The SCQF has 12 Levels reflecting the current Scottish system of education and training. Level 1 is the least demanding and Level 12 the most demanding. The descriptors show how each level becomes increasingly demanding by changes to factors such as complexity and depth of knowledge, links to associated academic, vocational or professional practice, and the degree of autonomy exercised by the learner. The SCQF Levels provide a basis for broad comparisons between learning and qualifications achieved in different contexts such as the workplace and formal classroom study.
Each of the 12 SCQF levels can be the location of one or more qualifications. Level 1 covers all provision that comes below the full achievement of Level 2. Level 6 for example contains outcomes associated with Highers or SVQ 3, while Level 12 contains outcomes associated with doctoral studies.
Increases in level of demand relate to factors such as:
• complexity and depth of knowledge and understanding;
• links to academic, vocational or professional practice;
• the degree of integration, independence and creativity required;
• the range and sophistication of application/practice;
• the role(s) taken in relation to other learners/workers in carrying out tasks.
SCQF levels are not directly related to years of full-time study. In some circumstances all or most of the study undertaken in a year of full-time study will be at one level, and progression will be from level to level (for example, in full-time four year Honours Degree studies). However, this is not a requirement of the SCQF — in many programmes individuals are likely to be undertaking courses at different levels in the Framework at any one time, and over a lifetime of learning individuals may move from a higher to a lower level qualification as they take on new learning and acquire new skills.
