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AQF levels and the AQF levels criteria are an indication of the relative complexity and/or depth of achievement and the autonomy required to demonstrate that achievement. AQF level 1 has the lowest complexity and AQF level 10 has the highest complexity.
The AQF level summaries are statements of the typical achievement of graduates who have been awarded a qualification at a certain level in the AQF.
Click on the level below to see the details of each level’s criteria.
AQF levels
AQF Level 2 Criteria (Certificate II)
Summary
Graduates at this level will have knowledge and skills for work in a defined context and/or further learning.
Knowledge
Graduates at this level will have basic factual, technical and procedural knowledge of a defined area of work and learning.
Skills
Graduates at this level will have basic cognitive, technical and communication skills to apply appropriate methods, tools, materials and readily available information to:
- undertake defined activities
- provide solutions to a limited range of predictable problems
Application of knowledge and skills
Graduates at this level will apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy and limited judgement in structured and stable contexts and within narrow parameters.
AQF Level 3 Criteria (Certificate III)
Summary
Graduates at this level will have theoretical and practical knowledge and skills for work and/or further learning.
Knowledge
Graduates at this level will have factual, technical, procedural and some theoretical knowledge of a specific area of work and learning.
Skills
Graduates at this level will have a range of cognitive, technical and communication skills to select and apply a specialised range of methods, tools, materials and information to:
- complete routine activities
- provide and transmit solutions to predictable and sometimes unpredictable problems
Application of knowledge and skills
Graduates at this level will apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy and judgement and to take limited responsibility in known and stable contexts within established parameters.
AQF Level 4 Criteria (Certificate IV)
Summary
Graduates at this level will have theoretical and practical knowledge and skills for specialised and/or skilled work and/or further learning.
Knowledge
Graduates at this level will have broad factual, technical and some theoretical knowledge of a specific area or a broad field of work and learning.
Skills
Graduates at this level will have a broad range of cognitive, technical and communication skills to select and apply a range of methods, tools, materials and information to:
- complete routine and non-routine activities
- provide and transmit solutions to a variety of predictable and sometimes unpredictable problems
Application of knowledge and skills
Graduates at this level will apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy, judgement and limited responsibility in known or changing contexts and within established parameters.
AQF Level 1 Criteria (Diploma)
Summary
Graduates at this level will have specialised knowledge and skills for skilled/paraprofessional work and/or further learning.
Knowledge
Graduates at this level will have technical and theoretical knowledge in a specific area or a broad field of work and learning.
Skills
Graduates at this level will have a broad range of cognitive, technical and communication skills to select and apply methods and technologies to:
- analyse information to complete a range of activities
- provide and transmit solutions to sometimes complex problems
- transmit information and skills to others
Application of knowledge and skills
Graduates at this level will apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy, judgement and defined responsibility in known or changing contexts and within broad but established parameters.
AQF Level 6 criteria (Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree )
Summary
Graduates at this level will have broad knowledge and skills for paraprofessional/highly skilled work and/or further learning.
Knowledge
Graduates at this level will have broad theoretical and technical knowledge of a specific area or a broad field of work and learning.
Skills
Graduates at this level will have a broad range of cognitive, technical and communication skills to select and apply methods and technologies to:
- analyse information to complete a range of activities
- interpret and transmit solutions to unpredictable and sometimes complex problems
- transmit information and skills to others
Application of knowledge and skills
Graduates at this level will apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy, judgement and defined responsibility:
- in contexts that are subject to change
- within broad parameters to provide specialist advice and functions
AQF Level 7 Criteria (Bachelor)
Summary
Graduates at this level will have broad and coherent knowledge and skills for professional work and/or further learning.
Knowledge
Graduates at this level will have broad and coherent theoretical and technical knowledge with depth in one or more disciplines or areas of practice.
Skills
Graduates at this level will have well-developed cognitive, technical and communication skills to select and apply methods and technologies to:
- analyse and evaluate information to complete a range of activities
- analyse, generate and transmit solutions to unpredictable and sometimes complex problems
- transmit knowledge, skills and ideas to others
Application of knowledge and skills
Graduates at this level will apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy, well-developed judgement and responsibility:
- in contexts that require self-directed work and learning
- within broad parameters to provide specialist advice and functions
AQF Level 8 Criteria ( Bachelor Honours Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma)
Summary
Graduates at this level will have advanced knowledge and skills for professional or highly skilled work and/or further learning.
Knowledge
Graduates at this level will have advanced theoretical and technical knowledge in one or more disciplines or areas of practice
Skills
Graduates at this level will have advanced cognitive, technical and communication skills to select and apply methods and technologies to:
- analyse critically, evaluate and transform information to complete a range of activities
- analyse, generate and transmit solutions to complex problems
- transmit knowledge, skills and ideas to others
Application of knowledge and skills
Graduates at this level will apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy, well-developed judgement, adaptability and responsibility as a practitioner or learner.
AQF level 9 criteria
Summary
Graduates at this level will have specialised knowledge and skills for research, and/or professional practice and/or further learning.
Knowledge
Graduates at this level will have advanced and integrated understanding of a complex body of knowledge in one or more disciplines or areas of practice.
Skills
Graduates at this level will have expert, specialised cognitive and technical skills in a body of knowledge or practice to independently:
- analyse critically, reflect on and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories
- research and apply established theories to a body of knowledge or practice
- interpret and transmit knowledge, skills and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences
Application of knowledge and skills
Graduates at this level will apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy, expert judgement, adaptability and responsibility as a practitioner or learner.
AQF level 10 criteria
Summary
Graduates at this level will have systematic and critical understanding of a complex field of learning and specialised research skills for the advancement of learning and/or for professional practice.
Knowledge
Graduates at this level will have systemic and critical understanding of a substantial and complex body of knowledge at the frontier of a discipline or area of professional practice.
Skills
Graduates at this level will have expert, specialised cognitive, technical and research skills in a discipline area to independently and systematically:
- engage in critical reflection, synthesis and evaluation
- develop, adapt and implement research methodologies to extend and redefine existing knowledge or professional practice
- disseminate and promote new insights to peers and the community
- generate original knowledge and understanding to make a substantial contribution to a discipline or area of professional practice
Application of knowledge and skills
Graduates at this level will apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy, authoritative judgement, adaptability and responsibility as an expert and leading practitioner or scholar.