Entry Requirement

The following gives examples of acceptable entry qualifications for degree and HND courses.

Demand for places may mean that you are asked to achieve particular grades from these qualifications.You should also read the course entries which may give detail of further requirements.

University Of Central Lancashire - University Entrance Requirements for 2007

Our minimum entry requirement for undergraduate degree level study at the University will be a profile made up from one of the following configurations:

  • Two A2 level subjects
  • One A2 level subject plus one VCE Advanced level
  • One double award VCE Advanced level
  • Two single award VCE Advanced levels

All profiles should be supported by a satisfactory GCSE performance, normally consisting of 5 passes. (A pass in GCSE/GCE O-level is considered to be grades A*- C. GCSE Mathematics and/or English are required for many courses).

Individual course requirements vary and these will be carefully detailed elsewhere in the prospectus and in the standard UCAS publications. Some courses will specify study in particular subjects, achievement at a particular grade, or specify UCAS Tariff points. Many will require the equivalent of three A2 level subjects.

Our minimum entry requirement for HND or Foundation Degree level study is one A2 level award, or a single award Advanced VCE. Individual course requirements will vary and specific grades or subjects may be required.

Acceptability of Advanced Subsidiary Qualifications

We recognise that Year 12 qualifications, if included on the UCAS form, will be a useful indicator of potential. Offers of places however will be made against total achievement at the end of Year 13. The University will not therefore make unconditional offers to those with 4, 5, 6 or more Advanced Subsidiary levels after only one year of post-sixteen study, but acknowledge that they will continue to form a valuable addition to the general minimum entry requirement.

Key Skills

We recognise that not all centres will be in a position to offer students the opportunity to take the Key Skills tests. Where the tests are not available to students, evidence of the Key Skills may be provided through the personal statement and reference as part of the UCAS application, and through a variety of curriculum enrichment programmes.

All Advanced Level subjects are recognised by the University for admissions purposes, this includes linear and modular A-levels and General Studies. However, applicants must meet any specific subject requirements where indicated for each course.

BTEC National Certificate / Diploma

Pass with overall merits for Degree courses; Pass for HND or Foundation Degree courses.

Foundation Courses

Successful completion of a Kitemarked Access Course to a threshold level recognised as being appropriate for entry to Higher Education. This includes programmes validated by the Open College of the North West.

Scottish Certificate of Education

Ordinary/standard grade passes of at least scale three are the accepted equivalent of GCSE/GCE O-level, plus two Scottish Advanced Higher subjects, or, three Scottish Higher subjects at grade C.

Irish Leaving Certificate

Grades A-C at standard/ordinary level in the Leaving Certificate are recognised as equivalent to a GCSE/GCE O-level pass on a subject for subject basis.

The following statements apply to the equivalence of honours/higher level awards to GCE A-level.

  • A Leaving Certificate honours/higher grade A or B subject pass is equivalent to one GCE A-level pass.
  • Three Leaving Certificate honours/higher grade subject passes at C or above are equivalent to two GCE A-level passes.
  • Four Leaving Certificate honours/higher grade subject passes at C or above are equivalent to three GCE A-level passes.

International Baccalaureate and European Baccalaureate

Both qualifications are accepted in fulfilment of the general entry requirements. An overall pass with a minimum score of 24 points is required in the International Baccalaureate and a minimum average score of 60% in the European Baccalaureate.

National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ)

NVQ Level 3, as a work based qualification, may be considered as contributing towards an applicant's entry profile, alongside other academic qualifications, for courses related to NVQ. Prospective applicants offering NVQ Level 3 are invited to contact the appropriate Departmental Office to discuss their choice of course before completing an application form.

Last Updated: July 2007
author: cenquiries@uclan.ac.uk