Languages at Leicester
BSL Level 3
This is for you if you have completed and passed either the full Signature BSL Level 2 Award (Units 201, 202 and 203) or the full iBSL Level 2 Award (Units 2A1, 2A2, 2A3 and 2A4).
Key information
Courses starting in October 2025
- Course: [Day to be confirmed] 6.00pm - 9.00pm (plus 5 Saturdays*)
- Delivery: On-campus (face-to-face)
- Timeline: Starts in October 2025 - ends in July 2026. It is a complete course. It is not divided into different units like the Level 1 Award. The course will take place over 36 weeks (see schedule below).
- Term 1: 11 weeks: from October until December 2025 (+ 1 Saturday*)
- Term 2: 12 weeks: from January until April 2026 (+ 2 Saturdays*)
- Term 3: 13 weeks: from April until July 2026 (+ 2 Saturdays*)
- Lengths: 36 weeks: 36 3-hour lessons, plus 5 4-hour lessons on 5 Saturdays (128 guided learning hours)
- Fees: Full course [To be confirmed] (it includes all exams). This is payable in full or in three instalments of [To be confirmed] as outlined:
- Payment 1 on enrolment
- Payment 2 by the beginning of January 2026
- Payment 3 by the end of April April 2026
- Exam fees: All exam fees are included in the course's fee (Signature Level 3 Unit 301 [TBC], Unit 302 [TBC] and Unit 303 [TBC]).
This course will be taught in a small group. The on-campus course requires a minimum of 8 and it can have up to a maximum of 12 students. Course fee includes all tuition, access to Blackboard and handouts and any tests/exams.
The course also includes two individual (one-to-one) tutorials of half an hour each per learner with your BSL tutor to evaluate and guide your progress and attainment.
The course runs from October 2025 to July 2026. The full course comprises 250 learning hours (128 guided learning hours plus 122 independent learning hours). Lesson take place over 36 weeks (on Wednesdays from 6.00pm to 9.00pm) and 5 Saturdays* (please see schedule below). When enrolling you are committing to the full 36-week course.
Entry level
A pass in BSL Level 2 Award: the full BSL Level 2 (Units 201, 202 and 203) or the full iBSL Level 2 Award (Units 2A1, 2A2, 2A3 and 2A4). Registered students will be required to undertake an evaluation interview with the BSL coordinator.
The interview session is important as it helps students to learn what they can expect from the course and what would be expected from them. Upon registering the BSL coordinator will contact you to arrange a face-to-face (or online if required) interview session. The interviews will include 3 tasks to ensure applicants are of Level 2 standard:
- Receptive - 30 secs (write notes or relay back to teacher)
- Storytelling - personal story or activities done at the weekend - 2 minutes (filmed)
- Q&A with the tutor - 3 questions
Expressions of interests
Interviews are due to take place in early September. Prospective students will be contacted in the week commencing on Monday 9 September 2024 to set up interviews.
Upon completing the interview, prospective students will be provided with the information to register.
Express your interest for academic year 2025/26
Qualification aim
This Level 3 Certificate qualification in British Sign Language meets the learning needs of those who already have competence in BSL at Level 2 and are interested in developing their skills and knowledge. Successful learners must be able to demonstrate competence at Level 3 of the UK Occupational Language Standards. This means that the learner will be able to understand and use varied BSL in a range of work and social situations.
The learner will develop an advanced knowledge of the structure and function of British Sign Language and an understanding of the Deaf Community and Deaf Culture. The specification has been designed to be consistent with the National Language Standards at Level 3.
Course content
This British Sign Language qualification is divided into three units, each of which can be achieved separately.
To achieve the full Level 2 Certificate in British Sign Language, candidates are required to achieve all three units.
| Unit | Unit title | Assessment | Exam fee |
| BSL 301 | BSL Presentation Skills | Formal presentation | £[TBC]* |
| BSL 302 | BSL Productive Skills | Informal conversation | £[TBC]* |
| BSL 303 | BSL Receptive Skills | Receptive skills | £[TBC]* |
*Fees are transferred in its totality to the awarding body (Signature's fees booklet 2024/25).
Course schedule
The schedule for academic year 2024/25 is displayed below. Please notice that some of these dates could be subject to change.
- Timetable Wednesdays: Lessons take place from 6.00pm to 9.00pm (there will be a 15 minutes break half-way through the lesson).
- Timetable Saturdays: Lessons take place from 10.00am to 2.30pm (there will be a 30 minutes break at 12.00pm).
Schedule (36 weeks)
The below schedule will be updated in July 2025.
- Wednesday 9 October 2024
- Wednesday 16 October 2024
- Wednesday 23 October 2024
- Wednesday 30 October 2024
- Wednesday 6 November 2024
- Wednesday 13 November 2024
- Wednesday 20 November 2024
- Wednesday 27 November 2024
- Wednesday 4 December 2024
- Saturday 7 December 2024
- Wednesday 11 December 2024
- Wednesday 18 December 2024
- **Christmas break**
- Wednesday 8 January 2025
- Wednesday 15 January 2025
- Wednesday 22 January 2025
- Wednesday 29 January 2025
- Wednesday 5 February 2025
- Wednesday 12 February 2025
- Wednesday 19 February 2025
- Saturday 22 February 2025
- Wednesday 26 February 2025
- Wednesday 5 March 2025
- Wednesday 12 March 2025
- Wednesday 19 March 2025
- Wednesday 26 March 2025
- Saturday 29 March 2025
- Wednesday 2 April 2025
- Wednesday 9 April 2025
- **Easter break**
- Wednesday 30 April 2025
- Wednesday 7 May 2025
- Wednesday 14 May 2025
- Wednesday 21 May 2025
- Saturday 24 May 2025
- Wednesday 28 May 2025
- Wednesday 4 June 2025
- Wednesday 11 June 2025
- Wednesday 18 June 2025
- Wednesday 25 June 2025
- Saturday 28 June 2025
- Wednesday 2 July 2025
- Wednesday 9 July 2025