SQA’s Internationally Recognized Qualifications Benefit Global Learners

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is the national awarding and accreditation body in Scotland and a global leader in developing and providing internationally recognized and respected qualifications and assessment services. 

Education institutions around the world recognize and trust SQA qualifications, knowing that the students who achieve them have valuable skills, knowledge, and understanding that are often sought after by universities.

We also embed industry standards in our qualifications and strive to ensure that our qualifications are inclusive, accessible to all, and provide learners with clear progression pathways which recognize candidate achievement and facilitate lifelong learning.

SQA’s international team supports and develops education and training around the world through a variety of services and activities, including:

• International Awarding: Designed to suit the changing needs of different countries and industry providers, our international qualifications—our SQA Advanced Certificates, and Diplomas—provide a route to employment and staff skills development and can provide advanced entry into a range of universities around the globe.
• International Consultancy: We provide technical expertise to support education reform and development, including qualifications design, assessment design and development, standards development, and capacity building.
• International Quality Assurance, and Verification: We provide support with the effective implementation of systems, policies and procedures for quality assurance and verification of qualification delivery.
• Active participation in networking and knowledge sharing events.

Developed in partnership with colleges, universities, and industry partners, SQA Advanced Qualifications are globally recognized “short cycle” higher education certificates and diplomas. 

Delivered in more than 20 countries, these qualifications are increasingly popular with higher education establishments seeking to expand their portfolio of courses. Highly accessible and with 40 courses on offer—from business studies to computing and engineering—SQA Advanced Qualifications equip students both for work and for continuing entry into the second or third year of affiliated degree programs at universities around the world.

The SQA Advanced Certificate typically takes 1 year to complete, while the SQA Advanced Diploma takes 2 years. Both options are financially attractive: The cost of the SQA diploma is significantly less than typical university tuition fees for 2 years.

Entry criteria for the Certificate and Diploma courses differ from degree programs. Course entry is at the discretion of the organization delivering the course, giving each organization the power to widen access to further education and offer flexibility to school leavers, adult returners, employees seeking to enhance their skill sets, and even start-up entrepreneurs.

Gillian Hepburn, head of international at SQA, says, “Achieving an SQA Advanced Certificate or SQA Advanced Diploma is one of the best ways to develop skills and knowledge in a chosen sector. It gives learners the flexibility to go straight into the workforce or advance in their current role with skills and knowledge for their chosen career or progress on to a degree program.”

Diploma to Degree Program

SQA’s Diploma to Degree program offers students the potential to enter year two or three of an undergraduate degree.

The SQA Advanced Diploma is widely recognized around the world as being equivalent to the first 2 years of undergraduate study. The Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, Inc, USA (ACEI) and World Education Services Canada (WES) have carried out evaluations of SQA Advanced Qualifications to confirm their equivalence to the US and Canadian education systems.

The multiple delivery models allow students to complete an SQA Advanced Qualification in their home country before moving onto a university related undergraduate degree, either online or in person according to the articulation agreement.

SQA has partnered with a pioneering group of more than 50 universities in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the United States to develop diploma to degree routes that enable students to complete degrees and study internationally. 

Gillian Hepburn adds, “Through our Diploma-to-Degree program, SQA aims to open as many university doors as possible for students studying our SQA Advanced Diploma, whether that’s online and/or in-person—and many of these will be students you may not otherwise have reached university. Our Diploma to Degree program enables student choice, and every student having the same options no matter where they are in the world or what their circumstances.”

SQA’s Advanced Diploma graduate, Shelley Liu, started her study pathway with a SQA Advanced Diploma in her home country before achieving an accounting degree at a leading U.S. university.

“SQA’s Diploma-to-Degree is a good option for people who do not want to study in a foreign country for an extended period, and it will be a good transition for people who have no experience of studying abroad,” she says.

“Thanks to SQA’s Diploma-to-Degree program, and the agreement between SQA and Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) in Seattle, once I completed my Advanced Diploma, I was able to make the move to the United States and continue my education,” says Liu. “I really like PLU, both environment and people here. I made [the] right decision. I really enjoyed my experience working toward my Advanced Diploma and my degree. I will be continuing my studies for my master’s degree [at] the University of Washington in the United States, and preferably, I would like to continue to work in the United States for the next 2 to 3 years for more experiences.”

At A Glance: SQA Advanced Qualifications and Progression Pathways

• Over 40 courses recognized worldwide—from accounting and tourism to musical theatre and petroleum engineering
• SQA Advanced Certificates: one year
• SQA Advanced Diplomas: two years
• Financially competitive
• The Diploma to Degree Program offers an alternative, cost-effective route to university

Find out more about SQA’s Diploma-to-Degree program and how to become a progression partner at sqa.org.uk/diplomatodegree.