Correspondences between UK and Irish frameworks with European qualifications frameworks Within Europe, two overarching qualifications frameworks exist to which Qualifications can the national qualifications frameworks of the UK and Ireland relate: include a Foundation Foundation Professional Professional qualification Professional Professional Professional Professional Must Apprenticeship Apprenticeship, Apprenticeship, The European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and the Framework for Apprenticeship, Not yet yet developed Not Higher Apprenticeship Higher Modern Apprenticeship Modern Apprenticeship Modern Modern Apprenticeship, Modern Graduate Apprenticeship Graduate Apprenticeship Graduate Technical Apprenticeship Technical Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area (FQ-EHEA) also Scotland Apprenticeship, Graduate Apprenticeship, Technical Level Cross Boundaries known as the Bologna Framework. 7 5 8 6 9 11 12 10 Table 1 shows the correspondence of levels established between national A guide to comparing qualifications qualifications frameworks and the EQF: European Framework Regulated Credit and Scottish The National in the UK and Ireland Qualifications for Higher Qualifications Qualifications Credit and Framework of Framework Education Framework Framework for Qualifications Qualifications lead to an existing an existing to lead Apprenticeship Apprenticeship Apprenticeship Apprenticeship Apprenticeship (EQF) Qualifications England/ Wales (CQFW) Framework for Ireland Apprenticeship, qualification type qualification How to use this leaflet: in England/ Northern (SCQF) (NFQ IE) yet developed Not Must Ireland Northern Ireland (RQF) Level ● This leaflet provides information that allows you to look at the 7 5 8 4 6 Ireland (FHEQ) 9 10 8 8 8 8 12 10 ways qualifications are organised in the UK and Ireland. 7 7 7 7 11 9 ● 6 6 6 6 10/9 8/7 It shows which qualifications in other countries are broadly 5 5/4 5/4 5/4 8/7 6 include a comparable in terms of the level of challenge to your qualifications Foundation Foundation 4 3 3 6 5 qualification Must Apprenticeship Apprenticeship (or those that you are interested in taking). Higher Apprenticeship Higher Apprenticeship Higher Apprenticeship Higher 3 2 2 5 4 Wales 2 1 1 4 3 Level ● On the left side of the principal table you will find the main stages 7 3 5 2 8 4 6 1 E3 E3 3 2/1 of education or employment - you can find where you are in E2 E2 2 these stages. E1 E1 1 Table 2 shows the outcome of verifying the compatibility of higher education ● To the right of this you can see the nearest levels and similar kinds frameworks for Scotland (FQHEIS/SCQF), for England, Wales and Northern Higher level level Higher Higher Level Level Higher Level Higher Level Higher Level Higher at each level various levels various of qualifications that are used in the other countries. Apprenticeship Apprenticeship Apprenticeship Apprenticeship Traineeships NI Traineeships Apprenticeship, based on a single based on a single Not yet yet developed Not Ireland (FHEQ) and for the NFQ for Ireland NI Apprenticeships Levels 4-8: primarily 4-8: primarily Levels lead to differentation differentation to lead Branding and marketing and marketing Branding exercise in 2019/20 may may in 2019/20 exercise higher-level qualification qualification higher-level between the HLAs at the the HLAs between (NFQ IE) with the FQ-EHEA as follows: Northern Ireland ● This makes it possible to draw broad comparisons in terms Level 7 3 5 2 8 4 Typical higher education FHEQ FQHEIS/ NFQ Corresponding 6 of the level of challenge, rather than direct equivalences, qualifications within each level level SCQF IE FQ-EHEA cycle level level between qualifications and their levels for each country. Doctoral degrees Third cycle (end of May 8 12 10 cycle) qualifications ● The back page indicates how UK and Irish qualifications Master’s degrees (including Second cycle (end of frameworks relate to qualifications frameworks in Europe. Advanced Advanced include a Degree cycle) qualifications Intermediate Intermediate Integrated Master’s) Apprenticeship Apprenticeship Higher/Advanced/ Not yet yet developed Not Apprenticeship: Apprenticeship: include a qualification Higher Apprenticeship Higher Apprenticeship Higher Apprenticeship Higher Apprenticeship Higher Must Higher Apprenticeship, Higher Degree Apprenticeship: Degree Degree Apprenticeship, Degree Apprenticeship, Degree Degree Apprenticeship, Degree ● Postgraduate diplomas 7 11 9 Intermediate England This leaflet is updated periodically. Check one of the websites for qualifications within Level 7 3 5 2 8 4 6 the most up-to-date version. Postgraduate certificates the second cycle Scope of Apprenticeships across the UK and Ireland Bachelor’s degrees with honours First cycle (end of /Honours Bachelor Degrees 10 8 cycle) qualifications Irish Higher Diplomas Bachelor’s degrees/ 6 7 Ordinary Bachelor Degree Regulation Graduate diplomas 9 Intermediate QAA SCQF Partnership CCEA Regulation Southgate House 201 West George Street 29 Clarendon Road, Clarendon qualifications within Graduate certificates Southgate Street Glasgow Dock, Belfast BT1 3BG the first cycle Gloucester, GL1 1UB G2 2LW Tel: +44 (0)28 9026 1200 Foundation Degrees Short cycle Tel: +44 (0)1452 557050 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] (for example FdA, FdSc) qualifications www.qaa.ac.uk www.scqf.org.uk www.ccea.org.uk Diplomas of Higher 5 8 6 Education (DipHE) Higher National Diplomas (HND) Irish Higher Certificates Ofqual CQFW, Welsh Government Quality and Qualifications Ireland Earlsdon Park Sarn Mynach (QQI) Higher National Certificates Intermediate 53-55 Butts Road Llandudno Junction 26-27 Denzille lane (HNC) qualifications within Coventry, CV1 3BH Conwy Dublin 4 7 Certificates of Higher Education the short cycle Tel: +44 (0)300 303 3344 LL31 9RZ D02 P266 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Tel: +353 (0)1 905 8100 (CertHE) see: with these frameworks on compatibility information more For and www.enic-naric.net. http://ec.europa.eu/eqf/home_en.htm www.gov.uk/ofqual www.cqfw.net www.qqi.ie Main stages of education/employment Framework for higher education Regulated Qualifications Framework Credit and Qualifications Framework National Framework of Qualifications Scottish Credit and Qualifications qualifications in England, Wales and for England and Northern Ireland for Wales for Ireland Framework Northern Ireland www.ofqual.gov.uk www.cqfw.net www.qqi.ie www.scqf.org.uk Qualifications can be taken at any age in www.qaa.ac.uk www.ccea.org.uk order to continue or return to education or training LEVEL LEVEL LEVEL LEVEL LEVEL Vocational, Technical and Professional Doctoral Degree, Doctoral Degree, Doctoral Degree, Professional Doctoral Degree 8 8 Qualifications 8 Vocational Qualifications 10 Higher Doctorate 12 Apprenticeship, Professional Development Award (PDA), Award Professional or postgraduate education, research or employment Master’s Degree, Integrated Master’s Degree, Master’s Degree, Integrated Master’s Master’s Degree, Postgraduate Vocational Qualifications, Degree, Postgraduate Diploma, Vocational, Technical and Professional Master’s Degree, Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate, 7 7 7 Postgraduate Certificate in Education 9 11 Postgraduate Certificate in Education Qualifications Postgraduate Diploma Professional Apprenticeship, Graduate (PGCE) (PGCE), Postgraduate Certificate Apprenticeship, PDA, SVQ, Award Higher education Advanced Skills Training Bachelor’s Degree with Honours, Bachelor’s Degree with Honours, Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate, Bachelor’s Degree, Honours Degree, Honours Bachelor Degree, Professional Apprenticeship, Professional Graduate Certificate in Vocational, Technical and Professional 8 10 6 Vocational Qualifications, Higher Diploma Graduate Apprenticeship, 6 Education (PGCE), 6 Qualifications Professional Certificate in Education PDA, SVQ, Award Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate Bachelor’s/Ordinary Degree, Entry to professional Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate, graduate employment 9 Graduate Apprenticeship, Technical Ordinary Bachelor Degree 7 Apprenticeship, PDA, SVQ, Award Foundation Degree, Vocational, Technical and Professional Foundation Degree, 5 Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE), 5 Qualifications, 5 Vocational Qualifications, Higher National Diploma (HND), Higher National Diploma (HND) Higher National Diploma (HND) Higher National Diploma (HND) 8 Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE), Technical Apprenticeship, Higher Apprenticeship, PDA, SVQ, Award Specialised education and training Advanced Certificate, Vocational, Technical and Professional Higher National Certificate (HNC), 6 Higher National Certificate (HNC), Higher National Certificate (HNC), Higher Certificate 4 Qualifications, Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE), Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE), 4 Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) 4 Higher National Certificate (HNC) Vocational Qualifications 7 Modern Apprenticeship, PDA, SVQ, Scottish Baccalaureate, Qualified/Skilled worker Advanced Higher, Award Entry to higher education Vocational, Technical and Professional Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced, Higher, Modern Apprenticeship, Completion of secondary education Level 5 Certificate, 3 Access to HE Diploma* 3 Qualifications, 3 Vocational Qualifications, 5 Foundation Apprenticeship, GCE AS and A Level GCE, AS and A Level, Access to HE Leaving Certificate 6 National Progression Award (NPA), National Certificate, PDA, SVQ, Award *The Access to HE Diploma is regulated by QAA