Subjects & Qualifications

In this section

Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) has been created by bringing together all Scottish mainstream qualifications into a single unified framework: the qualifications of higher education institutions; SQA National Qualifications, Higher National qualifications and Scottish Vocational Qualifications. There are 12 levels ranging from Access 1 (National Qualifications) at SCQF level 1 to Doctorate at SCQF level 12.

In diagram form the SCQF looks like this:

Levels in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework
SCQF level	SQA National Units, Courses and Group Awards	Higher Education	SVQs ¹	SCQF level
12		Doctorate		12
11		Masters	SVQ 5	11
10		Honours degree Graduate Diploma/Certificate**		10
9		Ordinary degree Graduate Diploma/Certificate		9
8		Higher National Diploma Diploma in Higher Education	SVQ 4	8
7	Advanced Higher Certificate in Higher Education	Higher National Certificate		7
6	Higher		SVQ 3	6
5	Intermediate 2 Credit Standard Grade		SVQ 2	5
4	Intermediate 1 General Standard Grade		SVQ 1	4
3	Access 3 Foundation Standard Grade			3
2	Access 2			2
1	Access 1			1

NB	Various SQA qualifications, eg Professional Development Awards (PDAs) and Scottish Progression Awards (SPAs) are under review and do not appear in this table.

* The positioning of SVQs in the table gives a broad indiciation of their place in the framework. Like most Group Awards, SVQs are likely to made up of Units at a number of levels. The current placing of SVQ 3 at level 6 is based on the way in which SVQs are positioned in statutory documents and national targets. However, there is a view that in some sectors, SVQ 3 could be placed at level 7. A project to refine the position of SVQs in the framework reported in January 2003, and the recommendations from it are being taken forward at a UK level.

** These qualifications are differentiated by volume of outcomes and may be offered at either level.