Qualification Levels


Qualifications can be studied at different levels depending on the grades of a pupil/student.

All qualifications have a level, and completion of qualifications at one level allows for progression to a higher level.

The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) shows the level of qualifications, their size and subject.

STEM subjects can be studied at school, college and university. All of these qualifications can be studied locally (as well as at other Colleges of Further and Higher Education in Northern Ireland, and other UK Universities).

The table below shows where it is possible to study different levels of qualification as well as possible STEM areas of study available locally:

• Queen’s University of Belfast (QUB)
• University of Ulster (UU)
• Belfast Metropolitan College (BMC)
• South Eastern Regional College (SERC)
• College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE)



Entry Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Level 7 Level 8




Entry Level


Normally no set requirements


Types of Qualification:

Entry Level Awards

Where can I study these locally?

EBALC Schools , BMC; SERC

STEM areas include:

Year 11 - 12 School Programmes 
Towards Work Programmes





Level 1


Normally requires GCSE grades E-G or equivalent*


Types of Qualification: GCSEs Grades D – G
BTEC Level 1 Diplomas/Certificates
Level 1 NVQs
Essential Skills Level 1
Where can I study these locally?

EBALC Schools  BMC; SERC

STEM areas include:

Year 11 - 12 School Programmes 
Towards Work Programmes


*Equivalent qualifications


If qualifications are equivalent to GCSE students must always check the entry requirements before making applications to any course/employment. Some courses or jobs will still require certain subjects (especially Maths and English) at GCSE, even if the student does have the equivalent qualifications.




Level 2


Normally requires 4 GCSE grade D or equivalent* including English


Types of Qualification: GCSEs Grades A* - C
BTEC Level 2 Diplomas/Certificates
Level 2 NVQs
Essential Skills Level 2
Key Skills Level 2
Where can I study these locally? EBALC Schools BMC; SERC
STEM areas include:

STEM subjects in Year 11 – 12 School Programmes

Applied Sciences;  Creative Technologies, Engineering, ICT




Level 3


Normally requires at least 4-6 GCSE grades A*-C or equivalent, including English.


Types of Qualification: GCE A levels
GCE Applied A levels
BTEC Level 3 Diplomas/Certificates
Level 3 NVQs
Access Course
Where can I study these locally?

EBALC Schools BMC; SERC: CAFRE

STEM areas include:

Agriculture, Applied Science, Biological Science,  Building Services, Computing, Construction,  Electrical Engineering, Food, Manufacturing Engineering, Music Technology, Vehicle Technology


*Equivalent qualifications

If qualifications are equivalent to GCSE students must always check the entry requirements before making applications to any course/employment. Some courses or jobs will still require certain subjects (especially Maths and English) at GCSE, even if the student does have the equivalent qualifications.




Level 4


Normally requires qualifications at Level 3 or equivalent plus English and often Maths at GCSE grade A*-C. Qualifications may vary depending on the course.


Types of Qualification: Certificates of Higher Education
BTEC Higher National Certificates (HNC)
Where can I study these locally?

BMC; SERC

STEM areas include:

 

Agriculture, Applied Sciences,  Building Services and Renewable Energies,  Civil Engineering,  Computing and Systems, Construction, Creative Technologies, Finance, Food, Health Sciences, ICT, Mechanical Engineering, Product Design, Software Engineering


*Equivalent qualifications

If qualifications are equivalent to GCSE students must always check the entry requirements before making applications to any course/employment. Some courses or jobs will still require certain subjects (especially Maths and English) at GCSE, even if the student does have the equivalent qualifications.




Level 5


Types of Qualification:

Bachelors Degrees

Where can I study these locally?

QUB; UU; BMC; SERC; CAFRE

STEM areas include:

Architectural Technology, Engineering (Aeropace, Civil, Electrical, Environmental, Mechanical, Mechatronic, Software, Structural), Biological Sciences, Biomedicine, Building Surveying, Clean Technology, Computer Science/Engineering, Construction, Creative Technologies, Dentistry, Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Environmental Science Finance, Food Quality, Information Technologies, Mathematical Studies, Medicine, Nutrition, Nursing, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Physiotherapy, Product Design, Radiography, Renewable Energy, Sports Science, Surveying, Transport Planning, Zoology


*Equivalent qualifications

If qualifications are equivalent to GCSE students must always check the entry requirements before making applications to any course/employment. Some courses or jobs will still require certain subjects (especially Maths and English) at GCSE, even if the student does have the equivalent qualifications.




Level 6


Types of Qualification:

Bachelors Degrees

Where can I study these locally?

QUB; UU; BMC; SERC; CAFRE

STEM areas include:

Architectural Technology, Engineering (Aeropace, Civil, Electrical, Environmental, Mechanical, Mechatronic, Software, Structural), Biological Sciences, Biomedicine, Building Surveying, Clean Technology, Computer Science/Engineering, Construction, Creative Technologies, Dentistry, Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Environmental Science Finance, Food Quality, Information Technologies, Mathematical Studies, Medicine, Nutrition, Nursing, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Physiotherapy, Product Design, Radiography, Renewable Energy, Sports Science, Surveying, Transport Planning, Zoology


*Equivalent qualifications

If qualifications are equivalent to GCSE students must always check the entry requirements before making applications to any course/employment. Some courses or jobs will still require certain subjects (especially Maths and English) at GCSE, even if the student does have the equivalent qualifications.




Level 7


Types of Qualification: Masters Degrees
Postgraduate Certificates and Diplomas
Where can I study these locally?

QUB; UU

STEM areas include:

Architectural Technology, Engineering (Aeropace, Civil, Electrical, Environmental, Mechanical, Mechatronic, Software, Structural), Biological Sciences, Biomedicine, Building Surveying, Clean Technology, Computer Science/Engineering, Construction, Creative Technologies, Dentistry, Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Environmental Science Finance, Food Quality, Information Technologies, Mathematical Studies, Medicine, Nutrition, Nursing, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Physiotherapy, Product Design, Radiography, Renewable Energy, Sports Science, Surveying, Transport Planning, Zoology


*Equivalent qualifications

If qualifications are equivalent to GCSE students must always check the entry requirements before making applications to any course/employment. Some courses or jobs will still require certain subjects (especially Maths and English) at GCSE, even if the student does have the equivalent qualifications.




Level 8


Types of Qualification:

Doctoral Degrees

Where can I study these locally?

QUB; UU

STEM areas include:

Architectural Technology, Engineering (Aeropace, Civil, Electrical, Environmental, Mechanical, Mechatronic, Software, Structural), Biological Sciences, Biomedicine, Building Surveying, Clean Technology, Computer Science/Engineering, Construction, Creative Technologies, Dentistry, Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Environmental Science Finance, Food Quality, Information Technologies, Mathematical Studies, Medicine, Nutrition, Nursing, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Physiotherapy, Product Design, Radiography, Renewable Energy, Sports Science, Surveying, Transport Planning, Zoology


*Equivalent qualifications

If qualifications are equivalent to GCSE students must always check the entry requirements before making applications to any course/employment. Some courses or jobs will still require certain subjects (especially Maths and English) at GCSE, even if the student does have the equivalent qualifications.



Back to Qualifications


Schools in East Belfast involved in STEM projects and activities.



Ashfield Boys’ School | Ashfield Girls’ School | Bloomfield Collegiate | Campbell College | Grosvenor Grammar
Lagan College | Mitchell House | Our Lady & St Patrick’s College | Park School | Strathearn | Tor Bank School