Level 6 BSL (Online)

Choose from self-guided online study or live taught classes with a teacher and achieve a professional qualification.

Upcoming courses

Two people sit at a table smiling and holding their hands up to their heads, while another person sits behind them looking away. Papers and drinks are on the table.

Level 6 BSL (Online)

£1,800 (inc. VAT) + £306 exam fees

Advanced (C1)
6 assessments
50 weeks
3 hours per week
Online course

Downloads

Apply now

Upcoming courses

Click one of the options below for more information about the dates and times

Mondays 18:00-21:00 starting 5 January 2026 (BSL6-Jan26)

Thursdays 13:00-16:00 starting 5 February 2026 (BSL6-Feb26)

Course Content Assessments Entry Requirements Progression Careers Fees Apply

Level 6 BSL - Course Content

The aim of this course is to further develop your linguistic skills in British Sign Language towards advanced level, or C1 of the CEFR. Teaching begins by briefly revisiting the vocabulary and grammatical structures covered in Level 3/4, before moving swiftly onto developing skills, understanding and knowledge in linguistics, receptive skills, productive skills and conversational skills.

The course is delivered in an informal and relaxed environment and your teacher will use a variety of teaching and learning methods to cater for all learning styles and to meet the needs of all learners. The course is designed to be fun, engaging and meaningful and will give you the opportunity to practice your productive and receptive skills by means of group work, pair work, role-plays, games, presentations and discussions.

The Level 6 course is useful for anybody who is in regular contact with deaf people, be it through work or social life. On completion of this course, learners will be able to progress onto professional training in sign language interpreting, translation and communication support by completing the Level 6 Diploma in Sign Language Interpreting and Translation.

Theme	Topics covered
Medicine	Deaf people’s access to primary care services Interpreting in medical settings Dealing with medical jargon in BSL How can we educate the deaf community about medical issues? What would happen if there was a cure for deafness? Cochlear implants and their effect on the deaf community How cochlear implants and hearing aids work Deaf people’s experiences of hearing aids and cochlear implants Medical model of disability Deaf people’s experience of accessing healthcare services Genetic engineering: is it ethical to create a deaf baby? Deaf genealogy and deaf families Deaf eugenics
Education	Deaf schools and mainstream schools – pros and cons Deaf people’s experiences of education Interpreting in educational settings Bilingual education Oral and signed education – pros and cons Deaf people’s experiences of accessing university and higher education The role of deaf adults in the education of deaf children Teachers of the deaf – role and responsibilities How could the deaf education system in the UK be improved? Deaf education around the world Deaf language acquisition and the effect on learning Abée de l’Epée and the origins of deaf education
Employment and business	Deaf businesses in the UK Access to Work funding – how does it work and who benefits? Interpreting in employment/business settings Deaf peple’s experiences of accessing the labour market and finding jobs Challenges of finding deaf people for deaf people Interpreting job interviews – challenges Deaf people’s experience of claiming unemployment benefits, e.g. JSA/ESA Jobs that deaf people are not allowed to do – is this right? Deaf people’s experience of working with hearing colleagues in the hearing world Experiences of working in the deaf world with deaf colleagues
Finance	Poverty in the deaf community Deaf people’s attitude towards money Is it fair that interpreters are paid more than deaf people? How much does/should the government spend on access for deaf people? Should deaf people be entitled to DLA/PIP? Is it fair that hearing tax payers should pay for deaf people’s benefits? Is it right that money is spent on hearing aids and equipment rather than making services accessible? Should deaf people have to pay taxes, e.g. TV license?
Politics and law	Deaf people’s experience of being involved in politics Can deaf people become politicians? How can the government do more to encourage deaf people to vote? How can deaf people have access to education about politics? Is it right that deaf people are protected under medical policies? Should deaf people be considered a cultural and linguistic minority? WFD and the rights of deaf people Human rights and deaf communities around the world Interpreting in legal/court settings Deaf people’s experience of the criminal justice system and police
Society	Should deaf people be considered a cultural and linguistic minority? How do hearing people view deaf people? Deaf world and its relationship with the hearing world Deaf people’s experiences of the deaf and/or hearing world Otherness and social exclusion – how can this be resolved? Dynamics in deaf families Identity of hearing children of deaf parents Social model of disability Child language brokering and gatekeeping Deaf identity in the deaf and hearing worlds
Media	Deaf media outlets Should there be more representation of BSL in the media? How are deaf people portrayed by the media? Leisure activities Cinema and theatres – accessibility and problems Deaf clubs Social exclusion Deaf conferences Sports and leisure activities Translating Shakespeare
Science and technology	How has technology for deaf people changed over history? What kinds of deaf equipment are available today? How do hearing aids/cochlear implants work? Scientists in the deaf world How can technology improve deaf people’s access to services? What kids of technological advancements could help deaf people? How has technology impacted and changed the deaf world? Technologies used by deaf people, e.g. social media Can science cure deafness? Deaf people’s experience of technological changes How has science and technology influenced BSL?

Accessments

There are total of 6 assessments for this qualification, 3 are internally assessed and 3 are externally assessed.

You are required to film the 3 internal assessments with deaf, native BSL signers from your own community. BSL First does not provide deaf participants for the internal assessments.

Assessment	Internal/external
Informal one-to-one discussion (15 minutes)	Internal
Informal group debate (15 minutes)	Internal
Formal group meeting (15 minutes)	Internal
Formal discussion (15 minutes)	External
Formal presentation (15 minutes)	External
Receptive skills exam (1 hour 30 minutes)	External

Entry Requirements

You must have passed the Signature Level 4 Certificate in British Sign Language qualification, or Pre-Level 6 BSL course.

All applicants must attend a short interview online before being offered a place. The interview costs £50 for non-BSL First students and is free for continuing BSL First students.

We may consider applicants with strong BSL skills who have completed the Signature Level 3 Certificate in British Sign Language qualification. This will be assessed at the interview. If you are not offered a place on the Level 6 BSL course, you will be offered a place on the Pre-Level 6 BSL course instead.

Deaf and hearing native BSL signers do not need any previous BSL qualifications to be considered for the Level 6 BSL course.

This is an advanced level course. All students studying at Level 3 and above must be socialising or working with deaf, native BSL signers on a regular basis.

Progression

After you have completed the Level 6 BSL course, you can progress on to the following courses:

Level 6 Diploma in Sign Language Interpreting
Level 6 Diploma in Sign Language Translation
Any NRCPD approved Interpreter Training Programme

Careers

Learning BSL isn’t just fun, for many it’s the starting point of a new and exciting career, or professional development in their current role. Popular careers include BSL/English Interpreter, BSL/English Translator, Communication Support Worker, Teacher of the Deaf and BSL Teacher. Our courses are designed to respond to industry demand, which means they won’t just prepare you for the assessment, but also they will equip you with the skills to succeed in your chosen career, or any other career involving the use of BSL.

Our teachers have a wealth of knowledge and experience in British Sign Language, teaching, interpreting, translation and communication support, so no matter what your goals are we will help to achieve them.

Here are some popular careers that require knowledge and skills in BSL.

BSL/English Interpreter
International Sign Interpreter
BSL/English Translator
Communication Support Worker
Teacher of the Deaf
BSL Teaching Assistant
Educational Communication Support Worker
BSL Support Worker
Communicator Guide
BSL Teacher
Notetaker
Lipspeaker
Deafblind Interpreter

Fees

For individuals paying privately

Option 1 – Pay in full

£50 interview fee payable at the time of application (free for BSL First students)

£225 deposit payable when accepting place

£1,575 payable within 21 days after the course starts

£306 exam fee payable when the exams are booked

Refund policy: £1,575 refundable up to 21 days after the course starts. No refund after 21 days.

Option 2 – Pay in instalments

£50 interview fee payable at the time of application (free for BSL First students)

£225 deposit payable when accepting place

£225 per month x 7 months

£306 exam fee payable when the exams are booked

Refund policy: £225 initial deposit non-refundable. Remaining payments refundable up to 21 days after the course starts. No refund after 21 days.

Apply

For employers and organisations

We do not absorb the VAT for VAT-registered companies. We will raise an invoice for the full course and exam fee. We do not offer employers the option to pay in instalments.

Full course fee: £1,800 + VAT = £2,160

There is no VAT on the exam fee.

PO number and employer financial details required at the time of application.

Refund policy:
£1,575 refundable up to 21 days after the course starts. No refund after 21 days.

Apply

Level 6 BSL (Online)

Level 6 BSL (Online)

Downloads

BSL 6 Qualification Specification

BSL 6 Course Handbook

Guide to BSL Courses

Signature Website

Upcoming courses

Level 6 BSL - Course Content

Accessments

Entry Requirements

Progression

Careers

Fees

For individuals paying privately

Option 1 – Pay in full

Option 2 – Pay in instalments

For employers and organisations