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secretariats
United Kingdom
National Information Centres
The European National Information Centre for the United Kingdom
UK ENIC
Suffolk House
68-70 Suffolk Road
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL50 2ED
United Kingdom
Phone: +44 (0) 871 330 7033
Fax: +44 (0) 871 330 7005
E-mail: ENIC_NARIC@enic.org.uk
Website: http://www.enic.org.uk/
Department for Education (England)
The Department for Education is responsible for children’s services and education, including higher and further education policy, apprenticeships and wider skills in England.
Link(s): English
Department of Education (Northern Ireland)
The Department of Education (NI) oversees education in Northern Ireland.
Link(s): English
Department for the Economy Northern Ireland
The Department for the Economy Northern Ireland is responsible for higher education in Northern Ireland.
Scottish Government, DG: Education and Justice
Education in Scotland is overseen by the Director-General for Education and Justice. The following directorates are responsible for education: Child and Families Directorate, Early Learning and Childcare Directorate, Education Reform Directorate, Learning Directorate, and Lifelong Learning and Skills Directorate.
Department for Education and Skills (Wales)
The Department for Education and Skills oversees education in Wales.
Link(s): English
UK ENIC Guide to the Education Systems of the UK
This guide is a comprehensive and accessible resource for understanding UK qualifications and the education systems of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is designed to support the recognition and understanding of UK qualifications around the world.
The guide covers primary and secondary education, technical and vocational education, further education, and higher education in the UK, as well as UK qualifications offered internationally.
Link(s): English
Primary and secondary education
The devolved administrations of the UK govern their own primary and secondary education systems. The qualifications offered in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales are broadly similar, the Scottish system is quite distinct from its counterparts.
Link(s): English, English, English, English
General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)
All students in England, Northern Ireland and Wales sit GCSE examinations in English, mathematics and science. Welsh is also compulsory in Wales. A wide range of other subjects are also offered; students typically take 8 to 10 subjects.
Link(s): English
General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Subsidary level (AS level) and Advanced level (A level)
The GCE Advanced level (commonly known as A level) is offered in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Three full A levels is the typical entry requirement for higher education institutions. A level courses are typically studied over two years; most students study three subjects.
Link(s): English
Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual)
In England, all recognised general academic, vocational and technical qualifications are regulated by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) and listed on the Register of Regulated Qualifications.
Link(s): English
Qualifications Wales
Qualifications Wales regulates qualifications, other than degrees, in Wales.
Link(s): English
Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)
SQA is the national accreditation and awarding body for Scotland.
Link(s): English
Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) (Northern Ireland)
The CCEA is responsible for curriculum, examinations and assessment in Northern Ireland.
Link(s): English
Recognised Bodies
Recognised Bodies Orders are official lists of all Recognised Bodies (institutions with degree awarding powers) in the UK.
Link(s): English, English, English, English, Welsh
Listed Bodies
Listed Bodies Orders are official lists of all Listed Bodies (institutions which may deliver courses leading to a qualification by a Recognised Body) in the UK.
Link(s): English, English, English, Welsh, English
The Office for Students (OfS) Register
The Register lists all the English higher education providers officially registered by the Office for Students, the independent regulator of higher education in England.
Link(s): English
Framework
Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF)
The Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) includes general and vocational qualifications; these qualifications are regulated in England by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual).
Link(s): English, English
Register of Regulated Qualifications - Ofqual
The Ofqual Register lists recognised general and vocational qualifications.
Link(s): English
Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ)
Quality assurance of higher education qualifications is the responsibility of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) which maintains the Framework of Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ).
Link(s): English
Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales
The Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales (CQFW) was launched by the Welsh government in 2003. The CQFW exists alongside the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) and covers higher education, regulated general qualifications (including the Welsh Baccalaureate) and vocational training.
Link(s): English
Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) has 12 levels and includes all Scottish mainstream qualifications.
Link(s): English
Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) and National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (archived)
The QCF was introduced in 2008. Qualifications were assigned a credit value as well as a level. The QCF was replaced by the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) in 2015.
The NQF originally consisted of six levels. Following a 2004 review by regulatory authorities, the number of levels in the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) was increased to eight, helping to link the NQF to the Framework for Higher Education Qualification (FHEQ) levels. The NQF was replaced by the QCF in 2008.
Link(s): English
Self-Certification
Referencing the Qualifications Frameworks of England and Northern Ireland to the European Qualifications Framework
Link(s): English
Referencing the Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework (SCQF) to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF)
Link(s): English
Office for Students (OfS)
The Office for Students (OfS) is the independent regulator of higher education in England.
Link(s): English
Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW)
HEFCW regulates and funds higher education in Wales.
Link(s): English, Cymraeg
Quality Assessment Framework for Wales
The Quality Assessment Framework (QAF) for Higher Education in Wales sets out the mechanisms through which the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) regulates and quality assures higher education providers in Wales.
Link(s): English
Scottish Funding Council (SFC)
The SFC meets its statutory obligation for higher education provision through the Quality Enhancement Framework (QEF), Scotland’s distinct enhancement-led approach to quality assurance, in partnership with the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), Universities Scotland, NUS Scotland and Student Participation in Quality Scotland (Sparqs).
Link(s): English
QAA Scotland
QAA Scotland is the quality body for higher education in Scotland. It carries out cyclical external quality assurance review for higher education institutions through an enhancement-oriented review method that from 2003 to 2021 was referred to by the title Enhancement-Led Institutional Review (ELIR). A new method, also enhancement-led, is currently in development.
Department for the Economy Northern Ireland
The statutory responsibly for the quality and standards of higher education in Northern Ireland rests with the Department for the Economy (DfENI).
Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA)
The QAA is an independent body which monitors and advises on standards and quality in higher education. The QAA holds responsibility for assessing applications for degree-awarding powers on behalf of the Welsh Government and the Department of the Economy NI.
Link(s): English
Academic and Vocational Qualifications - UK ENIC
Operating under contract to the Department for Education (DfE), UK ENIC serves as the UK’s information point on the recognition of overseas qualifications.
Link(s): English
Professional Qualifications
The UK CPQ is designated by the UK Government to provide advice and guidance on the recognition of professional qualifications in line with the European Union (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2015, as amended by the Professional Qualifications and Services (Amendments and Miscellaneous Provisions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020.
Link(s): English
Responsible organisation
Individual universities
Additional information:
In the UK, individual universities are responsible for issuing the Diploma Supplement to their students. They may also choose to issue a document called the "HEAR" (Higher Education Achievements Report) which the European Commission confirmed as being compatible with the Diploma Supplement format.
HEAR
Link(s): English
Information on DS (legislation, template, chart, etc)
HEAR reference pack
Reference pack including chart of the national education system and description of the education system.
Link(s): English
Qualifications giving access to higher education
As higher education institutions are autonomous institutions, they set their own standards for admission, which are usually based on a student’s performance in their A level examinations or Highers.
Students are normally expected to study three subjects at A level or four subjects for Scottish Highers. For certain courses specific subjects and grades may be required. Other awards at level 3 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) or levels 6 and 7 on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) may also be accepted for entrance to higher education courses.
Undergraduate admissions in the UK are handled by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). This organisation oversees the process of university admissions and provides information to students on entry requirements for specific courses.
Further education courses
Information on further education courses.
Link(s): English
Courses and qualifications for 14-19 year olds
Information on courses available for 14-19 years olds in England and Wales.
Link(s): English
Qualifications in Scotland
Information on qualifications offered in Scotland.
Link(s): English
Register of Regulated Qualifications - Ofqual
Link(s): English
Accredited qualifications in Scotland
Information on qualifications accredited by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).
Link(s): English
Qualifications in Wales (QiW)
Information on qualifications offered in Wales.
Link(s): English
Recognition of Qualifications held by Refugees
UK ENIC has developed services to support refugees and those in refugee-like situations. Applications are treated with additional discretion as it is understood that applicants may not be able to provide all of the documentation that is usually required. Support can take the form of:
- Working with incomplete documentation
- Providing contextual information on qualifications where comparison to a UK qualification is not possible
- Working without translations when possible
- Telephone interviews with applicants who do not possess any documentation.
UK ENIC also supports charities and local councils who work with refugees.
UK ENIC has a dedicated inbox for refugees and asylum seekers to provide advice about our services and answer questions about qualification recognition: refugee@ecctis.com
Link(s): English, English
Verification of higher education qualifications
Degrees awarded by many higher education institutions can be verified through Higher Education Datacheck (HEDD), but some institutions may need to be contacted directly for verification.
Link(s): English
Verification of school qualifications
School qualifications, such as GCSEs and A levels, can be verified with the relevant awarding body.