Entry Requirements

college atrium

Do you qualify?

General guidance on the entry requirements for higher education courses at South East Essex College are set out below, along with a brief summary of the applications process. Applications for full-time courses should be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

Further Information regarding UCAS tariff points including a can be found at www.ucas.com

Entry requirements

The College has a general entrance requirement which is described in terms of:

  • A levels, vocational A levels, AS levels and GCSEs;
  • a range of other qualifications that we regard as equivalent

All students are expected to have GCSE English Language and Maths (grade C or above) or the equivalent. Applicants can use key skills at level three as part of their UCAS points total, providing the key skills do not overlap with other qualifications (eg Numeracy and A-level Mathematics).

Some courses offer an Exceptional Entry Portfolio option, which means that relevant industry/life experience is considered rather than formal qualifications, as an entry route to the course. If you are not applying directly from a school or college you may not need to satisfy the requirements above but you will need to show evidence of your ability to undertake degree-level work and that you have the necessary study skills. The general entrance requirements may be waived if you can demonstrate an equivalent knowledge of the subject. If you have not had any formal education for several years you may need to undertake some sort of preparatory course before entering the course.

If you would like to discuss your eligibility before submitting a formal application, please contact our Admissions team in the first instance on 01702 220500 or email them at admissions@southend.ac.uk who will arrange for a tutor from the relevant course to contact you to discuss your individual situation before you formally apply.

BA/BSc (Hons) Degrees Our vocationally-orientated degree courses require a minimum of 160 UCAS points to be awarded from one or more of the following:

  • At least two GCE A levels • BTEC National Certificate/Diploma
  • International Baccalaureate
  • AQA Baccalaureate • Progression Diploma • Advanced Diploma Although the following qualifications are not on the UCAS tariff they are considered for entry to our degree programmes:
  • Access to Higher Education Diploma • European/Welsh Baccalaureate
  • Level 3 NVQ’s Foundation Degree/Higher Diploma/Higher Certificate/ HNC 40 UCAS Points are normally required, to be awarded from one or more of the following:
  • GCE A level (one grade E) BTEC National Award/Certificate/Diploma
  • GCE A level (one grade E) BTEC National Award/Certificate/Diploma
  • Progression Diploma
  • Advanced Diploma
  • Extended Project (minimum 40 UCAS Points)
  • Access to Higher Education Diploma
  • European/Welsh Baccalaureate
  • Level 3 NVQ’s
  • Welsh Baccalaureate

As a new qualification the College will consider applications from those who successfully complete the full qualification, and offers will take into account performance in the core and specialist units. Credit accumulation and transfer The College is happy to consider applications for entry to later stages of a higher education programme on the basis of qualifications obtained elsewhere. The College also operates within the structures of the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). Applicants from the European Union and Overseas The College welcomes applications from candidates educated in other European countries and elsewhere overseas.

We are happy to make offers of admission based on the International or European Baccalaureate or on other qualifications that are considered equivalent to our general entrance requirements. All students are expected to be able to understand and express themselves in both written and spoken English. If English is not your first language you will be required to have met the English language requirement (for first-year entry on to a University of Essex undergraduate degree, all students must have an IELTS score of 6.0 or above. The University will not accept students onto undergraduate degrees with less than this).

Your English language ability may then be assessed at the start of the academic year in September and we may decide on the basis of this assessment that you need to follow a language course in the first term. English Language Requirements The following standards are required: IELTS 6.0 (for first year entry onto Undergraduate programmes) TOEFL 540 (or 207 on Computer-based test, 76 on IBT) for all degrees Certain Schools may accept other tests including the following: Cambridge Proficiency Exam (CPE) Test in English for Educational Purposes (TEEP) GCE O-level or GCSE English Language or Use of English Hong Kong Certificate of English Education International Baccalaureate English B Syllabus (Standard Level) Applicants who are applying to enter directly into the second year of a degree scheme will be required to demonstrate a higher level of English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.5 (TOEFL 600, 250 or 100).

find a course
 
select a course type

select a subject area

select a campus
keyword search

 
 
Ian Byford