Page 1
GCSE / Award / Certificate / Diploma
3
Early Years Education and Care (Early Years Foundation Stage)
6th
5th
4th
3rd
2nd
1st
Lower Secondary School (Key Stage 3)
9th8th7th
UK: England
Primary School (Key Stage 1 and 2)
11
21
14
Year 2
Master’s Degree (MSc, MA, MBA, etc.)
Higher Education (Master)
Year 1
Higher Education (PhD)
Doctoral Degree (PhD)
Year 1Year 2
Year 3
19
Upper Secondary (Key Stage 5)
13th12th
Upper Secondary School (Key Stage 4)
11th10th
Vocational Upper Secondary(Level 3)
13th12th
Year 4
Year 3
Year 2
Higher Education (Bachelor)
Bachelor’s Degree (BA, BSc, BEng etc.)
Year 1
Higher Education (Postgraduate Diplomas and Certificates)
Postgraduate Diploma and Certificate
Year 1
Theoretical starting age
Higher/Vocational Education (Short courses, Level 4+)
Year 2
Year 1
Award / Certificate / Diploma /
Foundation degree / HNC / HND /
DipHE / CertHE/Apprenticeship
Award / Certificate / Diploma / Apprenticeship / Traineeship
18
0
2020
© EducationGPS
AS Level A Level
5
Reception Year
ISC
ED 1
ISC
ED 2
ISC
ED 0
20
ISC
ED 8
ISC
ED 5
ISC
ED 6
ISC
ED 7
ISC
ED 0
10
ISC
ED 3
Ad
ult
ed
uca
tio
n
Spe
cial
Ne
ed
s Ed
uca
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n
Page 2
Ad
ult
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GCSE
3
Early Years Education and Care
7th
6th
5th
4th
3rd
2nd
Lower Secondary School (Key Stage 3)
10th9th8th
UK: Northern Ireland
Primary School (Foundation Stage)
11
21
14
Year 2
Master’s Degree (MSc, MA, MBA, etc.)
Higher Education (Master)
Year 1
Higher Education (PhD)
Doctoral Degree (PhD)
Year 1Year 2
Year 3
19
Upper Secondary (sixth form)
14th
13th
Upper Secondary School (Key Stage 4)
12th11th
Vocational Upper Secondary(Level 3)
14th13th
Year 4
Year 3
Year 2
Higher Education (Bachelor)
Bachelor’s Degree (BA, BSc, BEng etc.)
Year 1
Higher Education (Postgraduate Diplomas and Certificates)
Postgraduate Diploma and Certificate
Year 1
Theoretical starting age
Award / Certificate / Diploma / Apprenticeship / Traineeship
16
0
2020
© EducationGPS
AS Level A Level
41st
Primary School (Key Stage 1 and 2)
Higher/Vocational Education (Short courses, Level 4+)
Year 2
Year 1
Spe
cial
Ne
ed
s Ed
uca
tio
n
ISC
ED 1
ISC
ED 2
ISC
ED
02
0IS
CED
8IS
CED
5IS
CED
6IS
CED
7IS
CED
01
0IS
CED
3
Award / Certificate / Diploma /
Foundation degree / HNC / HND /
DipHE / CertHE/Apprenticeship
Page 3
Advanced Higher
Higher National
7th
5
3
Early Learning and Childcare
6th
5th
4th
3rd
2nd
1st
Theoretical starting age
UK: Scotland
Primary School
12
Year 2
Year 1
15
Year 2
Higher Education (Master)
Year 1
Year 3
Doctorate
Doctoral Degree (PhD)
Year 2Year 1
18
Secondary School
10th
9th
8th
National Progression Awards/ National Certificates/ SVQ/ Professional Development Awards
11th
12th/ 13th
Highers / Skills for Work Highers / Advanced Highers
13th
National Progression Awards/ National Certificates/ SVQ/
Professional Development Awards
13th12th
Year 4
Year 3
Year 2
Higher Education (Bachelor)
Bachelor’s Degree (BA, BSc, BEng etc.)
Year 1
Higher National Diploma (HND)
Post graduate Diploma and Certificates
Year 1
Post-graduate Diplomas and Certificates
16
National Progression Awards/ National Certificates/ SVQ/
Professional Development Awards
21
Master’s Degree(MSc, MA, MBA, etc.)
Higher
11th / 12th /13th
National 5/ Skills for Work National 5
National 1-4/ Skills for Work National 3-4
11th
0
2020
© EducationGPS
Higher National Certificate (HNC)
Ad
ult
Ed
uca
tio
n
Spe
cial
Ne
ed
s Ed
uca
tio
n
ISC
ED 1
ISC
ED 2
ISC
ED
02
0IS
CED
8IS
CED
5IS
CED
6IS
CED
7IS
CED
01
0IS
CED
3
Page 4
3
Early Years
6th
5th
4th
3rd
2nd
1st
Lower Secondary School (Key Stage 3)
9th8th7th
UK: Wales
Primary School (Foundation Phase )
11
21
14
Year 2
Master’s Degree (MSc, MA, MBA, etc.)
Higher Education (Master)
Year 1
Higher Education (PhD)
Doctoral Degree (PhD)
Year 1Year 2
Year 3
19
Upper Secondary / Further Education (16-18)
13th
12th
Upper Secondary School (Key Stage 4)
11th10th
Vocational Upper Secondary/ Further Education (Level 3)
Year 4
Year 3
Year 2
Higher Education (Bachelor)
Bachelor’s Degree (BA, BSc, BEng etc.)
Year 1
Higher Education (Postgraduate Diplomas and Certificates)
Postgraduate Diploma and Certificate
Year 1
Theoretical starting age
Welsh Baccalaureate ; A Level
16
0
2020
© EducationGPS
AS Level
5
Welsh Baccalaureate; GCSE
Early Years Education (Foundation Phase )
Primary School (Key Stage 2)
Higher/Vocational Education (Short courses, Level 4+)
Year 2
Year 1
Award / Certificate / Diploma / Apprenticeship / Traineeship
Spe
cial
Ne
ed
s Ed
uca
tio
n
Ad
ult
ed
uca
tio
n
ISC
ED 1
ISC
ED 2
ISC
ED
02
0IS
CED
8IS
CED
5IS
CED
6IS
CED
7IS
CED
01
0IS
CED
3
Award / Certificate / Diploma /
Foundation degree / HNC / HND /
DipHE / CertHE/Apprenticeship
Page 5
Key
http://gpseducation.oecd.org/
Typical student flow
Recognized exit point of the education system
Transfer from a programme to another
May be provided within one school structure
Programme designed for part-time attendance
Vocational/Professional orientation(according to national definition at the tertiary level)
Single structure education (integrated ISCED levels)
Starting/ending age of compulsory education
Transfer at crossing lines is not possible
Diploma Name of diploma, degree or certificate
2020 Reference year (school year 2019/2020 in the northern hemisphere)
* Theoretical starting ages refer to the ages as established by law and regulation for the
entry to a programme, actual starting ages may vary depending on the programme.