Relationship of the UNQF to the QAA qualification descriptors

This page explains how the University of Nottingham Qualifications Framework (UNQF) relates to the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)'s Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ). Its content may be of interest to staff and students across all of the UK, China and Malaysia campuses.

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Relationship of the UNQF to the QAA Qualification Framework

Includes: descriptors; application; modules

The Foundation qualification descriptor applies to Foundation Certificates.
The QAA level 4 Certificate of Higher Education qualification descriptor applies to Undergraduate Certificates and the Qualifying stage of other undergraduate qualifications.
The QAA level 5 Foundation Degree qualification descriptor applies to Undergraduate Diplomas, and the Part I stage of other undergraduate qualifications.
The QAA level 6 Bachelor's Degree with Honours qualification descriptor applies to Honours Degrees, Graduate Certificates, and Graduate Diplomas, Ordinary Degrees and the Part II stage of Integrated Masters.
The QAA level 7 Master's Degree qualification descriptor applies to Integrated Masters, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Taught and Research Masters degrees.
The QAA level 8 Doctoral Degree qualification descriptor applies to Doctor of Philosophy degrees and Professional and Practitioner Doctorates.

Modules (and the credits ascribed from those modules) are ascribed levels as follows:

Level 0 - Module contributes to a Foundation Certificate
Level 1 - Module contributes to fulfilling the QAA level 4 Certificate of Higher Education qualification descriptor.
Level 2 - Module contributes to fulfilling the QAA level 5 Foundation Degree qualification descriptor.
Level 3 - Module contributes to fulfilling the QAA level 6 Bachelor's Degree with Honours qualification descriptor.
Level 4 - Module contributes to fulfilling the QAA level 7 Master's Degree qualification descriptor.
Level 5 - Module contributes to fulfilling the QAA level 8 Doctoral Degree qualification descriptor.

Where only a portion of a module contributes to fulfilling a qualification descriptor at a particular level, the module may still be ascribed at that level, so long as the contribution made is appreciable.

Historically, some modules will have appeared as Levels A, B, C, and D. For the purposes of comparison Level A modules may be treated as Level 2 modules, Level B modules may be treated as Level 3 modules, Level C and D modules may be treated as Level 4 modules.