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What do UK qualification levels 1 to 8 mean?

There are nine qualification levels in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: Entry Level (with sub levels 1, 2 and 3) and Levels 1 to 8. A Level 2 qualification is equivalent to GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C); Level 2 Functional Skills, an intermediate apprenticeship and a Level 2 NVQ are also Level 2. A Level 3 qualification is equivalent to A Levels; the Access to HE Diploma, a T Level, an advanced apprenticeship and a Level 3 Diploma are also Level 3. Level 4 is a Higher National Certificate, Level 6 a bachelor's degree with honours, Level 7 a master's and Level 8 a doctorate. Lift College offers online courses from Level 2 to Level 7, from GCSEs at £39.99 a month to the QAA approved Access to HE Diploma at £79.99 a month when you pay today (£44.99 and £89.99 after a 7-day free trial).

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Last reviewed 6 min readBy Lift CollegeReviewed by Dr Kate Strohm, Managing Director

Guide

  • The RQF has 9 levels: Entry Level (sub-levels 1-3), then Levels 1 through 8
  • GCSEs sit at Level 1 (grades 3-1 / D-G) and Level 2 (grades 9-4 / A*-C)
  • A Levels, Access to HE Diplomas and T Levels are all Level 3
  • Level 4 to 5 covers HNCs, HNDs, CertHE and DipHE
  • Bachelor's degrees are Level 6, master's are Level 7, doctorates are Level 8
  • RQF levels are broadly comparable to European (EQF) and Scottish (SCQF) frameworks

Whatever level you're starting from, the table below shows where your current qualifications sit, and the Lift College course at each level is listed further down.

Watch: What Is Level 3 Equivalent To?3 min 31 s · Lift College on YouTube

The full RQF table at a glance

The table below shows every level of the Regulated Qualifications Framework, the qualifications that typically sit at each level, and how the RQF maps to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and Scotland's SCQF.

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The full RQF table at a glance
RQF LevelTypical UK qualificationsApprox. EQFApprox. SCQF
Level 8Doctorate (PhD/DPhil), Level 8 Award/Certificate/Diploma812
Level 7Master's degree, PGCE, PGCert, PGDip, Level 7 NVQ711
Level 6Bachelor's degree with honours, degree apprenticeship, graduate diploma610/9
Level 5Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE), Foundation degree, HND5-68
Level 4Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE), HNC, Higher apprenticeship57
Level 3A Level, Access to HE Diploma, T Level, Advanced apprenticeship, AS Level, International Baccalaureate46
Level 2GCSE grades 9-4 (A*-C), Intermediate apprenticeship, Level 2 Functional Skills, O Level grade A-C35
Level 1GCSE grades 3-1 (D-G), Level 1 Functional Skills, Level 1 NVQ24
Entry Level 3Entry level certificate, Entry level Functional Skills, ESOL Entry 313
Entry Level 2Entry level award/certificate/diploma-2
Entry Level 1Entry level award/certificate/diploma-1

The RQF replaced the old National Qualifications Framework and the Qualifications and Credit Framework in 2015, so any qualification awarded before then may still use those older labels.

At Level 2, Functional Skills Maths Level 2 is a faster route than a GCSE resit: from £44.99 a month with a 7-day free trial.

How to read a qualification level

Two qualifications at the same RQF level are similar in demand but not necessarily in content or duration. A Level Biology and a Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care are both Level 3, but they teach very different things and are assessed in different ways.

Level tells you how complex the learning is. Size (measured in Total Qualification Time or credits) tells you how much learning is involved. Employers and universities look at both.

Which level do you need?

For most UK universities, entry to a bachelor's degree needs Level 3 qualifications (typically A Levels or an Access to HE Diploma). Level 4 to 5 qualifications like HNCs and HNDs can bridge into the second or third year of a related degree. Level 3 qualifications on the UCAS Tariff carry points; see what are UCAS points.

For most professional and regulated care jobs in the UK, employers ask for at least a Level 2 or Level 3 qualification in the relevant area, plus GCSEs at grade 4/C or above in English and maths.

A Lift College course at each level

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A Lift College course at each level
LevelLift College coursePrice
Level 2GCSEs, AQA (Film Studies: WJEC Eduqas), from age 14£39.99 a month when you pay today (£44.99 after a 7-day free trial)
Level 2Functional Skills Maths Level 2, TQUK, exam included£39.99 a month when you pay today (£44.99 after a 7-day free trial)
Level 2Level 2 Bookkeeping Course, Lift College certificate course, no exams£34.99 a month
Level 3A Levels, AQA (Film Studies: WJEC Eduqas), from age 14from £49.99 a month when you pay today (£59.99 after a 7-day free trial)
Level 3Access to HE Diploma, QAA approved, up to 144 UCAS points£79.99 a month when you pay today (£89.99 after a 7-day free trial)
Level 3Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care, TQUK£69.99 a month when you pay today (£79.99 after a 7-day free trial)
Level 3Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools, TQUK£49.99 a month when you pay today (£59.99 after a 7-day free trial)
Level 4Level 4 Certificate for Higher Level Teaching Assistants, TQUK£59.99 a month when you pay today (£69.99 after a 7-day free trial)
Level 5Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care, TQUK£79.99 a month when you pay today (£89.99 after a 7-day free trial)

Every course starts with a 7-day free trial, with no contract and no credit check. Prices checked 22 October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Level 3 qualification the same as an A Level?
A Levels are Level 3 qualifications, but not every Level 3 is an A Level. Access to HE Diplomas, Level 3 NVQs, Level 3 Diplomas, T Levels and the International Baccalaureate are all Level 3. They are at the same level but differ in size and content, so universities and employers look at the exact qualification and grades; entry requirements vary, so check each university.
What level is a GCSE?
GCSEs sit at two RQF levels depending on grade. A pass at grades 9 to 4 (previously A* to C) is a Level 2 qualification. A pass at grades 3 to 1 (previously D to G) is Level 1. Most colleges, apprenticeships and employers ask for GCSEs at Level 2 (grade 4/C or above) in English and maths.
How does the RQF compare to Scottish qualifications?
Scotland uses its own Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF), which has 12 levels rather than 9. Roughly speaking, RQF Level 3 is SCQF Level 6 (Higher), RQF Level 6 is SCQF Level 9/10 (Bachelor's), and RQF Level 8 is SCQF Level 12 (Doctorate).
Is a Level 4 qualification a degree?
No. Level 4 sits below a full bachelor's degree. A Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) and Higher National Certificate (HNC) are Level 4 and are typically equivalent to the first year of a degree. A full bachelor's degree with honours is Level 6.
What is Entry Level and who is it for?
Entry Level qualifications sit below Level 1 and have three sub-levels (Entry 1, 2 and 3, with Entry 3 being the highest). They are designed to help learners build foundation skills in English, maths and digital literacy, often as a stepping stone into Level 1 or Functional Skills.
What level is Functional Skills Level 2?
Functional Skills Level 2 is a Level 2 qualification, the same level as GCSEs at grades 9 to 4. Many employers and apprenticeships accept it in place of a GCSE grade 4 in English or maths.
What is Level 2 equivalent to?
Level 2 is the same level as GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C). Level 2 Functional Skills, intermediate apprenticeships and Level 2 NVQs are also Level 2.
What level is an Access to HE Diploma?
Level 3, the same level as A Levels. It is QAA approved and worth up to 144 UCAS points from its 45 graded credits.

Sources checked