In the UK education sector, there are a wide range of qualification types offered by the United Kingdom awarding bodies. Qualifications range in size and type, can be academic, vocational or skills-related, and are grouped together into different levels of difficulty. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, qualifications are divided into Higher Education qualifications, which are on the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) and are awarded by bodies with degree awarding powers, and Regulated qualifications, which are on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) and are accredited by Ofqual in England, the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment in Northern Ireland and Qualifications Wales in Wales. In Scotland, qualifications are divided into Higher Education qualifications, Scottish Qualifications Authority qualifications and Scottish Vocational Qualifications/Modern Apprenticeships, which are on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). Scottish Higher Education Qualifications are on both the SCQF and the FHEQ

England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Entry level

Each entry level qualification is available at three sub-levels – 1, 2 and 3. Entry level 3 is the most difficult.

Entry level qualifications are:

• 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

Level 1 qualifications are:

• 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

Level 2 qualifications are:

• 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

Level 3 qualifications are:

• 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

Level 4 qualifications are:

• 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

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

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
• level 6 award
• level 6 certificate
• level 6 diploma
• level 6 NVQ
• ordinary degree without honours

Level 7

Level 7 qualifications are:

• 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

Level 8 qualifications are:

• doctorate, for example doctor of philosophy (PhD or DPhil)
• level 8 award
• level 8 certificate
• level 8 diploma

Source : https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels