Entry Level

Entry level qualifications are:

• National Citizen Service
• Entry level award, certificate (ELC) or diploma
• Entry level English for speakers of other languages (ESOL)
• Entry level essential skills
• Entry level functional skills
• Skills for Life (entry level)
• Scottish Foundation Standard
• Scottish National 1
• Scottish National 2
• Scottish National 3
• Other qualifications equivalent to England/N.Ireland/Wales entry level

Level 1

Level 1 qualifications are:

• GCSE - grades 3, 2, 1 or grades D, E, F, G
• BTEC - award, certificate or diploma (level 1)
• ESOL – level 1
• Key Skills - level 1
• essential skills - level 1
• functional skills - level 1
• Foundation learning Level 1
• national vocational qualification (NVQ) – Level 1
• Skills for Life (Level 1)
• Foundation Diploma
• Cambridge National Level
• Scottish National 4
• Scottish General Standard
• Other qualifications equivalent to England/N.Ireland/Wales level 1

Level 2

Level 2 qualifications are:

• GCSE - grades 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 or grades A*, A, B, C
• Intermediate / Level 2 apprenticeship
• BTEC - award, certificate or diploma (level 2)
• NVQ – level 2
• ESOL – Level 2
• Key Skills – Level 2
• essential skills – Level 2
• functional skills – Level 2
• Skills for Life – Level 2
• Cambridge National – Level 2
• Cambridge Technical – Level 2
• national diploma – Level 2
• O level - grade A, B or C
• Scottish Credit Standard
• Scottish National 5
• Other qualifications equivalent to England/N.Ireland/Wales level 2

Level 3

Level 3 qualifications are:

• A level
• AS level
• Access to higher education diploma
• Advanced / Level 3 apprenticeship
• international Baccalaureate diploma
• BTEC award – Level 3
• BTEC Diploma – Level 3
• BTEC Certificate – Level 3
• BTEC extended certificate – Level 3
• BTEC Extended Diploma - Level 3
• BTEC national Diploma – Level 3
• BTEC National Certificate – Level 3
• ESOL – Level 3
• NVQ - level 3
• Cambridge technical Level 3
• Scottish Highers
• Scottish Advanced Higher
• Other qualifications equivalent to England/N.Ireland/Wales level 3

Level 4

Level 4 qualifications are:

• certificate of higher education (CertHE)
• higher/Level 4 apprenticeship
• higher national certificate (HNC)
• level 4 award
• level 4 certificate
• level 4 diploma
• level 4 NVQ
• Other qualifications equivalent to England/N.Ireland/Wales level 4

Level 5

Level 5 qualifications are:

• diploma of higher education (DipHE)
• foundation degree
• higher national diploma (HND)
• level 5 award
• level 5 certificate
• level 5 diploma
• level 5 NVQ
• Other qualifications equivalent to England/N.Ireland/Wales level 5

Level 6

Level 6 qualifications are:

• degree apprenticeship
• degree with honours - for example bachelor of the arts (BA) hons, bachelor of science (BSc) hons
• graduate certificate
• graduate diploma
• BTEC Advanced Professional award, certificate and diploma – level 6
• level 6 NVQ
• ordinary degree without honours
• Other qualifications equivalent to England/N.Ireland/Wales level 6

Level 7

Level 7 qualifications are:

• Master’s degree
• BTEC Advanced Professional award, certificate and diploma – level 7
• NVQ Level 7
• postgraduate certificate
• postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE)
• postgraduate diploma
• Other qualifications equivalent to England/N.Ireland/Wales level 7

Level 8

Level 8 qualifications are:

• Doctorate
• Vocational Level 8 Qualifications
• Other qualifications equivalent to England/N.Ireland/Wales level 8