There are many acronyms and qualifications students will have to come across during their academic journeys; these qualifications can range from anything like GCSEs to master’s degrees. There are a broad range of qualifications available for people on a wide variety of pathways. It can be quite difficult to keep track! In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, a system called the QCF was created to centralise and group qualifications in levels by using a credits system to categorise them and determine their difficulty. What exactly is the QCF, though, and what does it stand for?
QCF stands for the Qualifications and Credit Framework. It is a newer credit transfer system that replaced the NQF (National Qualification Framework). In simpler terms, it recognises qualifications and units by assigning them credit values based on time spent learning. Each qualification has a credit value and can be transferred, therefore students can learn at their own pace!
While this may have given you a brief glimpse on what the QCF is and what it stands for, it’ll be helpful to check out the rest of this article for more information on the topic!
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What does QCF stand for?
The Qualifications and Credit Framework takes qualifications and assigns them a credit value.
In this way, qualifications can be represented through their relativity to each other in accordance with difficulty and points. Units are made up of credit points, and can be transferred, which means students can learn at their own pace.
It is a credit transfer system that replaced NQFs (National Qualification Frameworks). Through the QCF, all qualifications and awards are given a certain amount of awarding credits.
If you do a more complex qualification, you will receive a greater amount of awarding credits. A lot of the qualifications in further education are based on the QCF system in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland!
The descriptors for qualifications are often both its level and its length. According to Online Learning College, QCF was introduced in 2011 and has since become nationally and internationally recognised.
If you would like to read a more thorough explanation of QCF, as well as a timeline of how it came about, please check out this article from Online Learning College by clicking here.
How does the QCF work?
This system is based on units which have the credit value to correspond to levels. There are 8 levels (Entry level to Level 8).
One credit equals to roughly ten learning hours, therefore it can be said these credits are a measure of time spent learning.
These credits don’t have to be earned all at once; students can spend this time slowly and earn the qualifications in their own time.
The number of credits can also allow students to gauge how much time they will roughly spend each qualification. For example, a qualification with around 20 credits will take up roughly two hundred hours of learning time (which is a little over a month if you spend six hours per day on the qualification).
According to the QCF system, there are three types of qualifications to be gained through the system: these include awards, certificates, and diplomas.
Awards are the shortest, or ‘smallest’ qualifications offered. Awards equal 13 credits (so 130 hours).
Certificates are the next step up. They can range from 13 credits (130 hours) up to 37 credits (370 hours)! They are considered a middle ground between awards and diplomas, since they generally provide a comprehensive course and a lot of knowledge without being terribly intensive!
Diplomas are the longest and most intensive qualifications, taking more than 37 credits (370 hours!) to complete.
They provide detailed training of the subject in order to develop your knowledge to its optimal level. It’s a significant milestone but can definitely improve career prospects!
If you would like more information about QCF, check out this helpful Think Student article, linked here.
If you would like to learn more about the different types of qualifications and the differences between them, you can check out this article from Oxbridge Home Learning!
What are the levels within the QCF?
There are 8 levels within the QCF (plus Entry Level qualifications). They range from GCSEs, to doctorates, and in between.
Below you can see the range of qualifications offered at each level of the QCF:
- Level 8: Doctorate (PhD – Doctor of Philosophy)
- Level 7: Master’s Degree (MA – Masters of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; MSc – Masters of Sciences; MPhil – Masters of Philosophy/advanced research Masters degree)
- Level 6: University Degree (BA – Bachelors of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; BSc – Bachelors of Sciences)
- Level 5: University Degree (BA, BSc), Foundation Degree (FdA, FdSc), HND (Higher National Diploma)
- Level 4: University Degree, Foundation Degree, HNC (Higher National Certificate)
- Level 3: A-Level (AS and A2), L3 Extended Diploma (National Diploma), L3 Diploma (National Certificate)
- Level 2: GCSE (grades A-C), L2 Diploma (1st Diploma)
- Level 1: GCSE (grades D-G), L1 Diploma (foundation)
- Entry Level: E3 Diploma (foundation)
If you would like more information about QCF levels and its system (plus a helpful infographic!), check out this article from Accredited Qualifications.
For those doing A-Levels right now, it’s a Level 3 Qualification! If you would like to read more about Level 3 qualifications and their equivalents, check out this article from Think Student for a helpful guide.
What are the benefits of some of the QCF courses?
Qualifications can enhance your CV. This is fact – employers will look for people who are more qualified to carry out jobs in various fields. By undertaking QCF courses, you can gain valuable skills that are transferable to other fields.
QCF courses have nationally recognised accreditation; this means that QCF courses are flexible and will pay back in career development. As industry becomes more competitive, a qualification can help you stand out more amidst other potential candidates.
Additionally, this doesn’t just apply to job applications – more qualifications can give you a better edge when employers consider candidates for internal promotions and other things of that nature. If you’re looking for a bonus and are considering undertaking a QCF, go for it!
A QCF course is flexible and easy to complete due to how it’s structured! You can study for both a QCF while still working, as it can fit around your schedule and daily life commitments.
QCF units are completely transferrable; once you’re done with a unit, you never have to go back. Credits can also be transferred over, which is great as it means you’re never stuck learning the same thing over and over.
QCF units boost your employability, while also teaching valuable skills you can transfer within and outside your field. You’ll be able to perform the best in your career with additional qualifications – and maybe get that promotion too!
Overall, QCF is a flexible way to learn and also develop in both your career and knowledge. These are ways of learning that definitely shouldn’t be overlooked!
If you would like to read more about the benefits of getting a QCF, and more about what a QCF course is, then you can check out this helpful guide from Oxbridge to learn more!