Studying abroad can feel like an impossible and unachievable dream with high costs of tuition fees and other expenses that come with it. Fortunately, with the Advanced Entry and Pathway Courses on Diploma Credits your dream can now become a reality. The process is as easy as 1,2,3 and with less time and money than the ordinary three to four years degree programs that will soon be obsolete. Pathway programs have been available for many years in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom but were not mentioned to students for the obvious reasons. Meaning, less years of studies; students will need less tuition fees for a university degree which can be a burden to the higher education system. These fast-track diploma programs were especially designed for students and adults with gap years that are looking for an advanced entry into universities abroad, without the hassle of having to spend three to four years of their life studying in a classroom. In addition, these diploma courses are especially useful for candidates that have work experience and did not have the financial opportunity to travel abroad for a degree after high school graduation. Furthermore, candidates that cannot afford the costly tuition fees required to pay for every year at a university, this advanced entry option will make it viable to study abroad and save nearly 70% of the ordinary 3-4 years of studies. While some describe it as a smart shortcut, others might see it as an opportunity to save money on a bachelor’s degree without compromising the quality that studying abroad has to offer. As these fast-track programs are new in developing countries, they have been used by millions of students in developed countries, which have some of the best universities in the world!
Let’s decode the facts and then you can decide on which route you would like to follow for studying abroad. Pathway programs are not compromises; they are a faster and a more affordable solution to higher education and are globally recognized, as they are approved by OFQUAL, the UK awarded body for higher education courses. A Fast-track diploma course is the fastest and most affordable solution to study in The United Kingdom, Europe and even the United States. By saving time and money, one can begin their career sooner thus get a return on their education investment and enter the world with a degree that is globally accepted. In addition to saving time and money, students do not need to take any exams to complete the diploma course. Even more importantly, students do not an IELTS certificate to be eligible to apply after high school. In order to complete one full diploma course and receive 120 credits, each candidate will be responsible to conduct online research and upload six assignments on Diploma Credits portal. These assignments will then be submitted by LSEE for grading to the OFQUAL Awarding Body in UK, which is globally accepted. Each university varies on the total amount of exemptions they provide for each diploma course depending on their degree programs and curriculum.
Understanding a Pathway Program
Diploma Credits platform in partnership with LSEE provide the foundation courses that cover modules for studies into higher education/ university degree programs. Each diploma course level has six modules and requires about 3,000 words for each assignment to be completed with research and self-study hours. Once registered for these diploma courses you may begin your studies at any time of the year and complete each level with as little as three months. A pathway program is also suitable for students who do not meet direct entry academic requirements, and who need stronger subject basics before they apply for the university of their choice. In addition, it is suitable for students who want or need to learn how to conduct research and enter the western education system along with saving time and money. These foundation courses are truly a wonderful opportunity to build confidence in academic writing, improve English skills and receive globally recognized diplomas before entering the final year of the university in the United Kingdom or junior year in a 4 year degree program.
Think of it as an onboarding stage designed to give you skills which universities expect you to have before entering their classrooms. After you complete a pathway program, you move directly into a degree that is in the same path as the diploma. For example, if you register for a diploma in Hospitality Level 4 & 5, then your field of study at the university should be in Hospitality.
Below you can see the modules that are required to complete a Level 4 Diploma in Business Management.
Explore Different Types of Pathway Programs
As students have different starting points, pathways come in various formats. Let’s understand a clear breakdown:
Foundation Programs
These programs are ideal for those who have completed high school but fall short of requirements for international universities. For example, students that do not have 12 years of education studies, low academic marks or A’Levels. Hence the grading systems, teaching styles and academic calendars differ from country to country, foundation courses help students catch up on those differences as there are not deadlines to apply for each Level.
In addition to, students can spend quality time studying core subjects related to the degree major, comprehend the research methods of higher education, improve in the English language along with academic writing. For students that register for the diploma courses, tutor support is also available through an education consultant or training centers.
International University – Year One (Diploma Credits Level 4)
This is preferred by many students who are nearly eligible for direct entry. Here, they complete university-level subjects with added academic support and then they will be eligible to enter the second year of a university degree program in UK or sophomore year in 4-year study programs. One does not need to study a separate foundation year. This means students will stay aligned with their degree from the first day itself and study without exams. In addition, they will be eligible to graduate just like all other students that completed all the academic years of studies.
What Universities Usually Ask for: Key Requirements
Requirements differ across institutions and countries. But here are some patterns to be expected:
Academic qualifications:
To apply for a pathway program, students will need to have a minimum of twelve years of education along with a high school certificate over the grade of 50%. For students that do not have a have a high school certificate or only ten years of education they will need to apply for a Level 3 diploma course which is equivalent to A’Levels and an internationally accredited high school diploma. After completing Level 3 they then qualify to apply for Level 4 & 5 that will allow them to get accepted into a university of their choice in the United Kingdom or Europe. This process can be completed in as little as 9 months as all the courses are self-paced and with no exams as accredited by the UK education system. Moreover, students can register for all three levels simultaneously and save processing time for applications, transcripts and diplomas.
English language requirements:
As many universities need the minimum requirement of a 5 in IELTS or 5.5 in Password Plus Skills which is an online exam (accepted in UK & Cyprus for student visa). This online exam can easily be taken, either at the comfort of your own home or test center. There are no deadlines to apply for Diploma Courses and most importantly, one does not need any ESOL certificate to register and begin the course. Moreover, these pathway programs allow students to re-submit their assignments if referred, not completed accurately with references or with less than the minimum number of words required.
Age & Ability:
Diploma Credits can register students over the age of 16 but these students will not be able to apply for a university until they reach the age of 18, as required by law. This gives the younger students the chance to develop their languages skills along with learning how to conduct research for university studies. Students over the age of 18+ are eligible to complete each course in as little as three months and then apply to a university of their choice even if they had many gap years in between.
Plan Smart with Top Pathway Program Options
There is no doubt that some universities are ranked higher than others depending on their degree programs. Nowadays, most students plan smart by choosing degree majors that are globally highly in demand such as Hospitality, Information Technology or Health and Social Care. For these graduates a job is guaranteed once they are fresh out of the university and sometimes even before. In certain countries such as Cyprus, which is a full member of the European Union, students that major in these departments get paid internship positions before they even graduate as they are referred by their universities to work during their years of studies.
English and Academic Preparation Blends
For students that are not very comfortable with their English or need to take an ESOL examination to apply for a student visa, some online courses are available to improve language skills accordingly, or up to a B2 equivalency on the CEFR scale.
Students who miss direct entry by a narrow margin and those who are from different schooling systems can get a second chance to higher education with the advanced entry diploma courses, as they are internationally recognized. Such transcripts and diplomas help students get offer letters to study abroad on a budget without paying for repeated coursework or examinations.
A Better Way Forward
Remember that Fast-track and Pathways programs are not compromising any of the benefits or credits from the university degree programs. They are designed for the students who want to plan smart and go global with faster and flexible options to globally recognized universities by saving time and a lot of hard earned money!
With DiplomaCredits, you can avoid unnecessary foundation years, reduce your total study cost, earn internationally recognised credits and use those credits toward university progression.
Contact DiplomaCredits for a FREE online consultation with education experts that can help you earn your bachelor’s degree at half the cost and expedite your dream career abroad!