Levels Explained

At Newcastle College University Centre, we offer Foundation Degrees where you can achieve both a Level 4 and Level 5 qualification over two years.

Entry Requirements

You can typically study a Foundation Degree if you hold Level 3 qualifications. At Newcastle College University Centre, we generally prefer 48–64 UCAS tariff points. UCAS tariff points are calculated by your final grades at Level 3.

Use the calculator here to work your points out.

What are Level 4 qualifications?

• CertHE – Certificate of Higher Education

• HNC – Higher National Certificate

• Level 4 Award, Certificate or Diploma

• Level 4 National Vocational Qualification (NVQ).

What are Level 5 qualifications?

• DipHE – Diploma of Higher Education

• Foundation Degree (FdA/FdSc/FdEng)

• Higher Apprenticeship

• Level 5 Award, Certificate or Diploma

• Level 5 National Vocational Qualification (NVQ).

Entry Requirements

At Newcastle College University Centre, you can typically study a Level 6 subject if you hold a Foundation Degree or equivalent Level 5 certification.

You can also study at Level 6 if you enrol onto a three-year Honours Degree, which you must hold Level 3 qualifications to do. At Newcastle College we prefer 48–64 UCAS tariff points. UCAS tariff points are calculated by your final grades at Level 3.

Use the calculator here to work your points out.

What are Level 6 qualifications?

• Degree Apprenticeship

• Honours Degree (BA/BSc/BEng/BMus)

• Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma

• Level 6 Award, Certificate or Diploma

• Level 6 National Vocational Qualification (NVQ)

• Ordinary Bachelor’s Degree without honours

• Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PgCE).

Entry Requirements

At Newcastle College University Centre, you can typically study a Level 7 degree programme if you hold an Honours Degree or an equivalent Level 6 certification.

What are Level 7 qualifications?

• Master's Degrees (MA/MSc/MEng)

• Level 7 Award, Certificate or Diploma

• Level 7 National Vocational Qualification (NVQ)

• Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma.

We don’t currently offer Level 8 qualifications at Newcastle College University Centre, but you can progress onto a Level 8 programme after completing a Level 7 degree.

What are Level 8 qualifications?

• Doctorates (PhD or DPhil)

• Level 8 Award, Certificate or Diploma.