Definitions of Levels of Study
Higher Education: Education at SVQ level 4 or above, SCQF level 7 or above, for example HNC, HND, degree, postgraduate degree.
Further Education: Non school based education below SVQ level 4, SCQF level 7, i.e. below HNC level; non advanced post school education.
Vocational/Non vocational: A vocational programme is one primarily designed to prepare students for employment or a profession, by increasing their knowledge, skill or proficiency in related subjects. Non vocational is used for identifying leisure classes with no qualification and no vocational aim.
Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework (SCQF):
SCQF levels | SQA National Units, courses and group awards | Higher Education (HE) qualifications | Scottish Vocational Qualifications | 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/ General S Grade | | SVQ 1 | 4 |
3 | Access 3/ Foundation S Grade | | | 3 |
2 | Access 2 | | | 2 |
1 | Access 1 | | | 1 |
Postgraduates; Include doctorate, masters, postgraduate bachelors degrees, postgraduate diplomas or certificates, PGCE/PGDE and professional qualifications at postgraduate level
Higher degrees (research); Include doctorate, masters and postgraduate bachelor's degrees mainly by research.
Higher degrees (taught); Include doctorate, masters and postgraduate bachelor's degrees not mainly by research.
Other postgraduates; Include Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE), Post Graduate Diploma in Education and all other postgraduate qualifications. Undergraduates; Include all HE qualifications up to degree level (SCQF level 9).
First Degrees; Include first degrees, first degrees with qualified teacher status, enhanced first degrees, first degrees obtained concurrently with a diploma and intercalated first degrees.
HNCs/HNDs; Include Higher National Certificates and Higher National Diplomas.
Sub-degree/Other HE; Includes Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE), Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE), professional qualification at undergraduate level, foundation courses at HE level, HND, HNC, NVQ/SVQ levels 5 and 4, diplomas and certificates at undergraduate level and other formal HE qualifications of less than degree standard.