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The education system in Northern Ireland is very diverse with a huge amount of award options available. As well as deciding which subject you want to do, it is also important to choose the level of qualification that you want to aim for.
Different people enter education looking for different outcomes (e.g. law degree, basic computer qualification, French language basics) and also have different levels of experience and training before they start the course. Therefore it is essential that each student chooses the right type of course at the correct qualification that suits his or her circumstances and career aims.
A system of levels for Northern Ireland educational qualifications has recently been introduced, which is a little like a ladder and shows how each qualification relates to the others. The idea is that you get on the ladder at the level that suits you best, and then progress, at your own pace, as far as you want to go. Sounds simple enough in theory, and in practice, with a good deal of hard work and concentration, it works too.
Each accredited qualification has been given an NQF (National Qualifications Framework) level. The NQF system of qualifications covers both higher and further education qualifications. The most common higher education qualifications in Northern Ireland are Bachelor's degrees (also called undergraduate or first degrees), and these sit at level six.
Foundation degrees and HNDs (Higher National Diplomas) occupy the next rung down on the ladder, and offer students a chance to learn practical and academic skills, which will be useful in securing employment. After graduation the student can decide whether to look for a job or continue to complete a full degree.
Access or foundation courses at levels three and four are even more career based and are usually specific training for a particular job or occupation. It is also possible to continue from an access or foundation course up to a foundation degree. Qualifications usually gained in the secondary school system, which are available to mature students in the further education system (e.g. A Levels and GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education) also fit onto the NQF ladder at one and two.
The following table contains information on the NQF – showing the different options available at different levels.
| Entry Level |
Entry Level Certificate |
| Level One |
GCSEs Grades D-G, Certificate, NVQ |
| Level Two |
GCSEs Grades A-C, Diploma, NVQ |
| Level Three |
Certificates of Higher Education |
| Level Four |
Certificates of Higher Education |
| Level Five |
Diplomas of Higher & Further Education, Foundation Degrees, & Higher National Diplomas |
| Level Six |
Bachelor Degrees, Graduate Certificates & Diplomas |
| Level Seven |
Masters Degrees, Postgraduate Certificates & Diplomas |
| Level Eight |
Doctorates |
If qualifications share the same level on the NQF it means that they are broadly similar in terms of the standard expected and options available to the student after graduation. However, different qualifications at the same level can still be very vary in terms of content and duration.
Progression along the NQF ladder has a wide range of benefits for the individual, their employers and Northern Ireland society as a whole. The idea of the NQF system is to make it easier for everyone to place a value on the qualifications gained. It helps employees prove to potential new employers that they have a level of skills and training you have acquired. It helps employers see where their investment in training their workers is bearing fruit.
The NQF system is accepted and recognised throughout the UK, Ireland and the EU, so students can know that their qualification is useful to them whatever they decide to do after graduation.
Further Links: www.qca.org.uk
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