Qualification types (UK)
Encyclopedia
In the UK education
sector, there are a wide range of qualification types offered by the United Kingdom awarding bodies
. Qualifications range in size and type, can be academic, vocational or skills-related, and are grouped together into different levels of difficulty.
In England, Northern Ireland and Wales, the levels are contained within the National Qualifications Framework. From September 2008, this is being superseded by the Qualifications and Credit Framework. There are nine levels of difficulty in the framework, from entry level to level 8.
http://www.ofqual.gov.uk/qualification-and-assessment-framework/89-articles/250-explaining-the-national-qualifications-framework
Higher education qualifications are also contained in the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ). The FHEQ broadly corresponds with levels 4 to 8 of the NQF.
Scotland has its own education system and its own twelve level system, the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework
.
AEAs are at level 3 on the NQF.
AS and A levels are available in a wide range of academic and applied (work-related) subjects, and are often used as entry into higher education
.
In Scotland, students usually take Highers
and Advanced Highers.
AS and A levels are at level 3 on the NQF.
is a course of higher education academic study leading to a qualification such as a bachelor of arts (BA), bachelor of science (BSc), or bachelor of medicine (MB). They are sometimes known as 'ordinary' or 'first' degrees.
A bachelors degree is designed to give learners a thorough understanding of a subject, and usually takes three or four years to complete full time (some degrees such as medicine can take five or six years).
Bachelors degrees are at level 6 on the NQF.
is a qualification for 14 to 19 year-olds, offering a more practical, hands-on way of gaining the essential skills employers and universities look for.
From September 2008, Diplomas in five subject areas were made available in selected schools and colleges around the country. Further subjects were added every year until 2011. Currently there are 17 subjects available.
The 14–19 Diplomas are at levels 1 to 3 on the NQF.
They may be appropriate for learners who do not have traditional qualifications, or who have been away from learning for a long time.
They are available in a wide variety of subjects, and at three different levels (all within entry level on the NQF).
are higher education qualifications that combine academic study with workplace learning. They have been designed jointly by universities, colleges and employers, and are available in a range of work-related subjects. They are broadly equivalent to the first two years of a bachelor's degree.
Foundation Degrees are at level 5 on the NQF.
GCSEs are at levels 1 and 2 on the NQF, depending on the grade achieved.
(Higher National Certificates) and HNDs
(Higher National Diplomas) are work-related higher education qualifications.
HNCs can take one year to complete full time. HNDs take two years full time (both can also be studied part time). They are highly valued by employers, and can also count towards membership of professional bodies and other employer organisations.
HNCs and HNDs are at level 5 on the NQF.
The IB Diploma Programme is at level 3 on the NQF.
They are available in schools, colleges and from other learning providers, and are also offered by some employers, the armed forces and the Prison Service.
Key Skills can be taken as a stand alone qualification, or as part of other courses (such as an NVQ or some higher education courses). They are also one of the components that make up an Apprenticeship
.
Key Skill qualifications are at levels 1 to 4 on the NQF.
.
They are based on national standards for various occupations, and cover the practical, work-related tasks designed to help learners do a job effectively.
NVQs are at levels 1 to 5 on the NQF.
are higher education qualifications that require that learners have already completed a bachelors degree. Most types of postgraduate qualification will include taught and research elements.
Generally, they fall into four categories:
Postgraduate qualifications are at levels 7 and 8 on the NQF.
(sometimes referred to as Basic Skills
qualifications are designed to help learners develop their reading, writing, maths and ICT skills. There is also a Skills for Life qualification in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).
They are available for those learners who are over 16 years of age, have left compulsory full-time education and do not have an up to date English or maths qualification at level 2 (such as a GCSE) on the NQF. In some cases, schools can also offer the qualifications for 14 to 16 year olds.
Skills for Life qualifications are available at entry level to level 2 on the NQF.
qualifications are designed to give learners the skills and knowledge to do a particular job, work in a particular industry, or acquire more general skills to do a variety of jobs.
They are offered by a variety of awarding bodies
such as City and Guilds, Edexcel
and OCR
.
They are available at various levels on the NQF, and in a variety of different sizes.
The UKVQRP is managed by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and is supported by the Learning and Skills Network
through the Qualification Reform Support Programme.
Education in the United Kingdom
Education in the United Kingdom is a devolved matter with each of the countries of the United Kingdom having separate systems under separate governments: the UK Government is responsible for England, and the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive are...
sector, there are a wide range of qualification types offered by the United Kingdom awarding bodies
United Kingdom Awarding Bodies
In the UK, in order for a qualification to be recognized as part of the National Qualifications Framework , and transferable between courses, institutions and occupations, it must be accredited through one of the United Kingdom Awarding Bodies that is regulated by the three government-appointed...
. Qualifications range in size and type, can be academic, vocational or skills-related, and are grouped together into different levels of difficulty.
Qualification levels
Qualifications are grouped together into different levels. Each level corresponds to a particular qualification’s degree of difficulty. However, qualifications within any one level can cover a huge range of subjects and take different amounts of time to complete.In England, Northern Ireland and Wales, the levels are contained within the National Qualifications Framework. From September 2008, this is being superseded by the Qualifications and Credit Framework. There are nine levels of difficulty in the framework, from entry level to level 8.
http://www.ofqual.gov.uk/qualification-and-assessment-framework/89-articles/250-explaining-the-national-qualifications-framework
Higher education qualifications are also contained in the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ). The FHEQ broadly corresponds with levels 4 to 8 of the NQF.
Scotland has its own education system and its own twelve level system, the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework
Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework is the national credit transfer system for all levels of qualifications in Scotland...
.
Advanced Extension Awards
Advanced Extension Awards (AEAs) are normally taken by students who are studying A levels, and who are expected to get an A grade in that subject. The qualification asks students to use the knowledge they have gained during their A level studies, and then apply it more widely and critically than in the A level exam. The reforms of 2008, which will introduce an A* grade at A level, will render this qualification redundant, and the last examinations will be in 2009.AEAs are at level 3 on the NQF.
AS and A levels
AS level and A (Advanced) level qualifications focus on traditional study skills. They normally take two years to complete full-time in school or college, and can be taken part-time. AS levels can stand as a qualification in their own right, or become the first half of a full A level (the A2 forms the second half).AS and A levels are available in a wide range of academic and applied (work-related) subjects, and are often used as entry into higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
.
In Scotland, students usually take Highers
Higher (Scottish)
In Scotland the Higher is one of the national school-leaving certificate exams and university entrance qualifications of the Scottish Qualifications Certificate offered by the Scottish Qualifications Authority. It superseded the old Higher Grade on the Scottish Certificate of Education...
and Advanced Highers.
AS and A levels are at level 3 on the NQF.
Bachelor's degrees
A bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
is a course of higher education academic study leading to a qualification such as a bachelor of arts (BA), bachelor of science (BSc), or bachelor of medicine (MB). They are sometimes known as 'ordinary' or 'first' degrees.
A bachelors degree is designed to give learners a thorough understanding of a subject, and usually takes three or four years to complete full time (some degrees such as medicine can take five or six years).
Bachelors degrees are at level 6 on the NQF.
Diplomas (for 14–19 year olds)
The 14–19 Diploma14–19 Diploma
The Diploma is a composite qualification in England launched in September 2008. Its development was announced in the 14–19 Education and Skills White Paper of March 2005...
is a qualification for 14 to 19 year-olds, offering a more practical, hands-on way of gaining the essential skills employers and universities look for.
From September 2008, Diplomas in five subject areas were made available in selected schools and colleges around the country. Further subjects were added every year until 2011. Currently there are 17 subjects available.
The 14–19 Diplomas are at levels 1 to 3 on the NQF.
Entry level qualifications
Entry level qualifications are known as 'certificates' or 'awards', and are designed for learners who are not yet ready to take qualifications at level 1 on the NQF.They may be appropriate for learners who do not have traditional qualifications, or who have been away from learning for a long time.
They are available in a wide variety of subjects, and at three different levels (all within entry level on the NQF).
Foundation Degrees
Foundation DegreesFoundation degree
The Foundation Degree is a vocational qualification introduced by the government of the United Kingdom in September 2001, which is available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
are higher education qualifications that combine academic study with workplace learning. They have been designed jointly by universities, colleges and employers, and are available in a range of work-related subjects. They are broadly equivalent to the first two years of a bachelor's degree.
Foundation Degrees are at level 5 on the NQF.
GCSEs
GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education) are the main qualification taken by 14–16 year olds (adults can take them as well). They are available in a wide range of academic and applied (work-related) subjects, and also as a ‘short-course’ option (equivalent to half a full GCSE).GCSEs are at levels 1 and 2 on the NQF, depending on the grade achieved.
HNCs and HNDs
HNCsHigher National Certificate
A Higher National Certificate is a higher education qualification in the United Kingdom.In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the HNC is a BTEC qualification awarded by Edexcel, and in Scotland, an HNC is a Higher National awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority...
(Higher National Certificates) and HNDs
Higher National Diploma
A Higher National Diploma is a higher education qualification in the United Kingdom. This qualification can be used to gain entry into universities, and is considered equivalent to the first or second year of a university degree course....
(Higher National Diplomas) are work-related higher education qualifications.
HNCs can take one year to complete full time. HNDs take two years full time (both can also be studied part time). They are highly valued by employers, and can also count towards membership of professional bodies and other employer organisations.
HNCs and HNDs are at level 5 on the NQF.
International Baccalaureate
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is an internationally recognised qualification for students aged 16 to 19. It is based around detailed academic study of a wide range of subjects, including languages, the arts, science, maths, history and geography, and leads to a single qualification.The IB Diploma Programme is at level 3 on the NQF.
Key Skills qualifications
Key Skills qualifications are designed to develop the skills that are commonly needed in education and training, work and life in general.They are available in schools, colleges and from other learning providers, and are also offered by some employers, the armed forces and the Prison Service.
Key Skills can be taken as a stand alone qualification, or as part of other courses (such as an NVQ or some higher education courses). They are also one of the components that make up an Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
.
Key Skill qualifications are at levels 1 to 4 on the NQF.
National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)
NVQs are competence-based qualifications that can be taken at work, college, or as part of an ApprenticeshipApprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
.
They are based on national standards for various occupations, and cover the practical, work-related tasks designed to help learners do a job effectively.
NVQs are at levels 1 to 5 on the NQF.
Postgraduate qualifications
Postgraduate qualificationsPostgraduate education
Postgraduate education involves learning and studying for degrees or other qualifications for which a first or Bachelor's degree generally is required, and is normally considered to be part of higher education...
are higher education qualifications that require that learners have already completed a bachelors degree. Most types of postgraduate qualification will include taught and research elements.
Generally, they fall into four categories:
- postgraduate certificatePostgraduate certificateA postgraduate certificate generally is the credential awarded to an individual upon completion of a higher education postgraduate program designed to provide students with specialized knowledge that is less extensive than a postgraduate diploma or Master's degree...
- postgraduate diplomaPostgraduate diplomaA postgraduate diploma is a postgraduate qualification awarded typically after a bachelor's degree. It can be contrasted with a graduate diploma...
- master's degreeMaster's degreeA master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
- doctorateDoctorateA doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
Postgraduate qualifications are at levels 7 and 8 on the NQF.
Skills for Life qualifications
Skills for LifeSkills for life
Skills for Life is the national strategy in England for improving adult literacy, language and numeracy skills. The strategy was launched by the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, in March 2001....
(sometimes referred to as Basic Skills
Basic skills
Basic skills can be compared to higher order thinking skills. Facts and methods are highly valued under the back-to-basics approach to education....
qualifications are designed to help learners develop their reading, writing, maths and ICT skills. There is also a Skills for Life qualification in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).
They are available for those learners who are over 16 years of age, have left compulsory full-time education and do not have an up to date English or maths qualification at level 2 (such as a GCSE) on the NQF. In some cases, schools can also offer the qualifications for 14 to 16 year olds.
Skills for Life qualifications are available at entry level to level 2 on the NQF.
Vocational qualifications
VocationalVocational education
Vocational education or vocational education and training is an education that prepares trainees for jobs that are based on manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic, and totally related to a specific trade, occupation, or vocation...
qualifications are designed to give learners the skills and knowledge to do a particular job, work in a particular industry, or acquire more general skills to do a variety of jobs.
They are offered by a variety of awarding bodies
United Kingdom Awarding Bodies
In the UK, in order for a qualification to be recognized as part of the National Qualifications Framework , and transferable between courses, institutions and occupations, it must be accredited through one of the United Kingdom Awarding Bodies that is regulated by the three government-appointed...
such as City and Guilds, Edexcel
Edexcel
Edexcel, a UK company, is one of England, Wales and Northern Ireland's five main examination boards, and is wholly owned by the private-sector Pearson PLC, a UK-based media and publishing conglomerate. Its name is a portmanteau word derived from the words "educational" and "excellence"...
and OCR
OCR (examination board)
OCR is an examination board that sets examinations and awards qualifications . It is one of England, Wales and Northern Ireland's five main examination boards....
.
They are available at various levels on the NQF, and in a variety of different sizes.
Reform of vocational qualifications
In November 2005, the government established the UK Vocational Qualifications Reform Programme (UKVQRP), to improve the effectiveness of vocational qualifications and other learning programmes across the UK.The UKVQRP is managed by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and is supported by the Learning and Skills Network
Learning and Skills Network
LSN is an independent not-for-profit organisation in the United Kingdom. It provides consulting, outsourcing, research, technology and training services for learning and skills.-History:...
through the Qualification Reform Support Programme.
See also
- Secondary educationSecondary educationSecondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
- Further educationFurther educationFurther education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
- Lifelong learningLifelong learningLifelong learning is the continuous building of skills and knowledge throughout the life of an individual. It occurs through experiences encountered in the course of a lifetime...
- Vocational educationVocational educationVocational education or vocational education and training is an education that prepares trainees for jobs that are based on manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic, and totally related to a specific trade, occupation, or vocation...
- Higher educationHigher educationHigher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
- National Qualifications FrameworkNational Qualifications FrameworkThe National Qualifications Framework is a credit transfer system developed for qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland....
- Education in the United KingdomEducation in the United KingdomEducation in the United Kingdom is a devolved matter with each of the countries of the United Kingdom having separate systems under separate governments: the UK Government is responsible for England, and the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive are...
- Quality Assurance of qualifications
External links
- Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA)
- QCA NQF factsheet (PDF)
- National Database of Accredited Qualifications
- Department for Children Schools and Families, Section 96 qualifications (for learners aged under 19)
- Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, Section 97 qualifications (for learners aged 19 or over)
- Department for Children Schools and Families 14-19
- International Baccalaureate Organization
- City and Guilds
- Edexcel
- OCR Examinations
- Qualification Reform Support Programme