What is the National Framework of Qualifications?

The National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) is a system used to understand, describe and map out the different levels of qualifications in the Irish education and training system.

There are 10 levels in the framework, with the NFQ showing how General Education Awards, Further Education and Training, and Higher Education Awards correspond to each of the 10 levels.

Some of the key information that the NFQ conveys are the main qualifications awarded at each level, how to progress from one level to the next, and how to compare qualifications to other foreign qualifications and international frameworks, such as the European Qualifications Framework.

All qualifications on the NFQ are listed in the Irish Register of Qualifications.

Page Contents

• Overview of the National Framework of Qualifications
• Outline of the NFQ
• What Are the Different Parts of the NFQ?
• What is the NFQ Used For?
• What is the European Qualifications Framework?
• How Can I Use The NFQ When Choosing a Course?
• How Can Total Law Help?

Below is a table that outlines the National Framework of Qualifications, including all of Ireland’s major qualifications, their NFQ level, and their equivalent compared to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF).

Note that this outline doesn’t include information such as non-major awards, awarding bodies and specific award categories that the major awards belong to.

The National Framework of Qualifications is primarily used as a frame of reference for learners in the Irish education system, advisors, employers and education providers.

Learners can use NFQ to help plan education, training and career progression by providing a pathway through different qualifications and showing how they lead into each other. It can also help them to make informed choices about their routes and qualifications by showing as many pathways within the established education system as possible.

In addition, learners or workers travelling to Ireland with qualifications gained abroad can use the NFQ to have these qualifications recognised.

Advisors can use the NFQ to support and instruct learners to make their existing knowledge, skill or competence levels visible in a clearly set out framework. It is also used to easily explain how Ireland’s national system of qualifications work, as well as to assist learners in identifying pathways towards the qualifications they may wish to achieve.

Employers can use the NFQ to understand and compare different qualifications to help in the recruitment process. They can also utilise the expanded grid of level indicators, which outlines the qualification requirements associated with work competency and performance. It also provides a way to keep the recruitment process fair and equal by ensuring that qualifications are recognised at the right level.

Education providers can use the NFQ to help develop courses and programmes that are recognised on a national and international level. They can also use it as a reference point to easily validate previous learning and achievements, which may help regulate enrolment and minimum entry requirements.

The European Qualifications Framework (EQF) is an overarching framework used across Europe. It is designed to promote mobility within the EU and by helping to compare foreign qualifications between different countries’ own national qualifications systems.

The EFQ has eight levels, which are described through learning outcomes such as skill, knowledge and competence. All qualifications in the NFQ have a corresponding level on the EFQ, which helps to validate and improve the visibility of Irish qualifications in Europe.

In addition to the EFQ, there is also the Qualifications Framework of the European Higher Education Area (QF-EHEA), also known as the Bologna Framework. The QF-EHEA aims to make European higher education more comparable and compatible across the participating 49 countries.

It consists of three cycles, each encompassing different levels of further and higher education. The First Cycle covers bachelor degrees and its equivalents, the Second Cycle covers postgraduate degrees such as Masters, and the Third Cycle covers Doctorate degrees and its equivalents.

Due to the way in which the National Framework of Qualifications is laid out, it can be easy to utilise it to make informed decisions about the courses or programmes you would like to pursue.

However, you should keep in mind the following questions when choosing a course or programme to pursue:

• What qualification does the course or programme award, and is this included on the NFQ?
• What level is the qualification on the NFQ?
• What type of qualification is it?
• Who is the awarding body?
• What options are available to progress onto further learning after you receive the qualification?

You should think carefully about what level and type of qualification you would like to pursue, as well as how those will integrate with your future plans. For example, it may be that pursuing a professional or vocational award such as an apprenticeship would suit your progression through your studies better than pursuing a major award.

It’s also important to consider the European and international dimensions of the NFQ in case you wish to work or study abroad in the future. You’ll need to make sure that your qualification’s level on the EQF is high enough to enable you to pursue your ideal courses and work pathways.