1. Alevels VS BTECS
(Interview Bulletin- Background Research)
Angle- Investigative- Do BTEC students deserve a place at university?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_and_Technology_Education_Council
BTECs are undertaken in vocational subjects ranging from business studies to engineering. Examples of
BTEC courses include Business Studies, Applied Science, Engineering, Information Technology, Media
Production, Health & Social Care, Travel & Tourism and Performing Arts. BTEC qualifications,
especially Level 3, are accepted by many universities (excluding Cambridge and Oxford
qualifications unless combined with more qualifications)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-level#United_Kingdom
A Levels are the secondary school leaving qualification offered in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
http://university.which.co.uk/advice/can-you-get-into-university-if-youre-studying-btecs
More than 100,000 BTEC students apply toUK universities eachyear, andBTEC HND students can
progress directly intothe final yearof more than70% of degree programmes exceptingthem.
BTEC level 3,whichisthe equivalentof studyingA-levelsandprovidesaccessontoa degree
Ninety-five percentof universitiesandcollegesinthe UKaccept BTEC students,including
competitiveuniversitiesfromthe RussellGroup.More than50% of 18- to 30-year-oldsgoingonto
highereducationhave progressedviastudyingaBTEC.
BTEC studentscan oftenbe betterpreparedintermsof the independentstudying that’srequiredat
degree level,due tothe portfolio-basednature of BTECcourses.The time managementandself-
organisationyou’llpickupon a BTEC course can also give youan addededge.
BTEC studentsachievinggoodgradesare justas soughtafteras studentswithgoodA-levelresults.
http://www.whatuni.com/advice/applying-to-uni/are-btecs-as-valuable-as-a-levels/48605/
A-Levelsmainlyinvolve twoyearsof studygearedtowardsafew bigtestsat the end,whereasBTECs
are continuallyassessedviacourseworkandpractical projects.
Some universitieshave beenhistoricallymore focussedonA-Levelsassuitable entryrequirements,
but as the numbersof studentsstudyingBTECshasrisen,the qualificationhasbecome more and
more respected.

2. http://www.stanmore.ac.uk/about-the-college/education-sector-latest-info/item/29-comparing-
btecs-and-a-levels-in-terms-of-employment-prospects
A slightlyhigherproportionof menundertakingdegreesthroughthe BTECroute obtaina firstclass
honoursdegree thanthose obtainingadegree throughthe ‘A’Level route.
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/degrees-of-success-for-btec-and-a-level-
students/2003776.article
The study – commissioned by Pearsonfound that 89.8 per cent of people who had both Btecs
and degreeswere in employment, comparedwith 88.1 per cent of those with A levelsand a
degree.
When looking at full-time employment, the difference was much greater: 80.4 per cent compared
with 73.6per cent.