The Awarding Bodies - Edexcel

Awarding Bodies are organisations that are authorised to make awards, certification, or award qualifications

Listing Awarding Bodies

WhichCollege.ie provides an overview of awarding bodies operating in Ireland, the UK, and internationally. While many postgraduate qualifications are issued by organisations with statutory authority, a wide range of professional bodies also grant their own awards linked to advanced study. Although most Irish courses lead to qualifications from domestic awarding bodies, some programmes result in international or non‑Irish awards, depending on the institution or field of study.

A number of Irish institutions act both as education providers and as awarding bodies in their own right. This includes the Irish universities and the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), which have the authority to confer postgraduate qualifications.

An academic award (whether a degree, diploma, or certificate) is granted when a learner successfully completes a recognised programme of higher education at undergraduate or postgraduate level. These awards are issued by designated awarding bodies and are aligned with the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). The NFQ distinguishes between major and non‑major awards, with the latter covering minor, special‑purpose, and supplemental awards.

Major awards represent the primary qualification type at each NFQ level and correspond to substantial learning achievements. Examples include an Honours Bachelor Degree at Level 8, a Master’s Degree at Level 9, and a Doctoral Degree at Level 10.

Recent legislative changes have streamlined Ireland’s qualifications system, reducing the number of statutory awarding bodies. The responsibilities previously held by organisations such as the National Council for Educational Awards (NCEA), the National Council for Vocational Awards (NCVA), Solas, Teagasc, CERT, and Bord Iascaigh Mhara have been consolidated under the awards councils FETAC and HETAC.

Below, WhichCollege.ie outlines the awarding bodies responsible for certification across Ireland and the UK.

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Edexcel is a multinational education and examination body owned by Pearson. It is the only privately owned examination board in the UK. The organisation regulates school examinations under the British Curriculum. In addition, they offer qualifications for schools on the international and regional scale. They are the UK’s largest awarding organisation. They make awards for academic and vocational qualifications in schools, colleges and workplaces in the UK and abroad. These awards also have international recognition.

The British curriculum offered by the Edexcel International board is among the most taught at international schools. They also offer IAL, known as International Advanced Levels, to schools outside the UK. In addition, they provide the Edexcel International Diploma.

A Brief History

In 1991, the University of London School Examinations Board merged with the London and East Anglian Group to form the University of London Examinations & Assessment Council. In 1996, London Examinations merged with the vocational BTEC to form the Edexcel Foundation. Though it originally ran as an educational charity, Pearson took over the organisation in 2003.

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