The National Qualifications Framework (NQF)
The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) is a credit transfer system developed for qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The Framework has nine levels covering all levels of learning in secondary education, further education and vocational higher education. Though academic higher education courses (such as academic degrees) are not covered in the NQF, it is broadly aligned with the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ), allowing levels of achievement to be compared.
Only when a course has been accredited and become part of the NQF is it then eligible for state funding. As such, many courses which are popular internationally and offered by British-based organisations, such as the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), are not available to state schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The NQF is the joint responsibility of England's QCA, Wales's DCELLS and Northern Ireland's CCEA.
NQF level | Level criteria | Example qualifications |
Level 8 | Level 8 qualifications recognise leading experts or practitioners in a particular field. Learning at this level involves the development of new and creative approaches that extend or redefine existing knowledge or professional practice. | Level 8 Advanced Professional Diploma Level 8 Advanced Professional Certificate Level 8 Advanced Professional Award City & Guilds Fellowship
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Level 7 | Level 7 qualifications recognise highly developed and complex levels of knowledge which enable the development of in-depth and original responses to complicated and unpredictable problems and situations. Learning at this level involves the demonstration of high level specialist professional knowledge and is appropriate for senior professionals and managers. Level 7 qualifications are at a level equivalent to Masters degrees, postgraduate certificates and postgraduate diplomas. | Level 7 Advanced Professional Diploma Level 7 Advanced Professional Certificate Level 7 Advanced Professional Award |
Level 6 | Level 6 qualifications recognise a specialist high level knowledge of an area of work or study to enable the use of an individual’s own ideas and research in response to complex problems and situations. Learning at this level involves the achievement of a high level of professional knowledge and is appropriate for people working as knowledge-based professionals or in professional management positions. Level 6 qualifications are at a level equivalent to Bachelor's degrees with honours, graduate certificates and graduate diplomas. | Level 6 Professional Diploma Level 6 Professional Certificate Level 6 Professional Award City & Guilds Graduateship (awarded at the NQF 6 level) City & Guilds Graduateship (pre-2004 awarded at the NVQ 5 level) City & Guilds Associateship(pre-2004 awarded at the NVQ 5 level) NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety British Safety Council Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health
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Level 5 | Level 5 qualifications recognise the ability to increase the depth of knowledge and understanding of an area of work or study to enable the formulation of solutions and responses to complex problems and situations. Learning at this level involves the demonstration of high levels of knowledge, a high level of work expertise in job roles and competence in managing and training others. Qualifications at this level are appropriate for people working as higher grade technicians, professionals or managers. Level 5 qualifications are at a level equivalent to intermediate Higher Education qualifications such as Diplomas of Higher Education, Foundation and other degrees that do not typically provide access to postgraduate programmes. | HND HNC Level 5 Professional Diploma Level 5 Professional Certificate Level 5 Professional Award City and Guilds Full Technological Certificate (FTC)
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Level 4 | Level 4 qualifications recognise specialist learning and involve detailed analysis of a high level of information and knowledge in an area of work or study. Learning at this level is appropriate for people working in technical and professional jobs, and/or managing and developing others. Level 4 qualifications are at a level equivalent to Certificates of Higher Education. | Level 4 Professional Diploma Level 4 Professional Certificate Level 4 Professional Award City & Guilds Licentiateship
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Level 3 | Level 3 qualifications recognise the ability to gain, and where relevant apply a range of knowledge, skills and understanding. Learning at this level involves obtaining detailed knowledge and skills. It is appropriate for people wishing to go to university, people working independently, or in some areas supervising and training others in their field of work. | A Level AS Level Advanced Diploma National Diploma National Certificate National Award Level 3 Diploma Level 3 Certificate Level 3 Award Level 3 NVQ City & Guilds, Level 3. NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety. Access to Higher Education Diploma
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Level 2 | Level 2 qualifications recognise the ability to gain a good knowledge and understanding of a subject area of work or study, and to perform varied tasks with some guidance or supervision. Learning at this level involves building knowledge and/or skills in relation to an area of work or a subject area and is appropriate for many job roles. | GCSE at grades A*–C Higher Diploma First Diploma First Certificate Level 2 Diploma Level 2 Certificate Level 2 Award Level 2 DiDA Level 2 CIDA+ Level 2 CiDA Level 2 AiDA Level 2 NVQ City & Guilds, Level 2.
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Level 1 | Level 1 qualifications recognise basic knowledge and skills and the ability to apply learning with guidance or supervision. Learning at this level is about activities which mostly relate to everyday situations and may be linked to job competence. | GCSE at grades D–G Foundation Diploma Introductory Diploma Introductory Certificate Level 2 Diploma Level 2 Certificate Level 2 Award Level 1 DiDA Level 1 CIDA+ Level 1 CiDA Level 1 AiDA Level 1 NVQ City & Guilds, Level 1.
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Entry level | Entry level qualifications recognise basic knowledge and skills and the ability to apply learning in everyday situations under direct guidance or supervision. Learning at this level involves building basic knowledge and skills and is not geared towards specific occupations. | Entry Level Certificate Foundation Diploma BTEC Level 1 Certificate
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