Have I got the right A Level grades to go to uni?

CONTENTS

1. Different entry requirements

2. What to do if you don't meet the entry requirements?

3. Taking a gap year

4. Doing a foundation course

5. Still not sure?

6. Making the right decision for you

While you wait for your A Level results, you may wonder if you've got the right grades to go to university. After all, you've worked hard for two years, and want to find out if your efforts have paid off. 

Different entry requirements

Entry requirements are set by universities and colleges to ensure that students have the right skills and knowledge to successfully complete their chosen course. They can vary widely depending on the subject, specific course, and course provider. The most important requirement is the number of UCAS points but there can be other conditions such as work experience, language proficiency or fitness assessments.

How to find entry requirements 

You can find entry requirements for a range of programmes using our course finder tool. Simply search by subjects that interest you for the relevant universities and courses on offer. The UCAS points will be specified while other entry requirements are usually found within the more detailed course description.

What to do if you don't meet the entry requirements?

Sometimes things don’t go to plan but there are always options so don’t panic. Here are some scenarios to consider:

Contact the university

If you’ve only just missed your grades, you could still be offered a place at your preferred university as it may be short of applicants or other offer-holders could've got worse results than you.

Contact the university directly and see if they’ll still accept you or perhaps there is a similar course at the same uni that has a space they could offer you instead?

Apply to a different university or course 

You could apply to a different university or course through a process called Clearing. This is where UCAS matches students without places to courses without students.

Ideally do some research ahead of results day by making a list of universities with available courses that you’d consider instead along with their phone numbers and email addresses. Think about your interests and look at the average UCAS points for the alternative courses you have in mind. Are your alternative courses realistic backups? If the alternative courses have similar entry requirements, recognising this early on will save you a lot of time.

Taking a gap year

Taking a year out from formal education could give you opportunities to reflect and refocus as well as travel and work. Read more on the pros and cons of gap year life.

Doing a foundation course

Foundation courses give you an introduction into your area of interest. Although this could add a year to your overall study time, the entry requirements are often significantly lower. It also gives you an opportunity to be sure you enjoy the subject and might identify an area you want to specialise in later.

Still not sure?

If you’re still not sure, talk through the possibilities with other people to help you work out what’s important to you.

Talk to your teachers 

Your teachers will be able to give you support if your results are not what you’d hoped for. They’ll also be able to answer specific questions you might have on your options.

Talk to a careers advisor  

Career advisors are a good port of call for advise on how different course options could influence your future career prospects. They could also offer suggest alternative pathways such as degree apprenticeships.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are a great alternative to university especially if you enjoy learning in a more practical way. There are different levels so you can find the right level for you and work your way up if needs be.

Degree apprenticeships are the equivalent to undergraduate courses and are available in a growing range of industries. You can search for opportunities on Find An Apprenticeship.

Alternatively, our How to become guides explore different routes into a variety of careers. 

Making the right decision for you

 If your results were not what you’d hoped for, it’s important to take time to make the right decision rather than rush into something you could regret.

For more guidance, read our guide on what to do after results day.