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Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) levels
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) is used as the basis for reporting attainment.
The SCQF levels are shown below for information.
SCQF levels |
SQA National Units, courses and group awards |
Higher Education (HE) qualifications |
SVQs |
SCQF levels |
12 |
. |
Doctorate |
. |
12 |
11 |
. |
Masters |
SVQ 5 |
11 |
10 |
. |
Honours degree |
. |
10 |
9 |
. |
Ordinary degree |
. |
9 |
8 |
. |
HND |
SVQ 4 |
8 |
Diploma of HE |
||||
7 |
Advanced Higher |
HNC |
. |
7 |
Certificate of HE |
||||
6 |
Higher |
. |
SVQ 3 |
6 |
5 |
Intermediate 2/ |
. |
SVQ 2 |
5 |
Credit S Grade |
||||
4 |
Intermediate 1/ |
. |
SVQ 1 |
4 |
General S Grade |
||||
3 |
Access 3/ |
. |
. |
3 |
Foundation S Grade |
||||
2 |
Access 2 |
. |
. |
2 |
1 |
Access 1 |
. |
. |
1 |
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework brings together all Scottish mainstream qualifications into a single unified framework. The framework includes: degree provision, HNCs and HNDs, SQA National Qualifications, and SVQs. There are 12 levels ranging from Access 1 at SCQF level 1 to Doctorate at SCQF level 12. Each qualification whether a unit, group of units or larger group award has also been allocated a number of SCQF credits. Each credit represents 10 notional hours of required learning. Doctorates based on a thesis are an exception to this.
Other learning may be credit rated and included in the framework provided it leads to a clear set of learning outcomes and has quality assured learner assessment.
The positioning of SVQs in the table gives an indication of their place in the framework. Work is ongoing to allocate SCQF credits to them.