Credit rating of external study programmes in Scotland: FOI release

Information requested

1. Could you please specify the statutory provisions, such as Acts of Parliament or ordinances, that empower higher education institutions in Scotland to credit rate external programmes?

2. Is the "Postgraduate Diploma" awarded/conferred upon completion of the Travel Medicine programme by RCPSG considered an academic degree within the Scottish higher education system? Recognizing whether this qualification is formally acknowledged as a higher education credential at SCQF Level 11 is crucial. If it is not classified as such, the German recognition provisions may not apply. In that case, a formal statement clarifying the status and recognition of this qualification within Scotland's education framework would be highly beneficial.

3. Could you provide clarification on how programmes that are credit-rated by institutions like Glasgow Caledonian University, particularly those delivered in collaboration with external bodies such as the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, are recognized within the Scottish higher education system?

Response

The information you have requested is available on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership website – https://scqf.org.uk/. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

1. Could you please specify the statutory provisions, such as Acts of Parliament or ordinances, that empower higher education institutions in Scotland to credit rate external programmes?

In Scotland, the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) underpins all credit and qualification awards, as the National Qualifications Framework for Scotland. The SCQF is a voluntary Framework, supported and funded by the Scottish Government, and operates through a devolved system whereby Credit Rating Bodies (CRBs) are authorised to allocate SCQF levels for specific qualifications or learning programmes. SCQF credit rating can only be carried out by CRBs. Scotland’s Higher Education Institutions act as Credit Rating Bodies and adhere to the rigorous SCQF Principles contained within the SCQF Handbook, which is available on the SCQF website: https://scqf.org.uk/wpcontent/uploads/2024/08/scqf_handbook_web_final_2015.pdf.

All credit rating activity is underpinned by the 25 overarching principles – https://scqf.org.uk/wpcontent/uploads/2024/08/scqf_handbook_web_final_2015.pdf – and the four criteria for credit rating: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
time_continue=3&v=jVpIuXtyIuY&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fscqf.org.uk%2F&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY

All of Scotland’s colleges and universities have the authority to credit rate an organisation’s learning or training programme – this is called Third Party Credit Rating: https://scqf.org.uk/support/credit-rating-bodies/third-party-creditrating/.

2. Is the "Postgraduate Diploma" awarded/conferred upon completion of the Travel Medicine programme by RCPSG considered an academic degree within the Scottish higher education system? Recognizing whether this qualification is formally acknowledged as a higher education credential at SCQF Level 11 is crucial. If it is not classified as such, the German recognition provisions may not apply. In that case, a formal statement clarifying the status and recognition of this qualification within Scotland's education framework would be highly beneficial.

The use of the term “postgraduate” is restricted to institutions with degree awarding powers, Chartered Bodies, Professional Bodies and Institutes. Further information on the naming of qualifications is available here: https://scqf.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/naming-qualifications-guide-a4-final-web-may-2023.pdf.

As noted above, the SCQF is a voluntary Framework. Qualifications that have gone through the credit rating process feature on the SCQF and are recorded (including the level and credits) on the SCQF register – https://scqf.org.uk/theframework/scqf-register/. The RCPSG Postgraduate Diploma in Travel Medicine is on the register – SCQF Level 11, SCQF credits 120.

The SCQF is also referenced to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) (https://europass.europa.eu/en/europass-digital-tools/european-qualifications-framework), so that Scottish qualifications are comparable across Europe.

3. Could you provide clarification on how programmes that are credit-rated by institutions like Glasgow Caledonian University, particularly those delivered in collaboration with external bodies such as the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, are recognized within the Scottish higher education system?

Information on credit rating, credits/credit transfer and recognition of prior learning can be found in the SCQF Handbook – scqf_handbook_web_final_2015.pdf.

If you have any further queries in relation to the SCQF and credit rated qualifications, or the credit rating processes in Scotland, you can get in touch with the SCQF Partnership. Their contact details are available here: https://scqf.org.uk/contact-us/.

You may also wish to consider the services of UK ENIC, who can provide a UK Qualification Reference Statement for those who need detailed information about UK qualifications to assist with further study or employment overseas: UK Qualification Reference Statement | UK ENIC.

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