Is a cert of HE just a part of a Bachelor?
Posted by justnotmything94@reddit | AskABrit | View on Reddit | 29 comments
I need help about the British education system.
So I applied to a British uni for a bachelor course.
I received a message saying that I did not qualify for the BA, and that I was automatically reassigned to a Certificate of HE course instead.
First I got really mad about this, because I need a bachelor - not a Cert of HE.
But then I checked the uni's website again and realized that the first courses of a bachelor basically align with the Cert of HE.
So is the cert of HE the exact same thing as the first year of a bachelor, and thus just a necessary step for someone who wants to obtain a bachelor's degree?
Hcmp1980@reddit
One year of a full time uni degree course = cert HE
Two years = diploma
Three years = bachelors degree.
So its essentially year 1.
Often you can do your Cert HE, and rather than bank that qualification you carry on to the diploma, then degree. Link building blocks.
Ask if that might be an option for you.
justnotmything94@reddit (OP)
thank you! They do offer it - in fact they automatically signed me up for the cert HE - which annoyed me because I thought it was an additional course 😅 but in that case this is actually a great system! In my country, if you drop out in year 3 of a bachelor, you're left with nothing.
Pyjama365@reddit
Ask them why they did that. Is it because they can't guarantee to enrol international students for more than a year at a time or something? Will you definitely be guaranteed a place on year 2 if you pass year 1?
Tbh, "left with nothing" and Cert HE might be synonymous to many employers, so I would want to be sure you'll be able to do the full course you wanted to as long as you pass each stage.
justnotmything94@reddit (OP)
I'm trying to get in touch with them... I assume the "missing requirement" is the fact that my language certificate is older than three years. It's ridiculous they couldn't simply tell me that, as it would have been easy for me to take the exam again and provide them with a current certificate before the application deadline is over...
smat1970@reddit
Agree with pyjama you need to check this properly with the university. If you are an international student this will affect your visa. If you won’t automatically be able to transfer course at this uni it’s unlikely another uni will accept you for year 2.
Hcmp1980@reddit
Some uni's do take this approach, you need to check, but youll probably be fine I think.
Friendly-Handle-2073@reddit
Not sure that's wholly accurate.
I did 2½ years of a 4yr BA Hons. Had full credit for those years. Awarded a Cert HE, plus had my credit certs for years 1 & 2, plus 60 from year 3.
Went back a few years later to complete, only had to earn 40 credits to top up to a BA.
Ashbuck200@reddit
Mods, get this MF out of here!!
Historical_Project86@reddit
Ah this is like the old HNC & HND I guess. From my ancient experience, you would need at least an HND (equivalent to DipHE by the sounds of it) to be taken seriously on the job market, but maybe things have changed. My guess is that if you excel in your CertHE then you will qualify to continue?
ayeayefitlike@reddit
HNC/HND/Ordinary degree is used in Scotland for the four years that make up a Scottish bachelors degree with honours. The system is different there.
Historical_Project86@reddit
HNC and HND were also terms in use in England and Wales. I'm not sure about N. Ireland.
ayeayefitlike@reddit
Aye but they’re still used in Scotland.
macman501@reddit
Scotland also uses the Cert of HE and Dip of HE.
justnotmything94@reddit (OP)
good to know about needing at least a dipHE! I googled the certHE, and of course I mainly found praise, but no information about how useful it is in the job market
PingouinFluffy@reddit
Its the first year of a degree, 120 credits.
LordAnchemis@reddit
It depends on the European harmonisation of credits
Certificate = 60
Diploma = 120
Degree = 180
justnotmything94@reddit (OP)
thanks!
loranlily@reddit
No it's not a necessary step for everyone who wants to obtain a Bachelor's degree. It sounds like you don't have the qualifications needed to begin the Bachelor's degree. You should contact the admissions department at the university that you have applied to to find out why you did not qualify for the BA.
justnotmything94@reddit (OP)
I have the suspicion that I did not qualify because my English certificate is older than three years. But if they had simply told me this in the rejection letter, I could have easily booked another exam and gotten the certificate again.
bluejackmovedagain@reddit
I'm not sure if it's still the case but it used to be that the English language certificate had to be issued within a certain number of years prior to the completion of your course, but that evidence of higher education in English can be accepted in place of the certificate.
As the HE Cert is only one year that means that your certificate only has to be in date until the end of that year, and then they can use the HE Cert as evidence for the rest of the course.Â
justnotmything94@reddit (OP)
I do believe this must be the problem... it's a shame they couldn't just tell me that. I could have easily taken the exam again to get a newer language certificate. I wasn't sure if they would accept publishing a book in English as a sort of certificate, but clearly they didn't 😅Â
I mean - if I can seamlessly move on from the certHE to the dip and then the BA - I don't mind. I just hope I won'r have to pay more this way
justnotmything94@reddit (OP)
I tried, but they're impossible to get in touch with 🫣 my login in the student portal didn't work. But if I don't have to pay additionally if I take the route over a cert of he, I'm okay with doing it that way. I'll have to check the fees again
Medium_Person_01@reddit
In some cases this could be the first year of a BA and you could progress to year 2, but in other cases they could be considering this as a ‘foundation year’ as a replacement for A Levels, which means you would then qualify to enter the BA from year 1. You should clarify this with them. also may be worth considering why you thought you would be able to be accepted and why you weren’t - if you have an uncommon (in the UK) type of high school qualification perhaps they are not understanding what education level you are at?
justnotmything94@reddit (OP)
I suspect that it's because my language certificate is older than three years 🫣 I did read somewhere that they wanted a current one, but I thought it was weird, so I figured I'd try my luck. I even wrote in the remarks field that I could always get a new one if they really required one. It's just annoying that they couldn't simply tell me the reason - it could have even been a failed document upload for all I know.
Few_Wolf_4634@reddit
Yes - CertHE is basically equivalent to year one of a bachelors. DipHE is equivalent to year two.
justnotmything94@reddit (OP)
thanks!
ot1smile@reddit
Usually you can extend the HE cert to a bachelor’s degree as long as you pass the HE satisfactorily. The criteria for acceptance to a HE certificate is lower than for a bachelor’s so it’s a way of getting you on track for the bachelor’s if your existing qualifications aren’t enough.
justnotmything94@reddit (OP)
thanks!
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