Difference between level 7 and level 8 courses

Janine109

What is the difference between a level 7 and level 8 course other than the years spent on the course.

Tom Dunne

Learning Outcomes, for one.

Higher order thinking, synthesis, consolidation of knowledge and all those other wonderful buzzwords.

chinacup

http://www.nfq.ie/nfq/en/about_NFQ/framework_levels_award_types.html
This explains it pretty well. Basically the higher the level the higher level of education is recognized. Certain jobs may want you to have a level 8 (tends to only be awarded by universities) whereas you might start out your education studying level 6/7 or for jobs that don't rate a university degree as much. Typically IT colleges offer level 6/7 courses.

TJJP

Historically a level 7 was an ordinary degree (three years) and a level 8 was an honours degree (4 years). Level 6 is usually a cert or diploma. These days, as above, it's about learning outcomes. Learning outcomes being the level of knowledge you've acquired over the course of study. So an honours degree, level 8, is now possible over three years but it will be a bit harder going than a three year level 7 course. It's also possible to top up a level 7 to level 8 by doing the extra year once you finished the level 7. There are also shorter (one or two year) level 7 and 8 courses, these are usually conversion, top-ups or a new departure from earlier study. IT colleges are less and less about level 7 as student demand has moved on to level 8.