Qualifications Credit Framework (QCF)

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The QCF allows achievements to be recognised and recorded through the award of credits and qualifications. It supports the accumulation and transfer of credits and the easy identification of each achievement's level and size. In this way, learners have maximum flexibility, range of opportunities and can be reliably recognised for their achievements.

Units are the building blocks of all qualifications.  Each unit has a credit value and level. One credit represents ten notional hours of learning, showing how much time the average learner would take to complete the unit or qualification. Levels indicate difficulty and vary from entry (1) to level 8.

There are three types of qualification:
-  Awards (1 to 12 credits)
- Certificates (13 to 36 credits)
- Diplomas (37 credits or more)

 You can have an Award of any difficulty level from 1 to 8.  This is because the type indicates the size of qualification, not its difficulty.  The title of a qualification should indicate its difficulty, how long it will take the average learner to complete, and its general content, using the following information:

- Qualification level (from lowest, entry level to level 8 at the top)
- Qualification size (award/certificate/diploma)
- Content of the qualification

To further understand the level of difficulty of the units and qualifications in the new framework, it might be helpful to know that GCSEs (grade A*-C) are level 2, GCE A levels are level 3 and a PhD is a level 8.

 For further information, email qcf@ofqual.gov.uk   or visit the Ofqual website:  www.ofqual.gov.uk