QF-EHEA


Qualifications Frameworks in the European Higher Education Area are frameworks describing the higher education qualifications of countries participating in the Bologna Process. National Qualifications Frameworks provide a mapping between higher education qualifications and an overarching framework, allowing the cross-comparison of qualifications from different countries.
The overarching framework was adopted in May 2005 at a meeting of education ministers of the 48 participating countries. It consists of three cycles, approximately equivalent to bachelor's, master's and research doctorates degrees in the Anglophone world. A "short cycle" is also recognised within the first cycle, equivalent to British foundation degrees.

QF-EHEA in Spain

The NQF in Spain is the :es:Marco Español de Cualificaciones para la Educación Superior|Marco Español de Cualificaciones para la Educación Superior . This replaced the earlier system of diplomado, licenciado and doctor from 2005, with a transitional period lasting until 2013. The mapping to the EHEA framework is:
MECES levelQualificationsEquivalent EHEA cycle
4
  • Título de Doctor
Third Cycle
3
  • Título de Máster universitario
  • Título de Máster en Enseñanzas Artísticas
    		• Second Cycle
    2
  • Título de Graduado
  • Título de Graduado de las enseñanzas artísticas superiores
    		• First Cycle
    1
  • Técnico Superior de Formación Profesional
  • Técnico Superior de Artes Plásticas y Diseño
  • Técnico Deportivo Superior
    		• Short Cycle

    QF-EHEA in the United Kingdom

    The NQFs linked to the QF-EHEA are the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications for England, Wales and Northern Ireland and the Framework for Qualifications of Higher Education Institutions in Scotland. The FQHEIS was certified as being aligned with the QF-EHEA in 2006 and the FHEQ in 2008.
    The levels on the two national frameworks, and their mapping to the QF-EHEA, are as follows:
    FHEQ levelFQHEIS levelQualificationsEquivalent EHEA cycle
    812
    • PhD/DPhil
    • Professional doctorates
    		Third Cycle
    711
  • Master's degree
  • Integrated master's degree
  • Primary qualifications in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science
    		• Second Cycle
    711
  • PGCE
  • PGDip
  • PGCert
    		• N/A
    610
  • Bachelor's degree with honours
    		• First Cycle
    69
  • Bachelor's degree
    		• First Cycle
    69
  • Graduate Certificate
  • Graduate Diploma
  • Professional Graduate Certificate in Education
    		• N/A
    5N/A
  • Foundation degree
    		• Short Cycle
    58
  • DipHE
    		• Short Cycle
    5N/A
  • HND
    		• Short Cycle
    4N/A
  • Higher National Certificate
    		• N/A
    47
  • Certificate of Higher Education
    		• N/A

    QF-EHEA in the Republic of Ireland

    The NFQ for Ireland is the National Framework of Qualifications, which spans the full range of educational qualifications available. It was verified as compatible with the EHEA Framework in 2006. The NQF has the following mapping to the EHEA Framework:
    NFQ levelQualificationsEquivalent EHEA cycle
    10
    		Third Cycle
    9
  • Master's degree
    		• Second Cycle
    9
  • Postgraduate diploma
    		• Second Cycle
    8
  • Honours bachelor's degree
  • Higher diploma
    		• First Cycle
    7
  • Ordinary bachelor's degree
    		• First Cycle
    6
  • Higher Certificate
    		• Short Cycle