A level 4 Higher National Certificate in Applied sciences (Biology) aims to
develop you as a professional, self reflecting individual able to meet the
demands of employers in the applied science sector and adapt to a constantly
changing world. This course aims to widen your access to HE and enhance your
career prospects equiping you with the applied science skills, knowledge and
understanding to achieve high performance in the applied sciences
envrionment.
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Applied Science Higher National Certificate (HTQ)
Level 4 - Higher
Applied Science Higher National Certificate (HTQ)
If you have a passion for science but are not sure what area you want to work
in then the Higher National Certificate (HNC) Applied Science course will
prepare you for a wide range of careers. It covers topics across biology,
chemistry and physics and will allow you to acquire a high level of practical
laboratory skills. You will build on your previous studies of science by
widening your knowledge of scientific investigation and practical techniques and
you will develop the numeracy skills required in a scientific setting.
Laboratories for the teaching of biology, chemistry and physics are available at
Sutton Coldfield College, along with onsite libraries full of information
resources. The HNC course is a Level 4 qualification made up of 120 credits
studied full-time over one year. It allows you to develop a broad knowledge and
awareness of key aspects of the sciences sector through eight modules. We offer
smaller class sizes enabling supportive quality teaching and allows both one to
one tuition and group work. This course has a competitive fee structure with
flexible entry requirements based on your experience.
Course Length: 30 Weeks
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS:
You will need UCAS Tariff Points: 32 points.
- The tariff points can be made up of:
- A Levels (GCE and VCE): 1 A Level at Grade C
- BTEC Extended Diploma: Grade PPP
- BTEC Diploma: Grade PP
- Access to HE: Grade P45.
All Level 3 qualifications should be in a science related subject.
Minimum number of GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above: 2 which must include:
- GCSE English: Grade C/4
- GCSE Maths: Grade C/4
Are Level 2 equivalents accepted? Yes, all students will be required to sit an English diagnostic assessment equivalent to Level 2. This is to establish if students require support and is used as a supportive tool only. Students whose first language is not English must have a minimum standard of English at IELTS Level 5.5 with no element below 5.0.
NON-ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS:
We encourage applications from students who do not meet the entry requirements outlined but can demonstrate ability through work experience, professional qualifications from their work sector, portfolio of evidence or successful interview.
The course is assessed using a combination of internally assessed centre-devised internal assignments and mandatory Pearson-set assignments (which are set by Pearson and marked by centres).
Our graduates have a huge range of career options available to them, ranging from working in the fields including Laboratory Technician, Research Technician, Technical Support Chemist / Biologist, Quality Support Technician, Manufacturing Technician, Science Technician, Technologist, Instrumentation Technician and Product Development Technician, Astronomy, biology, meteorology, ecology and research. You could also venture into medical-related careers in forensics, medicine, biomedical, clinical biochemistry, radiology, microbiology or paramedic services. We also have direct progress routes straight into the second year of Biological sciences degrees at local Universities.
We work with companies in the health sector such as Alder Hey Hospital – Intensive care unit; companies in Ecology and conservation such as Birmingham Canals society; companies who work in environmental areas such as Severn Trent Water company. Each year we select companies to carry our project work on for example, AstraZeneca for their work on vaccines.
Unit 1 – Fundamentals of Laboratory Techniques (Unit Value- 15 credits)
Unit 2 – Scientific data handling approaches and techniques. (Unit Value- 15 credits)
Unit 3 – Regulation and Quality in the applied sciences (Pearson-set) (Unit Value- 15 credits);
Unit 4 – Cell Biology (Unit Value- 15 credits);
Unit 5 – Fundamentals of chemistry (Unit Value- 15 credits);
Unit 6 – Anatomy and human physiology (Unit Value- 15 credits);
Unit 17 – Fundamentals of Biochemistry (Unit Value- 15 credits);
Unit 64 – Work based investigation (Unit Value- 15 credits)