Academic vs Vocational Qualifications – What’s The Difference?

Youth Employment UK | Read time: 2 minutes

Academic qualifications are based on traditional classroom learning. Vocational (practical) qualifactions are often career-based. Which option is best for you? Or do you want to do BOTH?

ACADEMIC

VOCATIONAL

Example subjects:

  • Art History
  • Biology
  • Psychology
  • Business Studies
Example subjects:

  • Sports Studies
  • Business Studies
  • Health Studies
  • Art & Design

Standard classroom setting
Often a mix of practical work environment and some classroom learning (either real-life or virtual)
Can often stay in the same school – or switch to sixth form college if you prefer
Will often take place in a new environment like a college or a mixed work/study environment
The safety of the familiar (but still a step up from what you know, and it will feel like a whole new world)
The possibility of a new approach (but you will settle into the new way of doing things quite quickly)
Likely to involve homework, coursework, exams
Likely to involve some coursework but often doesn’t require exams
Ideal for students who want to learn through discussion and reading
Ideal for students who want to learn through practical training, mentoring and some reading
Shorter learning hours (but longer research/homework hours)
Longer training hours, usually 9-5 (but may not have any research/homework)
You are not paid to study
If you are on a paid training programme like an Apprenticeship, you will earn a salary while you learn in a work environment
Example qualifications:

  • A Level
  • Scottish Higher
  • Baccalaureate
Example qualifications:

  • T Level
  • HND / HNC
  • BTEC
  • NVQ

 

There is no wrong choice. There is only what’s right for you.

Some subjects overlap as academic OR vocational courses. There are lots of ways to study a subject you love!

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