Are you planning to study in the UK? Tuition fees, student accommodation and adjusting to a new environment get really overwhelming. But if you're planning to study in the UK, one of the basic criteria to get into universities is the UCAS points. Well, you might be wondering what UCAS is or what UCAS points are for that instance. Essentially, UCAS Tariff points refer to the allocation of your qualifications into points so that the admission team of your preferred university can easily compare you to other applicants. These points can be accredited with any vocational or professional job you pick up, or courses or certificated. In this blog, we will dive into what UCAS points are and what importance they have while applying for schools in the UK.
What is UCAS?
The Universities and Colleges Admission Services, commonly known as UCAS, is a scoring system that is set up in the UK that assists universities with the admission process. The score or also known as the UCAS points, helps universities to compare the qualifications of the student applying to that university. Some qualifications have a numerical value that is determined by the points. However, the numerical value is not assigned to each and every qualification. The UCAS tariff points basically help the university to understand if you are eligible to apply for that particular university or not. These tariff points determine the difficulty level and the general value of the qualification. The higher the level of difficulty, the higher the tariff points. If you have any doubts or are confused, you can go through our blog on how to apply to UK universities
What are UCAS tariff points?
The UCAS points are a way to gauge the relative value of all post-16 qualifications in the UK. As we have already seen, tariff points can be earned with every type of qualification. A different number of points are achieved depending on the difficulty level of qualification, the highest being A level UCAS points. Tariff points have five different levels of difficulty, which are:
1. UCAS Tariff Points A Level
2. UCAS Tariff Points Scottish Highers
3. UCAS Tariff Points Welsh Baccalaureate
4. UCAS Tariff Points International Baccalaureate
5. UCAS Tariff Points BTEC
The 5 Levels are again divided into categories that determine the number of points that can be earned for each category in the specific level.
Understanding the Levels of UCAS Tariff Points
As we saw previously, there are 5 Levels of tariff points. The level of the tariff points determines the difficulty level, and the points are assigned accordingly. Since we have a fair idea about how they work and how you can calculate them, let's see how many points each level or category comprises.
1. UCAS Points Level A
The level is a common level taken by students. Levels are subject-based, where the student usually chooses 3-4 subjects to specialise in. You can refer to the following table and analyse how your Level A grades can turn into points.
- A*: 56
- A: 48
- B: 40
- C: 32
- D: 24
- E: 16
2. UCAS Points Scottish Highers
Students usually take this qualification during their final year in secondary school. This is a subject-based qualification where students usually study 5 subjects at a higher level. The student can refer to the following table and analyse how your Scottish higher grades can turn into points.
- 33
- 27
- 21
- 15
3. UCAS Points Welsh Baccalaureate
The Welsh Baccalaureate level is a combination of subject-based as well as vocational education. One can refer to the following table and analyse how your Welsh Baccalaureate grades can turn into points.
- A*: 56
- A: 48
- B: 40
- C: 32
- D: 24
- E: 16
4. UCAS Points International Baccalaureate
The International Baccalaureate is an alternative to the A level and includes six subjects. The following table comprises how this level'slevel's grade comprises; you can refer to and analyse how your International Baccalaureate grades can turn into points.
- H7: 56
- H6: 48
- H5: 32
- H4: 24
- H3: 12
- H2: 0
- H1: 0
5. UCAS Points BTEC
The Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) are basically vocational qualifications available in the United Kingdom. The students can refer to the following table and analyse how their UCAS Points BTEC grades can turn into UCAS points.
- D*D*: 112
- D*D: 104
- DD: 96
- DM: 80
- MM: 64
- MP: 48
Importance of UCAS Tariff Points
Now that you know how UCAS points to grades get converted let us look at how exactly are the A Level UCAS points used. Since your qualifications are given a numeric value and translated into points, you must be curious then how these points are further used. Well, all the universities that use Tariff Points use them to measure the students’ aptitude and suitability for the institution. Some universities keep tariffs as a metric to determine entry requirements and cutoffs. At the moment, about a third of UK colleges have a tariff requirement for admissions.
University Acceptance of UCAS Tariff Points
As we mentioned earlier, a third of universities use tariff points to determine cutoffs and entry requirements. This means that there is a chance that the university of your choice does not even need the points in its entirety! Universities require your A-levels or equivalent qualifications. It is key that you know the conversion of UCAS points to grades to have clarity on where you stand. One can check which universities need UCAS points for admission with the help of the UCAS search tool!
Ideal UCAS Score
If you actually take a look, the tariff points differ from university to university, and in some cases, they vary from course to course. However, the minimum tariff score required is 112. Every university has its own requirements, and you can check them out on the university websites. Earning points might seem like a task, but actually, it isn't. Try participating in extracurricular activities and courses that might interest you. And without realising, you'll achieve a tariff score, which will help you while applying to the university. There is no ideal or good UCAS score, as it is different for every institution, but getting a multitude of A level points is the best way to go. Try engaging yourself with several activities you can participate in or volunteer in.
UCAS Points Calculator
Calculating and analysing how much you have scored can get a little tedious and confusing. Keeping track of how many points you have achieved and what qualifications you have, along with the level of difficulty, can be overwhelming. To help you through this, you can use the UCAS tariff calculator to calculate the tariff points you have earned. You just need to select your qualifications and the level; the subject is optional, and Voila! You can see the total UCAS tariff points you have earned.
How can one earn UCAS tariff points?
Now that we have a brief idea of what UCAS points are, let's take a look at how you can earn tariff points. In order to score points, it is essential that you complete relevant courses. With each course completion, points are gained. You can also earn points by achieving level 3 qualifications through college or school. The minimum UCAS points are generally 112. However, the number might vary depending on which university you wish to study in. One can also earn extra points by participating in extracurricular activities in school or even volunteering in several activities.
What if my UCAS Tariff Scores are not ideal?
While we wish you the best on your journey to further studies and education, there are chances that sometimes things may not go your way. Don’t stress. After converting your UCAS points to grades, or rather your grades to UCAS points, if the scores do not add up well, you can still salvage something!
1. Resit your exams
If you didn’t get the grades you had hoped for and got scores that have a stray D or C in them, attempting those subjects again for your exams can be a major help and help you get your UCAS scores up! This method is only helpful if you have poor grades in one or two subjects only, because usually most institutions only allow up to two resits.
2. Resit the entire course
If you receive unfavourable grades in more than two subjects, resitting the entire module can be beneficial in helping you get better A Level UCAS points as well as building a foundation in the subjects that you aren’t confident in! You can even sit in fast-track courses that help you finish the entire module in a year. The important thing is to not panic and chase after those A Level UCAS points, best of luck!
Do all universities require UCAS tariff points?
Absolutely not! As we mentioned earlier, the minimum tariff score differs for different institutions. There are some universities that do not require tariff points, and those universities consider your final grades instead. You can check the hardest and easiest universities to get into in the UK. We have listed down the top 10 universities whose entry requirements require a UCAS score to apply to the university.
1. The University of Manchester
2. University of Leeds
3. Newcastle University
4. Manchester Metropolitan University
5. University of Cambridge
6. University of Oxford
7. Imperial College London
8. King's College London
9. Cardiff University
10. Durham University
Since not every qualification gains points, it does not mean that your UCAS score is the only thing that will be considered. The university may consider your application, but make sure that you are looking at each institution's entry requirements. Additionally, keep in mind that the highest level of tariff points is considered. That means your Scottish higher points and Advanced Highers points are for separate subjects and cannot be combined. You can check the latest updates of UCAS here! Here is our complete and comprehensive guide to UCAS courses and universities. We hope this blog gives you a fair idea of the crux and working of Tariff points. Hope you find your ideal pick!