Home > Data and documentation > Main Survey > Variables

Mainstage Variable

qfedhi

Highest educational qualification

Datafile

indresp

Index terms

Value label	Value	Absolute frequency	Relative frequency
missing	-9	250	1.73%
proxy	-7	965	6.69%
Higher Degree	1	425	2.95%
First Degree	2	1593	11.05%
Teaching QF	3	298	2.07%
Other Higher QF	4	3580	24.83%
Nursing QF	5	136	0.94%
GCE A Levels	6	1711	11.87%
GCE O Levels or Equiv	7	2130	14.77%
Commercial QF, No O Levels	8	281	1.95%
CSE Grade 2-5,Scot Grade 4-5	9	382	2.65%
Apprenticeship	10	206	1.43%
Other QF	11	67	0.46%
No QF	12	2269	15.74%
Still At School No QF	13	126	0.87%
	Total	14419	100.0%

Value label	Value	Absolute frequency	Relative frequency
missing	-9	262	1.76%
proxy	-7	948	6.37%
Higher Degree	1	428	2.88%
First Degree	2	1593	10.71%
Teaching QF	3	313	2.1%
Other Higher QF	4	3568	23.99%
Nursing QF	5	144	0.97%
GCE A Levels	6	1763	11.85%
GCE O Levels or Equiv	7	2291	15.4%
Commercial QF, No O Levels	8	300	2.02%
CSE Grade 2-5,Scot Grade 4-5	9	403	2.71%
Apprenticeship	10	232	1.56%
Other QF	11	81	0.54%
No QF	12	2433	16.36%
Still At School No QF	13	114	0.77%
	Total	14873	100.0%

Value label	Value	Absolute frequency	Relative frequency
missing	-9	292	1.9%
proxy	-7	977	6.35%
Higher Degree	1	425	2.76%
First Degree	2	1611	10.47%
Teaching QF	3	337	2.19%
Other Higher QF	4	3553	23.08%
Nursing QF	5	158	1.03%
GCE A Levels	6	1793	11.65%
GCE O Levels or Equiv	7	2435	15.82%
Commercial QF, No O Levels	8	316	2.05%
CSE Grade 2-5,Scot Grade 4-5	9	399	2.59%
Apprenticeship	10	240	1.56%
Other QF	11	86	0.56%
No QF	12	2644	17.18%
Still At School No QF	13	126	0.82%
	Total	15392	100.0%

Value label	Value	Absolute frequency	Relative frequency
missing	-9	317	2.03%
proxy	-7	982	6.29%
Higher Degree	1	425	2.72%
First Degree	2	1597	10.23%
Teaching QF	3	339	2.17%
Other Higher QF	4	3432	21.98%
Nursing QF	5	161	1.03%
GCE A Levels	6	1811	11.6%
GCE O Levels or Equiv	7	2517	16.12%
Commercial QF, No O Levels	8	331	2.12%
CSE Grade 2-5,Scot Grade 4-5	9	421	2.7%
Apprenticeship	10	257	1.65%
Other QF	11	102	0.65%
No QF	12	2787	17.85%
Still At School No QF	13	138	0.88%
	Total	15617	100.0%

Value label	Value	Absolute frequency	Relative frequency
missing	-9	316	2.0%
proxy	-7	1014	6.42%
Higher Degree	1	429	2.72%
First Degree	2	1571	9.95%
Teaching QF	3	362	2.29%
Other Higher QF	4	3376	21.38%
Nursing QF	5	175	1.11%
GCE A Levels	6	1774	11.23%
GCE O Levels or Equiv	7	2519	15.95%
Commercial QF, No O Levels	8	348	2.2%
CSE Grade 2-5,Scot Grade 4-5	9	429	2.72%
Apprenticeship	10	273	1.73%
Other QF	11	99	0.63%
No QF	12	2974	18.83%
Still At School No QF	13	132	0.84%
	Total	15791	100.0%

Value label	Value	Absolute frequency	Relative frequency
missing	-9	319	1.96%
proxy	-7	891	5.49%
Higher Degree	1	417	2.57%
First Degree	2	1570	9.67%
Teaching QF	3	365	2.25%
Other Higher QF	4	3343	20.59%
Nursing QF	5	195	1.2%
GCE A Levels	6	1859	11.45%
GCE O Levels or Equiv	7	2666	16.42%
Commercial QF, No O Levels	8	370	2.28%
CSE Grade 2-5,Scot Grade 4-5	9	457	2.81%
Apprenticeship	10	290	1.79%
Other QF	11	104	0.64%
No QF	12	3270	20.14%
Still At School No QF	13	122	0.75%
	Total	16238	100.0%

Value label	Value	Absolute frequency	Relative frequency
missing	-9	214	1.29%
proxy	-7	889	5.36%
Higher Degree	1	412	2.48%
First Degree	2	1572	9.47%
Teaching QF	3	376	2.27%
Other Higher QF	4	3235	19.49%
Nursing QF	5	213	1.28%
GCE A Levels	6	1865	11.24%
GCE O Levels or Equiv	7	2827	17.03%
Commercial QF, No O Levels	8	400	2.41%
CSE Grade 2-5,Scot Grade 4-5	9	486	2.93%
Apprenticeship	10	319	1.92%
Other QF	11	111	0.67%
No QF	12	3572	21.52%
Still At School No QF	13	106	0.64%
	Total	16597	100.0%

Value label	Value	Absolute frequency	Relative frequency
missing	-9	232	1.23%
proxy	-7	801	4.25%
Higher Degree	1	421	2.23%
First Degree	2	1658	8.79%
Teaching QF	3	416	2.2%
Other Higher QF	4	3409	18.07%
Nursing QF	5	258	1.37%
GCE A Levels	6	2108	11.17%
GCE O Levels or Equiv	7	3319	17.59%
Commercial QF, No O Levels	8	465	2.46%
CSE Grade 2-5,Scot Grade 4-5	9	602	3.19%
Apprenticeship	10	396	2.1%
Other QF	11	138	0.73%
No QF	12	4523	23.97%
Still At School No QF	13	121	0.64%
	Total	18867	100.0%

Value label	Value	Absolute frequency	Relative frequency
missing	-9	193	1.24%
proxy	-7	522	3.35%
Higher Degree	1	317	2.03%
First Degree	2	1386	8.88%
Teaching QF	3	377	2.42%
Other Higher QF	4	2947	18.89%
Nursing QF	5	223	1.43%
GCE A Levels	6	1754	11.24%
GCE O Levels or Equiv	7	2800	17.95%
Commercial QF, No O Levels	8	358	2.29%
CSE Grade 2-5,Scot Grade 4-5	9	533	3.42%
Apprenticeship	10	316	2.03%
Other QF	11	101	0.65%
No QF	12	3686	23.62%
Still At School No QF	13	90	0.58%
	Total	15603	100.0%

Value label	Value	Absolute frequency	Relative frequency
missing	-9	160	1.02%
proxy	-7	435	2.78%
Higher Degree	1	301	1.93%
First Degree	2	1316	8.42%
Teaching QF	3	396	2.53%
Other Higher QF	4	2686	17.19%
Nursing QF	5	247	1.58%
GCE A Levels	6	1794	11.48%
GCE O Levels or Equiv	7	2877	18.42%
Commercial QF, No O Levels	8	381	2.44%
CSE Grade 2-5,Scot Grade 4-5	9	534	3.42%
Apprenticeship	10	335	2.14%
Other QF	11	114	0.73%
No QF	12	3959	25.34%
Still At School No QF	13	88	0.56%
	Total	15623	100.0%

Value label	Value	Absolute frequency	Relative frequency
missing	-9	105	0.96%
proxy	-7	358	3.28%
Higher Degree	1	202	1.85%
First Degree	2	883	8.1%
Teaching QF	3	260	2.38%
Other Higher QF	4	1911	17.52%
Nursing QF	5	157	1.44%
GCE A Levels	6	1234	11.31%
GCE O Levels or Equiv	7	2088	19.15%
Commercial QF, No O Levels	8	290	2.66%
CSE Grade 2-5,Scot Grade 4-5	9	417	3.82%
Apprenticeship	10	212	1.94%
Other QF	11	77	0.71%
No QF	12	2659	24.38%
Still At School No QF	13	53	0.49%
	Total	10906	100.0%

Value label	Value	Absolute frequency	Relative frequency
missing	-9	61	0.54%
proxy	-7	365	3.26%
Higher Degree	1	196	1.75%
First Degree	2	839	7.5%
Teaching QF	3	264	2.36%
Other Higher QF	4	1802	16.1%
Nursing QF	5	166	1.48%
GCE A Levels	6	1325	11.84%
GCE O Levels or Equiv	7	2195	19.61%
Commercial QF, No O Levels	8	309	2.76%
CSE Grade 2-5,Scot Grade 4-5	9	431	3.85%
Apprenticeship	10	217	1.94%
Other QF	11	84	0.75%
No QF	12	2889	25.81%
Still At School No QF	13	50	0.45%
	Total	11193	100.0%

Value label	Value	Absolute frequency	Relative frequency
missing	-9	61	0.65%
proxy	-7	301	3.19%
Higher Degree	1	180	1.91%
First Degree	2	759	8.04%
Teaching QF	3	244	2.59%
Other Higher QF	4	1513	16.03%
Nursing QF	5	146	1.55%
GCE A Levels	6	1174	12.44%
GCE O Levels or Equiv	7	1871	19.82%
Commercial QF, No O Levels	8	274	2.9%
CSE Grade 2-5,Scot Grade 4-5	9	365	3.87%
Apprenticeship	10	180	1.91%
Other QF	11	60	0.64%
No QF	12	2263	23.98%
Still At School No QF	13	47	0.5%
	Total	9438	100.0%

Value label	Value	Absolute frequency	Relative frequency
missing	-9	55	0.59%
proxy	-7	422	4.56%
Higher Degree	1	160	1.73%
First Degree	2	711	7.69%
Teaching QF	3	233	2.52%
Other Higher QF	4	1397	15.1%
Nursing QF	5	162	1.75%
GCE A Levels	6	1101	11.9%
GCE O Levels or Equiv	7	1830	19.79%
Commercial QF, No O Levels	8	262	2.83%
CSE Grade 2-5,Scot Grade 4-5	9	343	3.71%
Apprenticeship	10	189	2.04%
Other QF	11	61	0.66%
No QF	12	2283	24.68%
Still At School No QF	13	40	0.43%
	Total	9249	100.0%

Value label	Value	Absolute frequency	Relative frequency
missing	-9	59	0.62%
proxy	-7	421	4.44%
Higher Degree	1	143	1.51%
First Degree	2	707	7.46%
Teaching QF	3	233	2.46%
Other Higher QF	4	1371	14.46%
Nursing QF	5	176	1.86%
GCE A Levels	6	1076	11.35%
GCE O Levels or Equiv	7	1877	19.8%
Commercial QF, No O Levels	8	286	3.02%
CSE Grade 2-5,Scot Grade 4-5	9	369	3.89%
Apprenticeship	10	204	2.15%
Other QF	11	67	0.71%
No QF	12	2448	25.82%
Still At School No QF	13	44	0.46%
	Total	9481	100.0%

Value label	Value	Absolute frequency	Relative frequency
missing	-9	52	0.54%
proxy	-7	576	6.0%
Higher Degree	1	140	1.46%
First Degree	2	670	6.98%
Teaching QF	3	231	2.41%
Other Higher QF	4	1298	13.52%
Nursing QF	5	173	1.8%
GCE A Levels	6	1024	10.67%
GCE O Levels or Equiv	7	1936	20.17%
Commercial QF, No O Levels	8	300	3.12%
CSE Grade 2-5,Scot Grade 4-5	9	362	3.77%
Apprenticeship	10	209	2.18%
Other QF	11	61	0.64%
No QF	12	2538	26.44%
Still At School No QF	13	30	0.31%
	Total	9600	100.0%

Value label	Value	Absolute frequency	Relative frequency
missing	-9	56	0.57%
proxy	-7	386	3.92%
Higher Degree	1	134	1.36%
First Degree	2	635	6.45%
Teaching QF	3	234	2.38%
Other Higher QF	4	1255	12.75%
Nursing QF	5	190	1.93%
GCE A Levels	6	1033	10.49%
GCE O Levels or Equiv	7	1984	20.15%
Commercial QF, No O Levels	8	316	3.21%
CSE Grade 2-5,Scot Grade 4-5	9	384	3.9%
Apprenticeship	10	243	2.47%
Other QF	11	71	0.72%
No QF	12	2877	29.22%
Still At School No QF	13	47	0.48%
	Total	9845	100.0%

Value label	Value	Absolute frequency	Relative frequency
missing	-9	19	0.19%
proxy	-7	352	3.43%
Higher Degree	1	122	1.19%
First Degree	2	598	5.83%
Teaching QF	3	225	2.19%
Other Higher QF	4	1207	11.76%
Nursing QF	5	215	2.09%
GCE A Levels	6	985	9.6%
GCE O Levels or Equiv	7	2086	20.32%
Commercial QF, No O Levels	8	349	3.4%
CSE Grade 2-5,Scot Grade 4-5	9	411	4.0%
Apprenticeship	10	262	2.55%
Other QF	11	84	0.82%
No QF	12	3318	32.33%
Still At School No QF	13	31	0.3%
	Total	10264	100.0%

Code creator
0

Create your own Stata code to extract data from the main end user licence Understanding Society dataset. Find out more

Saved variables

What else is Understanding Society doing?

A family celebrating

Understanding Society Wave 15

The latest wave of UKHLS is now available from the UK Data Service

Ariel view of a UK town

Understanding Society Wave 15 – what can data users expect?

The latest wave of data is out, so what’s included and what’s changed in this release?

Sushi Rolls not Gender Roles by Jeanne Menjoulet

Understanding Society used for Gender Equality Index

New tool measures men’s and women’s socioeconomic outcomes across UK

Photo of talk at an Understanding Society conference

Understanding Society Biosocial Conference 2026: combining biological and social data

A call for abstracts is now open - present your research at our Biosocial Conference

Email newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter

ESRC Institute for Social and Economic Research University of Essex

The Economic and Social Research Council is the primary funder of the study
The Study is led by a team at the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) at the University of Essex.