UCAS - Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Each university or college has different requirements that their students need to meet before they can start a course. These can be particular exam grades or Tariff points, or be non-academic, like having a health check.

Minimum entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements are a guide to the level of education required to study on each course. The universities or colleges you apply to will decide if your qualifications meet these requirements when they consider your application. Remember that a university's or college's decision is likely to be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.

Entry requirements are listed in each course's Entry Profile in Course Search. Check these before you apply so that you know what they expect.

What are Entry Profiles?

Entry Profiles help you decide which universities or colleges and which courses to apply to. Many courses with the same title are actually very different in terms of content and study methods, so Entry Profiles help you sort out which will suit you best.

They provide details about courses, the university or college offering each course, entry qualifications, selection criteria and the admissions policy. They are compiled by staff at the university or college, who understand what you need to know about their courses, and what kind of personal qualities, interests and experiences it will be helpful for you to have, so you can be successful on the course you choose.

Finding Entry Profiles

When you search for courses in Course Search, look for the symbol after the course title on the results page. If there's a symbol, the course has an Entry Profile.

To view the Entry Profile, click on the course title, which takes you to the main course information page. The Entry Profile link is below the application details.

How to use Entry Profiles

First, read the information about the course. Ask yourself if it will cover subjects that interest you and what career opportunities would be open to you. Does the Entry Profile tell you about the personal qualities the university or college is looking for in its students, or the experience that would be beneficial? See if it sounds like you.
Check the academic entry requirements. Are you studying the right subjects to be accepted onto this course? Will you meet the grades or Tariff points required?
Make sure that you know where the course will be taught - sometimes it is not at the main campus. Check that you could travel to lectures and tutorials easily, if you live some distance away.
Some courses require you to take an admissions test. If this is the case, you need to find out how to apply for it.
Look for comments written by current or former students. What they have to say will help you imagine what it will be like to be a student at that university or on that course.

Entry Profiles are being updated all the time - if you have any comments, please email profiles@ucas.ac.uk.

Need more information?

If you don't find everything you need in Course Search, contact the universities and colleges or check their websites for more details.