Qualifications and Credit Framework
The Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) is a new system of recognising and comparing different skills and qualifications in the UK education sector. It is expected to replace the existing National Qualifications Framework in England, Northern Ireland and Wales from September 2008.
Every unit and qualification in the new framework will have a credit value (where one credit represents 10 hours of learning time). There are three different sizes of qualification:
- awards (1 to 12 credits)
- certificates (13 to 36 credits)
- diplomas (37 credits or more).
In addition, each qualification will have a level of difficulty from Entry level at the bottom to level 8 at the top.
The title of every qualification within the new framework will contain details of the size (award/certificate/diploma), level of difficulty (Entry to level 8) and general content of the qualification.
The QCF is a national framework that is referenced to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). The EQF is a meta framework intended as a reference so that qualifications in nation frameworks such as the QCF are understood across member states.
See also
- Ofqual http://www.ofqual.gov.uk/qualification-and-assessment-framework/89-articles/250-explaining-the-national-qualifications-framework
- Qualifications and Curriculum Authority