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The Awarding Bodies - QQI

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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Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is a state agency established by the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012.

Their functions include those previously carried out by these bodies:

  • Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC)
  • Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC)
  • Irish Universities Quality Board (IUQB)
  • National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI)

Qualifications, Standards, Awards, Recognition

Firstly, QQI is responsible for maintaining the ten-level National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). They are also an awarding body and set standards for awards they make in the NFQ.

Furthermore, the agency validates education and training programmes. They make extensive awards in the further education and training sector including in the Education and Training Boards.

They also make awards in higher education. These are mainly to students attending private colleges and educational institutions. Universities and Institutes of Technology generally make their own awards.

QQI also provide advice on recognition of foreign qualifications in Ireland and on the recognition of Irish qualifications abroad.

Quality Assurance

In addition, QQI review the effectiveness of quality assurance in further and higher education and training providers in Ireland. This includes the Universities, Institutes of Technology, Education and Training Boards. It also includes providers in the private further and higher education and training sectors (availing of QQI awards).

IEM

Another function of QQI is to authorise the use of an International Education Mark (IEM) for providers.

This is awarded to providers of education and training (including English language training) who have demonstrated compliance with a statutory code of practice in the provision of education and training to international students.

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