Frequently asked questions for students

These are some of the most frequently asked questions we get asked by students. If you have a particular question that we haven’t answered here, please feel free to contact us at comms@qaa.ac.uk

Choosing the right course and university for you

1         What kinds of things should a higher education course cover?
2         How do I find out what is the best course to apply for?
3         Can you tell me about the different higher education qualifications?
4         Do you have university league tables or rankings?
5         What information is in a QAA review report?
6         Is x course at x university accredited/recognised?
7         How can I follow my progress during my study?
8         Do you have information about further education or lower level qualifications?
9         What is Access to Higher Education? Can I apply?

Applying to university

10        How do I apply to university?
11        What are the entry requirements for university?
12        Can I apply to university without A levels?
13        I want to go to university but don’t have any qualifications. What options do I have?

Complaints

14 I want to make a complaint about my university. Can QAA help?
15 What type of complaints can’t be dealt with?

After graduating

16        What level is my qualification?
17        How does my qualification compare with other frameworks and countries?
18        Will my qualification be recognised by employers?
19        I’ve lost my certificate. Can QAA issue a replacement?
20        Do you have any information on postgraduate courses?

Getting involved

21        I would like to be involved in my university’s next institutional audit. What can I do?
22        What work is QAA doing with students?
23        What is meant by standards and quality?

Useful web links

Take a look at our Useful links page for advice on other organisations you can contact for help.

Choosing the right course and university for you

1 What kinds of things should a higher education course cover?

Each university or college sets up its own particular courses so they are the best place to start to find out what your course is likely to cover. However, subject benchmark statements help to ensure that the standards of degree programmes across the UK meet an agreed level. They highlight the kinds of things courses in particular subjects will cover. Our leaflet Understanding courses - Benchmark statements and programme specifications will help explain more.

2 How do I find out which is the best course to apply for?

This is really a decision you have to make for yourself but there are various sources of information available that should help you in making your decision. Our review reports can help you understand the quality and standards in the institution overall but there may be other factors that may affect your decision, for example how you wish to study (full or part-time) or the kind of course you are looking for (eg combined).

The HERO website offers some guidance on answering these questions, including advice on which subject to choose or which institution to choose, and what qualification may suit you. You may also wish to look at the Unistats website which compares universities and colleges in the UK using data from the National Student Survey.

3 Can you tell me about the different higher education qualifications?

The framework for higher education qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland outlines the level of higher education qualifications. For details about non-graduate level qualifications, please see Qualifications and Curriculum Authority website.

In Scotland, the various levels of qualifications are outlined in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework and in The framework for qualifications of higher education institutions in Scotland.

Our leaflet Understanding qualifications provides a summary of higher education qualfications. You may also wish to look at the Directgov website to find out more about different qualifications, including lower level qualifications.

4 Do you have university league tables or rankings?

No. QAA does not produce performance tables for universities or higher education institutions. Performance tables have been published in some newspapers, however, these tables are not official and newspapers use a variety of sources for their data. We do, however, produce review reports for universities and colleges, which can be found at www.qaa.ac.uk/reviews

5 What information is in a QAA review report?

After each review, we publish a report which consists of a summary, the findings of the review and the main report. Our reviews do not result in any numerical 'scores'. The review team makes judgements on:

the confidence that can be placed in the institution's management of the quality of available to students
the confidence that can be placed in the institution's management of the standards of its awards.

The first judgement is an expression of confidence: either 'confidence', 'limited confidence' or 'no confidence'. The report also gives recommendations for action for the institution to take.

6 Is x course at x university accredited/recognised?

For details about recognised UK higher education bodies please see the list on the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills website at www.dcsf.gov.uk/recognisedukdegrees

If you are unsure about who awards the qualifications at the institution you are interested in, you might be best to ask them who awards the qualifications and you can then check the awarding institution.

7 How can I follow my progress during my study?

You will find that your institution will keep you informed. However, Getting the job you deserve, progress files for students is a guide aimed at highlighting how you can follow your progress during your study.

8 Do you have information about further education or lower level qualifications?

No, QAA only deals with higher education. The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) regulates awarding bodies in the UK and they usually the best starting point for queries relating to lower level qualifications (see www.qcda.gov.uk)

The Directgov website explains the different qualifications in the UK, including GCSEs, A levels, bachelors degrees and postgraduate qualifications, and is a helpful source to find out more about the different levels.

9 What is Access to Higher Education (Access to HE)? Can I apply?

The Access to Higher Education Diploma is a qualification which prepares students for study at university. It is designed for people who would like to study in higher education but who left school without the usual qualifications, such as A levels. Many Access to HE students go on to succeed at university and beyond, with a large number pursuing new careers.

There are over 1,000 different courses leading to the Access to HE Diploma and courses are available in most further education colleges in England and Wales. See www.accesstohe.ac.uk for further information.

Applying to university

10 How do I apply to university?

If you are applying for a full-time undergraduate course, you will normally need to apply through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). UCAS processes applications in early September for admission to courses in the following year. For further information on how to apply for a full-time undergraduate course, please see the UCAS website at www.ucas.ac.uk

If you are interested in studying part-time, flexible learning or postgraduate courses, you will usually apply directly to the institution running the course.

11 What are the entry requirements for university?

Entry requirements for higher education courses vary from institution to institution, and from course to course. UCAS have a tariff where grades are converted into points for the purpose of admissions to courses. Visit the UCAS website for more information on the UCAS Tariff: www.ucas.ac.uk/students/ucas_tariff/

12 Can I apply to university without A levels?

Yes, there are several different qualifications included in the UCAS Tariff, which includes diplomas, national vocational qualifications (NVQs) and many more. See www.ucas.ac.uk/students/ucas_tariff/qualifications/ for further information.

Institutions decide what qualifications they will accept for entry onto their courses. UCAS will have information on entry requirements for each course but it is advised that you speak directly with the institution if you have any concerns.

13 I want to go to university but don’t have any qualifications. What options do I have?

Many people in this situation choose to complete an Access to Higher Education course. An Access to Higher Education certificate or diploma is a qualification which prepares students for study at university and is designed for people who left school without the usual qualifications, such as A levels. We have a dedicated Access to Higher Education website (www.accesstohe.ac.uk) which has further information on how to apply to Access to Higher Education courses and the benefits of this qualification.

Complaints

14 I want to make a complaint about my university. Can QAA help?

QAA has no remit to become involved in complaints from students, either as an arbitrator or on your behalf.

The only advice we can offer is to obtain and follow the complaints procedure from the institution concerned. If you are not happy with the outcomes of that process you may be able to take your case to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (www.oiahe.org.uk) for an institution in England, Wales and Northern Ireland or the Ombudsman (www.scottishombudsman.org.uk) for institutions in Scotland. Alternatively you may wish to consider legal action.

These bodies will only look at your case if you have exhausted the institution’s internal complaints procedures and have had no resolve. They do not deal with complaints that are a matter about academic performance, but do look at those to do with unfairness or a procedural irregularity in the determination of the result.

Take a look at our Complaints section for further information.

15 What type of complaints can’t be dealt with?

Each institution is different but normally complaints can’t be made against a matter of academic judgement (ie your degree result). You will need to speak to them directly about what complaints can be dealt with.

After graduating

16 What level is my qualification?

17 How does my qualification compare with other frameworks and countries?

Your institution should be able to confirm what level your qualification is on other frameworks. Alternatively, you can speak to the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (www.qca.org.uk). They regulate awarding bodies in the UK and hold the National Qualifications Framework, which is well-established among employers. A potential employer may ask what level your qualification is on the National Qualifications Framework.

18 Will my qualification be recognised by employers?

Employers are often aware of recognised universities and colleges in the UK and often they will ask you for a copy of your transcript to see what modules were covered in your course. This is often the case for social work or science related degrees. The majority of institutions provide students with a final transcript along with the certificate.

19 I’ve lost my certificate. Can you issue a replacement?

QAA does not hold records on an individual's attendance at a college or of the curriculum of courses. Please contact the relevant institution or awarding body directly. If the institution in question no longer exists or has merged with another institution, you will need to contact the new institution for advice. We recommend that you type in the previous name of the institution which should redirect you to the website(s) of the new institution(s).

20 Do you have any information on postgraduate courses?

QAA doesn’t have any information on specific courses, including postgraduate courses. You will need to speak to the institution directly. Alternatively, the Graduate Prospects website has information on some postgraduate courses (www.prospects.ac.uk)

Getting involved

21 I would like to be involved in my university’s next institutional audit. What can I do?

Students are central both to the principal focuses of review and to the review processes themselves. The institutional-level review processes include an active role for students. In England, Northern Ireland and Wales, this role takes the form of a written submission from a student viewpoint. In Scotland, students can become part of the review team. Our guides explain more about getting involved. We have further information about getting involved, including various student guides. More…

22 What work is QAA doing with students?

QAA is currently developing its approach to student engagement and have written a paper which sets out our broad aims in providing information about academic standards and quality for potential students, students and their representatives and how we intend to work in partnership with student organisations and higher education bodies to support student involvement in quality assurance. More [link to student engagement page].

23 What is meant by standards and quality?

The words 'academic standards' are used to describe the level of achievement that a student has to reach to gain an academic award (eg a degree). For similar awards, the threshold level of achievement should be the same across the UK.

Academic quality is a way of describing how well the learning opportunities available to students are managed to help them to achieve their award. It is about making sure that appropriate and effective teaching, support, assessment and learning opportunities are provided for them.