Award in British Sign Language – Level 1
**This course may be free if you earn less than £25,750p.a.** Would you like to gain basic British Sign Language (BSL) skills and the confidence to communicate about everyday topics? Then this course is for you. It covers production and reception of BSL on a range of topics.
Course Summary
Course Information for Students
Who is this course for?
**This course may be free if you earn less than £25,750p.a. Other learners may receive a 50% fee reduction.**
This course is for anyone who wishes to be able to communicate in BSL to cover everyday topics. You will learn how to take part in everyday conversations in BSL, to give and follow simple directions or instructions in BSL, and to follow descriptions around familiar topics.
Entry Requirements
No prior knowledge is required for this Level 1 Award course.
Students will need to have sufficient manual dexterity, sight and facial movement to produce and receive BSL.
What will you learn?
- Everyday phrases on familiar topics
- New language skills
- Deaf awareness
- Simple conversations
- Simple directions and instructions
- Descriptive language on a range of familiar topics
How will you learn?
You will learn in friendly classroom sessions by taking part in individual, pair and group work.
What will you need to bring with you?
You will need a willingness to learn a new language and should be eager to take part in pair and group activities as well as completing independent (homework) tasks. (You will be videoed for external assessment, so you need to be accepting of this.)
How will you be assessed?
There will be three assessments:
- BSL101 Introduction to BSL
- BSL102 Conversational BSL
- BSL103 Communicate in BSL about everyday life
Where next?
You could consider progressing to the Level 2 Certificate in British Sign Language.
You can also use your newly acquired skills within your workplace or community.
Who do you contact for more information?
For more information, contact Derby College Group on 0800 0280289 or enquiries@derby-college.ac.uk
Course Information for Employers
Information for Employers
Career Information
DCG Success Stories
Discover how our students have achieved success. Their hard work and dedication to learning has enabled them to succeed in rewarding careers or progress onto higher education.
We encourage progress and aspirational outcomes by guiding people onto learning pathways that lead to positive destinations. Our students have gone on to achieve great things since leaving the College. We would like to share some of their inspiring success stories with you.
Find out what funding could be available to you:
Thinking about returning to education or developing new skills? Use our funding calculator below to get an estimate of the financial support you may be eligible for based on where you live.
Whether you’re looking to retrain, progress in your career, or try something new, funding could make your next step more accessible than you think.
Simply enter your postcode into the calculator to see an estimate of the funding that may be available in your area. This is based on regional funding allocations and typical eligibility criteria for adult learners.
Important:
The results shown are a guide only and are not a guarantee of funding.
Funding availability can vary depending on:
- Your personal circumstances (such as age, employment status, and prior qualifications)
- The course you choose
- Government and local funding rules at the time of enrolment
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Course Information Last Updated On: May 20, 2026 9:07 am
