The HE Sector and the QCF Richard Skerrett, Policy Executive, UCAS Roger McCune, Accreditation Manager, CCEA

QCF qualification sizes Standard sizes and terminology should help HE Award credits hours Certificate – credits – Diploma – 37+ credits – 370+ hours However, these are just ranges, not precise sizes and they do not imply a level HE will need to know level and number of credits for QCF qualifications eg via UCAS Apply

What will the qualification title tell HE? The level of the qualification – Entry up to Level 8 The size of the qualification – Award, Certificate or Diploma The content of the qualification Eg Level 3 Diploma in Sport and Leisure

What qualifications will HEIs be presented with? Admissions staff should expect to be presented with 3 kinds of awards: Qualifications that continue to be accredited in the NQF Qualifications that are accredited in the QCF Credits awarded for the achievement of units from accredited qualifications in the QCF There may be new Level 3 qualifications with which HEIs will need to become familiar – and some will have changed in the process of re-accreditation While presented by the previous Government as a simplification for HE and UCAS, it is an added complication as every time there is a reform they have to continue to deal with all legacy qualifications

The QCF and the NQF By end of 2010 QCF should have replaced NQF for vocational qualifications Qualifications such as BTEC Nationals have been re-accredited into QCF – but size may have changed and National not permitted in title although BTEC branding will be retained Extension for OCR Nationals within NQF General qualifications still within NQF Diplomas not in QCF but some Diploma ASL qualifications will be within it

HE entry requirements for QCF qualifications Essentially should not change entry requirements where there are specific criteria Entry requirements will need to reflect: – Level required eg Level 3 – Size of qualification eg Award, Certificate, Diploma – Number of credits – Overall grade required (dependent on grading system) – Any grade requirement at unit level

Units and grading within the QCF Units can be taken on standalone basis but are only active when picked up as part of a qualification through Rules of Combination QCF qualifications can be graded: No standard system Guidance refers to four popular grading models Awarding organisations can develop their own grading models within the regulations

HE offers for QCF qualifications (1) These will reflect the same factors as entry requirements above and should be consistent with published entry requirements Offers will, however, often need to be tailored as a response to what the individual is taking Offers should be clear as to what is required in terms of credits as well as grades Where a learner has credits for units but not a complete qualification, the HEI will need to consider whether they can be made an offer/accepted

HE offers for QCF qualifications (2) Conditional offers should be expressed in terms of: Overall achievement within QCF qualification eg Achievement of Award, Certificate or Diploma Size in terms of number of credits Where graded, the overall grade required Any requirement relating to achievement in specified components Where the qualification has a Tariff score, the offer can be expressed as points rather than credit or grading

Progression issues (1) There is no expectation that credit achievement will replace entry to HE based on whole qualifications Credit from QCF qualifications/units can be used for entry with advanced standing HEIs will need to prepare for applicants wanting to use credit achievement to support progression to HE

Progression issues (2) QCF qualifications are in some cases already in UCAS Tariff Where NQF qualifications with a Tariff score are re-accredited in the QCF they will need to be reviewed Awarding bodies may choose to request Tariff ratings for QCF qualifications The Tariff is not based on credit but will take it into account

When will HE receive applications with QCF qualifications? From now onwards! QCF is already live this year. All vocational qualifications should be accredited into QCF by end of entry will see first significant numbers HE engagement critical for full understanding of QCF and qualifications within it. The need for professional development for HE?

The QCF and the FHEQ QCF and Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) have levels which align (4-8) QCFs definition of credit is similar to that used by the FHEQ – 1 credit for 10 hours of learning This provides basis for developing credit transfer arrangements Some awarding organisations and HEIs have already established relationships to support credit transfer and progression Aim is to offer wide range of opportunities to move readily between the QCF and FHEQ