QAA has released its Qualification Characteristics Statement about the characteristics of doctoral degrees
QAA has released its Qualification Characteristics Statement about the characteristics of doctoral degrees
This document describes the distinctive features of the doctorate in the UK and becomes a reference point for the purposes of reviews coordinated by QAA from August 2016.
Qualification Characteristics Statements are a component of the UK Quality Code (Part A: Setting and Maintaining Academic Standards) for Higher Education and are closely linked to The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies (the Qualifications Frameworks) (also included in Expectation A1 of the Quality Code).
Characteristic Statements complement and contextualise the information provided within the Qualifications Frameworks, providing more detail about the distinctive features of qualifications at particular levels of the frameworks and/or of qualifications at any level, which are awarded in a particular way. As this Statement is concerned with doctoral degrees, it relates particularly to the ‘Descriptor for a higher education qualification at level 8 on the FHEQ and SCQF level 12 on the FQHEIS: doctoral degree’, which is in section 4 of the Qualifications Frameworks. This version of the Statement forms its second edition, following initial publication in 2011.
UKCGE was well represented within the statement’s advisory groups with Council Chair, Professor Rosemary Deem and Vice Chair, Gill Clarke present alongside a selection of UKCGE Working Group, Link Member and existing Executive Committee Colleagues. The statement also reference UKCGE’s recent publication which explored Doctorates by Publication.
The statement will be presented by the QAA at a joint QAA/ UKCGE afternoon seminar on the 25th November in Bristol. All interested colleagues attending the event should book sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment.