This page gives quick links to the key reference points, publications and information pages that will be useful to staff working in higher education.
Reference points and guidance
The UK Quality Code for Higher Education (Quality Code) - the key reference point for all providers of UK higher education, which sets out Expectations agreed by the higher education sector
The Academic Infrastructure - predecessor of the Quality Code
Chapter A1 of the Quality Code - contains The framework for higher education qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (FHEQ) and the The framework for qualifications of higher education insitutions in Scotland (FQHEIS; diagram and more details on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework website)
The Higher Education Credit Framework for England - framework setting out how academic credit is used in England
Credit and Qualifications Framework in Wales - hosted on the Welsh Assembly website
Qualifications can cross boundaries - a rough guide to comparing qualifications in the UK and Ireland
UK qualifications in Europe- web page explaining our work in this area
International - information about QAA's international work
Subject benchmark statements - guidance on what is expected of students at bachelor's and master's level in a range of subject areas
Information on Foundation Degrees and doctoral degrees - guidance published by QAA in consultation with the higher education sector
Guidance on contact hours, assessment, international students and other topics
Assuring standards and quality - section of our website hosting our key reference points and guidance relating to standards and quality in higher education
Information on our reviews
There is a dedicated section of our website explaining in detail how we review higher education. More information about our review work is available in the subsection on institution reports, which includes a directory of reports.
Information to support enhancement
The Improving higher education web area covers information about our work to promote the enhancement or ongoing improvement of UK higher education. Below are shortcuts to the Outcomes papers (which can also be accessed, along with earlier publications, via the Analysing our reviews page).
England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Outcomes from Institutional Audit in England and Northern Ireland Series 1 and 2 (2005-10) Outcomes from Institutional Audit in England and Northern Ireland Series 3 (2007-09)
Outcomes from Collaborative Provision Audit
Outcomes from Institutional Review (Wales) / Canlyniadau o Adolygiad Sefydliadol (Cymru)
Enhancement project (England)
Enhancement project (Wales) / Prosiect gwella (Cymru)
Scotland
Learning from Enhancement-Led Institutional ReviewEnhancement Themes series of publications and link to dedicated website
Becoming involved in our work
We welcome applications from prospective reviewers at any time of the year although there are times when we are actively recruiting. We recruit for different review methods. Find out more.
If you are based at a further education college our Higher Education in Further Education Colleges liaison group and policy advisory forum offer an opportunity to discuss matters important to you.
The Quality Strategy Network provides a forum for discussion between senior quality managers about key issues in quality management and enhancement. It is independent of all other sector bodies but regularly works with QAA to develop good practice. We also operate an Institutional Liaison Scheme in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
We now have over 2,000 subscribers to the QAA news alert, which provides a fortnightly update on the latest news from QAA. Join the QAA news distribution list to find out about the latest consultations, events, publications and review reports.