Universities welcome Diploma students

Diploma students in Rochdale will be able to choose from around 80% of undergraduate university courses across the country, according to data released today (Wednesday 6 May) by the Universities & Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

Young people in Rochdale who started studying the Advanced Diploma in September 2008 in Information Technology; and Society, Health and Development will begin applying to university from this autumn.

Universities’ admissions requirements for undergraduate courses from 2010 will include the Diploma for the first time.

Universities across the UK will be accepting applications from Diploma students.

Professor Steve Smith, Chairman of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter, said: “I am pleased that 1994 Group universities have shown such acceptance of Advanced Diploma students on to our courses from the first five lines of learning – subject to their attaining our members’ high entry standards.

"The 1994 Group welcomed the introduction of the Advanced Diploma for students aged 14-19 and continue to support their development.

"Young people who take a Diploma can gain valuable skills such as such as independent learning and critical thinking - the kind of attributes we look for in prospective students applying to study at leading universities.”

Schools Minister Sarah McCarthy-Fry said: “I am extremely pleased that young people studying the Diploma in Rochdale will have so many options to choose from if they decide to go on to study at university.

"Many universities have been directly involved in developing course content for the Diploma, and the information released today shows that higher education recognises that the qualification provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to achieve success.

"If you do the right Diploma and get the right grades you can access the vast majority of undergraduate courses and I congratulate universities for their broad-minded acceptance of the new qualification.”

UCAS has received details on entry requirements from 5586 courses in the North West; 4937 of those courses will accept the Advanced Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment, 4950 will accept the Advanced Diploma in Creative and Media Studies; 5113 will accept the Advanced Diploma in Engineering, 4986 will accept the Advanced Diploma in Information Technology and 4967 will accept the Advanced Diploma in Society, Health and Development.

Many courses will accept more than one Diploma line.

The Diploma is a qualification for 14-19 year olds, which has been developed with the help of universities and employers. It combines classroom learning with practical hands-on experience to better prepare students for work and for university. As well as learning about a specific sector, all Diploma students will continue to study English, maths and ICT and will gain essential transferable skills such as presentation and time management.

There are three levels of Diploma – Foundation, Higher and Advanced – that are graded in the same way as GCSEs and A levels. The Foundation Diploma is equivalent to five GCSEs; the Higher Diploma is equivalent to seven GCSEs grade A*- C; the Advanced Diploma is equivalent to three-and-a-half A Levels grade A*- E.

From this September, young people in Rochdale will be able to take the Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment; Creative and Media; Engineering; and Hair and Beauty Studies.