NQF Levels | All Levels & Credits Explained 2024

Many people who have applied for the learning courses must have been exposed to the term NQF levels. The National Qualification Framework (NQF) is a system that is used by South Africa, which tells about the level of learning completed by the students. NQF levels play an essential role in the educational system of South Africa in order to ensure the knowledge and competencies already acquired by students across the country.

Well, many people are still confused about the NQF levels and credit systems, which of course need to be clarified. In this article, I will tell you the details regarding NQF levels so that you can enhance your knowledge regarding your education level. Read the article carefully in order to know your skill and qualification level.

National Qualification Framework (NQF)

Everybody is curious to know the education level and skills required in order to reach their desired professional life. Well, before I tell you the details about NQF levels I will give you a brief introduction to SAQA, which will help you clarify the concept of NQF levels.

The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) is basically providing long-lasting education and training to all brilliant students. It polishes bright students by improving their skills and maintaining their education quality.

SAQA is implementing NQF levels so that they can provide a proper guideline for acquiring the required qualification system. The NQF levels are supervised and managed by almost 29 members of SAQA, which ensures the philosophical base and organizational structure of South Africa’s educational system.
The NQF levels make sure that you are getting a higher level of education from recognized institutions.

Also, it is a proper framework for learning, which helps you to evaluate your skills, expertise, and achievements. I searched a lot about NQF levels and credit systems in order to know the level of qualification I achieved. Well, continue reading the article to know your level of education and skills.

NQF Level And Credit System (1 to 10)

NQF level 1 is the basic level of education where students have completed grade 9 or High School education and get a General Certificate.
Well, NQF level 2 gives the Elementary Certificate to students who have passed grade 10.
Level 3 is attained by completing grade 11 and the student is provided with the Intermediate Certificate.
Level 4 requires a National Senior Certificate, which is given to students who have passed the matric exams.
The tertiary institutes provide the Higher Certificate at level 5.
At level 6 the National Diploma or Advanced Certificate is provided to the students who have passed the diploma program with good grades.
The Bachelor’s degree Certificate is provided at the NQF level 7.
The students who have completed their honors are provided with the Honor Certificate at NQF level 8.
The second-highest NQF level is 9 where an individual gets a Master’s Degree.
The highest and most challenging NQF level of education is 10 where the student is provided with the Doctorate Degree and is considered to be the most skillful in the required field of the program.

One credit means 10 notional hours, which means that Higher education gets 120 credits while a Bachelor’s degree has 360 credits.

How Do SAQA NQF Levels and Credits Work?

Well, SAQA NQF levels are simpler to understand as there are different levels that start from level 1 and go up to level 10. Now these levels range from lower to higher i-e level 1 is considered as lower education level while level 10 is considered as highest education level.

This means that a person starts from level 1 and then reaches level 10, which indicates the highest qualifications. Moreover, these NQF levels and credits are further divided into three classifications based on obtained education.

Level 1-4 (This is basically the High School Level including, Grade 9 to 12)
Level 5-6 (This second level is comparable to college diplomas and technical education)
Level 7-10 (The last level includes getting the University Degree)

FAQ’s

What is the NQF qualification?

The National Qualification Framework (NQF) is an education system, which shows the level of learning and achievements of the students throughout the country. It consists of 10 levels starting from the lower and moving towards the highest.

What is a level 7 NQF?

Level 7 in NQF is the level where the student completes the Honor Degree and receives the Bachelor’s Degree and Diploma Certificate from the institution.

How many levels are in the NQF?

Well, the NQF consists of 10 levels, which are categorized into three levels and each level consists of two sub-levels.

Are NQF levels international?

The NQF levels are not just international but are found at the regional and national levels too, which are trying their best to improve the quality of education across the country.

What is the highest NQF level?

Well, the highest level of NQF is level 10, obtained after completing the University Degree.

What is the purpose of the NQF?

The purpose of NQF is to know the learning achievements of the students and to increase the quality of training, learning, and education. Also, it helps the individual in choosing the required career path accordingly.

Conclusion

Well, I hope that my guide related to National Qualification Framework (NQF) levels has cleared your concept. NQF levels make sure that the students are learning according to the framework and achieving the desired education.

The students start from level 1, which is the lowest level, and move to a higher level. The best thing is that the students are motivated at every level after receiving a Certificate. At each level, the students go through exams, and assignments, which provide better learning opportunities and set a standard for each skill.