According to England, Wales, and Northern Ireland education system there are 9 qualification levels that create pathways to qualifications (GOV.UK, 2022) provided by the UK.
LEVEL 1 – Qualifications that are equivalent to 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 – Qualifications that are equivalent to 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 – Qualifications that are equivalent to 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
- Tech level
LEVEL 4 – Qualifications that are equivalent to 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 – Qualifications that are equivalent to 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
LEVEL 6 – Qualifications that are equivalent to 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 – Qualifications that are equivalent to 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 – Qualifications that are equivalent to Level 8
- Doctorate, for example doctor of philosophy (PhD or DPhil)
- Level 8 award
- Level 8 certificate
- Level 8 diploma
What do we have here at GEP?
‘Top Up’ your Undergraduate Degree
If you have an existing Level 5 qualification (such as a Higher National Diploma (HND), NVQ Level 5, or Foundation Degree) as stated in the above list, a top-up degree will allow you to build on your previous learning, gain credits and graduate with a full undergraduate degree.
How is this possible?
A standard undergraduate programme carries 360 Credits, and the Top-up degree model fullfills these credits in the following manner
- Level 4 – 120 Credits
- Level 5 – 120 Credits
- Level 6 or the Final year of a Bachelor’s program from a recognized university – 120 Credits
The above pathway would holistically be equal to a full degree that can be completed in a shorter duration.
The top up programs which are equivalent to the final year of UG study, are designed to ensure you don’t need to start your degree from scratch, which could take three years or more, and instead take a faster route to graduation. You can start a top-up degree straight after finishing your entry qualification which is the L4 & L5 of the respective study discipline. This method does not have a specific age limit, and this is ideal for the working professionals who do not have the necessary time to attend Face 2 Face classes full time.
‘Top Up’ your Master’s Degree
Let’s consider a scenario on the Business Management Discipline
With a postgraduate diploma (L7 diploma in the business management discipline that covers 120 credits), commonly referred to as a Diploma to Degree, professionals can complete the final 60 credits of a Master of Business Administration program and graduate with a full MBA. The same scenario would be applicable to fields from a different discipline. This process is suitable for any applicant who wishes to pursue their master’s.
A standard master’s programme carries 180 Credits, and the Top-up degree model fulfills these credits in the following manner
Level 7 Diploma/Postgraduate Diploma in the respective field – 120 Credits
Final Year of a Master’s program in the respective field – 60 credits
The most sought-after degree in business has always been an MBA, and working individuals from all over the world pursue it for a variety of reasons, including job promotion, higher pay, or acquiring the skills needed to launch a start-up. As the demands of a highly competitive workforce rise, numerous companies around the world now require applicants to obtain postgraduate degrees. Many professionals decide to pursue an MBA as a result and now it is further expanded into many other areas with the competency requirements for skilled individuals in the contemporary business world (I.e: IT, Logistics, HR, Health and Social Care etc). This programme is suitable for individuals who are unable to finish the program owing to unforeseen events, and also for someone who wishes to complete it in a shorter duration in a flexible manner.
Any candidate could now follow online Bachelors and Masters Programmes from Global Education Platform with affiliation with recognized UK universities which would be recognized as a full programme.
Click here to view the course catalogue we have here at GEP