National Developments
Qualifications and Credit Framework Frequently Asked Questions for Higher Education admissions staff
The Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF), developed by the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA), is a new way of recognising achievement through the award of credit for units and qualifications. The QCF was set up, in part, to help widen participation.
The QCF is the new framework for creating and accrediting qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is designed to make the whole system more flexible and accessible for learners and the qualifications offered far more relevant to learners' and employers' needs.
Implementation of the QCF has already begun. The process of bringing all vocational qualifications into the new framework is now well under way, with growing numbers of learners taking units and qualifications through the system. By the end of 2010, all new vocational qualifications had been accredited to the QCF and the QCF had replaced the current NQF for vocational qualifications. Where the NQF qualification is already on the UCAS Tariff, a review process will apply to any qualification specifications which have changed, before they are accredited to the QCF.
SPA has worked with staff from the QCDA and UCAS to produce a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the QCF for HE admissions staff and these will be updated as the QCF develops.
UCAS has also produced a helpful leaflet about the QCF for HE admissions staff. This can be found on the UCAS website.
Please contact Annie Doyle, SPA Senior Project Officer, or on 01242 544777 if you have any questions or comments about this work.
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Reviewed and updated: February 2011