Last updated: 07 Sep 2007

The National Database of Accredited Qualifications (NDAQ) now holds details of the Diploma catalogues for the first five Diploma Lines of Learning.

NDAQ and the Diploma catalogues are primarily tools for centres, who wish to browse for details of accredited qualifications and to establish which qualifications may be combined to form a new composite Diploma qualification. They can also view which awarding bodies are able to award the composite Diploma qualification.

There are a number of simple and effective search options on the site's home page that can direct users to individual qualifications or the Diploma catalogues.

Within each Diploma catalogue, users can view the principal learning and project qualifications available, as well as a full listing of the additional and specialist learning options relevant to the specific Line of Learning. Guidance on barring (highlighting those qualifications which may not be combined due to content overlap) is also available via each catalogue.

Taking an Advanced Diploma in engineering as an example, users will be able to access information on:

• Accredited Diploma awarding bodies, able to award the overall Diploma qualification
• Accredited principal learning qualifications (e.g. Edexcel Level 3 Principal Learning in Engineering)
• Accredited project qualifications (e.g. OCR Level 3 Extended Project)
• Accredited additional learning qualifications (e.g. AQA Level 3 Advanced GCE in French)
• Accredited specialist learning qualifications (e.g. ABC Level 2 Certificate in Fabrication and Welding Practice)

Learners and their parents/carers may also find NDAQ of some interest as they explore the possibilities and flexibilities of the Diploma structure, although the database will not indicate local availability of learning opportunities - this information will be available from local 14-19 online learning prospectuses, which are currently under development, and from Diploma consortia themselves.

The NDAQ website can be accessed from the related links section on this page.