How long you can stay depends on the length of your course and what study you’ve already completed in the UK.

If you’re 18 or over and your course is at degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 5 years. If it’s below degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 2 years.

A Bachelor’s degree is the most common of university degree levels – and can be studied straight after finishing higher education. It’s classed as a level 6 qualification.

In many educational systems, a Bachelor’s degree is indeed the most common university degree level and typically follows the completion of secondary education. It’s often considered a Level 6 qualification, according to frameworks like the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) in the United Kingdom or the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) in Europe. These frameworks provide a way of understanding and comparing different qualifications and levels of education across countries.

England, Wales and Northern Ireland

There are 9 qualification levels

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
• T Level
• 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

By GEC