What would be equivalent?!

Kasn33

Hi everyone!!

I have tried to do some research on past threads, however... Im a little stuck.

I am a Canadian college student - I am currently enrolled in the Social Service Work program (equivalent to your Social Care program) HOWEVER.. this is where I get lost - here in Canada it is a two year program and I will graduate with what we call a 'Diploma' or what the United States calls an 'Associates Degree'. Does anyone know what my 'Diploma' will be equivalent to in Ireland? I understand your education is done in 'levels'. Would I be considered a level 3? or possibly level 4?
I found a link for the National Frame work of qualifications but I still don't fully understand. (Can't post link as I am a new user!)



Is a leaving certificate for Secondary school? or is it for after completion of 4 yrs of University?

Any help would be great!!

Tom Dunne

It looks like it would be at Level 6 on our framework - am I correct in gathering that your course is two years after you complete high-school?

The Leaving Certificate is when a person completes high-school in Ireland and so is Level 5 on the framework.

Here's the framework - http://www.qqi.ie/Pages/National-Framework-of-Qualifications-%28NFQ%29.aspx

Kasn33

Tom - yes - it would be two years of college so it would be after the 4 yrs of high-school. So level 5 would be after high-school and level 6 is equivalent to two years of college? Is that what you're saying?

Is college in Ireland typically two years?

Tom Dunne

Kasn33 wrote: »

Tom - yes - it would be two years of college so it would be after the 4 yrs of high-school. So level 5 would be after high-school and level 6 is equivalent to two years of college? Is that what you're saying?

Is college in Ireland typically two years?

No, Level 5 is High-school. Before you leave high-school, you take the Leaving Certificate, which is at Level 5.

Level 6 is then 2 years after high-school.

Kasn33 wrote: »

Is college in Ireland typically two years?

No, it is typically 4.

However there are many permutations and combinations. For example, in an Institute of Technology, you could do a 2 year diploma, followed by a 1 year ordinary (Level 7) degree, followed by another year at honours degree level (Level 8), giving a total of four years. Or, just to confuse matters further, you could do an ab-initio degree which is straight four years.

Ging Ging

Tom Dunne wrote:

However there are many permutations and combinations. For example, in an Institute of Technology, you could do a 2 year diploma, followed by a 1 year ordinary (Level 7) degree, followed by another year at honours degree level (Level 8), giving a total of four years. Or, just to confuse matters further, you could do an ab-initio degree which is straight four years.

Good explanation but "diploma" is incorrect, graduation on certain courses after 2 years total at college (institute of technology) would give you a Higher Certificate at level 6 not a diploma. Not many do this, its much more common to obtain a level 7 ordinary bachelor degree (3years total) or level 8 honours bachelor degree (4 years total). Try searching for the Irish national qualification framework NFQ, there is a comparison site I came across before which offers a comparison of international qualifications to the Irish system.

PLL

An associate degree would be equivalent to a HETAC Level 6 Higher Certificate.

Tom Dunne

Ging Ging wrote: »

Good explanation but "diploma" is incorrect,

Just call me Old School.