Course entry requirements

There’s a lot to think about if you’re considering applying to uni, but it's important that you keep course entry requirements in mind while you're doing your research. Find out more about what they are and where you can find them.

What are entry requirements?

Entry requirements are the qualifications and subjects you need to have studied, or the grades you will need to achieve in order to apply for a particular course. Entry requirements will be different for each course and at each university, as every institution sets its own.

These requirements can be a mix of qualifications at different levels, but most commonly they consider GCSE (or Functional Skills) grades, as well as Level 3 qualifications such as A Levels and BTECs, which are often converted into 'UCAS Tariff points'.

What are UCAS Tariff points?

Most institutions will use UCAS Tariff points as part of their entry requirements, which is where all of your qualifications are converted into points, making it simpler for universities and colleges to compare applicants that may hold different qualifications.

UCAS Tariff breakdown
A Level
GradePoints - from Sept 2017Current points
A* 56 140
A 48 120
B 40 100
C 32 80
D 24 60
AS Level
GradePoints - from Sept 2017Current points
A 20 60
B 16 50
C 12 40
D 10 30
BTEC Diploma
GradePoints - from Sept 2017Current points
D*D* 112 280
D*D 104 260
DD 96 240
DM 80 200
BTEC Extended Diploma
GradePoints - from Sept 2017Current points
D*D*D* 168 420
D*D*D 160 400
D*DD 152 380
DDD 144 360
DDM 128 320
DMM 112 280
MMM 96 240
MMP 80 200
MPP 64 160
PPP 48 120

Why do universities have entry requirements?

Universities ask that you demonstrate that you are capable of handling the academic aspects of your course by setting entry requirements. Some subjects may require a certain level of knowledge of that subject or related ones, or you may need appropriate experience in a particular discipline or area in order to make the most of the course.

How do I find out the entry requirements for the course I'm interested in?

You can either browse entry requirements using the UCAS course search function or alternatively find them on course pages. Entry requirements for our courses sit under the 'entry requirements' tab on each course page and detail the criteria which we expect applicants to meet in order to be considered for the course.

What if English is not my first language?

Our courses are taught and assessed entirely in English. Therefore, if your first language is not English, you will need to demonstrate appropriate proficiency. If you need to improve your English before beginning your studies, you may be able to take one of our pre-sessional English courses.

What should you do next?

Find a course

We offer an extensive selection of more than 100 courses, spanning a wide range of subjects for you to explore.

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