In England, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) produces a framework for all the qualifications - the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF).
NQF and QCF set out the levels against which a qualification can be recognised in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. These frameworks help learners to make informed decisions about the qualifications they need, and help employers and providers assess what qualifications a candidate has.
The QCF will ultimately replace the NQF and high-level professional qualifications may be accredited to the QCF.
NQF and QCF have nine levels
Each qualification on the NQF or QCF has a level. Where qualifications share the same level this means that they are broadly similar in terms of the demand they place on the learner.
On the NQF, different qualifications at the same level can still be very different in terms of content and duration.
On the QCF all qualifications have a credit value, so it is easy to see which qualifications are at the same level but may take longer to achieve – the difficulty and size of a qualification can therefore easily be compared.
Qualification content, however, varies between each qualification.
The NQF and QCF are comprised of nine levels, and set out the basis on which qualifications are approved, so that everyone can have confidence in the standards of qualifications and the consistency between these qualifications in terms of levels, size, content, use of titles, etc.
Dissecting the qualifications
Qualifications are best understood by their level of difficulty, size and, of course, their content. Each accredited qualification has a level according to the qualifications framework it is on. Levels are a standard way of comparing how challenging a qualification is and what learners should be able to do once they have successfully completed it. Qualifications which are not accredited are not nationally recognised. Defining the size of a qualification is dependent, in part, by the framework to which it is accredited.
The levels for the NQF and QCF are consistent and range from Entry level to level 8. A level 3 NQF qualification therefore represents the same difficulty as a level 3 QCF qualification. However, the QCF uses a credit based system to recognize qualification size and gives a more flexible approach to learners’ needs.
Please note that on the QCF the terms award, certificate and diploma refer to the credit value of the qualification. On the NQF these terms do not represent a standard qualification size, and are more descriptive.
To get more details of accredited qualifications including the qualification type (NQF or QCF) and level, please visit:
Higher Education
The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) published by Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) describes the level of achievement and attributes represented by higher education qualifications such as Certificates of Higher Education, Higher National Diplomas, Bachelor’s degrees (with and without honours), Master’s degrees and Doctorates and other academic awards. The FHEQ covers academic qualifications from Level 4 to Level 8, and is broadly comparable to the NQF and QCF which cover qualifications from Entry Level to Level 8.
The image below provides a comparative understanding of the various UK qualifications and their respective levels:
UK Qualification Structure
