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HESA Student Record 2007/08 - Highest qualification on entry

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HESA Student Record 2007/08

Fields required from institutions in England

Highest qualification on entry


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Short nameQUALENT2
Typefield
Description

This field indicates the highest qualification that a student holds on entry, not necessarily that applicable for entry to the course.

Applicable toEngland Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
Coverage

All entrants where Instance.REDUCEDI = 00 or 01

Base data typeQUALENT2CodeType
Field length2
Part of
Minimum occurrences0
Maximum occurrences1
Reason required

This field, together with information in QualificationsOnEntry gives information about a student's qualifications on entry to a course. It is also used to identify students with tariff-bearing qualifications.

Notes

For students entering through UCAS this information will be available from UCAS via the *J transaction.

Code 99 ‘Not known’ should not be used as a standard default. Institutions are expected to seek and code ‘Highest qualification on entry’.

Should a student have more than one of the qualifications listed, it is for the institution to decide which is the ‘highest’. In cases where it is unclear which qualification is the ‘highest’, enter the code which is closest to ‘01’.

Codes 37 GNVQ/GSVQ level 3 and 38 NVQ/SVQ level 3 may be used where a student holds both level 3 qualifications and GCE 'A' Level/SCE 'Higher' qualifications, if it is the institution's judgement that these the GNVQ/GSVQ/NVQ/SVQ qualifications are 'highest'. Such students will not normally be included in tariff calculations.

Code 31 Foundation Degree covers those programmes which HEIs are running as Foundation Degrees which are consistent with the 'Statement of Design Principles' for Foundation Degrees issued by UUK and SCOP.

GNVQ qualifications are being phased out, but are included as these may be the students highest qualification on entry.

Further guidance for codes

44 Access course validated by QAA

45 Access course not validated by QAA

A recognised Access to HE course is one listed under the DIUS's List of Access Courses Preparing Students for Entry to Courses of Higher Education. To qualify for inclusion on the list, an Access course must be validated by an Authorised Validating Agency which has been licensed for the purpose by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), under the terms of the QAA Recognition Scheme for Access to Higher Education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This list is available in hard copy from the DIUS and is also recorded on the UCAS Access Courses Database (http://www.ucas.ac.uk/access). Access courses at institutions in Scotland can only be coded 45 'Access course not validated'.

HEFCE use qualification on entry data to inform funding. Since 2005-06 funding students with unknown entry qualifications have received zero weighting in the widening participation and improving retention funding streams. In particular, where students have entered via UCAS with qualifications that are made available by UCAS for inclusion on the HESA student record which are not returned by institutions HEFCE expect them to receive a zero weight.

Students entering with enhanced first degrees, that is qualifications that would be coded H22/M22 in the COURSEAIM field, should be recorded as having a higher degree (01) in the QUALENT2 field.

OwnerHESA
Version1.5
Date modified2008-08-20
Change management notesAdditional guidance from HEFCE - last paragraph of notes regarding coding of students with enhanced first degrees
Business rules
1(Error)

EntryProfile.QUALENT2 must exist where corresponding Instance.REDUCEDI = 00 or 01

2(Error)

EntryProfile.QUALENT2 cannot be coded 99 where QualificationsOnEntry entity exists

3(Error)

EntryProfile.QUALENT2 cannot be coded 99 where EntryProfile.WELBACC = 1

4(Error)

EntryProfile.QUALENT2 must be 01-45 where EntryProfile.ACCESS exists

Schema components
Element: QUALENT2
Valid entries and labels
01Higher degree of UK institution
02Postgraduate diploma or certificate, excluding PGCE
03PGCE with QTS/GTC registration
04PGCE without QTS/GTC registration
05Postgraduate equivalent qualification not elsewhere specified
10Undergraduate qualifications with QTS
11First degree of UK institution
12Graduate of EU institution
13Graduate of other overseas institution
14GNVQ/GSVQ level 5
15NVQ/SVQ level 5
16Graduate equivalent qualification not elsewhere specified
21OU credit(s)
22Other credits from UK HE institution
23Certificate or diploma of education (i.e. non-graduate initial teacher training qualification)
24HNC or HND (including BTEC & SQA equivalents)
25Dip HE.
26GNVQ/GSVQ level 4
27NVQ/SVQ level 4
28Professional qualifications.
29Foundation course at HE level
30Other HE qualification of less than degree standard
31Foundation Degree
37GNVQ/GSVQ level 3
38NVQ/SVQ level 3
39'A' level equivalent qualification not elsewhere specified
40Any combinations of GCE 'A'/SQA 'Higher'/SQA 'Advanced Higher' & GNVQ/GSVQ or NVQ/SVQ at level 3
41ONC or OND (including BTEC & SQA equivalents)
43Foundation course at FE level
44Access course (QAA recognised)
45Access course (not QAA recognised)
47Baccalaureate
55GCSE/'O' level qualifications only; SQA 'O' grades & Standard grades
56Other non-advanced qualification
57NVQ/SVQ level 2
72Diploma in Foundation Studies (Art & Design)
92Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning (APEL/APL)
93Mature student admitted on basis of previous experience (without formal APEL/APL) &/or institution's own entrance examinations
94Advanced Modern Apprenticeships
97Other non-UK qualification, level not known
98Student has no formal qualification
99Not known

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