Qualifications explained

Qualification levels can seem complicated so here is a quick guild to help you compare your grades with other qualifications.

Different types of qualifications are grouped together into various 'levels'.

This can help you and employers to see how different qualifications compare and how one type can lead on to another

Level Of Course

Example Qualifications

Entry Level

· Entry Level Award

· Entry Level Certificate (ELC)

· Entry Level Diploma

· Entry Level English For Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

· Entry Level Essential Skills

· Entry Level Functional Skills

· Skills for Life

Level 1

· First Certificate

· GCSE - Grades 3, 2, 1 Or Grades D, E, F, G

· Level 1 Award

· Level 1 Certificate

· Level 1 Diploma

· Level 1 ESOL

· Level 1 Essential Skills

· Level 1 Functional Skills

· Level 1 National Vocational Qualification (NVQ)

· Music Grades 1, 2 And 3

Level 2

· CSE - Grade 1

· GCSE - Grades 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 Or Grades A*, A, B, C

· Intermediate Apprenticeship

· Level 2 Award

· Level 2 Certificate

· Level 2 Diploma

· Level 2 ESOL

· Level 2 Essential Skills

· Level 2 Functional Skills

· Level 2 National Certificate

· Level 2 National Diploma

· Level 2 NVQ

· Music Grades 4 And 5

· O Level - Grade A, B Or C

Level 3

· A Level

· Access To Higher Education Diploma

· Advanced Apprenticeship

· Applied General

· AS Level

· International Baccalaureate Diploma

· Level 3 Award

· Level 3 Certificate

· Level 3 Diploma

· Level 3 ESOL

· Level 3 National Certificate

· Level 3 National Diploma

· Level 3 NVQ

· Music Grades 6, 7 And 8

· T Level - available in losts of different subjects including: Digital, Health, Science, Education, Construction, Legal, Finance & Engineering

· Tech Level

Level 4

· Certificate of Higher Education (Certhe)

· Higher Apprenticeship

· Higher National Certificate (HNC)

· Level 4 Award

· Level 4 Certificate

· Level 4 Diploma

· Level 4 NVQ

Level 5

· Diploma of Higher Education (Diphe)

· Foundation Degree

· Higher National Diploma (HND)

· Level 5 Award

· Level 5 Certificate

· Level 5 Diploma

· Level 5 NVQ

· Higher Apprenticeship

Level 6

· Degree Apprenticeship

· Degree with Honours - For Example Bachelor Of The Arts (BA) Hons, Bachelor Of Science (Bsc) Hons

· Graduate Certificate

· Graduate Diploma

· Level 6 Award

· Level 6 Certificate

· Level 6 Diploma

· Level 6 NVQ

· Ordinary Degree Without Honours

Level 7

· Integrated Master’s Degree, For Example Master of Engineering (Meng)

· Level 7 Award

· Level 7 Certificate

· Level 7 Diploma

· Level 7 NVQ

· Master’s Degree, For Example Master Of Arts (MA), Master Of Science (Msc)

· Postgraduate Certificate

· Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)

· Postgraduate Diploma

Level 8

· Doctorate, For Example Doctor of Philosophy (Phd Or Dphil)

· Level 8 Award

· Level 8 Certificate

· Level 8 Diploma

T Levels: what they are

T Levels are new 2-year courses which are taken after GCSEs and are broadly equivalent in size to 3 A Levels. Launched in September 2020, these courses have been developed in collaboration with employers and education providers so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for entry into skilled employment, an apprenticeship or related technical study through further or higher education.

T Levels offer students practical and knowledge-based learning at a school or college and on-the-job experience through an industry placement of at least 315 hours – approximately 45 days.

The courses are available at selected colleges, schools and other providers across England.