Level 7 qualification: what a recognised Bac+5 really means
You come across it on programme descriptions, in job offers or in work-study adverts: "level 7". This figure has a precise meaning. It indicates that a qualification corresponds to a Bac+5 recognised by the State. Here is how to read it, how it differs from the Grade de Master, and which Excelia Business School programmes lead to it.
The essentials in 30 seconds
Level 7 corresponds to a Bac+5: it is the level of master's degrees and MBAs.
It is awarded by listing on the RNCP, the official register of certifications recognised by the State.
The Grade de Master, awarded by the Ministry of Higher Education, is a separate recognition.
The Master in Management (Programme Grande École) and the Master of Science (MSc) programmes at Excelia Business School combine both.
Level 7, an official benchmark for a Bac+5
Level 7 means Bac+5: five years of study after the baccalaureate. It is the level of master's degrees and MBAs.
This level is set by the National Register of Professional Certifications (RNCP). This official register lists the certifications recognised by the State. It is kept by France compétences, which checks that the skills taught meet genuine labour market needs.
Level I or level 7? Some older documents still refer to "level I": it is the same level. Since the decree of 8 January 2019, the scale has comprised eight levels, written in Arabic numerals. Level 8, the highest, corresponds to the doctorate and the DBA.
Discover the full scale of levels and the Excelia Business School qualifications listed on the RNCP
What is an RNCP certification? See our FAQ
Level 7 and Grade de Master: two complementary recognitions
"Level 7 is a master's, isn't it?" The question comes up often. Level 7 is indeed the level of master's degrees, but the Grade de Master is a separate recognition. The two do not replace each other: each has its own use.
| Level 7 (RNCP) | Grade de Master | |
|---|---|---|
| Who awards it | Listing on the RNCP, kept by France compétences | Ministry of Higher Education |
| What it indicates | The qualification level of the degree | The qualification's place in the licence-master-doctorat framework |
| What it gives you | An employer immediately identifies your level | Access to the programmes that require the grade in order to continue your studies |
To these two benchmarks is added the visa, also awarded by the ministry: it attests that the programme's academic quality has been checked.
The right habit: to compare two Bac+5 programmes, always check the level, then the grade.
Two level 7 programmes at Excelia Business School
At Excelia Business School, two Bac+5 programmes combine RNCP level 7 and the Grade de Master: the Master in Management and the Master of Science (MSc) programmes.
The Master in Management: five years to prepare you to manage
State-accredited, the Master in Management leads to the Grade de Master and is listed on the RNCP at level 7. This management programme spans five years, from entry after the baccalaureate to the qualification. It prepares you for management roles, then executive roles.
Three entry routes are open to you:
- after the baccalaureate
- after a preparatory class or a Bac+2
- straight into the master's cycle, through direct entry
Whatever your point of entry, you obtain the same qualification and the same Grade de Master.
Discover the Master in Management
The Master of Science (MSc) programmes: specialise over 12 or 24 months
State-recognised, the Master of Science (MSc) programmes also lead to the Grade de Master and are listed on the RNCP at level 7. You choose a specialisation from among the fields offered.
- Duration: 12 or 24 months, depending on your entry level (Bac+3 or Bac+4)
- Format: standard or work-study
- Professional experience: built into the curriculum, through internships or work-study
Discover our Master of Science (MSc) programmes
Are you in the Bachelor in Business or the BBA International?
These two qualifications are at level 6, that of a licence. The Bachelor in Business is completed in three years, the BBA International in four.
The Bachelor in Business is a springboard to the Master in Management as well as to the Master of Science (MSc) programmes. After the BBA International, you can continue to a master's, in particular a Master of Science (MSc).
Are you starting from the baccalaureate, a preparatory class or a Bac+2 to Bac+4? Our admissions page tells you which programme to aim for to reach level 7, and under what arrangements.
Consult the admission arrangements
The RNCP record: check a programme for yourself
Every level 7 certification has a public record, which anyone can consult on the France compétences website. This is the case for the Master in Management and the Master of Science (MSc) programmes of Excelia Business School.
This record tells you:
- the title of the certification and the body that certifies it
- the level and the field of activity
- the careers targeted and the skills acquired
- the sectors of activity and the types of jobs that are accessible
- the ROME code (Operational Directory of Occupations and Jobs)
- the arrangements for obtaining it, the entry requirements and the legal framework
It is the ideal tool for checking that a programme genuinely matches the career you are aiming for.
Good to know: listing on the RNCP is not permanent. It is granted for five years at most, then renewed. On renewal, the title or the record number may change.
Level 7 and work-study: reading the adverts properly
In a work-study offer, "level 7" means a Bac+5. Companies rely on the RNCP, because a qualification's record immediately gives its level.
Before you apply, therefore, compare the level requested in the advert with that of the qualification you are preparing for or aiming for.
The master's on a work-study basis: all the answers in our FAQ
Choosing a recognised Bac+5 in full knowledge of the facts
Level 7 and Grade de Master: these two benchmarks let you compare Bac+5 programmes on solid foundations. The Master in Management and the Master of Science (MSc) programmes of Excelia Business School combine both. The school also holds the international quadruple accreditation EQUIS, AACSB, AMBA and EFMD Master.
