Entry requirements for undergraduate courses

There are various ways you can show us that you have the right experience and background to take on a Higher Education course.

We look at a full range of experience and qualifications when working out if you are eligible to apply.  We also take into account your personal/work experience and achievements, references, and any interviews or assessments.

Mature applicants - guidance if you are over 21 and/or have significant work experience.

International entry requirements - for non-EU students.

Qualifications we consider

When considering qualifications, we look at the UCAS tariff. This compares different qualifications and gives them a points rating, according to the grade or level achieved.

• AVCE Double Award (which replaced Advance GNVQ)
• GCE A Levels and/or AVCE
• GCE AS Levels and/or AS VCE Levels
• Key Skills - One Level Three Key Skills Unit pass counts as 20 points. And we accept up to 60 Tariff points in total from Key Skills and/or Compact (Compacts are agreements between us and a number of local schools and colleges).
• Access to Higher Education
• BTEC National Award/Diploma Level Three - these awards are structured into 6, 12 and 18-unit awards, and are rated on the UCAS Tariff. For the older structure of award, we equate a Diploma pass at 120 to 140 UCAS Tariff points, a pass with four merits at 160 to 180 points, and a pass with four distinctions at 200 to 220 points.
• 14-19 Diploma - The University welcomes applications from students who have completed Diplomas at an appropriate level.

We also cover a wide range of other qualifications. Contact the Gateway if you want to discuss your experience.

National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)

The high work-based content of an NVQ means that they are not normally considered for entry onto a degree course on their own.

We consider NVQs from mature applicants who have a substantial working background in the area they want to study and who have literally 'learned from experience'.

Someone with NVQ Level Three could enter a more practically-oriented course, like an HND – we'll take every application on its individual merits.

The UCAS tariff

Most undergraduate courses ask for a certain number of UCAS tariff points. These points are worked out according to grades achieved at particular qualifications; A-levels and BTECs are worth a certain number of points.

Find out more in the UCAS tariff explained, or visit the UCAS website for further information.

Applying from Wales, Scotland, Ireland and the rest of Europe

We welcome applicants with the following qualifications:

• Welsh Baccalaureate (WBQ) - offers will acknowledge the WBQ, and the core components will be accepted as equivalent to one 6-unit award in accordance with the UCAS tariff.
• Scottish qualifications - we accept the full range of qualifications. Offers will be made in line with the UCAS tariff and will acknowledge Core Skills.
• Irish Leaving Certificate - offers will be made in line with the UCAS tariff and you'll be expected to have at least two Higher level subjects and four Ordinary level subjects, including Maths and English.

Equivalent standard offers for European qualifications are listed for each course.