Universal Credit and education course levels

This guide gives examples of what types of courses are counted as ‘non-advanced’ and ‘advanced’ education for Universal Credit.

How course level affects Universal Credit

The level of education being studied affects: 

• extra Universal Credit payments for children aged 16 to 19  

• your eligibility for Universal Credit as a student

If you’re a parent or guardian of a child aged 16 to 19 

If your child is aged 16 to 19 you may be eligible for the extra amount of Universal Credit if they are in full-time non-advanced education. You’ll continue to get payments for a child in your household aged 16 to 19 if they remain in non-advanced education. 

Find out more about when you can get the extra Universal Credit payment for children aged 16 to 19.

If you or your partner is a student

You may be eligible for Universal Credit if: 

• you or your partner is in full-time non-advanced education 
• you meet specific criteria, for example you’re entitled to a qualifying disability benefit or responsible for a child

Most students in advanced education are not eligible, but there are exceptions. Find out more about Universal Credit and students.

What counts as non-advanced education 

Non-advanced education includes qualifications below higher education level, and typically offered in schools or further education colleges. Non-advanced education does not include apprenticeships.

England, Wales and Northern Ireland non-advanced education

Non-advanced education is between levels 1 and 3 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).

Examples include:  

• GCSE, AS level, A level and T level
• NVQ, award, certificate or diploma, up to level 3
• BTEC and BTEC Extended Diploma, up to level 3
• national certificate and national diploma up to level 3
• essential and functional skills courses up to level 3
• CACHE, City and Guilds, EDEXCEL, ESOL, up to level 3
• Skills for Life
• NQual, up to level 3
• Gateway Qualification up to level 3
• Pathways up to level 3
• access to higher education diploma
• international Baccalaureate diploma
• any course not classed as advanced education

Scotland non-advanced education

Non-advanced education is between levels 1 and 6 on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).

Examples include:  

• National Qualification up to level 6
• Scottish Higher and Advanced Higher
• National Certificate (NC) and National Progression Award (NPA) up to level 6
• Skills for Work
• SQA Award up to Level 6
• SCQF up to level 6
• Professional Development Award (PDA) up to level 6
• Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) up to level 3
• introductory or access courses that do not lead directly to a degree
• BTEC and BTEC Extended Diploma, up to level 3
• international Baccalaureate diploma
• Ordinary National Diploma and Standard Grade
• any course not classed as advanced education

What counts as advanced education 

Advanced education includes higher education qualifications above A level or equivalent. It typically leads to university-level study.

England, Wales and Northern Ireland advanced education

Examples include: 

• university degree
• postgraduate level qualification
• NVQ level 4 or above
• degree apprenticeship
• diploma of higher education (DipHE)
• certificate of higher education (CertHE)
• higher national diploma (HND)
• higher national certificate (HNC)
• foundation degree
• teaching qualification
• graduate diploma

Scotland advanced education

Examples include: 

• university degree
• postgraduate level qualification
• Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) higher national certificate (HNC)
• SQA higher national diploma (HND)
• diploma of higher education
• SVQ level 7 and above
• teaching qualification