Comparing UK and Irish qualifications

The Irish awarding bodies and qualifications authorities and the UK awarding and qualifications regulatory bodies have undertaken an exercise to align/cross reference the qualifications frameworks in the UK and Ireland. The exercise was completed in June 2005 and the document, ‘Qualifications can cross boundaries – a rough guide to comparing qualifications in the UK and Ireland’ was published. The leaflet is a ready reckoner for employers, learners and other interested parties, designed to enable broad comparisons to be drawn between qualifications and their levels In Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Click here to see diagram

In addition, The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland has prepared some more detailed information about particular UK qualifications and their comparison to relevant Irish qualifications:

General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)

In terms of the GCSE the nearest Irish award is the Junior Certificate. Both GCSE and Junior Certificate awards are developed for the end of compulsory education. They both have similar progression pathways available, respectively progression to A level/Leaving Certificate or progression to further education and training. This relationship also applies in the case of the Scottish award, Intermediate.

General Certificate of Education (GCE) A level and AS Level

GCE A level is normally taken in schools and colleges in England and Wales and Northern Ireland two years after GCSE examinations. In terms of A levels, the nearest Irish equivalent award is the Leaving Certificate. Arising from a benchmarking process undertaken by UCAS and Irish authorities, an Irish Higher Leaving Certificate subject has been established as being equivalent to two-thirds of an A level for the purposes of entry to higher education in the UK.

Higher National Diploma, Higher National Certificate, Foundation Degree

In the UK, the Higher National Diploma is a vocational qualification, usually studied full-time, but can be studied part-time. It is roughly equivalent to the first two years of a 3 year degree level study or to the Diploma in Higher Education. In Scotland, the Higher National Diploma is aligned with the second year of a 4 year degree (Intermediate FHEQ level) and at level 8 of the SCQF.

In the UK, the Higher National Certificate is a vocational qualification. The course can be taken part-time or full time. All courses involve work-related experience.

In the UK, the Foundation Degree is a vocationally focused higher education qualification introduced in September 2001. Work-based learning is a major part of any foundation degree whilst higher level knowledge and understanding reinforces and supports the development of vocational skills.

The nearest Irish awards to all these UK awards are the new Advanced Certificate and Higher Certificate awards at level 6 of the National Framework of Qualifications. Owing to the differences in outcome and progression opportunities there is not a strong direct equivalence between these awards.