The standards set and maintained by AVAs for their courses and expected for their awards. See also learning outcome, level descriptors and grade descriptors. Access to HE course Course leading to the award of the Access to HE Diploma.

Access to Higher Education Diploma: a nationally recognised qualification that is credit-based and graded in accordance with the terms of the Access to HE Diploma and credit specifications  and the standard grading scheme. Each Access to HE Diploma has its own approved set of units of assessment, governed by rules of combination.

Committee appointed by the QAA Board to have responsibility for the Recognition Scheme, which monitors AVAs via their annual self-evaluation reports and through the process of relicensing review.

See AVA.

See certification.

Reports produced every year by an AVA using their own information to assess their performance.

A group or sequence of documents collectively demonstrating that a particular quality assurance process has taken place.

Abbreviation of Access Validating Agency, an organisation licensed by QAA to undertake the development, validation, monitoring and review of individual Access to HE Diploma courses and, accordingly, to award the Diploma (or, where appropriate, credit towards the Diploma).

A qualification, or the allocation of credit to a student.

An organisation recognised by Ofqual to award Ofqual-regulated qualifications.