UK academic qualifications

We accept AAT Level 3 as equivalent to GCE A level Accounting Grade A.

The University recognises this qualification and typical offers range from 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction grade and 15 Level 3 Credits at Merit grade to 24 Level 3 credits at Distinction grade and 21 Level 3 credits at Merit grade. Information on our typical offers for individual programmes are published via UCAS.

• The Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate – Skills Challenge Certificate (awarded to 2024) and The WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales (awarded from 2024) will be accepted as equivalent to an A level and can count towards our general entry requirements.
• Applicants would normally be expected to offer at least two A levels or equivalent in addition to this qualification.
• We accept an A* grade as equivalent to an A* at A level, A as equivalent to an A at A level, and B as equivalent to a B at A level and a C grade as equivalent to a C at A level.

The University recognises these qualifications and will consider a mixture of reformed and unreformed A levels. Our programme listings give full details of the grades and subjects required.

Our offers are usually made over the best three A levels (excluding General Studies). All other A levels are accepted on an equal basis although some programmes do require specific subjects. Where this is the case this information is shown in our programme specific entry requirements.

Whilst the University recognises the benefits for learners in studying for AS levels, we understand that some schools and Colleges will be unable to offer AS Levels. We can confirm that applicants will not be disadvantaged if applying without AS Level results.

• We welcome the introduction of the AQA Baccalaureate.
• The extended project and enrichment activities will be a helpful preparation for students at university level study.
• Applicants offering the AQA Baccalaureate will be expected to achieve specified grades in the three approved GCE A levels within their Baccalaureate.

BTEC

The University recognises these qualifications. The BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma is the most commonly offered of these qualifications and this is suitable for entry, although where a specific A level is required in our programme specific entry requirements this may be required in addition to the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma.

Typical offers for the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma range from D*DD to DDM. Depending on the grades achieved the BTEC Level 3 Diploma can be considered in lieu of two A levels against our general entry requirements, and the BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in lieu of one A level. Further information about our typical offers for this qualification are published via UCAS. You can find the general grade equivalence on the table of UK equivalencies for qualifications (2021).

Pearsons International BTECs are accepted as equivalent to the UK BTEC variants.

T-Levels

The University recognises the T-level qualifications for entry onto some programmes. Our programme pages give full details of where T-levels are acceptable and where applicable the grades and subjects required.

Students studying towards either the full Cambridge Pre-U Diploma or individual Subjects alongside A levels can apply as we believe that the qualification will provide very appropriate preparation for our degree programmes.

Conditional offers will be set on an individual basis but where an A grade in a GCE A level is required then a grade D3 in a Pre-U Subject will be specified. Where a B grade is required then a grade M2 in a Pre-U Subject will be specified. Further information about our typical offers for this qualification are published via UCAS. You can find the general grade equivalence on the table of UK equivalencies for qualifications (2021).

The University of Exeter supports the Core Maths and this is considered acceptable in lieu of GCSE Grade A, where a grade A has been achieved or GCSE Grade B, where a grade B has been achieved. However, this will not be acceptable in lieu of A 'Level Maths.

The University of Exeter welcomes applicants with the English Baccalaureate, however we do not accept this award as part of our entry requirements. We may look at individual GCSE results (as is our current policy) as part of our holistic assessment of an application, but this will be made clear in the individual GCSE entry requirements for each undergraduate programme we offer.

We welcome the Extended Project and Core Maths Qualifications as excellent preparation to support progression for university study. In recognition of this, where applicants are taking EPQ or Core Maths we may be able to make an alternate offer (providing you meet the eligibility criteria*) giving you more flexibility in how you meet our requirements. Alternative offers will state that for applicants who achieve a grade A in either the EPQ or Core Maths, we will guarantee to confirm their place if they achieve 1 grade below our offer, excluding any subject conditions.

*Excludes contextual offers

Following reforms in 2017 entry we will accept a mixture of GCSEs, those which have been taken under the new format and those which have not. The University of Exeter will consider the follow new grading equivalent to the current grading format:

GCSE Methods in Mathematics and Applications of Mathematics will be considered in lieu of GCSE Mathematics, however applications will be considered based on the grades achieved in both subjects areas and where grades are different the application will be considered based on the lowest grade achieved.

The University recognises this qualification and our programme listings give full details of the grades and subjects required. Our offers are usually based on having achieved or achieving an overall IB Diploma grade or three individual Higher Level subjects at specified grades, and they could also include achieving specific grades in specific subjects. 

Applicants taking the International Baccalaureate Career-related programme will be consider where this includes three individual Higher Level certificates or where applicants are undertaking two IB Higher Level certificates and a BTEC Diploma.

Any A-Level subject requirements would need to be met with the HL IB certificates.

IB Middle Years will be accepted in lieu of GCSE subjects where required. IB Middle Years grade 5 in lieu of GCSE Grade B/5 and IB Middle Years grade 4 in lieu of GCSE grade C/4.

Changes to IB Mathematics:

In development for first teaching in September 2019, and first examination May 2021 are the following Within the IB students can take one of the following two new Maths subjects:

• Mathematics: Analysis and approaches HL and SL - Analytic methods with an emphasis on calculus – appropriate for pure mathematicians, and those with an interest in analytic methods. Current calculus option content will form part of the HL course.
• Mathematics: Applications and interpretation HL and SL - Applications and interpretation with an emphasis on statistics and use of technology during assessment – appropriate for social scientists, economists, those with an interest in the applications of mathematics and how technology can support this. SL will be appropriate for students who would previously have taken Mathematical Studies SL. Current HL content from the statistics and discrete options will form part of the HL course.

What does that mean for Exeter?

• For programmes within our Faulty of Environment, Science and Economy or Faculty of Health and Life Sciences where a ‘Science’ subject is listed as a requirement, either of these Mathematics subjects will be considered as an acceptable science subject.
• For programmes within our Business School which have a ‘Maths’ subject requirement, either of these Mathematics subjects are acceptable.
• For programmes within our Engineering and Computer Science departments which have a ‘Maths’ subject requirement, either of these Mathematics subjects are acceptable. Where a ‘Science’ subject is listed as a requirement, either of these Mathematics subjects will be acceptable.
• For programmes within our Departments of Mathematics and Statistics or Physics and Astronomy departments which have a ‘Maths’ subject requirement, ONLY Analysis and approaches will acceptable. Where a ‘Science’ subject is listed as a requirement, either of these Mathematics subjects will be acceptable.

When applicants achieves A grades in both the Certificate and Diploma combined we will consider this as equivalent to GCE A level Economics Grade A. 

The University recognises these qualifications. The OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma is suitable for entry, although where a specific A level is required in our programme specific entry requirements this may be required in addition to the Extended Diploma. Typical offers range from D*DD to DDM. Depending on the grades achieved/predicted the OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma can be considered in lieu of two A levels against our general entry requirements, and the OCR Cambridge Technical Subsidiary Diploma in lieu of one A level.

Holders of Open University credits with a minimum of 60% in 60 credits will be considered.

The University of Exeter supports the practical science element and will expect applicants to take this element where possible.

The University will consider applicants who do not have the practical science element for science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM) subjects, where the applicant has achieved the required grade overall in the relevant Science subject. 

The University recognises both Highers and Advanced Highers and, depending on grades achieved/predicted, applicants can be accepted with either of these qualifications or in combination.

Further information about our typical offers for these qualification are published via UCAS. You can find the general grade equivalence on the table of UK equivalencies for qualifications (2021).

We accept WJEC Level 3 Applied Diplomas and the WJEC Level 3 Diploma in Criminology as equivalent to 1 A Level.

We consider grade D* equivalent to A*, grade D equivalent to A and grade M equivalent to C.