Credit and HE Qualifications: The Credit guidelines for HE qualifications for England, Wales and Northern Ireland developed by the credit bodies CQFW, NICATS, NUCCAT and SEEC provide a comprehensive account of the recommended guidelines for credit including definitions and principles and guidance on credit values for qualifications in the Higher Education Qualifications Framework (QAAHE 2001).

The Guidelines have been used in answering the following FAQs.

1. What is credit?
Credit is a quantified means of expressing equivalence of learning. Credit is awarded to a learner in recognition of the verified achievement of designated learning outcomes at a specified level. It is a way of comparing learning achieved in a variety of different contexts.

2. How is credit gained?
Credit is gained through the achievement of learning outcomes and their assessment.

3. How is credit quantified?
The amount of credit achieved is related to the amount of learning. In higher education the credit framework recognises the widespread agreement that ten hours of learning activity (including assessment) leads to the award of one credit. It is understood that this calculation is an approximation and depends on academic judgement. That judgement is guided by the identification of learning outcomes that are to be achieved during the learning.

4. Is all credit at the same level?
No, credit is awarded at different levels representing different degrees of educational challenge. SEEC has developed Credit Level Descriptors that describe in detail the increasing educational challenge as a student progresses through higher education. The credit level descriptors recognise five levels from first year undergraduate to the taught doctorate.