The NQF consist of 10 levels divided into three bands; Levels 1 to 4 equate to high school grades 9 to 12 or vocational training, 5 to 7 are college diplomas and technical qualifications, 7 to 10 are university degrees.
A NQF levels is a matric certificate qualification. You could earn your matric certificate by completing your matric final exams. If you can’t complete your matric, there are national and FET certificates equivalent to it.
| Levels | Designation |
|---|---|
| 1 | Grade 9 |
| 2 | Grade 10 and National (vocational) Certificates level 2 |
| 3 | Grade 11 and National (vocational) Certificates level 3 |
| 4 | Grade 12 (National Senior Certificate) and National (vocational) Cert. level 4 |
| 5 | Higher Certificates and Advanced National (vocational) Cert. |
| 6 | National Diploma and Advanced certificates |
| 7 | Bachelor’s degree, Advanced Diplomas, Post Graduate Certificate and B-tech |
| 8 | Honours degree, Post Graduate diploma and Professional Qualifications |
| 9 | Master’s degree |
| 10 | Doctor’s degree |