Academic requirements for Undergraduate Students (Home and EU)

Entry Qualifications

There are different entry qualifications for each programme. Some programmes require you to have a certain amount of knowledge in a subject before you begin the degree programme - this is called
a 'subject requirement'. Other programmes do not have any specific subject requirements. All
programmes will, however, expect you to have reached a certain standard in your education and
will ask you to achieve certain grades in your examinations. Most programmes will list a 'typical offer' with their course information so that you know in advance the level of attainment you are likely to be asked to achieve if you are successful in your application. Entry to all programmes at the University of Reading is competitive so even if you hold (or are predicted to achieve) grades matching our 'typical offer', you are not guaranteed an offer of a place on a degree programme. If
you are made an offer of a place, the conditions that you need to meet to take up your place on the course will be detailed in our offer and will reflect the particular qualification(s) you are studying.

A levels/AS levels

The typical offer for most of our programmes is expressed in terms of achievement across three A levels (though some programmes will make a slightly different offer to those studying four A levels or three A levels and an AS level). A small number of programmes make use of the UCAS tariff, details of which can be found on the UCAS website. Please note that all offers exclude General Studies.

Cambridge Pre-U

Applicants offering a mixture of Pre-U and A level subjects are welcomed. Subject-specific requirements can be satisfied by either Pre-U certificate or A Level qualifications. If you are completing the Pre-U Diploma, you are also very welcome to submit an application.

Scottish Framework Qualifications

Applicants with Scottish Highers alone or a mixture of Advanced Highers with Highers are welcomed. (Please note that each different subject can be counted once only.) Where your chosen programme of study has a subject-specific requirement, you will be asked to achieve a certain score in that subject at Higher or Advanced Higher level.

Irish Leaving Certificates

Applicants undertaking the Irish Leaving Certificate will be expected to achieve five subjects at Higher Level. Required scores will be specified in individual offers.

Key Skills

We welcome evidence of Key Skills in your portfolio but we do not typically include Key Skills in our offers.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

We welcome students presenting the full IB diploma. If you are made an offer of a place, we will specify an overall score that you will need to achieve. We will consider those presenting IB certificates on an individual basis. Where a programme requires specific subject knowledge
equivalent to A level, you will be asked to achieve a particular grade at higher level.

European Baccalaureate (EB)

Students presenting the EB are welcome to apply. Our typical offer ranges between 60% and 80%. Where relevant, we may ask you to achieve a certain grade in a subject.

Welsh Baccalaureate (WB)

We are happy to consider applicants presenting the WB Advanced Diploma in combination with
other qualifications. The University requires satisfactory completion of the compulsory core as well as options chosen from GCE, NVQ and BTEC National qualifications..

BTEC National Diploma

We are happy to consider applicants with BTEC National Diplomas (and Certificates). As a guide, typical offers for the Diploma range from three distinctions to one merit with two distinctions. We are happy to consider applicants with BTEC HND and HNC qualifications. If you are interested in being considered for entry into the second year, please be prepared to supply full specifications
of your current course so that we can check that the curriculum
is compatible.

Open University

Students with 60 points from Open University modules will satisfy University minimum requirements
for entry to undergraduate study. If you have 120 points we may be able to consider you for admission into the second year. Please contact us if you would like further information or advice relating to your circumstances.

Access to HE Diploma

We are happy to consider applicants with Access qualifications. The programme must be a QAA
recognised programme. We may ask for specific grades in specific units and for particular subjects
to be studied.

GCSE

For entry to the University, we normally expect applicants to have achieved at least four GCSE passes at grade C or above. The University requirement for literacy and numeracy can be satisfied within this through a grade C at GCSE in Maths and English but a range of other qualifications are also suitable to meet this requirement. In addition, some of our programmes require you to hold GCSE or equivalent qualifications in specific subjects. This will be shown in the 'Fact File' box on the subject pages if it applies to your chosen programme

Qualifications not listed

If your qualification is not shown here, please do not worry. There are many other qualifications that the University accepts for entry - far too many to list here. Please contact the Admissions Office for further information.