What is a microcredential?

Microcredentials are high-quality courses that award academic credit, either directly following successful completion of the microcredential or via recognition of prior learning upon enrolment as a student on a university’s course of study.

They are developed according to the Common Microcredential Framework (CMF) and meet the following specifications:

• Have a total workload (or study time) of 100-150 hours, including revision for, and completion of, the summative assessment.
• Be levelled at Levels 6-7 in the European Qualification Framework or the equivalent levels in the university’s national qualification framework, or be levelled at Levels 4-5 and fulfil the criteria of the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System.
• Provides a summative assessment that awards academic credit, either directly following successful completion of the microcredential or via recognition of prior learning upon enrolment as a student on a university’s course of study.
• Uses a reliable method of ID verification at the point of assessment that complies with the recognised university’s policies and/or is widely adopted across the platforms authorised to use the CMF.
• Provides a transcript that sets out the learning outcomes for a microcredential, total study hours required, EQF level, and number of credit points earned.

Why were they created?

In recognition of the rising demand for upskilling, reskilling, and online flexible learning, higher education institutions, businesses and other institutions are seeking ways to offer alternative credentials which help learners acquire new skills, update their existing skills and signal the competencies they already have.

With technological innovation moving more quickly than ever, employers are looking for staff with up-to-date training. However, learners and workers are increasingly stretched for time, and the limited worldwide availability of physical universities means higher education is having to change.

As part of the growing movement towards microlearning, FutureLearn’s professional Microcredentials have been designed to help you upskill in your industry or area of interest alongside recognised institutions and educators. In growing industries like computer science, healthcare, visual arts, and teaching, there has never been a greater demand for further professional learning.