qualification levels explained
- HND or SVQ?
- Degree or Diploma?
- Access 3 or Standard Grade?
There are many different kinds of Scottish qualifications, and a lot of confusion as to how they relate to each other, specifically as a level of qualification.
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) was established to help learners like you to understand how different programmes and qualifications relate to each other.
It is this framework that we have used to establish the searchable levels of qualification on this site.
You can see how the main qualifications relate to each other, and where they sit for the purposes of this site, in the table below.
To learn more about the SCQF you can visit their website at www.scqf.org.uk
Table of main qualifications |
SCQF
level |
|
SQA National Units,
Courses & Group Awards |
|
Higher
Education |
|
Scottish Vocational
Qualifications |
| 12 |
|
|
|
Doctorates |
|
|
| 11 |
|
|
|
Masters |
|
SVQ5 |
| 10 |
|
|
|
Honours Degree
Graduate Diploma/Certificate* |
|
|
| 9 |
|
|
|
Ordinary Degree
Graduate Diploma/Certificate* |
|
|
| 8 |
|
|
|
Higher National Diploma
Diploma in Higher Education |
|
SVQ4 |
| 7 |
|
Advanced Higher |
|
Higher National Certificate
Certificate in Higher Education |
|
|
| 6 |
|
Higher |
|
|
|
SVQ3 |
| 5 |
|
Intermediate 2
Credit Standard Grade |
|
|
|
SVQ2 |
| 4 |
|
Intermediate 1
General Standard Grade |
|
|
|
SVQ1 |
| 3 |
|
Access 3
Foundation Standard Grade |
|
|
|
|
| 2 |
|
Access 2 |
|
|
|
|
| 1 |
|
Access 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
* These qualifications are differentiated by volume of outcomes and may be offered at either level
Credit Points
Credit points are a simple way of showing how much learning you have done to achieve a qualification. Along with the level descriptors, they allow learners, learning providers and employers to compare different qualifications on the same or even different levels.
Credit in the SCQF is defined by the number of SCQF credit points. They quantify the outcomes of learning that are subject to valid, reliable methods of assessment.
The number of points is based on the probable time that an 'average' learner at a specified level might expect to take to achieve the outcomes. They indicate the amount of learning that an 'average' learner needs to acquire, not the actual, or the required, time taken to learn:
- 1 credit point represents the amount of learning achieved through a notional 10 hours of learning time which includes everything a learner has to do to achieve the outcomes in a qualification including assessment procedures
This is only a guide. No points are added or taken away if more or less time is taken to achieve the outcomes.
Most mainstream qualifications in Scotland have been allocated a number of SCQF credit points. For example:
- an Honours Degree has a total of 480 credits with at least 90 at level 10
- an SQA Higher course has 24 credits at level 6
|
