Your SQC/SCQF Questions Answered

Please select an FAQ from the list below. A new page with the answer to the question will be displayed.

If your question is not answered in the list below, please contact SQA's Customer Contact Centre on 0845 279 1000, or e-mail: customer@sqa.org.uk.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Background and Purpose of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF)

• What is the SCQF?
• What does the SCQF do?
• Why does Scotland need a framework of levels and credits?
• Who will benefit from the SCQF?
• Who developed the SCQF?
• Is the SCQF new?

More about SCQF level and credit

• What does ‘level’ mean?
• Are qualifications that have the same level equal?
• How do ‘credit points’ work? What do they mean?
• Are all credit points worth the same?
• Do I aim to get as many credits as possible, or as many qualifications at the highest level?
• Does it matter what subjects I study so long as I get levels and credits?
• Do credits entitle me to study for another qualification or job?

How is the SCQF being used?

• Where will I see the SCQF?
• Who uses the SCQF? Is it working at the moment?
• What other qualifications are in the SCQF?
• Will SCQF replace qualifications like doctorates, degrees and HNC/Ds?
• Is it the SCQF’s job to award qualifications?
• Does the SCQF measure the quality of teaching?
• Does the funding that schools, colleges and universities get depend on the SCQF level of the courses they teach?

SCQF information on your Scottish Qualification Certificate (SQC) issued by SQA

• What SCQF information is shown on the Scottish Qualifications Certificate (SQC)?
• Why is it on the certificate?
• Why do I need to know about the SCQF?
• How do I work out the total SCQF credits I have?
• How are grades 1 – 6 in Standard Grades shown in the SCQF?
• Why do As, Bs and Cs get the same number of credit points in a Higher?
• How many SCQF points does a grade D award have?
• Does the SCQF make a difference to exam results?
• What if I sit a number of qualifications at the same level?
• What support will candidates have to help them understand all of this?
• Is there an easy way to see SQA qualifications in the SCQF?

General information

• How does SCQF relate to UCAS points?
• Will the SCQF help candidates get a college or university place?
• Will the SCQF help candidates get a job?
• I have heard the terms ‘general credit’ and ‘specific credit’ being used. What does this mean?
• What if I have enough general credit points but not sufficient specific credit points for progression?
• Will the SCQF replace recognition for prior learning/experience?
• Do other countries have their own Frameworks?

Current status of SQA qualifications and the SCQF

• Will stand-alone Units be given an SCQF level and credit points?
• Will all SQA Group Awards be positioned on the SCQF?
• When will SVQs be given level and credit points in the SCQF?

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Contact details and web links

SQA:
Customer Contact Centre
Telephone - 0845 279 1000
E-mail - customer@sqa.org.uk

SQA/SCQF Ready Reckoner: www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/21687.html

SCQF Credit Rating: www.sqa.org.uk/creditrating

SCQF Core Team:
The team supporting the SCQF Partnership is located at:

SCQF
Room H037 William Harley Building
Glasgow Caledonian University
Cowcaddens Road
Glasgow
G4 0BA

And can be contacted by telephone at 0141-331 3303 or by e-mail: info@scqf.org.uk

SCQF website: www.scqf.org.uk

UK and Irish Frameworks: www.qualifications-across-boundaries.org/compare/uk_ireland

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