The University of Nottingham Qualifications Framework (UNQF) has been drafted to be fully compatible with the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)'s Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as the qualifications framework adopted at the Bergen Summit of the Bologna Process for the creation of a European Higher Education Area.
For more information, please consult the following:
The QAA Quality Code
European Higher Education Area
How does the Bologna process work?
Programme specifications based on the QAA Framework have been formulated for University of Nottingham courses. Building on this work, a University of Nottingham Qualifications Framework (the UNQF) has been devised to underpin future course approval and review activity.
The purposes of the UNQF are to:
- Help applicants, students, employers, and other stakeholders to understand the University’s awards and to place them in context with each other and with the awards of other institutions.
- Demonstrate that appropriate progression occurs between levels before arriving at a final award.
- Ensure an accurate mapping of learning outcomes and assessment to clearly defined levels as proposed in the QAA Code of Practice.
- Assist staff formulating new courses in deciding upon the appropriate structure, title, and final award of those courses.
- Facilitate the integration of Nottingham credits, modules, courses and awards into future European-wide initiatives.
- Avoid difficulties for students in undertaking credit transfer.
1. A University of Nottingham credit equates to 10 hours of notional study. Credits are awarded by the University at the levels described on the Relationship of the University of Nottingham Qualifications Framework (UNQF) to the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) qualification descriptors page, which themselves relate to the QAA qualification descriptors on the QAA Qualification Framework page.
The notional equivalent hours of study may not be directly applicable to University of Nottingham apprenticeship programmes where work-based learners have additional contextual opportunities to embed and test learning. Programme approval processes will ensure teaching approaches meet required outcomes for the learners on apprenticeships.
For more information, please consult the following:
Relationship of the UNQF to the QAA qualification descriptors
The Quality Assurance Agency Qualification Framework
2. The number and level of credits which need to be gained for each taught award of the University is as follows:
Credits in Total and by Stage
Table of Credits in Total and by Stage
| Qualification | Credits | Stage | Period of Registered Study (full-time). Approval may be given for these lengths to be varied for individual programmes |
|---|
| Foundation Certificate (FCert) |
120 credits at level 0 or above |
|
2 semesters |
| Undergraduate Certificate (UGCert) |
120 credits at level 1 or above |
|
2 semesters |
| Undergraduate Diploma (UGDip) |
240 credits with at least 90 credits at level 2 or above |
Qualifying Stage: 120 credits at level 1 or above
Part I: 120 credits with at least 90 credits at level 2 or above
|
1 year 9 months |
| Ordinary Degree |
300 credits with at least 60 credits at level 3 |
Part I: 100 credits with at least 80 credits at level 2 or above
Part II: 100 credits with at least 60 credits at level 3
|
2 years 9 months |
| Graduate Certificate (GCert) |
60 credits with at least 40 credits at level 3 or above |
|
1 semester |
| Graduate Diploma (GDip) |
120 credits with at least 90 credits at level 3 or above |
|
2 semesters |
|
Honours Degree (Hons)*
*These requirements also apply to the award of an unclassified ('Pass') degree at the end of an honours course
|
360 credits** with at least 190 credits at level 2 or above and at least 100 credits at level 3 or above
** This will be 480 credits for the Bachelor of Education course run at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) and for the Bachelor of Pharmacy course run at the University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM).
|
Qualifying Stage: 120 credits at level 1 or above
Part I: 120 credits with at least 90 credits at level 2 or above
Part II: 120 credits with at least 100 credits at level 3 or above
|
2 years 9 months |
| Integrated Masters |
480 credits with at least 290 credits at level 2 or above, 200 credits at level 3 or above, and 120 credits at level 4 |
Qualifying Stage: 120 credits at level 1 or above
Part I: 120 credits with at least 90 credits at level 2 or above
Part II: 120 credits with at least 100 credits at level 3 or above
Part III: 120 credits with at least 90 credits at level 4 and a further 10 credits at level 3 or above
|
3 years 9 months |
| |
|
|
|
| Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) |
60 credits with at least 50 credits at level 4 |
|
1 semester |
| Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) |
120 credits with at least 90 credits at level 4 |
|
2 semesters |
| Taught Masters Degree |
180 credits with at least 150 credits at level 4 |
Taught Stage: 120 credits with at least 90 credits at level 4
Research stage: At least 60 credits of the course is devoted to a research project leading to a dissertation/comparable research output or the production of other output such as an artefact, business plan, performance or musical composition. These credits must be at level 4.
|
1 year |
| Two Year Taught Masters Degree |
240 credits with at least 180 credits at level 4 |
Taught Stage: 120-180 credits with at least 120 at level 4
Research stage: At least 60 credits of the course is devoted to a research project leading to a dissertation/comparable research output or the production of other output such as an artefact, business plan, performance or musical composition. These credits must be at level 4.
|
2 years |
| Taught European Masters Degree (to be delivered in collaboration with other European Universities) |
240 credits with at least 210 credits at level 4 |
Taught Stage: 120 credits with at least 90 credits at level 4 or 180 credits with at least 150 credits at level 4
Research stage: At least 60 credits of the course is devoted to a research project leading to a dissertation/comparable research output or the production of other output such as an artefact, business plan, performance or musical composition. These credits must be at level 4.
|
2 years |
In circumstances where a PSRB requires deviation from the UNQF, approval is required from QSC, but it is expected that approval will be granted.
Please note the following:
- From the 2015/16 academic year, the Ordinary degree will be available only as outlined in the regulations relating to the Application of regulations for students who fail to meet Honours requirements.
- Course structures must require students to gain the above number of credits at each level in order to obtain the appropriate qualification.
- Level 0 credits may only count towards the award of a Foundation Certificate or be used to constitute a 120 credit Foundation Stage undertaken by students prior to the stages listed in 4 and 5 below.
3. Programme specifications may also set out additional non credit-bearing components of a course which must be undertaken for an award to be made. Where a standard of performance must be attained in the additional component for an award to be made, this standard will be described in the programme specification.
4. The Foundation Certificate, Undergraduate Certificate, Graduate Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate, and Postgraduate Diploma will all consist of a single stage.
5. Course structures must require students to gain the above number of credits at each level at each stage in order to obtain the appropriate qualification.
6. Programme specifications will specify whether:
(a) An Honours degree or an Ordinary Degree is awarded as a:
-
- Bachelor of Architecture (BArch)
- Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc)
- Bachelor of Education (BEd)
- Bachelor of Engineering (BEng)
- Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
- Bachelor of Medical Sciences (BMedSci)
- Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (BMBS)
- Bachelor of Midwifery (BMid)
- Bachelor of Science (BSc)
- Bachelor of Theology (BTh)
- Bachelor of Veterinary Medical Sciences (BVMedSci)
- Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Bachelor of Veterinary Surgery (BVM BVS)
(b) An Integrated Masters is awarded as a:
-
- Master in Arts (MArts)
- Master in Engineering (MEng)
- Master in Mathematics (MMath)
- Master of Nursing Science (MNursSci)
- Master of Nutrition (MNutr)
- Master of Pharmacy (MPharm)
- Master in Science (MSci)
(c) A Taught Masters is awarded as a:
-
- Master of Architecture (MArch)
- Master of Arts (MA)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Master of Education (MEd)
- Master of Laws (LLM)
- Master of Medical Sciences (MMedSci)
- Master of Musical Arts (AmusM)
- Master of Public Administration (MPA)
- Master of Public Health (MPH)
- Master of Science (MSc)
- Master of Social Work (MSW)
- Masters in Teaching and Learning (MTL)
- Master of Technology (MTech)
7. Subject titles of awards indicate whether the course is:
- Single subject (with title naming a subject or related subjects)
- Joint (with title naming two distinct subjects as ‘x and y’)
- Major/Minor (with title naming two distinct subjects as ‘x with y’ or similar)
- Multidisciplinary (with title listing three distinct subjects)
The minimum requirements for title of awards are set out below. Course structures must require students to take at least the following number of credits in each subject:
Table of minimum requirements for title of awards
| Award | Single | Joint | Major/Minor | Multidisciplinary |
|---|
| FCert, UGCert, GDip, PGDip |
100 credits in subject |
50 credits in each subject |
60 credits in major subject, 40 credits in minor subject |
40 credits for each subject listed |
| UGDip |
180 credits in subject |
100 credits in each subject |
120 credits in major subject, 60 in minor subject |
60 credits for each subject listed |
| Ordinary Degree |
220 credits in subject |
120 credits in each subject |
160 credits in major subject, 80 in minor subject |
80 credits for each subject listed |
| Honours Degree |
280 credits in subject |
140 credits in each subject |
220 credits in major subject, 90 in minor subject |
90 credits for each subject listed |
| Integrated Masters |
360 credits in subject |
180 credits in each subject |
280 credits in major subject, 100 in minor |
100 credits for each subject listed |
| GCert, PGCert |
50 credits in subject |
30 credits in each subject |
30 credits in major subject, 20 in minor |
20 credits for each subject listed |
| Masters |
140 credits in subject |
70 credits in each subject |
90 credits in major subject, 60 in minor |
60 credits for each subject listed |
Awards which do not meet any of the above minimum requirements will have the title ‘X with Combined Studies’, ‘X and Combined Studies’, or just ‘Combined Studies’, as appropriate. Where a module involves more than one subject, all the credits from that module may count towards satisfying the minimum requirements for each subject. A module comprising material which, while not directly related to the subject, provides knowledge or skills necessary for its study, may also count towards satisfying the minimum requirements for that subject.
8. For research degrees, Masters and Doctoral awards relate to the descriptors for qualifications at Masters and Doctoral level in The Qualification Assurance Agency Qualification Framework. For more information about this Framework, please consult the following:
The Quality Assurance Agency Qualification Framework
The periods of registered study for each research award of the University is as follows:
Table of periods of registered study for research awards
Table of periods of registered study for research awards
| Award | Full-time | Part-time |
|---|
| Master of Arts by Research (MA by Research) / Master of Science by Research (MSc by Research) |
Minimum: 1 year (180) credits) 2 years (240 credits)
Normal: 1 year (180) credits) 2 years (240 credits)
Maximum: 1 year (180 credits) 2 years (240 credits)
|
Minimum: 2 years (180 credits) 4 years (240 credits)
Normal: 2 years (180 credits) 4 years (240 credits)
Maximum: 2 years (180 credits) 4 years (240 credits)
|
| Master of Philosophy (MPhil) |
Minimum: 1 year
Normal: 2 years
Maximum: 3 years
|
Minimum: 2 year
Normal: 4 years
Maximum: 6 years
|
| Master of Research (MRes) |
Minimum: 1 year
Normal: 1 year
Maximum: 1 year
|
Minimum: 2 years
Normal: 2 years
Maximum: 4 years
|
| Master of Veterinary Medicine (MVM) / Master of Veterinary Surgery (MVS) |
Minimum: 2 years
Normal: 3 years
Maximum: 4 years
|
Minimum: 4 years
Normal: 6 years
Maximum: 6 years
|
|
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Doctor of Medicine (DM)
|
Minimum: 2 years
Normal: 3 years
Maximum: 4 years
|
Minimum: 4 years
Normal: 6 years
Maximum: 8 years
|
| Professional Doctorates |
Minimum: 2 years
Normal: 3 years
Maximum: 4 years
|
Minimum: 4 years
Normal: 6 years
Maximum: 8 years
|
Periods of part-time study are weighted 0.5 in comparison to full-time study in relation to these minima and maxima. Except for the circumstances given in 9 below, full-time research students are required to have a minimum of 12 supervisions per year and part-time students a minimum of 6 supervisions per year. These supervisions should take place at regular intervals throughout the year.
9. Regulations for the awards in 8 above may specify certain taught modules, research training, or other additional components which must be undertaken, and any performance level in them which must be achieved, in order for the award to be made. The number of supervisions research students are required to attend may be reduced where additional components are being undertaken.
10. Regulations will specify whether a Professional Doctorate is awarded as a:
- Doctor of Agrifood (DAgriFood)
- Doctor of Applied Psychology (DAppPsych)
- Doctor of Applied Educational Psychology (DAppEdPsy)
- Doctor of Applied Social Science (DASS)
- Doctor of Architecture (DArch)
- Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
- Doctor of Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy)
- Doctor of Education (EdD)
- Doctor of Engineering (EngD)
- Doctor of Forensic Psychology (DForenPsy)
- Doctor of Health Science (DHSci)
- Doctor of Medicine (DM)
- Doctor of Musical Arts (AMusD)
- Doctor of Nursing (NurseD)
- Doctor of Public Policy (DPP)
- Doctor of Public Management (DPM)
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVetMed)
- Doctor of Veterinary Surgery (DVetSurg)
- Doctor of Workplace Health and Wellbeing (DocWHW)
For more information, please consult the following:
Framework for Professional Doctorates
11. Awards listed in the UNQF may be awarded jointly with other institutions, subject to the approval of Senate.
12. The language of teaching and assessment for all provision must be in English when students are registered for a University of Nottingham qualification. The only exception is where the subject of study is a language or literature other than English.