- Applications for Level 4 and 5 qualifications are highest in regions where progression to higher education overall is lowest, and among mature students who are twice as likely to apply for a Level 4 or 5 qualification than 18-year-olds.
- In 2023 the most popular subject at Level 4 and 5 level were those allied to medicine, including nursing.
UCAS’ report, ‘Where Next? Who applies for Level 4 and 5 qualifications?’, published today in partnership with Gatsby Charitable Foundation explores the behaviour and experiences of Levels 4 and 5 qualification applicants. Level 4 and 5 qualifications (or SCQF Level 7 and 8 in Scotland) sit between qualifications like A levels, T Levels, BTECs and Scottish Highers (at Level 3 or SCQF 6), and an undergraduate degree (Level 6+ or SCQF 9-10).
In 2023, UCAS saw 34,175 UK applicants apply to study at least one Level 4 or 5 course, representing 5.7% of all applicants. Of those, nearly half were placed onto a Level 4 or 5 course by the end of the cycle. The majority (79%) of applicants to Level 4 and 5 courses also applied to a Level 6+ course, and of those who received an offer for both, one third (33%) picked the Level 4 or 5 course over Level 6+.
Level 4 and 5 qualifications also provide a critical pathway in places where progression to higher education is relatively low. Regions with the lowest higher education participation rates have the highest application rate to Level 4 and 5 qualifications. 7.7% of applicants in the South West and 7.6% of applicants in the North East are the most likely to apply to a Level 4 or 5 choice out of all regions in England. In comparison, just 3% of applicants in London and the South East, where progression to higher education is generally strongest, applied to a Level 4 or 5 choice. Level 4 and 5 qualifications also see greater interest from mature students, with applicants over 35 twice as likely to apply to Level 4 and 5 course choices than 18-year-olds (8.9% and 4.4% of total applicants respectively).
The most popular choice of Level 4-5 subjects are those allied to medicine, particularly among applicants over 35 (32% of over 35s applied to this subject). This shows a promising path for the further contribution that Level 4-5 education might make to the pipeline for the health and care workforce.
Other main findings from today’s report include:
- 49% of Level 4-5 applicants felt that the greatest advantages of these qualifications were that it would help in getting them a job they were interested in, and 20% also intend to continue their studies to Level 6 and above.
- Level 4-5 applicants are often exploring other routes simultaneously. 35% of Level 4-5 applicants that were surveyed said they are considering an apprenticeship and 49% said they were considering full or part-time employment.
- Overall, the number of applications to Level 4 and 5 courses (one applicant can make up to five applications) has decreased by 12% from 46,725 in 2019 to 40,920 in 2023. However, this decline is mostly at Level 5, where applications decreased by 21% (from 37,195 in 2019 to 29,250 in 2023).
- There is a mixed level of awareness about Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) amongst English applicants – nearly two-thirds of survey respondents were unfamiliar with the term Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) and low levels of understanding about their entitlement to student finance.
Dr Jo Saxton CBE, Chief Executive, UCAS said: “Level 4 and 5 qualifications provide an important pathway to higher education, especially for those who may not have otherwise considered it. The door to higher education should remain open for all students, regardless of their background, age or career aspirations.
“Ensuring students are provided with the right guidance and diverse learning experiences at an early stage is crucial in helping them make informed decisions about their future pathways, whether in higher education or the world of work.
“UCAS has made several recommendations in the report to ensure, as a sector, we equip students with the information, resources, and opportunities they need to make the right choices for their future success."
Ginny Page, Director of Programmes at Gatsby Charitable Foundation said: “Efforts to increase participation in Level 4 and 5 qualifications must be based on an understanding of what learners want from these courses. This valuable research from UCAS challenges the belief that Level 4-5 courses are just a back-up option for young people in the event of failing to meet the entry criteria for an undergraduate degree.
“Instead, this research shows that many Level 4-5 applicants are more work-orientated and want to study closer to home. While league table position is of much less interest to them than the average HE applicant, they clearly need more information about options such as Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs), and the financial support available to them.“
ENDS
Notes to editors
The 
report (4.9 MB) is the latest in UCAS’ 'Where Next' series.
‘Where Next? Who applies for Level 4 and 5 qualifications? looks at the applicants that UCAS sees, which is a subset of all Level 4-5 applicants across the UK. UCAS estimates that it receives around 48% of applicants to full-time Level 4-5 programmes (SCQF Level 7/8 in Scotland).
UCAS supports applicants for full-time higher education, including Level 4 and 5. This report looks at data available across all four UK nations for those applying to full-times courses from within the UK.
Although this report describes applicants, trends and experiences across the UK, there is more of a focus on England, given available UCAS data.
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UCAS
UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, is an independent charity, and the UK's shared admissions service for higher education.
UCAS’ services support young people making post-18 choices, as well as mature learners, by providing information, advice, and guidance to inspire and facilitate educational progression to university, college, or an apprenticeship.
UCAS manages almost three million applications, from around 700,000 people each year, for full-time undergraduate courses at over 380 universities and colleges across the UK.
UCAS is committed to delivering a first-class service to all our beneficiaries — they're at the heart of everything we do.
Gatsby Charitable Foundation
Gatsby is a foundation set up by David Sainsbury to realise his charitable objectives. This includes a commitment to strengthening the country’s science and engineering skills by developing innovative programmes and informing national policy on technical education, skills and good careers guidance.