Selected Royal Open College courses are endorsed under the Quality Licence Scheme (QLS). QLS is operated by Skills and Education Group Awards, an Ofqual-regulated awarding organisation. It independently reviews non-regulated courses against high quality standards. When you complete a QLS endorsed course, you can receive a QLS certificate that recognises your achievement.
Scheme | Quality Licence Scheme (QLS) |
Operated by | Skills and Education Group Awards |
Royal Open College status | Approved centre offering QLS endorsed courses |
What learners receive | A QLS certificate on successful completion |
Most relevant to | Learners who want a recognised, quality-checked certificate for their CV |
What Is the Quality Licence Scheme?
The Royal Open College is endorsed by the Quality Licence Scheme (QLS), which independently evaluates course content and delivery against rigorous quality standards. Before a course can be endorsed, its content, structure and assessment are reviewed. Providers must also meet the scheme’s quality standards, and endorsed centres are subject to ongoing monitoring.
Because QLS is run by an Ofqual-regulated awarding organisation, the scheme brings awarding-body rigour to courses that are not formal qualifications. That combination is what makes QLS endorsement a meaningful mark of quality.
What QLS Endorsement Brings to Royal Open College Learners
The unique value of QLS is an awarding-body certificate for non-regulated learning. Many online courses end with a certificate from the provider alone. A QLS endorsed course gives you a certificate linked to an established awarding organisation. For you, that means:
- A certificate with added weight: your QLS certificate shows the course was independently reviewed, not simply created and self-certified.
- Quality checked from the outside: content, structure and assessment are reviewed against QLS standards before endorsement is granted.
- A stronger CV and LinkedIn profile: a recognised endorsement helps your learning stand out to recruiters and employers.
- Clear level information: QLS endorsed courses often indicate a level of study, which helps you and employers understand the depth of learning.
- Ongoing assurance: endorsed providers are monitored, so standards are maintained over time rather than checked only once.
How QLS Endorsement Supports Course Quality
QLS endorsement requires courses to be well structured, accurate and fairly assessed. At Royal Open College, this supports:
- clearly defined learning outcomes
- in-depth course materials matched to the stated level
- reliable assessment of your knowledge
- consistent quality through ongoing monitoring
Is a QLS Endorsed Course Right for You?
A QLS endorsed course is a strong choice if you want to build knowledge in a subject, improve your employability or show commitment to professional development. It is important to know that QLS endorsed courses are not regulated qualifications and do not carry UCAS points or Ofqual qualification status. If a job, licence or university course requires a specific regulated qualification, check the requirements before you enrol.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does QLS stand for?
QLS stands for the Quality Licence Scheme, an endorsement scheme for non-regulated courses operated by Skills and Education Group Awards.
Are QLS endorsed courses recognised?
Yes. QLS endorsement shows that a course has been independently reviewed against quality standards by an established awarding organisation.
What certificate will I get from a QLS endorsed course?
On successful completion, you can receive a QLS certificate that shows the course title and confirms it was QLS endorsed. See our Order Your Certificate page for details.
Is a QLS endorsed course the same as a regulated qualification?
No. Regulated qualifications are listed on Ofqual’s Register of Regulated Qualifications. QLS endorsed courses are high-quality, non-regulated courses.
Which Royal Open College courses are QLS endorsed?
QLS endorsement applies to selected courses. Look for the QLS endorsement information on each course page.
Earn a Certificate That Stands Out
QLS endorsement gives your learning independent recognition and a certificate with real credibility. Explore Royal Open College’s QLS endorsed courses and build skills backed by a respected quality scheme.
