What Is A Level 3 Course?

If you are living in the UK or planning to do that, you must know about the education system there. The UK's formal education is grouped into eight difficulty levels that you must pass accordingly. Each level will be equally weighted in a higher degree or a job.

Being a fresh GCSE graduate or someone with an incomplete qualification, you must know what is a Level 3 course. In a word, Level 3 is one of the 8 levels of qualification equivalent to A-Levels. But there are a lot of other aspects you must learn about this qualification. So, let’s dive deeper and learn them from this write-up.

What Is A Level 3 Course UK?

So many people ask- what is a Level 3 course UK has to offer? Level 3 course is one of the 8 qualifications designed by the UK government to classify the level of difficulties for students. Any fresh GCSE graduate can apply for a Level 3 course. Apart from that, adults with incomplete qualifications also can apply for any of its courses.

Level 3 is a diploma course, and you can apply for a job in a relevant field upon completion. All Level 3 courses consist of subject matters and extracurricular activities with exams. People also consider it further education since students with GCSE certificates can apply for it.

It is also a professional diploma for people already in the workforce who want to advance their careers. It’s a gateway to higher education. If you look at the Key Stage, Level 3 courses belong to Key Stage 5.

What Is Level 3 Course Equivalent To?

A student can apply for a Level 3 course after graduating from GCSE or General Certificate of Secondary Education. According to the level system, it comes 12th and 13th years of your education in the UK.

But any adult with incomplete qualifications also can apply for Level 3 courses given that they have at least passed GCSE. This level is considered to be equivalent to A-Levels. Now, you might wonder- what is a level 3 vocational course equivalent?

Level 3 vocational courses are introductory courses in any area of study. These courses have a duration of 1 year from enrollment. There are 2 types of diplomas offered in Level 3. They are:

• Level 3 Accredited Diploma
• Level 3 Professional Diploma

Accredited diplomas are designed for students who want to go for higher education in that field at universities or colleges. However, professional diplomas are for working students in that field who want to either switch jobs or advance careers in their current field.

Do universities accept Level 3 diplomas? One way to get into universities for students is the UCAS points. You can gain UCAS points from Level 3 courses. Students take Level 3 diplomas or other courses to enter universities or colleges.

What Qualification Option Does Level 3 Offer?

As the name suggests, Level 3 is in 3rd position in the UK’s education system. This level or group of qualifications offers many courses. Some are for students who want to study further at universities or colleges. Others are for students who want to gain practical knowledge in various fields through diploma courses.

You will find several qualifications at level 3, each of which will enhance your CV in the workplace. Here are some qualifications offered by Level 3:

• A Levels with Grades A, B, C, D, or E.
• Advanced Subsidiary or AS Level
• Applied General
• Level 3 Diploma & Certificate Awards
• Tech Level
• NVQ Level 3
• Advanced Apprenticeships
• Music Grades 6, 7, and 8
• Diplomas in Access to Higher Education
• International Baccalaureate Diploma
• Level 3 ESOL.

This level has some accredited courses that will help you get into a university for higher education. Besides, some courses will help you apply for a job in the relevant field after completing this level. So, you have to choose a qualification based on your future plan.

Whom Are Level 3 Courses Designed For?

Level 3 courses are designed for students who have completed minimum school education and want to continue studying in universities or colleges. It's designed for students who want to specialize in a particular subject to apply for a job or get a promotion.

To apply for any Level 3 courses, you must study for 11 years in schools before that. According to the current regulation, students must have some Level 3 training or 12 and 13 years of education.

Anybody can apply for Level 3 qualifications. For example, you are working in the health or adult care settings, but you don’t have any educational qualifications to do the job. Doing a Level 3 Diploma in Health & Social Care will allow you to work as a healthcare assistant in supervisory and management posts in the future.

Apart from that, you must complete Level 3 education to get admission to a university or college for higher studies. So, if you plan for higher studies or want to join the workforce, you will need a Level 3 qualification.

You might ask, are Level 3 courses free? The answer is, No. You must pay a certain fee for the courses depending on which course you are doing and where you’re doing it.

What Are Level 3 Courses?

Hundreds of courses are offered in Level 3 education in the UK. If you look at the qualifications of this level, you will understand what kind of courses are available in Level 3. Here I’ll show you some of the Level 3 courses so that you get an idea.

• Diploma in Health & Social Care Level 3
• Diploma in Law.
• Award in Education & Training.
• Diploma in Accounting.
• Diploma in Business
• Diploma in Business & Management.
• Diploma in Cybersecurity Management & Operations.
• Diploma in Hospitality & Tourism.
• Foundation Diploma for Higher Education.

These are just the tip of the iceberg. You will find thousands of courses in Level 3, covering all the working fields available in the workplace. There are many reputed offline and online organizations offering these courses. You must plan well on which course or qualification you want to attain and from where.

What Are The Different Levels of Qualifications in the UK?

We already know there are 8 different levels of education in the UK, starting from the bottom up. Since 2015, the UK government has announced 13 years of education as compulsory. Level 3 courses are taught in the 12th and 13th years.

The following table will show all 8 levels of education in the UK and what they are for.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is a Level 3 course?

Level 3 qualification is a Key Stage 5 education in the years 12 and 13. There are a lot of courses available under Level 3. You will need 2 years to study Level 3 programs with a core of 3 units. You can either choose A Levels with 3 subjects per unit or a mixed program of A Levels and Extended Certifications.

Can I do a Level 3 course from home?

Yes. You can do a Level 3 course from home. We offer various Level 3 courses on our platform. Courses like Diploma in Health & Social Care, Diploma in Business Management, Diploma in Business & Management, etc., are available in our virtual learning environment.

How many UCAS points are in a level 3 diploma?

Universities and Colleges Admission Service or UCAS points are one of the ways you can get admission to a university or a college. The more points, the greater the chance of getting admission. A Level 3 diploma holds 31 to 112 UCAS points.

Which Level 3 course is best for job in the UK?

If you want to get the Level 3 qualification to get a job, you must go for a course with better job opportunities in the UK. If you look at the UK’s workforce, you’ll see there’s high demand in medicine & dentistry, veterinary, allied medicine subjects, law, architecture, etc. 

Do universities accept Level 3 diplomas?

Universities in the UK accept Level 3 diplomas. It is equivalent to A Levels. So, if you fulfil the requirements of admission to a university, it will accept your Level 3 diploma qualification. Again, you will get UCAS points by completing a level 3 diploma, which will help you get into a university.

Final Thoughts

I hope now you have a better understanding of what is a level 3 course after reading the entire write-up. It’s a gateway to higher studies and jobs. Any course under the Level 3 qualification will help you get higher education or promotions in your workplace. So, choose your course carefully.