The Framework for people returning to education

When you're returning to education, maybe after bringing up a family or a period of unemployment, learning new skills gives you more opportunities of finding a job or developing a new career. And when you get new academic and/r vocational qualifications, you earn credit points that can go towards the learning you may need to do all through your life.

• learning that you can do in college or university, at work, or in your community
• learning that will earn you academic and/or vocational qualifications that will help you in your career and in your everyday life

How does it work? (view diagram)

The Framework includes different qualifications at the same level. It doesn't mean that the qualifications are the same. The subject content may be different and how they are assessed, but they can be just as hard to achieve and demand the same level of skill or understanding, so they are positioned at the same level in the Framework.

You get SCQF credit points for the amount of learning you have to do to earn the qualification. That's why some qualifications - even at the same level - earn more credit points than others. For example, both a Standard Grade, or an Intermediate 1 and an SVQ 1 are at SCQF level 4. The Standard Grade has 96 credit points, the Intermediate 1 course has 24 credit points. For more information on credit points view the Summary of Credit Points.

SVQs are being allocated level and credit within the SCQF from 2005.

It's possible to transfer the credit points that you get for one programme of learning to another, related programme of learning. The Framework doesn't guarantee that will happen. It's up to the SQA and individual universities and colleges to make the final decision. But it means it's possible to move onto another pathway to learning without having to do the same work over again. For example, if you gained some Standard grades at Foundation level when you were at school, you could gain entry to do an SVQ 1 at an FE college. That would qualify you for a suitable full or part-time job and the credit points you achieved would let you go on to do an SVQ 2 in a related area, or if you left halfway through a Higher course you may be able to continue studying at a later stage.

If you are not sure what course or training is right for you then you can use the framework to help you understand which ones are best for you. For more information contact your local careers office or learndirect Scotland.

From 2004, most Scottish qualifications will be described by their SCQF level and appropriate credit points.