Entry requirements

You must have a Diploma in a relevant subject and hold 60 credits overall, with at least 45 credits at level 3 including 30 credits at Distinction and 15 at Merit - this is a minimum; some courses will have higher requirements. You may need specific units and grades for some courses. Please contact the relevant admissions team to find out more. You can find their contact details on Course Search.

We recognise that this qualification provides evidence of in-depth knowledge of the subject area. However, we do not accept it as a qualification for entry.

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales is accepted in place of a third A-level subject at the same grade. For example: if your chosen course requires AAA at A-level, we require two A-levels at grade A, plus your Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales at grade A.

We base our offer on the three A-levels taken with the AQA Baccalaureate. We also encourage you to discuss your work experience and other elements of your Baccalaureate in your personal statement.

We accept BTEC Extended Diplomas, BTEC Extended Certificates, Foundation Diplomas and Diplomas.

Some courses may also ask you for specific levels of achievement in a particular unit or units as well as the overall requirement. You may also need other acceptable Level 3 qualifications alongside the BTEC. You should contact the admissions team for your course before you apply to check your qualifications will be considered.

We will also consider the size and subject of your BTEC and any other Level 3 qualifications when we advise on your entry requirements. Please contact the relevant admissions team to find out more. You can find their contact details on Course Search.

Some of our schools may take into consideration whether the BTEC is on the QCF (Qualifications and Credit Framework) or RQF (Regulated Qualifications Framework) when setting entry requirements. You should tell us on your application form which framework your qualification sits in. If you are not sure, you should ask your current school or college. Further information can also be found on the Pearson website.

We will consider your three principal subjects or a combination of principal subjects and A-levels. We will take the Global Perspectives and Research (GPR) Pre-U into consideration as part of your overall profile and may consider it where you are undertaking GPR in combination with two to three A-levels or equivalent. We would encourage you to discuss your GPR qualification in your UCAS application.

We accept the Extended Diploma, but you may need an additional A-level for some courses. We usually only accept the Introductory Diploma alongside two A-levels and the Diploma alongside one or two A-levels. Please contact the relevant admissions team to find out more. You can find their contact details on Course Search.

We do not accept Application of Number Level 2 as an equivalent to GCSE Maths.

We will accept Level 3 Core Maths if you have achieved a grade C/4 in GCSE Maths but you need a higher grade for your chosen course. Where A-level Maths is required we do not accept Core Maths instead.

We do not require applicants to have obtained the English Baccalaureate.

Although UK students are not required to take the Extended Project Qualification, we appreciate that it provides the opportunity for you to develop important research and academic skills. We encourage you to provide further information on your project in your personal statement and, if invited, at interview as it is often taken into account if you narrowly miss the grades outlined in our offer to you.

In some cases, admissions tutors may make an alternative offer to applicants that involves successful completion of the EPQ (for example, AAB plus A in the EPQ as an alternative to AAA at A-Level). Please check Course Search to see if this is available for your course.

Level 2 Functional Skills Maths and English at a Pass are accepted as equivalent to GCSE grade 4 or C.

Courses requiring a higher grade in GCSE Maths or English may not accept Functional Skills in its place. This includes extended degree courses with a foundation year offered by the Lifelong Learning Centre, where the course you wish to study after the foundation year has a higher GCSE Maths or English requirement for standard entry. Please check with the relevant course admissions team before applying. You can find their contact details on Course Search.

Some of our faculties will accept HNDs and HNCs, depending on the course. Please contact the relevant admissions team to find out more. You can find their contact details on Course Search.

If you are an IBCP student, you should contact the faculty admissions team prior to your application so your academic profile can be considered. You can find their contact details on Course Search. The type and size of the vocational elements and the level of the IB courses will be considered so the team can advise on your specific qualifications.

We encourage applications from students undertaking higher level (HL) IB courses. We will consider applicants who present three HL courses, or a combination of HLs with A-levels, in which case three unique subjects must be undertaken. Please note that subject-specific requirements may apply to some courses.

We accept the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme with a minimum overall score of 31. Some undergraduate degrees may require a higher overall score or specific grades in higher level (HL) or standard level (SL) subjects. Foundation years offered by the Lifelong Learning Centre may require a lower overall score.

Our requirements vary by course and may differ depending on the IBDP modules you are taking. Please check Course Search to find out the requirements for your course.

We accept higher level Maths: Applications and Interpretation and Maths: Analysis and Approaches in place of A-level Maths.

We accept standard level Maths: Applications and Interpretation and Maths: Analysis and Approaches in place of GCSE Maths.

We accept the following in place of GCSE English at grade 4 or C:

• English (A) Language and Literature – 4 at HL or 5 at SL
• English (A) Literature – 4 at HL or 5 at SL
• English (B) (Second Language) – 5 at HL or 5 at SL

We do not accept Literature and Performance or English ab initio in lieu of GCSE English.

We appreciate that the International Project Qualification enables you to develop your research and academic skills. We encourage you to include information about your project in your personal statement and if you are invited to interview, as it is often taken into account if you narrowly miss the grades outlined in our offer to you.

In some cases, admissions tutors may make an alternative offer to applicants that involves successful completion of the IPQ (for example, AAB plus A in the IPQ as an alternative to AAA at A-Level). Please contact the relevant admissions team to find out more. You can find their contact details on Course Search.

We accept the Irish Leaving Certificate (Higher Level). You can find out more about our requirements on our international qualifications page.

We accept Level 1/2 certificates from AQA, CAIE and Edexcel, as an equivalent to GCSE qualifications. Please contact the relevant admissions team for further information. You can find their contact details on Course Search.

We accept National 5s as equivalent to GCSEs. The minimum English language requirement is grade C or above.

We accept Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers with the grades in the list that follows. The list shows the A-level grades and equivalent Higher and Advanced Higher grades. 

A*AA at A-level 

• AA in Advanced Highers and AAABB in Highers    
• A in an Advanced Higher and AAAAB in Highers    
• AAAAAA in Highers

AAA at A-level 

• AA in Advanced Highers and AABBB in Highers 
• A in an Advanced Higher and AAABB in Highers
• AAAAAA in Highers

AAB at A-level 

• AB in Advanced Highers and AABBB in Highers
• A in an Advanced Higher and AABBB in Highers
• AAAABB in Highers

ABB at A-level 

• BB in Advanced Highers and AABBB in Highers
• B in an Advanced Higher and AAABB in Highers
• AABBBB in Highers

BBB at A-level

• BB in Advanced Highers and BBBBB in Highers
• B in an Advanced Higher and BBBBB in Highers
• BBBBBB in Highers

For the full list of T Level subjects we accept and the courses you can apply for with them, please see our T Levels statement. Our typical offer is Distinction overall with A in the Core Component.

T Levels are considered for entry on to the foundation year courses offered by our Lifelong Learning Centre.