Qualification type refers to the broad discipline-free nomenclature used in the AQF to describe each category of AQF qualification, for example, Senior Secondary Certificate of Education, Certificate III, Bachelor Degree.
Each AQF qualification type includes the requirements for AQF qualifications such as:
- the levels criteria
- the qualification type descriptor
- information about the responsibilities of qualification developers, accrediting authorities and issuing organisations.
The key reasons why we have AQF qualifications are to ensure national recognition and consistency as well as common understanding across Australia of what defines each qualification.
Full qualification type specifications can be found in the AQF Second Edition January 2013.
Click on the qualification type to see the details of each qualification type.
AQF specification for the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education
The purpose of the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education qualification type is to qualify individuals with knowledge, skills and values for diverse pathways to further learning, work and effective participation in civic life.
Senior Secondary Certificate of Education qualifications are not located at a particular level in the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Senior Secondary Certificate of Education qualifications must be designed and accredited to enable graduates to demonstrate the learning outcomes expressed as knowledge, skills and the application of knowledge and skills specified in the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education descriptor.
AQF Level 1 – Certificate I
The purpose of the Certificate I qualification type is to qualify individuals with basic functional knowledge and skills to undertake work, further learning and community involvement.
Certificate I qualifications are located at level 1 of the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Certificate I qualifications must be designed and accredited to enable graduates to demonstrate the learning outcomes expressed as knowledge, skills and the application of knowledge and skills specified in the level 1 criteria and the Certificate I descriptor.
AQF Level 2 – Certificate II
The purpose of the Certificate II qualification type is to qualify individuals to undertake mainly routine work and as a pathway to further learning.
Certificate II qualifications are located at level 2 of the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Certificate II qualifications must be designed and accredited to enable graduates to demonstrate the learning outcomes expressed as knowledge, skills and the application of knowledge and skills Specified in the level 2 criteria and the Certificate II descriptor.
AQF Level 3 – Certificate III
The purpose of the Certificate III qualification type is to qualify individuals who apply a broad range of knowledge and skills in varied contexts to undertake skilled work and as a pathway for further learning.
Certificate III qualifications are located at level 3 of the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Certificate III qualifications must be designed and accredited to enable graduates to demonstrate the learning outcomes expressed as knowledge, skills and the application of knowledge and skills specified in the level 3 criteria and the Certificate III descriptor.
AQF Level 4 – Certificate IV
The purpose of the Certificate IV qualification type is to qualify individuals who apply a broad range of specialised knowledge and skills in varied contexts to undertake skilled work and as a pathway for further learning.
Certificate IV qualifications are located at level 4 of the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Certificate IV qualifications must be designed and accredited to enable graduates to demonstrate the learning outcomes expressed as knowledge, skills and the application of knowledge and skills specified in the level 4 criteria and the Certificate IV descriptor.
AQF Level 5 – Diploma
The purpose of the Diploma qualification type is to qualify individuals who apply integrated technical and theoretical concepts in a broad range of contexts to undertake advanced skilled or paraprofessional work and as a pathway for further learning.
Diploma qualifications are located at level 5 of the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Diploma qualifications must be designed and accredited to enable graduates to demonstrate the learning outcomes expressed as knowledge, skills and the application of knowledge and skills specified in the level 5 criteria and the Diploma descriptor.
Diploma qualifications are available for accreditation and issuance in both higher education and vocational education and training.
Level 6 – Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree
AQF Level 6 criteria for the Advanced Diploma
The purpose of the Advanced Diploma qualification type is to qualify individuals who apply specialised knowledge in a range of contexts to undertake advanced skilled or paraprofessional work and as a pathway for further learning.
Advanced Diploma qualifications are located at level 6 of the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Advanced Diploma qualifications must be designed and accredited to enable graduates to demonstrate the learning outcomes expressed as knowledge, skills and the application of knowledge and skills specified in the level 6 criteria and the Advanced Diploma descriptor.
Advanced Diploma qualifications are available for accreditation and issuance in both higher education and vocational education and training. Full qualification type specification
AQF Level 6 criteria for the Associate Degree
The purpose of the Associate Degree qualification type is to qualify individuals who apply underpinning technical and theoretical knowledge in a range of contexts to undertake paraprofessional work and as a pathway for further learning.
Associate Degree qualifications are located at level 6 of the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Associate Degree qualifications must be designed and accredited to enable graduates to demonstrate the learning outcomes expressed as knowledge, skills and the application of knowledge and skills specified in the level 6 criteria and the Associate Degree descriptor.
AQF Level 7 – Vocational Degree, Bachelor Degree
AQF Level 7 criteria for the Vocational Degree
The purpose of the Vocational Degree qualification type is to qualify individuals who apply a broad and coherent body of technical and theoretical knowledge and relevant and complementary technical skills, to undertake professional work and as a pathway for further learning.
Vocational Degree qualifications are located at level 7 of the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Vocational Degree qualifications must be designed and accredited to enable graduates to demonstrate the learning outcomes expressed as knowledge, skills and the application of knowledge and skills specified in the level 7 criteria and the Vocational Degree descriptor.
AQF Level 7 criteria for the Bachelor Degree
The purpose of the Bachelor Degree qualification type is to qualify individuals who apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge in a range of contexts to undertake professional work and as a pathway for further learning.
Bachelor Degree qualifications are located at level 7 of the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Bachelor Degree qualifications must be designed and accredited to enable graduates to demonstrate the learning outcomes expressed as knowledge, skills and the application of knowledge and skills specified in the level 7 criteria and the Bachelor Degree descriptor.
Undergraduate Certificate
The Undergraduate Certificate has been developed in response to community and industry need based on the AQF review and as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. The Undergraduate Certificate is a higher education qualification of six months duration that may be used to articulate into an existing qualification at AQF levels 5, 6, or 7. It qualifies individuals with knowledge and skills for further study, professional upskilling, employment and participation in lifelong learning.
Undergraduate Certificate qualifications are not located at a particular level in the Australian Qualifications Framework, however they cover AQF levels 5, 6, or 7.
Undergraduate Certificate qualifications must be designed and accredited to enable graduates to demonstrate the learning outcomes expressed as knowledge, skills and the application of knowledge and skills specified in the Undergraduate Certificate descriptor.
Level 8 – Bachelor Honours Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma
AQF Level 8 criteria for the Bachelor Honours Degree
The purpose of the Bachelor Honours Degree qualification type is to qualify individuals who apply a body of knowledge in a specific context to undertake professional work and as a pathway for research and further learning.
Bachelor Honours Degree qualifications are located at level 8 of the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Bachelor Honours Degree qualifications must be designed and accredited to enable graduates to demonstrate the learning outcomes expressed as knowledge, skills and the application of knowledge and skills specified in the level 8 criteria and the Bachelor Degree descriptor. Full qualification type specification
AQF Level 8 criteria for the Graduate Certificate
The purpose of the Graduate Certificate qualification type is to qualify individuals who apply a body of knowledge in a range of contexts to undertake professional or highly skilled work and as a pathway for further learning. Graduate Certificate qualifications are located at level 8 of the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Graduate Certificate qualifications must be designed and accredited to enable graduates to demonstrate the learning outcomes expressed as knowledge, skills and the application of knowledge and skills specified in the level 8 criteria and the Graduate Certificate descriptor.
Graduate Certificate qualifications are available for accreditation and issuance in both higher education and vocational education and training. Full qualification type specification
AQF Level 8 criteria for the Graduate Diploma
The purpose of the Graduate Diploma qualification type is to qualify individuals who apply a body of knowledge in a range of contexts to undertake professional or highly skilled work and as a pathway for further learning.
Graduate Diploma qualifications are located at level 8 of the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Graduate Diploma qualifications must be designed and accredited to enable graduates to demonstrate the learning outcomes expressed as knowledge, skills and the application of knowledge and skills specified in the level 8 criteria and the Graduate Diploma descriptor. Graduate Diploma qualifications are available for accreditation and issuance in both higher education and vocational education and training.
AQF Level 9 – Masters Degree
There are three main forms of Masters Degrees within the Masters Degree qualification type: the Masters Degree (Research), the Masters Degree (Coursework) and the Masters Degree (Extended).
The purpose of the Masters Degree (Research) is to qualify individuals who apply an advanced body of knowledge in a range of contexts for research and scholarship and as a pathway for further learning.
The purpose of the Masters Degree (Coursework) is to qualify individuals who apply an advanced body of knowledge in a range of contexts for professional practice or scholarship and as a pathway for further learning.
The purpose of the Masters Degree (Extended) is to qualify individuals who apply an advanced body of knowledge in a range of contexts for professional practice and as a pathway for further learning.
Masters Degree qualifications are located at level 9 of the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Masters Degree qualifications must be designed and accredited to enable graduates to demonstrate the learning outcomes specified in the level 9 criteria and either the Masters Degree (Research) descriptor, the Masters Degree (Coursework) descriptor or the Masters Degree (Extended) descriptor.
AQF Level 10 – Doctoral Degree
The purpose of the Doctoral Degree is to qualify individuals who apply a substantial body of knowledge to research, investigate and develop new knowledge, in one or more fields of investigation, scholarship or professional practice.
Doctoral Degree qualifications are located at level 10 of the Australian Qualifications Framework.
There are two forms of Doctoral Degree with the same descriptor within the Doctoral Degree qualification type: the Doctoral Degree (Research) and the Doctoral Degree (Professional).
Research is the defining characteristic of all Doctoral Degree qualifications. The research Doctoral Degree (typically referred to as a Doctor of Philosophy) makes a significant and original contribution to knowledge; the professional Doctoral Degree (typically titled Doctor of [field of study]) makes a significant and original contribution to knowledge in the context of professional practice. The emphasis in the learning outcomes and research may differ between the different forms of Doctoral Degree qualifications but all graduates will demonstrate knowledge, skills and the application of the knowledge and skills at AQF level 10.
Doctoral Degree qualifications must be designed and accredited to enable graduates to demonstrate the learning outcomes specified in the level 10 criteria and the Doctoral Degree.