The VQF is divided into 10 levels from basic study at level 1 all the way up to Master's and PhD degrees at levels 9 and 10. The more complex the study and the more skilled the person will be, the higher the level.
Levels 1 to 3 are equivalent to years 11 to 13 of secondary school. This means that most of the time, before someone can enrol in a course for a qualification at level 1, s/he will need to have completed year 10 at secondary school. Sometimes additional entry requirements apply.
If a person does not meet the entry requirements, s/he can discuss with the provider what the alternative options are. One alternative is to first complete a lower level qualification, for example a Certificate II in Tourism, and then continue with study at a higher level, like a Certificate III in Tourism. This is what is called a Pathway. If a person is not yet able to enrol at the level that s/he would like to, s/he can set out a Path for her or himself on how to get there, starting with a qualification at a lower level.
The levels of the VQF are:
| Levels | Sectors | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| School | TVET | Higher Education | |
| 10 | Doctorate | ||
| 9 | Masters | ||
| 8 | Post Graduate Diploma Post Graduate Certificate Bachelor with Honour |
||
| 7 | Bachelor Degree Graduate Diploma Graduate Certificate |
||
| 6 | Advanced Diploma | Diploma | |
| 5 | Diploma | ||
| 4 | Vanuatu Form Seven Certificate / SPFSC | Certificate IV | University Foundation |
| 3 | Vanuatu Senior Secondary Certificate | Certificate III | |
| 2 | Certificate II | ||
| 1 | Vanuatu Junior Secondary Certificate | Certificate I | |
For a more detailed description of each Level, see the VQF Level Descriptors document.
Find out more about what Credits are, so you know how much work someone needs to do, by reading VQF Credit Values.