It’s a new qualification for 14 to 19-year-olds and offers a mix of classroom learning, creative thinking and hands-on experience - all designed to prepare you for wherever you want to go in life.

More information can be found on the Directgov Diplomas site.

What are they?

As well as learning in the classroom you will spend time in an environment more like a workplace, such as a workshop. You will also get the chance to do work experience with an employer.

A Diploma means that you can keep your options open for the future, and explore areas of work and study that interest you without committing to a particular career.

What form do they take?

Starting in years 10 or 12, a foundation Diploma will take broadly the same time to do as four to five GCSEs, a Higher Diploma around the same time as five to six GCSEs. On completing either, you could go on to do an advanced or progression Diploma, GCSEs, A-levels or even an apprenticeship.

Starting in year 12 or above, an advanced Diploma will take the same time to do as three A-levels and could lead to college, university or skilled employment.  A progression Diploma will take about the same time to do as two A-levels and could lead to further study, training, apprenticeships, vocational qualifications, another Diploma course or employment. A progression Diploma will suit you if you decide that you can’t complete a whole advanced Diploma.

You don’t necessarily need to have completed a foundation or higher Diploma to do a progression or advanced Diploma.

What subjects are available?

• Construction and the built environment;
• Creative and Media;
• Engineering;
• Information Technology;
• Society, Health and Development.

An additional five subjects will be available from September 2009;

• Business;
• Administration and Finance;
• Environmental and Land-based Studies;
• Hospitality;
• Manufacturing and Product Development;

And four more will start from September 2010;

• Travel and tourism;
• Public Services;
• Sport and Leisure;
• Retail.

You can find out which schools and colleges are offering which through your local 14 to 19 prospectus or by talking to teachers, careers advisors or Connexions staff.

Where can they lead?

You can take GCSEs or A-levels alongside a Diploma or even as an optional course choice within a Diploma. 

In years 10 and 11 you will do subjects along side your Diploma, and in all Diplomas you can choose to take some GCSEs or A-levels as part of your course.

Advanced Diplomas will generally be regarded as being equivalent to three A-levels by universities for the purposes of university or college admission (not just to relevant subjects but for higher level study in general).

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