internally assessed and • to achieve a ‘distinction’ a learner must addition-
levels. assessments are constructed by the delivering organ- ally have satisfied all the distinction criteria.
The BTEC National Diploma: The 18-unit National isation. Students will complete a range of 9. Functional Skills
Diploma extends and deepens the specialist focus assignments, case studies and practical activities. 7. Overall Grading At the moment functional or keys skills are not an
available in the 12-unit Certificate. The qualification All assessment is quality assured through internal integral part of BTEC Nationals, although they do
prepares learners for employment in the sector. It is verification and Edexcel carry out external verification BTEC National Award provide the opportunity to achieve them.
broadly equivalent to three GCE A levels. activities (including sampling assessors’ decisions Is given a single grade of Pass, Merit or With the advent of key and functional skills the
using sector-specialist external verifiers). Distinction e.g. P, M,D. ‘Common Skills’ which the BTEC Nationals contained
3. Duration of Course in the past were removed from the qualification.
A BTEC National Diploma will generally take two years BTEC National Certificate Universities will therefore separately specify entry
Is given a double grade e.g. PP, MP, DD.
to complete by full time study. requirements for degree courses in terms of GCSE
However, being a unit based qualification, the BTEC National Diploma Maths and/or English or equivalents.
actual duration of the course is flexible, dependent Is given a triple grade e.g. PPP, MMP, DDD.
on the size and level of the qualification and whether 10. Other BTEC Qualifications
it is studied full or part time. The mode of study is
determined by the provider. 8. BTEC Nationals included in the UCAS Tariff Level 1
BTEC Introductory
A BTEC National Award is equivalent to one GCE A
4.Entry requirements at FE colleges for BTEC Level (or two AS Levels), a BTEC National Certificate to Level 2
BTEC First
Nationals two GCE A levels and a BTEC National Diploma to
Entry requirements will vary but are generally a three GCE A Levels. Level 3
BTEC National
minimum of four GCSE passes at Grade C or above,
Actual tariff points are determined by the overall Level 4 (some at level 5)
BTEC Higher National Certificate (HNC)
Award Certificate Diploma grade. Where, for example, a learner has achieved an
overall grade profile of 3 Merits - MMM - in the BTEC Level 4 and 5
Units 6 units 12 units 18 units BTEC Higher National Diploma (HND)
National Diploma this provides a learner with 3 A
Equivalent to One GCE A level Two GCE A levels Three GCE A levels
Level equivalence and 240 UCAS points.
Breadth Choice of specialist units Deepened specialist focus
2 3
BTEC National Qualifications
11. The Future
When the BTEC National is accredited onto the QCF
from October 2010 the structure of the qualification
will be based upon the number of credits (based
upon the number and size of units achieved) as
opposed to the number of units themselves.
Furthermore, the titles will be amended to reflect the
qualification nomenclature of the QCF.
The BTEC document BTEC in the Future highlights
the use of the BTEC National as part of Additional
Specialist Learning on the new 14-19 Diploma. Addi-
tionally, once on the QCF, both qualifications and
units could be part of the potential flexibility of the
QCF for learners.
12. Progression Agreements
As one of its core activities to support progression
into higher education, Linking London LLN brokers
and develops progression agreements between FE
and HE institutions, which make clear entry require-
ments for BTEC National students and how applicants
can expect to be treated in terms of offers, interviews
and feedback. They also help to develop the ongoing
relationships between course teams including
discussing curricular issues.
13. Further Information
For further information please contact:
[email protected], 0207 380 3223 or visit
www.linkinglondon.co.uk
Alternatively visit Edexcel’s pages at
www.edexcel.com
This guide was prepared in collaboration with Edexcel
by David Saunders, Credit and Progression Manager,
Linking London Lifelong Learning Network,
[email protected]4
The Linking London Lifelong Learning Network is a
membership organisation of thirty five universities
and colleges in Central, East and North London which
aims to improve the progression of vocational learners
into and through Higher Education. We are funded by
the Higher Education Funding Council for England
(HEFCE) and are hosted at Birkbeck, University of
London, Egmont House, 25-31 Tavistock Place,
London, WC1H 9UT. If you found this guidance
document useful or would like to discuss our work in
the area of vocational learning, please contact:
[email protected] or 0207 380 3223
www.linkinglondon.ac.uk
