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Qualification Levels

From Undergraduate Certificate to Doctoral Degree.

The catalogue serves every qualification type a higher education provider delivers - AQF levels 5 to 10, together with microcredentials, Foundation Programs and ELICOS. Choose a level to see which categories are included as standard and which apply conditionally.

Contact for pricingAll Categories
Undergraduate CertificateDiplomaAdvanced Diploma and Associate DegreeBachelor DegreeBachelor Honours DegreeGraduate CertificateGraduate DiplomaMasters Degree, Coursework and ExtendedMasters Degree, ResearchDoctoral Degree, Research and ProfessionalMicrocredentialFoundation ProgramELICOS
Qualification types covered

The register at a glance

Indicative unit counts assume eight units per full time year, adjusted to the credit point system of each provider.

Qualification typeAQF levelTypical volume of learningIndicative units
Undergraduate Certificate5, 6 or 7 outcomes0.5 years4
Diploma51 to 2 years8 to 16
Advanced Diploma61.5 to 2 years12 to 16
Associate Degree62 years16
Bachelor Degree73 to 4 years24 to 32
Bachelor Honours Degree84 years embedded, or 1 year following a bachelor degree32 embedded, or 8 standalone
Graduate Certificate80.5 to 1 year4
Graduate Diploma81 to 2 years8
Masters Degree (Coursework)91 to 2 years12 to 16
Masters Degree (Extended)93 to 4 years24 to 32
Masters Degree (Research)91 to 2 yearsResearch program with a limited coursework component
Doctoral Degree (Research and Professional)103 to 4 yearsResearch program; coursework in professional doctorates
MicrocredentialNon-AQFVariesSingle module
Foundation ProgramNon-AQFTypically 1 yearPer the Foundation Program Standards
ELICOSNon-AQFVariesPer the ELICOS Standards 2018
Development schedule by qualification type

What one course at each level receives

Provider level categories 1 to 15 are assumed to be in place before any course development begins. Each schedule states what is developed for one course at that level.

Undergraduate Certificate

AQF Level 5, 6 or 7 outcomes

Volume: 0.5 years, four units. Written at the AQF level of the destination award and always designed as a nested entry pathway into a diploma, associate degree or bachelor degree. Derive the four units from the parent award build; never develop standalone.

Developed as standard

Course Design Document (16), Course Accreditation Kit (17), Unit of Study Kit (18), Unit Outline (19), Study Guide (20), Teaching Plan (21), Tutorial Workbook (22), Lecture Slides (23), Self-Study Module (24), Assessment Kit (25), Credit for Prior Learning Kit (27), Academic Skills Kit (28).

Conditional

SCORM (26) by delivery mode; Work Integrated Learning Kit (29) where a placement exists.

Category applicability

Higher Education Policies and ProceduresHigher Education FormsProvider Registration KitSelf-Assurance FrameworkAcademic Governance KitAcademic Integrity KitAcademic Staff Induction KitPeer Review of Teaching KitScholarship FrameworkModeration KitBenchmarking KitCourse Review KitCourse Design DocumentCourse Accreditation KitUnit of Study KitUnit OutlineStudy GuideTeaching PlanTutorial WorkbookLecture SlidesSelf-Study ModuleAssessment KitCredit for Prior Learning KitAcademic Skills KitThird Party Arrangement KitCRICOS Policies and ProceduresCRICOS FormsSCORMWork Integrated Learning Kit

Solid included as standard · outlined conditional.

For pricing and further information, contact us at info@caqa.com.au.

Diploma

AQF Level 5

Volume: 1 to 2 years, 8 to 16 units. Foundational technical and theoretical knowledge with heavily scaffolded assessment. This level carries the strongest reliance on the Academic Skills Kit.

Developed as standard

Categories 16 to 25, Credit for Prior Learning Kit (27) and Academic Skills Kit (28), with one Unit of Study Kit per unit.

Conditional

SCORM (26); Work Integrated Learning Kit (29) for health and community placements.

Category applicability

Higher Education Policies and ProceduresHigher Education FormsProvider Registration KitSelf-Assurance FrameworkAcademic Governance KitAcademic Integrity KitAcademic Staff Induction KitPeer Review of Teaching KitScholarship FrameworkModeration KitBenchmarking KitCourse Review KitCourse Design DocumentCourse Accreditation KitUnit of Study KitUnit OutlineStudy GuideTeaching PlanTutorial WorkbookLecture SlidesSelf-Study ModuleAssessment KitCredit for Prior Learning KitAcademic Skills KitThird Party Arrangement KitCRICOS Policies and ProceduresCRICOS FormsSCORMWork Integrated Learning Kit

Solid included as standard · outlined conditional.

For pricing and further information, contact us at info@caqa.com.au.

Advanced Diploma and Associate Degree

AQF Level 6

Volume: 1.5 to 2 years, 12 to 16 units. Broad knowledge with paraprofessional application. Every associate degree must articulate into a named bachelor degree with defined credit, recorded in Category 27.

Developed as standard

Categories 16 to 25, Credit for Prior Learning Kit (27) and Academic Skills Kit (28).

Conditional

SCORM (26); Work Integrated Learning Kit (29).

Category applicability

Higher Education Policies and ProceduresHigher Education FormsProvider Registration KitSelf-Assurance FrameworkAcademic Governance KitAcademic Integrity KitAcademic Staff Induction KitPeer Review of Teaching KitScholarship FrameworkModeration KitBenchmarking KitCourse Review KitCourse Design DocumentCourse Accreditation KitUnit of Study KitUnit OutlineStudy GuideTeaching PlanTutorial WorkbookLecture SlidesSelf-Study ModuleAssessment KitCredit for Prior Learning KitAcademic Skills KitThird Party Arrangement KitCRICOS Policies and ProceduresCRICOS FormsSCORMWork Integrated Learning Kit

Solid included as standard · outlined conditional.

For pricing and further information, contact us at info@caqa.com.au.

Bachelor Degree

AQF Level 7

Volume: 3 to 4 years, 24 to 32 units. Broad and coherent knowledge with a final year capstone. Write every outcome, task and rubric to the Level 7 descriptors.

Developed as standard

Categories 16 to 25, Credit for Prior Learning Kit (27) and Academic Skills Kit (28).

Conditional

SCORM (26); Work Integrated Learning Kit (29) for professional courses; Professional Accreditation Kit (30) for accredited courses; Research Project Kit (31) where the capstone is a supervised research project.

Category applicability

Higher Education Policies and ProceduresHigher Education FormsProvider Registration KitSelf-Assurance FrameworkAcademic Governance KitAcademic Integrity KitAcademic Staff Induction KitPeer Review of Teaching KitScholarship FrameworkModeration KitBenchmarking KitCourse Review KitCourse Design DocumentCourse Accreditation KitUnit of Study KitUnit OutlineStudy GuideTeaching PlanTutorial WorkbookLecture SlidesSelf-Study ModuleAssessment KitCredit for Prior Learning KitAcademic Skills KitThird Party Arrangement KitCRICOS Policies and ProceduresCRICOS FormsSCORMWork Integrated Learning KitProfessional Accreditation KitResearch Project Kit

Solid included as standard · outlined conditional.

For pricing and further information, contact us at info@caqa.com.au.

Bachelor Honours Degree

AQF Level 8

Volume: 4 years embedded (32 units) or 1 year standalone (8 units) following a Level 7 degree. Advanced knowledge, research principles and methods, with a supervised research component. Embedded honours is developed with the parent bachelor as one nested build.

Developed as standard

Categories 16 to 25 for the coursework units, Credit for Prior Learning Kit (27) and Research Project Kit (31).

Conditional

SCORM (26); Academic Skills Kit (28); Work Integrated Learning Kit (29); Professional Accreditation Kit (30); the ethics components of the Research Governance Kit (33) where projects involve human participants.

Category applicability

Higher Education Policies and ProceduresHigher Education FormsProvider Registration KitSelf-Assurance FrameworkAcademic Governance KitAcademic Integrity KitAcademic Staff Induction KitPeer Review of Teaching KitScholarship FrameworkModeration KitBenchmarking KitCourse Review KitCourse Design DocumentCourse Accreditation KitUnit of Study KitUnit OutlineStudy GuideTeaching PlanTutorial WorkbookLecture SlidesSelf-Study ModuleAssessment KitCredit for Prior Learning KitResearch Project KitThird Party Arrangement KitCRICOS Policies and ProceduresCRICOS FormsSCORMAcademic Skills KitWork Integrated Learning KitProfessional Accreditation KitResearch Governance Kit

Solid included as standard · outlined conditional.

For pricing and further information, contact us at info@caqa.com.au.

Graduate Certificate

AQF Level 8

Volume: 0.5 to 1 year, four units. Level 8 outcomes. Normally the first exit award nested inside a graduate diploma and masters; derive all four units from the masters build.

Developed as standard

Categories 16 to 25 and Credit for Prior Learning Kit (27).

Conditional

SCORM (26); Academic Skills Kit (28) for international cohorts; Work Integrated Learning Kit (29) where a placement exists.

Category applicability

Higher Education Policies and ProceduresHigher Education FormsProvider Registration KitSelf-Assurance FrameworkAcademic Governance KitAcademic Integrity KitAcademic Staff Induction KitPeer Review of Teaching KitScholarship FrameworkModeration KitBenchmarking KitCourse Review KitCourse Design DocumentCourse Accreditation KitUnit of Study KitUnit OutlineStudy GuideTeaching PlanTutorial WorkbookLecture SlidesSelf-Study ModuleAssessment KitCredit for Prior Learning KitThird Party Arrangement KitCRICOS Policies and ProceduresCRICOS FormsSCORMAcademic Skills KitWork Integrated Learning Kit

Solid included as standard · outlined conditional.

For pricing and further information, contact us at info@caqa.com.au.

Graduate Diploma

AQF Level 8

Volume: 1 to 2 years, eight units. Level 8 outcomes with broader and deeper coverage than the graduate certificate. Normally nested between the graduate certificate and the masters.

Developed as standard

Categories 16 to 25 and Credit for Prior Learning Kit (27).

Conditional

SCORM (26); Academic Skills Kit (28); Work Integrated Learning Kit (29); Professional Accreditation Kit (30), for example graduate diplomas in psychology or legal practice; Research Project Kit (31) for research pathway graduate diplomas.

Category applicability

Higher Education Policies and ProceduresHigher Education FormsProvider Registration KitSelf-Assurance FrameworkAcademic Governance KitAcademic Integrity KitAcademic Staff Induction KitPeer Review of Teaching KitScholarship FrameworkModeration KitBenchmarking KitCourse Review KitCourse Design DocumentCourse Accreditation KitUnit of Study KitUnit OutlineStudy GuideTeaching PlanTutorial WorkbookLecture SlidesSelf-Study ModuleAssessment KitCredit for Prior Learning KitThird Party Arrangement KitCRICOS Policies and ProceduresCRICOS FormsSCORMAcademic Skills KitWork Integrated Learning KitProfessional Accreditation KitResearch Project Kit

Solid included as standard · outlined conditional.

For pricing and further information, contact us at info@caqa.com.au.

Masters Degree, Coursework and Extended

AQF Level 9

Volume: 1 to 2 years and 12 to 16 units for coursework masters; 3 to 4 years and 24 to 32 units for extended masters such as the Juris Doctor, Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Physiotherapy, which carry the Doctor title but remain Level 9. Advanced and integrated understanding; every masters must culminate in a substantial research, project or capstone piece, which Category 31 serves. Develop at masters level and derive the nested graduate diploma and graduate certificate.

Developed as standard

Categories 16 to 25, Credit for Prior Learning Kit (27) and Research Project Kit (31).

Conditional

SCORM (26); Academic Skills Kit (28); Work Integrated Learning Kit (29) for entry to practice courses; Professional Accreditation Kit (30); the ethics components of the Research Governance Kit (33) where the research component involves human participants.

Category applicability

Higher Education Policies and ProceduresHigher Education FormsProvider Registration KitSelf-Assurance FrameworkAcademic Governance KitAcademic Integrity KitAcademic Staff Induction KitPeer Review of Teaching KitScholarship FrameworkModeration KitBenchmarking KitCourse Review KitCourse Design DocumentCourse Accreditation KitUnit of Study KitUnit OutlineStudy GuideTeaching PlanTutorial WorkbookLecture SlidesSelf-Study ModuleAssessment KitCredit for Prior Learning KitResearch Project KitThird Party Arrangement KitCRICOS Policies and ProceduresCRICOS FormsSCORMAcademic Skills KitWork Integrated Learning KitProfessional Accreditation KitResearch Governance Kit

Solid included as standard · outlined conditional.

For pricing and further information, contact us at info@caqa.com.au.

Masters Degree, Research

AQF Level 9

Volume: 1 to 2 years, with research comprising at least two thirds of the course. Research training under supervision, examined by thesis.

Developed as standard

Course Design Document (16), Course Accreditation Kit (17), HDR Supervision Kit (32) and Research Governance Kit (33).

Conditional

Categories 18 to 26 for any coursework component; Academic Skills Kit (28) for research writing support.

Category applicability

Higher Education Policies and ProceduresHigher Education FormsProvider Registration KitSelf-Assurance FrameworkAcademic Governance KitAcademic Integrity KitAcademic Staff Induction KitScholarship FrameworkBenchmarking KitCourse Review KitCourse Design DocumentCourse Accreditation KitCredit for Prior Learning KitHDR Supervision KitResearch Governance KitPeer Review of Teaching KitModeration KitThird Party Arrangement KitCRICOS Policies and ProceduresCRICOS FormsUnit of Study KitUnit OutlineStudy GuideTeaching PlanTutorial WorkbookLecture SlidesSelf-Study ModuleAssessment KitSCORMAcademic Skills Kit

Solid included as standard · outlined conditional.

For pricing and further information, contact us at info@caqa.com.au.

Doctoral Degree, Research and Professional

AQF Level 10

Volume: typically 3 to 4 years. Systematic and critical understanding at the frontier of a field with a substantial original research contribution. Category 33 must be complete before any Level 10 course is marketed, and demonstrated research capability underpins provider category standing.

Developed as standard

Course Design Document (16), Course Accreditation Kit (17), HDR Supervision Kit (32) and Research Governance Kit (33).

Conditional

Categories 18 to 26 for the coursework component of professional doctorates; Work Integrated Learning Kit (29) for practica; Professional Accreditation Kit (30) for accredited professional doctorates such as the Doctor of Psychology; Academic Skills Kit (28).

Category applicability

Higher Education Policies and ProceduresHigher Education FormsProvider Registration KitSelf-Assurance FrameworkAcademic Governance KitAcademic Integrity KitAcademic Staff Induction KitScholarship FrameworkBenchmarking KitCourse Review KitCourse Design DocumentCourse Accreditation KitCredit for Prior Learning KitHDR Supervision KitResearch Governance KitPeer Review of Teaching KitModeration KitThird Party Arrangement KitCRICOS Policies and ProceduresCRICOS FormsUnit of Study KitUnit OutlineStudy GuideTeaching PlanTutorial WorkbookLecture SlidesSelf-Study ModuleAssessment KitSCORMAcademic Skills KitWork Integrated Learning KitProfessional Accreditation Kit

Solid included as standard · outlined conditional.

For pricing and further information, contact us at info@caqa.com.au.

Microcredential

non-AQF

Short and narrowly focused. State the credit value and the destination award wherever the microcredential stacks toward a qualification.

Developed as standard

Unit of Study Kit (18) in single module form, Unit Outline (19) as the credential outline, Self-Study Module (24), Assessment Kit (25) and SCORM (26).

Conditional

Course Design Document (16) in short form; Study Guide (20), Teaching Plan (21), Tutorial Workbook (22) and Lecture Slides (23) for facilitated delivery; Credit for Prior Learning Kit (27) where stackable.

Category applicability

Higher Education Policies and ProceduresHigher Education FormsProvider Registration KitSelf-Assurance FrameworkAcademic Governance KitAcademic Integrity KitAcademic Staff Induction KitScholarship FrameworkUnit of Study KitUnit OutlineSelf-Study ModuleAssessment KitSCORMPeer Review of Teaching KitModeration KitBenchmarking KitCourse Review KitThird Party Arrangement KitCRICOS Policies and ProceduresCRICOS FormsCourse Design DocumentStudy GuideTeaching PlanTutorial WorkbookLecture SlidesCredit for Prior Learning KitAcademic Skills Kit

Solid included as standard · outlined conditional.

For pricing and further information, contact us at info@caqa.com.au.

Foundation Program

non-AQF

Typically one year, delivered under the Foundation Program Standards as an international pathway into award courses.

Developed as standard

Foundation Program Resources (34), Course Design Document (16) as the curriculum design, Categories 18 to 23 and 25 for each subject, and Academic Skills Kit (28).

Conditional

Course Accreditation Kit (17) assembled as the course approval pack; Self-Study Module (24) and SCORM (26) by delivery mode.

Category applicability

Higher Education Policies and ProceduresHigher Education FormsProvider Registration KitSelf-Assurance FrameworkAcademic Governance KitAcademic Integrity KitAcademic Staff Induction KitPeer Review of Teaching KitScholarship FrameworkModeration KitCourse Review KitCourse Design DocumentUnit of Study KitUnit OutlineStudy GuideTeaching PlanTutorial WorkbookLecture SlidesAssessment KitAcademic Skills KitFoundation Program ResourcesELICOS ResourcesBenchmarking KitThird Party Arrangement KitCRICOS Policies and ProceduresCRICOS FormsCourse Accreditation KitSelf-Study ModuleSCORM

Solid included as standard · outlined conditional.

For pricing and further information, contact us at info@caqa.com.au.

ELICOS

non-AQF

English language intensive courses delivered under the ELICOS Standards 2018, commonly as a direct entry pathway.

Developed as standard

ELICOS Resources (35), which internally carries the curriculum, teaching, assessment and outline requirements, together with the Academic Skills Kit (28) alignment for destination courses.

Conditional

Self-Study Module (24) and SCORM (26) for blended delivery.

Category applicability

Higher Education Policies and ProceduresHigher Education FormsProvider Registration KitSelf-Assurance FrameworkAcademic Governance KitAcademic Integrity KitAcademic Staff Induction KitPeer Review of Teaching KitScholarship FrameworkModeration KitCourse Review KitCourse Design DocumentUnit of Study KitUnit OutlineStudy GuideTeaching PlanTutorial WorkbookLecture SlidesAssessment KitAcademic Skills KitFoundation Program ResourcesELICOS ResourcesBenchmarking KitThird Party Arrangement KitCRICOS Policies and ProceduresCRICOS FormsCourse Accreditation KitSelf-Study ModuleSCORM

Solid included as standard · outlined conditional.

For pricing and further information, contact us at info@caqa.com.au.

General development rules

How the library is engineered

Nesting rule

Develop once at the highest nested award, usually the masters or the four year embedded honours bachelor, and derive every exit award from that build. Never develop a nested graduate certificate or graduate diploma as a separate product.

Calibration rule

Every learning outcome, assessment task and rubric is written against the AQF descriptor for the level of the award. Nothing is copied across levels without re-expression at the target level.

Mapping rule

Every unit learning outcome maps to a course learning outcome, every course learning outcome maps to the AQF descriptors, and every assessment task maps to unit learning outcomes. No orphan outcomes and no unassessed outcomes.

Naming rule

Use the single category names in this document, exactly as written, in every file name, product title and storefront menu.

Format rule

All resources are supplied fully editable in Microsoft Office formats, written in Australian English, with no em dashes or en dashes anywhere in any resource.

Compliance referencing rule

Every policy, procedure, form and kit states the HESF 2021 standard, ESOS requirement, AQF specification or professional standard it addresses.

Version rule

Every resource carries a version number, release date and review date. Review at least annually and immediately upon any regulatory change.

Delivery mode rule

Where a course is offered in more than one mode, Categories 21 to 26 are produced for each mode.

The test we apply

Alignment you can defend

  • Every outcome traceable to teaching and to assessment
  • Level language consistent from course aim to rubric criterion
  • Volume of learning consistent with the qualification type
  • Maps formatted for course approval and accreditation evidence
  • Comparator references documented, not asserted
  • Gaps reported plainly with a rectification path

Pricing and further information

For pricing and further information, contact us at info@caqa.com.au. Tell us your provider profile, course levels and fields of education and we will respond with the collections that fit.

Email info@caqa.com.auContact page

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