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About City And Guilds
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The City & Guilds Group is a leader in global skills development.​ The City and Guilds of London Institute is an educational organisation in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1878 by the City of London, the organisation's mission is to develop a national system of technical education.
Unlike conventional academic programmes, City and Guilds focuses on the development of vocational skills and technical knowledge through practical portfolio development coupled with academic courses, allowing learners to develop a wholesome hands-on education programme with emphasis on technical skills over academic knowledge.
City and Guilds work with education providers, employers and governments and its qualifications are recognised around the world in more than 100 countries across the world. Its qualifications are aimed at helping people, businesses and economies grow by shaping skills systems and supporting skills development.​
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As a Royal Chartered Institute and registered charity, the City and Guilds of London Institute is the awarding body for City & Guilds and ILM qualifications. The City & Guilds Group is the market facing brand for the organisation today. Over the years, the City & Guilds Group has expanded internationally to address global skills shortages by offering targeted skills education and training services locally.
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For more information on our partner, please visit www.cityandguilds.com
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City & Guilds headquarters on 1 Giltspur Street
City And Guilds Qualification Comparison
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The national qualification frameworks in the United Kingdom are qualifications frameworks that define and link the levels and credit values of different qualifications.
Starting from October 2015, the national qualification framework has officially adopted the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) for general and vocational qualifications regulated by Ofqual in England. Credit frameworks use the UK credit pioneered by the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme, where 1 credit = 10 hours of nominal learning.
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The table below indicates the City and Guilds Qualification as transcribed unto the RQF and conventional academic qualifications.
CITY AND GUILDS
LEVEL
RQF
ACADEMIC
If you've not got any prior experience and you don't feel confident about your abilities, then this level could be a good place to start.
Level E1
Level E2
Level E3
Entry level vocational awards
Scottish intermediate Scottish Access 1-2
Ideal if you're just starting out or are new to the subject area. This level covers routine tasks and basic knowledge.
Level 1
SVQ/NVQ Level 1
Level 1 Vocational Awards
Level 1 IVQ certificate
Level 1 International Introductory Awards*
GCSE grades D - G
3 Foundations S Grade
Scottish Access 1-2, Foundation GNVQ
BTEC first certificate
You need to have some knowledge or experience of the area.
Level 2
SVQ/NVQ Level 2
Level 2 Vocational Awards
Level 2 IVQ Technician Certificate
Level 2 IVQ Diploma
Level 2 Specialist Diploma
​Level 2 International awards*
GCSE grades A* - C
Scottish intermediate 2 / Credit S Grade.
Intermediate GNVQ
BTEC first diploma
Covers more complex work and will help you develop your supervisory skills.
Level 3
SVQ/NVQ Level 3
Level 3 Vocational Awards
Level 3 IVQ Technician Diploma
Level 3 IVQ Advanced Diploma
Level 3 IVQ Specialist Advanced Diploma
Level 3 International awards*
A-Levels
Scottish higher
AVCE
City & Guilds Advanced Craft Certificate / Diploma
Vocational A-Levels
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BTEC Ordinary National Certificate (ONC) and Ordinary National Diploma (OND) are both broadly comparable to a Level 3 qualification.
'Most likely you'll have management experience by this point.
Level 4
SVQ/NVQ Level 4
Level 4 Vocational Awards
Licentiateship (LCGI)
​Higher Professional Diploma
Full technical certificate
BTEC Higher National Certificate (HNC)
​BTEC Higher National Diploma (HND)
'Most likely you'll have management experience by this point.
Level 5
SVQ/NVQ Level 5
Level 5 Vocational Awards
Full Technical Certificate / Diploma
Advanced Technician Diploma
Diploma of higher education
Diploma of further education
Foundation degree
​Higher National Diploma (HND)
For senior managers
Level 6
Graduateship (GCGI)
​Associateship (ACGI)
Bachelor's degree
Graduate certificate
Graduate diploma
BTEC Advanced Professional Award, Certificate and Diploma level 6
For senior managers
Level 7
Membership (MCGI)
​Master Professional Diploma
Master's degree
Postgraduate certificate [PCG]
Postgraduate diploma [PCD]
Fellowship and Fellowship Diploma
BTEC Advanced Professional Award, Certificate and Diploma level 7
As high as you can go
Level 8
Fellowship (FCGI)
Doctorate, PhD
* Nearest comparable level
RQF has replaced QCFs starting 1-Jan-18. NVQ was replaced by QCFs in 2008