2003 deadline for reform to QAA levels

Universities have until 2003 to reform or abolish all qualifications that do not fall into the Quality Assurance Agency's strict new framework governing the nomenclature and level of higher education awards.

The qualifications framework, published this week, sets three "levels" of undergraduate award: certificate level, intermediate level encompassing the ordinary degree HNDs and the new foundation degree, and honours level.

The framework also sets exacting new standards for the use of the "masters degree" title in a two-level postgraduate framework.