Courses for School Leavers

What level should I study at?

Level	Study Route
Level 3	A Levels and BTEC Certificates GCSE grades: A Levels and BTEC Certificates GCSE grades: Eight GCSEs at grade 4 or above including English Language and Maths. Some courses require subject specific entry criteria. Please see individual course listings for further information. Types of course: A Levels, BTEC Certificates. What next? You can study a higher education course or Apprenticeship at College or University or find a job.
Level 3	Vocational and technical full time programmes GCSE grades: Five grade 4s at GCSE including a grade 4 or above in English Language or a good pass with a full Level 2 qualification. For T Levels you will need six GCSEs at grade 4 or above (including English Language and Maths). Learners progressing from a Level 2 course will need a BTEC Level 2 Diploma with a good Merit profile, along with English Language and Maths GCSE at grade 4 or above (or equivalent). Types of course: Vocational and BTEC Diploma Level 3 courses, T Levels or an Advanced Apprenticeship, UAL Diploma, NVQ, VRQ. What next? You can study a higher education course or Apprenticeship at College or university or find a job.
Level 3	International Baccalaureate (IB) GCSE grades: Eight GCSEs to include at least six at grade 6 or above as well as a grade 6 in English Language and Maths. Some courses require subject specific entry criteria. What next? You can progress to university or even consider studying abroad once you complete the International Baccalaureate. You can also move to a higher education course or Apprenticeship here at the College.
Level 2	GCSE grades: Three grade 3s at GCSE as well as English Language and Maths at grade 3 or above or a Level 1 qualification at merit grade. Types of course: BTEC Level 2, Apprenticeship, GCSE, T Level Foundation Year programme, UAL Diploma, NVQ, VRQ, GCSE Fast Track. What next? You can move on to a vocational or BTEC Level 3 course or an Advanced Apprenticeship.
Level 1	GCSE grades: Four grade 2s at GCSE, normally including English Language and Maths at grade 2 or above. Types of course: BTEC Level 1 Diploma, Prince’s Trust, NVQ. What next? You can move on to a vocational or BTEC Level 2 course or an Apprenticeship.
Entry Level	GCSE grades: No formal qualifications. Types of course: Independence Gateway and Progression Gateway. What next? You can move on to a Level 1 course or NVQ.

A Levels plus AS Levels, BTEC Certificates and Extended Certificates.

A Levels are ideal if you enjoyed your GCSEs and are ready to move up to the next level. Most students identify three subjects and an Extend option that they are interested in studying and we will offer advice and guidance at interview to ensure that you have chosen the best programme of study for you. Any A Level subject can be combined into the right programme of study. After a year at Exeter College, in the majority of A Level subjects you will receive a standalone AS Level qualification. See the full course information for details of which subjects offer an AS Level in the first year.

BTEC Certificates, Extended Certificate and Subsidiary Diplomas.
These BTEC courses are treated just like A Levels by universities (they also have points) and it can be a great option to combine one with two A Levels.

International Baccalaureate

The International Baccalaureate (IB) is an internationally recognised qualification made up of six subjects, including English, Maths, Science, a modern foreign language and an Elective which may be a Humanities subject, an ab initio language or Chemistry. You also get involved in community projects and write a research-based essay. The course is equivalent to a full A Level programme and involves exams and coursework.

Vocational and technical full time programmes.

These can be studied at Level 1, 2 or 3. They are mainly assessed through coursework and give a balance of practical work and theory. They generally don’t involve exams, however there will be some element of external assessment at Level 2 and 3.

Level 1 and Level 2 courses take one year and you can usually progress from these on to the next level. Level 3 qualifications usually run for two years and they are equivalent to three A Levels. We offer BTEC, T Level and UAL qualifications and other vocational courses may be called NVQ or VRQ and are practical courses preparing you for the workplace. You can progress from a Level 2 NVQ on to a Level 3 NVQ.

A BTEC Level 3 Foundation Diploma is studied in the first year and is equivalent to one and a half A Levels. In the second year you progress on to the Extended Diploma. The full qualification (two years) is equivalent to three A Levels. We do not usually encourage students to take an AS Level course alongside a BTEC Diploma/Extended Diploma.

T Levels

What are they?
T Levels are a brand new qualification designed to give you a head start towards the future you want. They follow GCSEs and are equivalent to three A Levels. The two year T Level qualification brings classroom and industry placement together on a course designed with employers and businesses. You’ll spend 80% of your time in the classroom and 20% on a 315 hours minimum placement to give you the skills, behaviours and knowledge employers are looking for. Your T Level will help you to step straight into your chosen career, an Apprenticeship, higher technical qualification or a degree. Wherever your future is heading, take it to the nexT-Level.

Apprenticeships

Want to earn while you learn? Apprenticeships are an exciting alternative to full time study, where you gain workplace skills and experience, as well as a qualification – all while getting paid.

As an Apprentice you will work and be treated as an employee, spending your week at your place of work with one day at the College to further develop your learning and skills. Our courses are available to anyone, aged 16 and above, looking to kick-start their career. There are now more programmes than ever, in a variety of roles and industries; from Digital Marketing and Laboratory Technician, through to Commis Chef and Engineering. On completion, you can advance onto a higher level of Apprenticeship, with qualifications ranging from Level 2 (GCSE Standard) up to degree level. There has never been a better time to take an Apprenticeship and make your dream job a reality.

Continuing to study Maths and English at Exeter College

If you have not already achieved a grade 4 in GCSE English Language and/or Maths, you will need to continue to work towards achieving these core qualifications alongside your other courses when you come to College. If you are still in school and you aren’t sure if you will achieve grade 4s or higher in GCSE Maths and English by the time you come to College, please don’t worry! Many of our full time courses have timetables designed to provide an opportunity for you to resit GCSE Maths and English Language with us, and our Apprenticeship courses also offer Maths and English sessions when you join us in College. We will talk to you about this during your interview, or during enrolment, and we will make sure you are on the right course to ensure you can progress and succeed in your chosen area of study.

If you do need to continue with Maths and English when you come to College, you will have a fresh and exciting experience with us that will help you progress towards your future goals and ambitions. Our Maths and English classes are very different to school, with a focus on engagement and building your confidence in these subjects. We know that these subjects can be challenging at times, so our approach is based on supporting you to strengthen your skills to help you to build your confidence. Our focus on engaging lessons, with our wealth of exam expertise within the team, means you will have a positive experience working towards your Maths and English with us. Our very experienced team of Maths and English teachers will work hard to give you a positive, engaging and successful experience in your Maths and English classes.