Did you know that our 30-week furniture making course offers more than practical skills? You’ll also graduate with a recognised SCQF Level 8 qualification.
At the Chippendale International School of Furniture, we teach you how to design and make furniture from scratch. You’ll spend your days in a real workshop, working with wood and developing skills for a future career in furniture making.
In this blog, we explain what an SCQF Level 8 qualification is and the doors it can open.
What is a SCQF Level 8 Qualification?
If you’re unfamiliar with Scottish qualifications, SCQF stands for the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework. It’s the national system Scotland uses to compare qualifications from schools, colleges, universities and workplaces.
The framework has 12 levels, covering everything from basic skills at Level 1 to doctoral degrees at Level 12.
Our 30-week furniture making course sits at SCQF Level 8, the same level as a Scottish Higher National Diploma (HND). For international students, this is broadly comparable to a US Associate Degree or an Australian Level 5 Diploma, although qualification systems vary.
SCQF qualifications also provide a recognised measure of learning. They follow clear standards, giving students and employers confidence in the skills and knowledge gained.
Why does a SCQF Level 8 Qualification matter?
An SCQF Level 8 qualification shows employers that you’ve developed a recognised standard of knowledge and practical skills. It also confirms that you’ve completed an assessed programme of learning.
Whether you’re looking for a job in a furniture workshop, considering further study or planning your own business, this qualification can strengthen your CV.
One of our graduates, Ellen Baines, is a great example.
Before joining Chippendale, Ellen trained as a theatrical carpenter at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. She then built a successful freelance career making sets and props for television and theatre.
However, as her career developed, she wanted to strengthen her fine furniture-making skills. In particular, she hoped to create lasting, high-quality pieces that people could treasure for generations.
This ambition brought her to Chippendale. After completing our Professional Course and gaining her SCQF Level 8 qualification, Ellen secured a position at the highly respected Barnsley Workshop.
Is Chippendale’s 30-week course accredited?
It certainly is! Our 30-week furniture making course has full accreditation at SCQF Level 8.
Over nine months, students complete up to 1,400 hours of practical bench time. Along the way, our tutors provide expert demonstrations, technical guidance and support with individual projects.
The course covers a wide range of furniture-making skills. You’ll learn everything from identifying different types of timber to mastering traditional joinery techniques.
As a result, our graduates leave with greater confidence in their craft and a recognised qualification to support their next steps.
But there’s much more to the course than the qualification itself.
Ellen Baines at the Chippendale International School of Furniture Graduate Exhibition 2025.
Graduate Exhibition 2025
Why study furniture making at Chippendale?
We’ve been teaching furniture making since 1985, welcoming students from across the UK and around the world.
Over the years, we’ve built an international reputation for combining traditional craftsmanship with modern design. But at Chippendale, learning goes beyond practical woodworking skills.
We also encourage creativity, design thinking and the business skills needed to build a career in furniture making.
Throughout the course, students develop:
- Design skills: Learn how to take an idea from the drawing board to a finished piece of furniture.
- Technical skills: Build confidence using hand tools, machinery and joinery techniques through regular practice.
- Practical experience: Work on real furniture projects while learning the theory behind different techniques.
- Business knowledge: Explore pricing, marketing, presenting your work and setting up your own business.
Another important part of the course is our small class sizes.
This means you’ll receive plenty of hands-on support from experienced tutors. Rather than sitting in a lecture hall, you’ll spend your days at the workbench, learning alongside other makers.
You’ll also have the chance to share ideas, try new techniques and develop your own style as your skills grow.
What can you do with a SCQF Level 8 qualification?
An SCQF Level 8 qualification can support a range of career and further study opportunities.
If you’d like to continue your education, it may help you progress towards further qualifications in areas such as:
- Furniture Design
- Product Design
- Interior Design
- Architectural Woodworking
Alternatively, if you’re keen to get straight into the workshop, there are several career paths to explore. These include:
- Working in an established furniture-making workshop
- Joining a specialist furniture restoration studio
- Making bespoke cabinets and fitted furniture
- Setting up your own furniture-making business
Take Dominic Grasso, for example.
After graduating from our 30-week course in 2025, Dominic established his own furniture business in Scotland, Dom Grasso Furniture + Design.
He now takes on custom furniture commissions, using the skills he developed at Chippendale. In
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Interested in gaining a recognised SCQF Level 8 qualification? Explore our accredited 30-week furniture making course and find out where a career in furniture design and making could take you.