What Qualifications Do I Need?
Applicants must satisfy two sets of admissions criteria in order to be accepted onto their chosen course: the university's general entry requirements and those for the specific course. These vary in each case. Universities stipulate not only which qualifications they will accept, but also the minimum grades they expect students to achieve in the core exams. See university websites and UCAS's course search engine. Go to the specific details given for each course. The admissions criteria for those who have followed one of the main British systems of education may be quoted in terms of specific exams and grades or in UCAS tariff points. It is important to realise that all this information is only a guide. Admissions staff can vary the entry requirements from student to student depending on individual circumstances.Applicants for some vocational courses, typically medicine, will also be expected to have had some work experience and/or possess personal qualities relevant to their chosen field. Special entrance tests have been introduced by some universities for certain highly competitive courses, for example medicine (BMAT, GAMSAT) and law (LNAT) and by Oxford and Cambridge for some of their courses.
All applicants, whether British or overseas, are required to achieve a minimum level of English. This a pass at grade C or above in GCSE English Language or a recognised equivalent. The preferred qualification for those who have not studied in the British system and whose native language is not English is the British Council's IELTS.
The UCAS website provides general information on the status of overseas qualifications with regard to British university entry. A number of overseas national high school leaving diplomas meet the minimum entry requirements for British universities, but applicants should still check with the universities whether their grades will be sufficient for their chosen course. There are various types of bridging courses for overseas students whose qualifications are unlikely to meet the university entry requirements, but care should be taken about choosing the right one.