S.L. 607.1 Art. 3The Malta Qualifications Framework. Cap. 451.

(1) There shall be a Malta Qualifications Framework which shall be a framework of eight levels as reproduced in the

First Schedule, with Level 1 being the lowest and Level 8 being the highest level of a qualification.

(2) The Malta Qualifications Framework shall include all national qualifications as approved by the Commission: Provided that qualifications awarded upon completion of a programme of formal learning shall not form part of the Malta Qualifications Framework unless they satisfy the following conditions:

(a) they shall be awarded by a school or licensed provider of further or higher education in accordance with the Act or any regulation made thereunder;

(b) they shall be internally and externally quality-assured in accordance with the Act or any regulations made thereunder;

(c) they shall be based on a workload composed of identified credit value;

(d) they shall be awarded on the successful completion of a formal assessment process;

(e) they shall be expressed through a transcript and an award supplement based on European and international standards; and

(f) they shall be identified in a transcript through a level-rating with the Malta Qualifications Framework and the European Qualifications Framework.

(3) The Malta Qualifications Framework shall include the following:

(a) qualifications awarded after the successful completion of formal learning; and

(b) qualifications awarded after the completion of non-formal and informal learning validated in accordance with the Act or any regulations made thereunder:

Provided that the Malta Qualifications Framework may also include customised, legacy and work-based awards:

Provided further that for the purpose of determining access to a profession by means of one or more qualifications in the Malta Qualifications Framework and the validation of any learning or work experience related thereto, the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications Act, and any regulations made thereunder, shall apply.

(4) Qualifications which form part of the Malta Qualifications Framework shall be based on learning outcomes, and as such shall be expressed in terms of knowledge, skills and competences corresponding to the respective level descriptors as reproduced in the Second Schedule.

(5) The Malta Qualifications Framework is executed by means of exit points and promotes permeability of qualifications from one level of the Malta Qualifications Framework to another and across different learning pathways.

(6) The Malta Qualifications Framework shall be referenced to the European Qualifications Framework and the Qualifications Framework of the European Higher Education Area.