A Certificate of Higher Education (Cert.HE/CertHE) is a higher education qualification in the United Kingdom. It is awarded after one year full-time study (or equivalent) at a university or other higher education institution. A Cert.HE is an independent tertiary award, an award in its own right, and students can study for a Cert.HE in various academic disciplines. A Cert.HE is the academic equivalent of the more vocational Higher National Certificate, awarded following further education and training courses.
In Ireland a Cert.HE is a Level 6 award on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications. Therefore a British Cert.HE would equate to an Irish Higher Certificate, formerly known as a National Certificate. An Irish Higher Certificate is also a Level 6 award. In Ireland a Higher Certificate is awarded after two years of full time study at a third level institution such as an Institute of Technology.
In Scotland a Cert.HE is worth 120 credit points at Level 7 on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework.
A Cert.HE is not externally regulated but is accredited by a university itself.