Saving credits towards a qualification
Most of the modules that we offer allow you to gain credits that can be used towards a University qualification. The three main qualifications are:
- BA/BSc (Hons) Combined Studies
- A certificate in a named discipline
- Certificate in Higher Education
You can read more about the first two in the specific subject areas under 'Courses and programmes'.
The Certificate in Higher Education
The Certificate in Higher Education (Cert HE) is an award framework for students taking general interest modules who are not registered for a BA/BSc or a certificate in a named discipline.
To be awarded a Certificate in Higher Education you must accumulate 120 credits within 8 years of taking your first module for credit. If you are interested in studying for the award (or are already doing so) and would like some advice on module choice or your progress towards the award, please contact the Institute on 0114 222 7000.
If you have obtained credits from another institution it might be possible, within the limits set by University regulations, to use some or all of that credit towards one of our qualifications.
Module restrictions
Apart from avoiding overlapping or identical modules, there is no restriction on the choice of subjects or courses you can take within the general programme. However, it is sensible to take courses which relate to one another. If you want to use the Cert HE as a stepping stone to higher qualifications it is important to choose courses which prepare you for the next stages, as there is likely to be less choice and it may be important to have covered certain subjects at a lower level.
If you take 80 credits worth of courses to put towards a Cert HE in a major academic subject area (Humanities, Social Science, Science), the Cert HE awarded will carry the appropriate subtitle (eg Cert HE Humanities).
Please feel free to register on any of the courses you are interested in – although you should not repeat any modules if working towards the Cert HE.
Credit obtained on courses in our general programme, whether a Cert HE is awarded or not, can help you meet the credit requirements for some of our named awards. It may also be possible to transfer it elsewhere and use it as exemption from awards offered at other institutions of higher education.
Gained credit elsewhere?
If you have obtained credits from another institution then it might be possible, within the limits set by University regulations, to use some or all of that credit towards the Cert HE (or a named award).
You can only be awarded up to 60 credits at level 1 towards the Cert HE (ie 50% of the total needed for the award), and will obviously not be able to use courses which replicate those you are studying with us, nor any credit which you may already have been awarded exemption for towards another award (this is called double counting).
If you do wish to transfer credit into your programme, the University requires that this is approved prior to your registration, so it is important that you make your application as early as you can. Please contact the Institute's reception on 222 7000 if you require any further advice on this, and a form can be sent for you to make an Application for the Approval or Prior Certificated Learning.
Points to remember
Further details of the regulations applying to the Cert HE are available on request and will be issued to you when you register on a course. However, there are a few points to note in particular:
- Some courses overlap in content, and the same course may be repeated in different centres or in different years. Whereas you may obtain credit for all courses you successfully complete, the credit accumulated on your record will be general credit; it is specific credit which will count towards your award. In other words, whereas you may obtain 120 general credits by repeating the same 20 credit course six times, you will only be able to count it once towards a qualification.
- The amount of credit assigned to any one course is non-divisible. In other words, where a course runs over two semesters, you may not claim a percentage of the credit for attending and completing the assignments relating to one of the semesters. You must achieve an overall pass mark for the whole course in order for credit to be awarded.
- Once you have successfully completed a Cert HE, if you choose to continue on the Institute’s programme, you will be required to make a new registration, as the University’s record system will not permit a student to continue on a programme which it recognises as having successfully completed. This should be picked up at the time at which you register, but it would be helpful if you could indicate when you do re¬register whether you have been formally notified of the award of Cert HE.
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