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Is Level 5 really 'undergraduate level'?

Mark

Hi,

I'm currently studying a CIPD Level 5 qualification (Intermidiate Diploma) and on the CIPD website here it says "Intermediate level: If you’re already working in HR or L&D and want to develop your knowledge and skills, then this undergraduate degree-level qualification is the choice for you. "

However, when I check Level 5 on RQF or EQF, undergraduate degree level starts at Level 6 not Level 5.

So have the CIPD incorrectly stated their Level 5's as undergraduate-degree level when according to UK, IRL or EU qualifiaction tables they are not?

Thanks

Parents
  • A degree is essentially built up over three years, one at level 4, one at level 5 and one at level 6. So is it a degree? No. Is it at degree level? Technically, yes, it's roughly equivalent to the second year of a degree. Semantics maybe!
  • in reply to Julie Dix
    It's a pity then there's no Level 6 qualification given that Level 7 is directly eviqualant to a completed Masters unlike Level 5 and a Degree.

    If an employer was looking for Masters as an requirement you could say you have an equivelant qualification from the CIPD and reference the EQF/RQF table but you cannot do that if an employer was looking for a Degree and you were on Level 5.

    I mistakenly thought a CIPD Level 5 Intermiediate Diploma was equivelant to an Ordinary Degree based on how they word it on both the CIPD and their partners websites.
  • in reply to Mark
    The L7 isn't automatically a masters either though - it's usually a postgraduate certificate or diploma, which is level 7 study but not a full masters.
    There are lots of nuances within the UK education system which can trip people up, unfortunately.
  • in reply to Julie Dix

    Also, foundation degrees are Level 5 and so are the old Higher National Diplomas. (Cynics might say that Foundation Degrees are essentially HNDs rebadged in order to get 'degree' into the name)..
    Both are to best of my knowledge equivalent to two years full time undergraduate degree-level study. A full Bachelors Degree is indeed classed as L6 but is awarded after three years full time undergraduate study.

    One year of postgraduate study will get you a Postgraduate Certificate at L7 but two years for a Postgrad Diploma or a Masters but also at L7, but accepted as the result of a wider range of study than the Postgrad. Cert (or similarly HND compared with Bachelor Degree).

    As Julie says, nuances apply.

    The Open University used to have a coherent classification of its undergraduate modules at Foundation / (OU-only) Level 1 (First Year undergraduate level) and Levels 2, 3 and 4 (post-first year, Level 2 being pass degree level and 3 and 4 good honours degree level provided you got good enough grades) - with a nifty weighted scoring algorithm combining levels and pass grades in order ultimately to determine whether you got a pass degree or a 2.1 or a 2.2 or even a First if you were lucky and / or gifted and / or swotty.

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  • in reply to Julie Dix

    Also, foundation degrees are Level 5 and so are the old Higher National Diplomas. (Cynics might say that Foundation Degrees are essentially HNDs rebadged in order to get 'degree' into the name)..
    Both are to best of my knowledge equivalent to two years full time undergraduate degree-level study. A full Bachelors Degree is indeed classed as L6 but is awarded after three years full time undergraduate study.

    One year of postgraduate study will get you a Postgraduate Certificate at L7 but two years for a Postgrad Diploma or a Masters but also at L7, but accepted as the result of a wider range of study than the Postgrad. Cert (or similarly HND compared with Bachelor Degree).

    As Julie says, nuances apply.

    The Open University used to have a coherent classification of its undergraduate modules at Foundation / (OU-only) Level 1 (First Year undergraduate level) and Levels 2, 3 and 4 (post-first year, Level 2 being pass degree level and 3 and 4 good honours degree level provided you got good enough grades) - with a nifty weighted scoring algorithm combining levels and pass grades in order ultimately to determine whether you got a pass degree or a 2.1 or a 2.2 or even a First if you were lucky and / or gifted and / or swotty.

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