Highest qualification held

What is this data entry capturing?

This data entry identifies the highest qualification held by the member of staff.

This information is returned to HESA and full details of the HESA requirements can be found on the HESA staff record webpage.

You may find it useful to read the Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies, specifically the table on page 17.

Who needs to enter this information?

All departments and all staff on permanent, fixed-term, open ended and variable hours contracts.

Medical Doctors

When capturing the highest qualification of a medical doctor, we are interested in their highest degree rather than professional exams or certificates that they may also hold.

First medical degrees are equivalent of a Master's degree (level 7) and should be mapped to the Core code MSTD.

  • BSc(Med) - Bachelor of Science in Medicine
  • BMBS - Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery
  • BMBCh - Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery
  • MBBS - Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery
  • MBChB - Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery

Second medical degrees are equivalent of Doctoral degrees (level 8) and should be mapped to the Core code DCTD

  • DM - Doctor of Medicine (awarded by thesis at some universities; awarded as a higher doctorate at some universities)
  • MD - Doctor of Medicine (awarded by thesis at some universities; awarded as a higher doctorate at some universities)
  • MD(Res) - Doctor of Medicine (Research)
  • DSc(Med) - Doctor of Science (Medicine)
  • DPhil / PhD - other doctoral study (often in clinical specialty area)

The use of the title 'Dr' by medical doctors is a historical abbreviation for the profession; it does not necessarily indicate a qualification at doctoral level (level 8).

Guidance

How-To Guides - add and manage personal details

Examples of correctly coded records


Worked examples of how to correctly fill the highest qualification held are given below. Please note that when professional qualification (PROF), training course (TRNG) or NVQ / SVQ / other vocational (NVQV) are selected you must also tell us the level of the course in the Course Name box. We are interested in how the qualification maps to other national qualifications.

Do not fill out Academic Discipline 1 or Academic Discipline 2

Expand All

Qualification: Select the appropriate qualification

Level: leave blank

Course name: Write the course name in here

Academic Discipline 1: LEAVE BLANK

Academic Discipline 2: LEAVE BLANK

Qualification: Select NVQV

Level: leave blank and add in with course name below

Course name: Write the course name in here and the level of the qualification, e.g.  Administration - NVQ Level 3

Academic Discipline 1: LEAVE BLANK

Academic Discipline 2: LEAVE BLANK

Qualification: Select TRNG

Level: leave blank and add in with course name below

Course name: Write the course name in here and the level of the qualification as it maps to other national qualifications:

e.g. Food Preparation - equivalent of NVQ1

Academic Discipline 1: LEAVE BLANK

Academic Discipline 2: LEAVE BLANK

Need help or advice?

We are more than happy to advise you on how to input the highest qualification held, so please contact us if you have any questions or comments by emailing us at hris.dataquality@admin.ox.ac.uk