Apprenticeships · 5 min read
What do qualification levels 1 to 8 mean?
The qualification levels in England from Entry level to Level 8, what sits at each (GCSEs at 1-2, A levels at 3, degrees at 6) and how to read job adverts.
The short answer
England groups qualifications into nine levels: Entry level, then Levels 1 to 8. GCSEs at grades 1 to 3 are Level 1 and at grades 4 to 9 Level 2. A levels, T levels, BTEC Nationals and advanced apprenticeships are Level 3. Higher national certificates and diplomas and foundation degrees are Levels 4 and 5, a bachelor's degree is Level 6, a master's is Level 7 and a doctorate is Level 8. The level says how demanding something is, not how long it takes.
Key takeaways
- Level 2 is GCSE grade 4 to 9 or Functional Skills Level 2, the usual minimum for English and maths in adverts.
- Level 3 is A levels, T levels, BTEC Nationals, Access to HE and advanced apprenticeships: the entry point to university.
- Levels 4 and 5 are HNC, HND and foundation degrees; Level 6 is a bachelor's; 7 a master's; 8 a doctorate.
- An apprenticeship level matches this scale, so a Level 6 apprenticeship is degree level.
On this pageThe levels and what sits at each
The levels and what sits at each
| Level | Examples | Rough stage |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Entry level certificates, Skills for Life, ESOL entry levels | Before GCSE |
| 1 | GCSE grades 1 to 3 (D to G), Functional Skills Level 1, Level 1 NVQ | Early secondary |
| 2 | GCSE grades 4 to 9 (C to A*), Functional Skills Level 2, intermediate apprenticeship | End of Year 11 |
| 3 | A levels, T levels, BTEC National, Access to HE, advanced apprenticeship | Age 18, university entry |
| 4 | HNC, CertHE, higher apprenticeship | First year of a degree |
| 5 | HND, foundation degree, DipHE, nursing associate | Second year of a degree |
| 6 | Bachelor's degree, graduate certificate, degree apprenticeship | Graduate |
| 7 | Master's, PGCE, postgraduate diploma, Level 7 apprenticeship | Postgraduate |
| 8 | PhD, DPhil, professional doctorate | Doctoral |
What a level does and doesn't tell you
The level describes difficulty, not size or subject. A single A level and a three-A-level T level are both Level 3. A 12-month Level 3 apprenticeship and a two-year BTEC are both Level 3. When an advert says 'Level 3 or equivalent', it means that standard in any form, so an Access to HE Diploma or an advanced apprenticeship counts as much as A levels do.
Reading levels in job and course adverts
- 'Level 2 in English and maths': GCSE grade 4 or above, or Functional Skills Level 2. The most common requirement in apprenticeship adverts.
- 'Full Level 3': the equivalent of two A levels or more, such as a BTEC Diploma, a T level or an Access course.
- 'Level 4 or above': any higher education, including an HNC or a Level 4 apprenticeship, not only a degree.
- 'Degree or equivalent': Level 6, which includes a degree apprenticeship and some professional qualifications.
Moving up the levels without university
Each level has a work-based route as well as a classroom one. Apprenticeships run at every level from 2 to 7, HNCs and HNDs can be studied part time while working, and many professional bodies award Level 6 and 7 qualifications through exams taken in employment. Someone who left school at 16 can reach Level 6 by 23 without a lecture hall, and many do.
Illustrative example: decoding an advert
A 19 year old with a BTEC Extended Diploma in IT reads a junior network engineer advert asking for 'Level 3 or above in a technical subject and Level 2 English and maths'. He has both. The next advert asks for 'Level 4 or a degree'. He hasn't, but a Level 4 network engineer apprenticeship would close the gap in 18 months while paying him. He applies for that.
Questions people ask
- What is a Level 3 qualification?
- Anything at the standard of A levels: A levels themselves, T levels, BTEC Nationals, the Access to HE Diploma, the International Baccalaureate, NVQ Level 3 and advanced apprenticeships. It's the level universities and higher apprenticeships use for entry. A 'full Level 3' usually means the equivalent of two or more A levels.
- What is a Level 4 qualification?
- The first year of higher education in difficulty: a Higher National Certificate (HNC), a Certificate of Higher Education, a Level 4 apprenticeship such as software developer or accounting technician, and some professional certificates. Level 5 is the second year: an HND, a foundation degree or a Diploma of Higher Education.
- Is a degree Level 6 or 7?
- A bachelor's degree, with or without honours, is Level 6, as are graduate certificates and degree apprenticeships. A master's degree, a postgraduate certificate or diploma, and Level 7 apprenticeships like solicitor or senior leader are Level 7. A PhD or other doctorate is Level 8.
- Do the levels work the same in Scotland?
- No. Scotland uses the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF), which runs from 1 to 12. A Scottish Higher is SCQF 6 and an honours degree is SCQF 10. Wales and Northern Ireland use the same levels as England. Job adverts that say 'Level 3' usually mean the England, Wales and Northern Ireland scale.
Exercises are practice, not evidence of career fit or a qualification. How to read our guides and report a correction.
Sources
- What qualification levels mean · GOV.UK
- UCAS Tariff points · UCAS
How this page is written
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