Herts Excellence Award FAQs

Find answers to common questions about the Herts Excellence Award, including registration, work experience requirements, assessments, submission deadlines and eligibility.

On this page:

Getting started

How do I register for the Herts Excellence Award?

How do I register for the Herts Excellence Award?

Register through the Herts Excellence Award Registration Pathway on My Career Portal.

You'll need to:

  • Complete the registration questions.
  • Complete a skills assessment.
  • Watch the virtual workshop and answer the follow-up questions.
Is the Herts Excellence Award suitable if I want to start a business or become self-employed?

Yes. The award includes enterprise-focused activities designed to support students who want to start a business, work freelance or become self-employed.

Work experience requirements

What experience counts towards the award?

Eligible work-based experience includes:

  • Part-time work
  • Volunteering
  • Internships
  • Apprenticeships
  • Self-sourced placements
  • Virtual internships
  • Self-employment

You must provide a named referee who may be contacted to verify your experience.

How many hours do I need?

To complete the award, you must record:

  • 250 hours of work-based experience
  • Across at least two different experiences
  • With a minimum of 50 hours per experience

Examples:

  • 200 hours in a part-time job and 50 hours in a virtual internship
  • 100 hours internship, 75 hours volunteering and 75 hours part-time work
Can my part-time job or volunteering count?

Yes. Part-time work and formal volunteering can contribute towards the required 250 hours.

Can I use work experience from before university?

Yes, if it was completed within the six months before your course started.

Experience completed earlier than this cannot be counted.

Can placement hours count?

You can count up to 50 hours gained through practice placements or school-based training, such as nursing, teaching or social work placements.

You must demonstrate that you went beyond the normal placement requirements, for example through:

  • Work shadowing
  • Student representation
  • Professional body involvement
  • Supporting induction activities
  • Organising additional learning opportunities

Placement experience must be approved by your academic department.

Where can I find work experience opportunities?

Information about part-time jobs, internships and work experience opportunities is available through My Career Portal.

Completing the award

How do I submit evidence?

Record your work experience in the Herts Excellence Award pathway and upload the required evidence.

You should:

  • Log your experience as you complete it
  • Record your skills development throughout the award
  • Complete the development activities
  • Submit your final assessment once all requirements have been met

What are the development activities? 

Development activities help build your employability and enterprise skills.

Examples include:

  • Improving your LinkedIn profile
  • Career planning
  • Mock interviews
  • Business planning activities

You'll complete a mix of activities totalling approximately 20 hours.

How long does it take to complete the award?

It's recommended that you allow at least one year to complete the award.

However, you can work towards it throughout your degree and submit your final assessment at any point before graduation.

What do I receive when I complete the award?

Once you have successfully completed the award, you'll receive:

  • A digital badge
  • A certificate signed by the Vice-Chancellor

Final assessment and deadlines

What is the final assessment?

You'll submit either a:

  • Poster
  • Video
  • Presentation

Your submission should answer:

"What have you learned during this award and how will you apply it in your future career?"

When do I need to submit my final assessment?

There are two submission deadlines per term.

Your assessment must be submitted and marked before you graduate.

We recommend submitting early in case you need to make improvements and resubmit.

See the Herts Excellence Award submission deadlines page for the latest dates.

I missed a deadline. Can I still complete the award?

You can submit at the next available deadline, provided there is still a marking opportunity before your graduation date.

If all remaining deadlines fall after you graduate, you won't be able to complete the award.

Eligibility and special circumstances

Can international students take part? 

Yes, provided any work experience complies with the conditions of your visa.

If you're unsure, contact the International Student Support team.

Can apprentices take part?

Yes. Apprentices are encouraged to complete the award.

Hours gained through your apprenticeship can count towards the experience requirement, up to 200 hours of the 250-hour total.

I am in my final year. Is it too late to start?

Not necessarily.

Qualifying experience gained during your time at Herts can still be counted, even if you were not registered when you completed it.

The key requirement is that you complete the award and receive your assessment outcome before graduation.

 

Verification and technical issues

How long does evidence verification take?

Evidence is normally verified within seven working days of submitting your final piece of evidence.

I have submitted my evidence but can't access the next stage.

If you submitted evidence within the last seven working days, verification may still be in progress.

If it has been more than seven working days:

 

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