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The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework, or SCQF, lets you compare Scottish qualifications in terms of:
- how difficult they are to achieve (described as an SCQF level); and
- how much you need to learn (described as SCQF credit points).
So, even when the content of courses is different, you can compare them by level and the number of credit points you get. This makes it easier to see how one course, or type of learning, relates to another. It also helps you to work out how to move on, or move between, qualifications and plan what you need to do next to get into the course or job you want to do.
Warning! SCQF credit points are not the same as UCAS tariff points.
Levels
There are 12 levels, ranging from level 1 for basic education to level 12 for very advanced education, such as postgraduate qualifications.
If you look at the table below you will see that some very different qualifications are at the same level. For example, the Advanced Higher is level 7, and so is the Higher National Certificate (HNC). This doesn’t mean they are the same. The content is different and they are assessed differently, but each is as hard to achieve as the other.
Credit Points
Each qualification is allocated a number of credit points. These points are for the amount of learning you have to do to get the qualification. One SCQF credit point represents ten hours of learning time. So some qualifications, at the same level, earn more points than others.
For example the Advanced Higher and the HNC are both at level 7, but each Advanced Higher is worth 32 credit points and each HNC is worth 96.
You can use your credit points to move on to courses at a higher level. Some colleges and universities now ask for a certain number of SCQF credit points for entry. Course information records on PlanIT Plus list the SCQF level and credit points allocated to the course wherever possible.
You may also be able to transfer credit points from one course to another. For example, if you took an Advanced Higher in Information Systems at school it could be credited towards the HNC Computing at a college of further education. Visit the SCQF website for more information at http://www.scqf.org.uk/
SCQF levels and points don't just apply to formal qualifications offered by colleges and universities. Many work-based qualifications and even youth awards, such as Youth Achievement and ASDAN awards are also part of the SCQF.
Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework
|
SCQF Levels |
SQA National Units, Courses and Other Awards |
Higher Education |
Scottish Vocational Qualifications |
|
12 |
Professional Development Awards (PDAs), spanning Levels 6 to 12 |
Doctorate |
|
|
11 |
|
Integrated Masters Degree
Masters Degree
Postgraduate Diploma
Postgraduate Certificate |
SVQ 5 |
|
10 |
|
Honours Degree
Graduate Certificate or Diploma |
|
|
9 |
|
Ordinary Degree
Graduate Certificate or Diploma |
|
|
8 |
|
Higher National Diploma (HND) or Diploma in Higher Education (DipHE) |
SVQ 4 |
|
7 |
Advanced Higher
Scottish Baccalaureates |
Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Certificate in Higher Education (CertHE) |
|
|
6 |
Higher
Skills for Work Higher |
|
SVQ 3 |
|
5 |
Intermediate 2 or Credit Standard Grade
Skills for Work Intermediate 2 |
|
SVQ 2 |
|
4 |
Intermediate 1 or General Standard Grade
National Certificates
National Progression Awards |
|
SVQ 1 |
|
3 |
Access 3 or Foundation Standard Grade
Skills for Work Access 3 |
|
|
|
2 |
Access 2 |
|
|
|
1 |
Access 1 |
|
|
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