How to check your status? You are an ELQ student if you are currently studying for a qualification of an equivalent or lower level to one you already hold. To calculate if you are ELQ follow the steps below to compare the highest qualification you hold against the qualification you are currently studying towards. If you have studied for, but did not complete, or were not awarded a qualification you should use your next highest qualification to do your calculations. Step 1: Identify the group(s) of your current qualification(s). Step 2: Identify the group of the qualification you are now studying. Step 3: Compare the group numbers. Result: If the group number of the qualification you are now studying is higher than the group number of the qualification(s) you already hold then you should pay the standard Home/EU, Islands or Overseas fee rate. You are not an ELQ student. If the group number of the qualification you are studying is the same as or lower than the group number of the qualification you already hold then you are liable to pay the ELQ fee rate. You are an ELQ student. Please note the examples of qualifications given in each group are not exhaustive lists of all affected qualifications. The lists are provided for illustrative purposes only. Framework for Higher Education Qualifications Group Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) (FHEQ) Certificate of higher education Key Skills level 4 NVQ level 4 Certificate of higher education Group 4 BTEC Professional award, certificate and diploma level 4 HNC HND NVQ level 4 Higher diploma Diploma of higher education BTEC Professional award, certificate and diploma level 5 Diploma of further education HNC Foundation degree Group 5 HND HND Bachelor’s degree NVQ level 4 Integrated Masters** BTEC Advanced Professional award, certificate and Graduate certificate Group 6 diploma level 6 Graduate diploma BTEC Advanced Professional award, certificate and diploma level 7 Fellowship and fellowship diploma Postgraduate certificate Postgraduate diploma NVQ level 5 Master’s degree BTEC Advanced Professional award, certificate and Postgraduate certificate Group 7 diploma level 7 Postgraduate diploma NVQs level 5 Research Degree Group 8 Vocational qualifications level 8 Doctorate ** note that for Government funding purposes these integrated masters courses are considered to be equivalent to Bachelor's degrees. ELQ Exemptions
How to check your status? You are an ELQ student if you are currently studying for a qualification of an equivalent or lower level to one you already hold. To calculate if you are ELQ follow the steps below to compare the highest qualification you hold against the qualification you are currently studying towards. If you have studied for, but did not complete, or were not awarded a qualification you should use your next highest qualification to do your calculations. Step 1: Identify the group(s) of your current qualification(s). Step 2: Identify the group of the qualification you are now studying. Step 3: Compare the group numbers. Result: If the group number of the qualification you are now studying is higher than the group number of the qualification(s) you already hold then you should pay the standard Home/EU, Islands or Overseas fee rate. You are not an ELQ student. If the group number of the qualification you are studying is the same as or lower than the group number of the qualification you already hold then you are liable to pay the ELQ fee rate. You are an ELQ student. Please note the examples of qualifications given in each group are not exhaustive lists of all affected qualifications. The lists are provided for illustrative purposes only. Group Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) Group 4 Certificate of higher education Key Skills level 4 NVQ level 4 BTEC Professional award, certificate and diploma level 4 Certificate of higher education HNC Group 5 HND NVQ level 4 Higher diploma BTEC Professional award, certificate and diploma level 5 HNC HND Diploma of higher education Diploma of further education Foundation degree HND Group 6 NVQ level 4 BTEC Advanced Professional award, certificate and diploma level 6 Bachelor’s degree Integrated Masters** Graduate certificate Graduate diploma Group 7 BTEC Advanced Professional award, certificate and diploma level 7 Fellowship and fellowship diploma Postgraduate certificate Postgraduate diploma NVQ level 5 BTEC Advanced Professional award, certificate and diploma level 7 Master’s degree Postgraduate certificate Postgraduate diploma Group 8 NVQs level 5 Vocational qualifications level 8 Research Degree Doctorate ** note that for Government funding purposes these integrated masters courses are considered to be equivalent to Bachelor's degrees. ELQ Exemptions
Equivalent-or-Lower-Qualification-(ELQ)-FAQs-2017-8-v1.docx