Qualification frameworks

Find out more about the qualification frameworks in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. A qualification framework contains the levels of most diplomas. What do these different levels mean?

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland there are different qualification frameworks:

  • The Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) for secondary education in England and Northern Ireland.
  • The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) for higher education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
  • Credits and Qualifications Framework Wales (CQFW) for education in Wales.

Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) and Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ)

These qualification frameworks have 9 levels in total.

  • The Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) consists of 4 levels: the entry level and the levels 1 to 3.
  • The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) consists of the levels 4 to 8.

You can find more information about these levels on the government website:

Credits and Qualifications Framework Wales (CQFW)

You can find more information about the Credits and Qualifications Framework Wales (CQFW) on the website of the Welsh government: Credit and Qualifications Framework (CQFW).