Level 1 Certificate (NFQ Level 1)

Class of award-type: Major

Volume: Small

Level 1 and 2 Certificates are designed to meet the needs of learners, both young and old, including those with intellectual and other disabilities, adults returning to training, and learners with few or no previous qualifications, including those within the workforce. These awards provide certification for learners who may progress to higher levels and also for those whose principal achievements rest at these levels. Each certificate comprises a number of components, most often in basic literacy and numeracy, which the learner can achieve at their own pace and accumulate over time towards one of the named certificates above.

QQI Award - Further Education and Training Award
Awarded by: Quality and Qualifications Ireland

A directory of programmes validated by QQI can be accessed through the Qsearch service on the QQI website

Level 2 Certificate (NFQ Level 2)

Class of award-type: Major

Volume: Medium

Level 1 and 2 Certificates are designed to meet the needs of learners, both young and old, including those with intellectual and other disabilities, adults returning to training, and learners with few or no previous qualifications, including those within the workforce. These awards provide certification for learners who may progress to higher levels and also for those whose principal achievements rest at these levels. Each certificate comprises a number of components, most often in basic literacy and numeracy, which the learner can achieve at their own pace and accumulate over time towards one of the named certificates above.

QQI Award - Further Education and Training Award
Awarded by: Quality and Qualifications Ireland

A directory of programmes validated by QQI can be accessed through the Qsearch service on the QQI website

Level 3 Certificate (NFQ Level 3)

Class of award-type: Major

Volume: Large

The Level 3 Certificate enables learners to gain recognition for, specific personal skills, practical skills and knowledge, basic transferable skills, the enhancement of individual talents and qualities and achievements and learning relevant to a variety of progression options.

QQI Award - Further Education and Training Award
Awarded by: Quality and Qualifications Ireland

A directory of programmes validated by QQI can be accessed through the Qsearch service on the QQI website

Junior Certificate (NFQ Level 3)

Class of award-type: Major

Volume: Large

The Junior Certificate is an award given to students who have successfully completed examinations from the junior cycle which is the first three years of secondary education. The Junior Certificate may lead to progression to a programme leading to the Leaving Certificate or to a programme leading to a Level 4 Certificate, or at a higher level.

Awarded by: State Examinations Commission (Department of Education and Skills)

For further information please see:
State Examinations Commission: Junior Certificate
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment: Junior Certificate

Leaving Certificate (NFQ Level 4 and 5)

Class of award-type: Major

Volume: Large

Leaving Certificate and its various programmes is placed at Levels 4 and 5.  It is the final course in the Irish secondary school system.  It takes a minimum of two years preparation, but an optional Transition Year means that for some- students it takes place three years after the Junior Certificate Examination. This award may lead to progression to a programme leading to a further education and training award at Level 5 or at a higher level or to a higher education and training award at Level 6 or higher.

Awarded by: State Examinations Commission (Department of Education and Skills)

For further information please see:
State Examinations Commission: Leaving Certificate
National Council for Curriculum and Commission: Leaving Certificate

Level 4 Certificate (NFQ Level 4)

Class of award-type: Major

Volume: Large

The Level 4 Certificate enables learners to gain recognition for the achievement of vocational and personal skills, knowledge and understanding to specified standards, the enhancement of individual talents and qualities and the achievement and learning relevant to a variety of progression options, including employment at an introductory vocational level, and programmes leading to a Level 5 Certificate.

QQI Award - Further Education and Training Award
Awarded by: Quality and Qualifications Ireland

A directory of programmes validated by QQI can be accessed through the Qsearch service on the QQI website

Level 5 Certificate (NFQ Level 5)

Class of award-type: Major

Volume: Large

The Level 5 Certificate enables learners to develop a broad range of skills, which are vocationally specific and require a general theoretical understanding. They are enabled to work independently while subject to general direction. The majority of certificate/module holders at Level 5 take up positions of employment. They are also deemed to meet the minimum entry requirements for a range of higher education institutions/programmes.

QQI Award - Further Education and Training Award
Awarded by: Quality and Qualifications Ireland

A directory of programmes validated by QQI can be accessed through the Qsearch service on the QQI website

Advanced Certificate (NFQ Level 6)

Class of award-type: Major

Volume: Large

An Advanced Certificate award enables learners to develop a comprehensive range of skills, which may be vocationally specific and/or of a general supervisory nature, and require detailed theoretical understanding. Modules include advanced vocational/occupational skills, enabling certificate holders to work independently or progress to higher education and training. The majority of certificate/module holders at Level 6 take up positions of employment, some of whom may be self‐employed.

QQI Award - Further Education and Training Award
Awarded by: Quality and Qualifications Ireland

A directory of programmes validated by QQI can be accessed through the Qsearch service on the QQI website

Higher Certificate (NFQ level 6)

Class of award-type: Major

Volume: Large

The Higher Certificate is normally awarded after completion of a programme of two years duration (120 ECTS credits). Entry to these programmes is generally for school leavers and those with equivalent qualifications.

A Certificate holder at this level may transfer to a programme on the next level of the framework.

Awarded by: Institutes of Technology, Quality and Qualifications Ireland, and some Universities.

Ordinary Bachelor Degree (NFQ Level 7)

Class of award-type: Major

Volume: Large

The Ordinary Bachelor Degree is normally awarded after completion of a programme of three years duration (180 ECTS credits). Entry to a programme leading to an Ordinary Bachelor degree is typically for school leavers and those with equivalent qualifications. In addition, there are transfer arrangements in place across higher education and a number of programmes of one year duration leading to the Ordinary Bachelor Degree for holders of the Higher Certificate. The Ordinary Bachelor Degree is compatible with the Bologna First Cycle descriptor, though holders of this award do not generally immediately access programmes leading to Second Cycle awards in Ireland.

Awarded by: Institutes of Technology, Quality and Qualifications Ireland, and Universities.

Honours Bachelor Degree (NFQ Level 8)

Class of award-type: Major

Volume: Large

The Honours Bachelor Degree is normally awarded following completion of a programme of three to four years duration (180-240 ECTS credits), although there are examples of longer programmes in areas such as architecture, dentistry and medicine. Entry is generally for school leavers and those with equivalent qualifications. In addition, there are transfer arrangements across higher education, and a number of programmes of one year duration leading to Honours Bachelor Degrees for holders of the Ordinary Bachelor Degree. The Honours Bachelor Degree is a Bologna First Cycle qualification.

Awarded by: Institutes of Technology, Quality and Qualifications Ireland, and Universities.

Higher Diploma (NFQ Level 8)

Class of award-type: Major

Volume: Large

The Higher Diploma is normally awarded following completion of a programme of one year duration (60 ECTS credits). Entry to a programme leading to a Higher Diploma is typically for holders of Honours Bachelor Degrees but can also be for holders of Ordinary Bachelor Degrees. It is of note that the Higher Diploma is typically in a different field of learning than the initial award. The Higher Diploma is a qualification at the same level as completion of the Bologna First Cycle.

Awarded by: Institutes of Technology, Quality and Qualifications Ireland, and Universities.

Masters Degree (NFQ Level 9)

Class of award-type: Major

Volume: Large

There are two types of Masters Degree in Ireland: taught Masters Degrees and research Masters Degrees. The taught Masters Degree is awarded following the completion of a programme of one to two years duration (60-120 ECTS credits). Entry to a programme leading to a taught Masters Degree is typically for holders of Honours Bachelor Degrees. In some cases, entry to such programmes can be permitted for those with Ordinary Bachelor Degrees or equivalent. Research Masters Degree programmes are typically of two years duration (120 ECTS credits) though not all such programmes are credit rated. The Irish Masters Degree is compatible with completion of the Bologna Second Cycle.

Awarded by: Institutes of Technology, Quality and Qualifications Ireland, and Universities.

Doctoral Degree (NFQ Level 10)

Class of award-type: Major

Volume: Large

Possession of an Honours Bachelor Degree is normally required for entry to a doctoral programme.  In some disciplines, a Masters Degree is also preferred.  Normally those entering a doctoral programme with an Honours Bachelor Degree initially register for a research Masters Degree or provisional doctoral candidature. Upon successful completion of this initial stage, the candidate acquires full doctoral candidature.  Doctoral programmes are between three and four years in duration. ECTS credits are used in doctoral programmes for taught elements only. Varying doctoral programmes now exist, including professional and performance/practice based doctorates.  The Irish Doctoral Degree is compatible with completion of the Bologna Third Cycle.

Awarded by: Institutes of Technology, Quality and Qualifications Ireland, and Universities.

Post Graduate Diploma (NFQ Level 9)

Class of award-type: Major

Volume: Large

The Postgraduate Diploma is normally awarded following completion of a programme of one year duration (60 ECTS credits). Entry to a programme leading to a Postgraduate Diploma is typically for holders of Honours Bachelor Degrees but can also be for holders of Ordinary Bachelor Degrees. The Post-graduate Diploma is an intermediate qualification within the Bologna Second Cycle.

Awarded by: Institutes of Technology, Quality and Qualifications Ireland, and Universities.

Higher Doctorate (NFQ Level 10)

Class of award-type: Major

Volume: Large

This award largely recognises excellent and distinguished contributions to learning. It may be used for career progression to advanced levels of academia and research. This award is never based on a provider’s programme and, as such, is not subject to validation but is assessed by the awarding body for each individual provider. Normally, the learner already holds a first doctorate or equivalent for some period of time prior to becoming a candidate for the higher doctorate. The Irish Higher Doctorate is compatible with completion of the Bologna Third Cycle.

Awarded by: Institutes of Technology, Quality and Qualifications Ireland, and Universities.

Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)

An awarding body is a national body that has the power to give you a qualification in order to recognised your learning. There are a number of national awarding bodies that have their awards included in the NFQ.

Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) makes awards in further and higher education and training.

For information on QQI please see: www.QQI.ie

For information about providers of courses which follow programmes validated by QQI please use the Qsearch service on the QQI website here

The State Examinations Commission (SEC)

An awarding body is a national body that has the power to give you a qualification in order to recognised your learning. There are a number of national awarding bodies that have their awards included in the NFQ.

The State Examinations Commission (SEC) makes school awards including the Junior Certificate (NFQ Level 3) and the Leaving Certificate (NFQ Levels 4 and 5).

For information on the SEC please see: www.examinations.ie

The Institutes of Technology (IoTs)

An awarding body is a national body that has the power to give you a qualification in order to recognised your learning. There are a number of national awarding bodies that have their awards included in the NFQ.

There are thirteen Institutes of Technology which are designated under the Institute of Technology Act, 2006. The institutions are Athlone IT, IT Blanchardstown, Cork IT, IT Carlow, Dundalk IT, Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Letterkenny IT, Galway-Mayo IT, Limerick IT, IT Sligo, IT Tallaght, IT Tralee and Waterford IT. Each of these has been delegated the power to make awards to varying levels on the NFQ (and at least up to Level 8) by QQI.

For information on the Institutes of Technology please see: www.ioti.ie

The Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) awards its own qualifications under the Dublin Institute of Technology Act, 1992. See: www.dit.ie

Universities

An awarding body is a national body that has the power to give you a qualification in order to recognise your learning. There are a number of national awarding bodies that have their awards included in the NFQ.

There are seven universities in Ireland; they are Dublin City University; National University of Ireland, Galway; Maynooth University; Trinity College Dublin; University College Cork; University College Dublin; and the University of Limerick.

For information on the universities see: www.iua.ie

What is the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ)?

The National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) is a system of ten levels used to describe the Irish qualifications system.

The NFQ is based on standards of knowledge, skill and competence and incorporates awards made for all kinds of learning, wherever it is gained.

Qualifications achieved in school, further education and training and higher education and training are all included. You will see that all framework awards now have an NFQ Level (1-10) which describes the standard of learning and an NFQ Award-Type which describes the purpose, volume and progression opportunities associated with a particular award.

The NFQ can be used by learners to guide their choices about education and training; by employers and institutions to understand qualifications; and by providers of education and training looking to assure the quality of programmes they offer.

Browse through the keypad below to learn more about the features of the Irish NFQ.

Ireland has collaborated with other countries to ensure that qualifications frameworks are connected internationally. The relationship between the Irish NFQ and the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and the Qualifications Framework for the European Higher Education Area (QF – EHEA) has been formally established.

Click on Qualifications Frameworks – A European View to learn more.

Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) has responsibility to develop, promote and maintain the Irish NFQ. For further information and key publications on the development of the Irish NFQ please see here.

Should you have further queries on the Irish NFQ and qualifications please visit the QHelp section of the QQI website here.

Non-Major Awards

At each level of the NFQ there will be at least one award-type. Some award-types fulfil a broader range of purposes and are therefore labelled Major award-types. Other, more limited or specialised learning can be recognised by minor, supplemental or special purpose award-types.

        Minor awards: are for partial completion of the outcomes of a Major award.

        Supplemental awards: are for learning that is additional to a Major award.

        Special Purpose Awards: are for relatively narrow or purpose-specific achievement.

Europass

Both Certificate Supplements and Diploma Supplements include information on the NFQ level of qualifications. Find out more by visiting www.europass.ie

ENIC-NARIC

ENIC-NARIC centres facilitate the recognition of qualifications throughout Europe and abroad. NARIC Ireland can help you with recognition of foreign qualifications in Ireland or provide information to those travelling abroad with Irish qualifications. See here
Find information on other ENIC-NARIC centres visit: www.enic-naric.net

QQI

A directory of programmes validated by QQI can be accessed through the Qsearch service on the QQI website. QSearch is constantly updated with new courses, programmes, providers and awards.

Should you have further queries on the Irish NFQ, the Irish education system or the recognition of qualifications please visit the QHelp section of the QQI website