Letter: degrees of level-headed thinking (2)

Am I alone in being thoroughly confused about the level of the ordinary (bachelor) degree? The Quality Assurance Agency's latest about the ordinary degree (now pitched at HE2 in a three-level undergraduate framework) puts it squarely alongside the foundation degree (see page 3).

Baroness Blackstone wrote that "foundation degrees are not styled as bachelors degrees" (Letters, THES , October ). But how are the two to be distinguished? Presumably by volume of study rather than by level, although the notion of credit rating (a useful measure of volume of study) is eschewed by the new framework. It would seem that England, Wales and Northern Ireland will have two levels of bachelors degree (ordinary at level 2 and honours at level 3) but that is contrary to the Bologna declaration (question 6 in annex 1 of the "old" new qualifications framework, QAA July 2000) that "urges European states to define HE qualification by reference to two cycles of study", the first leading to a bachelors degree and the second to masters or doctorate.

Is the truth out there? If so, could it come here?

Cliff Hancock Bristol