How to get into university

Picking a university course and the idea of going to university is daunting enough without thinking about the application process and everything that comes with it. This article will guide you through what the grade requirements mean so you’ll be fully equipped to apply!

What qualifications do I need to get into university?

Students will most commonly study A-levels, BTECs, IB or T-levels. Universities have flexible entry requirements and will accept any of these qualifications (as well as many more!). Each qualification has UCAS Tariff points associated with it and different universities will have different entry requirements.

What are UCAS Tariff points?

UCAS Tariff points are a number given to your grades. So, the UCAS points you get will depend on the type of qualification you do and the grade you achieve. Universities will set UCAS requirements for their courses.

Here’s a breakdown:

A-level	UCAS Tariff points
A*	56
A	48
B	40
C	32
D	24
E	16

T-level	UCAS Tariff points
Distinction *	168
Distinction	144
Merit	120
Pass (with a C or above on the core)	96
Pass (with a D or E on the core)	72

BTEC National Extended Certificate	UCAS Tariff points
Distinction *	56
Distinction	48
Merit	32
Pass	16

You can also use an online calculator to work out your UCAS point total.

Do all universities use UCAS Tariff points?

The answer is no, two-thirds of universities do not use UCAS Tariff points when giving offers. Many universities like Oxford, Cambridge and the Russell Group will not base their entry requirements on UCAS Tariff points. Instead, they will only give offers based on A-level grades. If in doubt, use the specific university’s website to search which grades or UCAS Tariff points you need for your chosen course.

What is the benefit of using UCAS Tariff points?

Using UCAS Tariff points gives greater flexibility for the student. If a university has a grade-based, like AAB or BBC for example, then the student would need to achieve this combination (or higher!) to be accepted. However, UCAS Tariff points mean that students can use a combination of grades to meet the set threshold.

Let’s look at an example…
Say you are applying to a university with entry requirements of 120 UCAS Tariff points. To achieve this you could get any of the following grades (and many other combinations too!)

• ABB in A-levels as this would give you 128 UCAS Tariff points.
• Imagine one A-level exam didn’t go so well and you get A*A*D, this would still be 128 UCAS Tariff points.
• AAC in A-levels would also give you 128 UCAS Tariff points.
• AA in A-levels and a Distinction in BTEC would also give you 128 UCAS Tariff points.
• A*B in A-levels and a Merit in BTEC would also give you 128 UCAS Tariff points.

The point of that is to show you how UCAS Tariff points allow a wide variety of combinations and qualification types. Make sure to check the requirements of your chosen university and course and know what you’re working towards.