Functional Skills courses

Whatever your background or previous education experience, it’s never too late to gain the qualifications you’re entitled to, and functional skills courses (previously key skills courses) are a great place to start. A Functional Skills level 2 course is the nationally recognised equivalent of a GCSE, so whether you’re aiming for higher education or want to land your dream job, these online courses can help you take your next step.

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Nationally Recognised

Essential to any career, our nationally recognised functional skills courses strengthen your employability. Our level 2 qualification is the equivalent of achieving a GCSE.

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No Experience Needed

Entry-level courses are available. The perfect steppingstone into your dream

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Functional Skills Complete Bundle | English + Maths | Levels 1 + 2

Functional Skills develops the work-related, problem-solving and situational skills you need to succeed in the real world.

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Functional Skills English Level 1

Functional Skills English gives you transferable reading, writing and communication skills to reach the next step of your career.

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Functional Skills English Level 2

Functional Skills English gives you transferable reading, writing and communication skills to reach the next step of your career.

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Functional Skills Level 1 Bundle (Maths and English)

Our functional skills level 1 bundle will give you the practical, real-world English and maths skills you need to succeed!

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Functional Skills Level 2 Bundle (Maths and English)

Gain nationally recognised qualifications the equivalent of two GCSEs with this Functional Skills bundle!

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Functional Skills Maths Level 1

Our NCFE accredited Functional Skills Maths Level 1 course gives you the real-world mathematical skills you need to excel in both everyday life and the workplace.

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Functional Skills Maths Level 2

Functional Skills develops the work-related, problem-solving and situational maths you need to succeed in the real world.

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FAQs

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How long do functional skills take to complete?

You have up to six months to complete a functional skills course at level one or two or a bundle covering both. However, our students generally complete these courses in two-to-four months. As you can see, you are given plenty of time to get through whichever functional skills course you opt for.

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Do I need to complete a Level 1 Functional Skill before starting Level 2?

No. If you already have some knowledge in your chosen area of study you are welcome to enrol straight onto a Level 2 Functional Skills course. You do not need to complete a Level 1 Functional Skills course before starting Level 2.

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Do Universities accept functional skills?

Most UK Universities accept level 2 functional skills qualifications in place of GCSEs, with a level 2 functional skills qualification recognised as a direct equivalent to a GCSE grade C and above.

It’s often course-dependent, so we advise that you check with your intended university or future provider that they are happy to accept Functional Skills courses, just to be sure.

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What is Functional Skills Level 1 equivalent to?

All Level 1 Functional Skills courses are equivalent to a GCSE English grade 1 to 3 (previously D to G).

Level 2 Functional Skills are equivalent to a GCSE grade 4 (previously grade C).

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How many times can you take functional skills courses?

As many times as required. While the structure of our courses and the support of our expert tutors means that most students pass first time, all functional skills courses can be taken and retaken as many times as needed.

Where courses have individually graded units, if just one unit is failed, you only need to retake that unit in order to gain your certification.

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Do employers like functional skills?

Yes, functional skills qualifications look good to employers. While GCSEs are the “standard” employers ask for, many will happily accept functional skills qualifications in their place.

This is due to the courses’ focus on teaching real-world problem-solving skills.

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Should I enrol on a Level 1 or Level 2 Functional Skills course?

This is entirely up to you. If you already have some knowledge in your chosen area of study, you may wish to start with Level 2. If you’d prefer to begin with the basics, then you may choose to start with a Level 1 Functional Skills course.

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Why study functional skills with Oxbridge?

You can study any of our functional skills courses online in the comfort of your own home, at your own pace, making it the perfect option if you have a full-time job or specific family commitments.

When you invest in a functional skills distance learning course, you’ll gain access to expert tutors who are on hand to help every step of the way. We take pride in the quality of our courses and have a fantastic student pass rate.

If you’re unsure which level you should take first, speak with one of our learning advisers. They’ll love to help.

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What comes under functional skills / core skills?

Functional skills courses cover either MathsEnglish or ICT. You can also invest in bundles such as maths and English combined. All subjects are separated into two levels, although you don’t have to take a level 1 course to progress onto level 2.

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Are key skills the same as functional skills?

Key skills and functional skills refer to the same set of qualifications. While they are often used interchangeably, today “key skills” are officially known as “functional skills”. Functional skills were first introduced in 2010 and formerly replaced key skills in 2012.

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What is a functional skills qualification?

Functional skills teach students specific competencies that can be attributed to daily life. Although level 2 functional skills qualifications are given the same merit as a GCSE course, it can be argued that these are even more important, as they don’t operate on theoretical knowledge but on ways to navigate real-world situations.

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