Advanced Highers

Advanced Highers

The Advanced Higher is an optional qualification which forms part of the Scottish secondary education system. It is normally taken by students aged around 16-18 after they have completed Highers, which in turn are the main university entrance qualification.

Advanced Higher is the highest certificate offered by the Scottish Qualification Authority, as part of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework. An advanced higher is essentially a simulation of the first year of university in that particular subject - this is the reason that Advanced Highers can be used for second year University entry.

Universities within Scotland traditionally tended to take students with only NQ Higher or A-level qualifications, but many have since begun to take students with qualifications gained elsewhere in Britain or, as with the University of Glasgow, for example, an International Baccalaureate.

The Advanced Higher is Level 7 on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework.