UK entry requirements

Information about our A Level requirements is available on our A Levels webpage:

• Information for applicants taking A-levels and AS-levels

We require a QAA-recognised Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 60 credits overall, with at least 45 at Level 3, 30 credits at distinction and 15 at merit in a relevant subject area to the chosen course.

Entry requirements vary across academic Schools and you may be required to achieve higher than the minimum requirement. Please refer to the specific entry requirements for your chosen course. We also consider other factors such as other educational achievements, life experience and skills on an individual basis.

The University recognises the benefits of the AQA Baccalaureate and the opportunities it provides for applicants to develop independent study and research skills.

In making offers, the University will focus on the three A-levels taken within the AQA Baccalaureate. Students need to check the standard A-level requirements for their chosen course.

The University welcomes applications from students studying the BTEC National Extended Diploma for entry provided it is in a subject relevant to the chosen course.

Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full National Extended Diploma (e.g. D*DD or DDM). Some subjects specify required levels of achievements in particular units/modules or ask for additional qualifications to satisfy subject requirements.

The University welcomes applications from students studying the National Diploma for entry provided it is in a subject relevant to the chosen course.

Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full National Diploma (e.g. D*D or DD) plus an additional level 3 qualification such as an A Level. Some subjects specify required levels of achievements in particular units or ask for additional specific qualifications to satisfy subject requirements.

The University welcomes applications from students studying the National Foundation Diploma for entry provided it is in a subject relevant to the chosen course.

Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full National Foundation Diploma (e.g. D*D or DD) plus additional level 3 qualifications such as (an) A Level/A Level and AS Level. Some subjects specify required levels of achievements in particular units or ask for additional qualifications to satisfy subject requirements.

The University welcomes applications from students studying the National Extended Certificate for entry provided it is in a subject relevant to the chosen course.

Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full National Extended Certificate (e.g. D* or D) plus additional Level 3 qualifications such as A Levels. Some subjects specify required levels of achievements in particular units or ask for additional specific qualifications to satisfy subject requirements.

The University welcomes applications from students studying the following courses:

• CACHE Level 3 Award in Health and Social Care
• CACHE Level 3 Certificate in Health and Social Care
• CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care

We recognise the following qualifications as contributing to entry requirements to a range of our higher education courses in related subject areas, either by meeting entry requirements in their own right or being accepted alongside other qualifications at the same level.

In the past, we have recruited students with CACHE qualifications in Health and Social Care on to our degree programmes in Nursing, Psychology, Sociology and Speech and Language Therapy. Any offers made would be dependent on your overall profile of qualifications and the decision depends on a number of factors.

Admissions decisions are informed by a range of factors and the subject(s) studied should be relevant to the particular degree course for which you are applying to. In many cases we expect candidates to offer other specific qualifications and/or to achieve specific levels of attainment in pre-requisite subjects, or units. In some cases, an interview will be required.

We advise you to contact the academic School, who will clarify whether your specific portfolio of qualifications is acceptable for entry on to your chosen course.

Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Diploma

The University of Manchester welcomes students applying with the AICE Diploma and in making offers; the University will focus on the AS and A levels taken within the AICE Diploma.

It should be noted that whilst the Cambridge AICE will be viewed as meeting our general entry requirements, some courses have specific subject/grade/qualification size requirements (e.g. minimum of two A levels) and students need to check the entry requirements for their chosen course.

All applications are considered on an individual basis. Any offers are dependent on the overall profile of the applicant and the decision depends on a number of factors.

Admissions decisions are informed by a range of factors and the subject(s) studied by the applicant should be relevant to the particular degree course for which the applicant has applied. In many cases we expect candidates to offer other specific qualifications and/or to achieve specific levels of attainment in pre-requisite subjects, or units. In some cases, an interview will be required.

We advise applicants to contact the academic School in which they are applying to for further information and clarification on the suitability of their individual level 3 qualifications portfolio.

Principal subjects:  The Pre-U Diploma is acceptable for entry to the University and Principal Subjects are accepted in place of A-levels.

In general, D3 equates to grade A at A-level, M1 and M2 to grade B, and M3 to grade C.

GPR and short courses: The University welcomes and recognises the value of the Cambridge Pre-U Global Perspectives and Research (GPR), and the opportunities it provides for applicants to develop independent study and research skills. We strongly encourage students to draw upon this experience in their personal statement.

The qualification can form part of your offer condition when taken in combination with two A-levels or equivalent, and grade requirements vary across courses.

We advise students to contact the academic School, who will clarify whether their specific portfolio of qualifications is acceptable for entry on to their chosen course.

The University welcomes applications from students studying the Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma for entry, provided it is in a subject relevant to the chosen course. 

Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full Technical Extended Diploma (e.g. D*DD or DDM). Some subjects specify required levels of achievements in particular units/modules or ask for additional qualifications to satisfy subject requirements.

The University welcomes applications from students studying the Cambridge Technical Diploma for entry provided it is in a subject relevant to the chosen course.

Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full Technical Diploma (D*D or DD) plus an additional level 3 qualification such as an A Level. Some subjects specify required levels of achievements in particular units or ask for additional specific qualifications to satisfy subject requirements.

The University welcomes applications from students studying the Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma for entry, provided it is in a subject relevant to the chosen course.

Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full Technical Foundation Diploma (D*D or DD) plus additional level 3 qualifications such as (an) A Level/A Level and AS Level. Some subjects specify required levels of achievements in particular units or ask for additional qualifications to satisfy subject requirements.

The University welcomes applications from students studying the Technical Extended Certificate for entry provided it is in a subject relevant to the chosen course.

Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full National Extended Certificate (D* or D) plus additional Level 3 qualifications such as A-Levels. Some subjects specify required levels of achievements in particular units or ask for additional specific qualifications to satisfy subject requirements.

The University welcomes and recognises the value of Level 3 core mathematics qualifications (e.g. AQA Certificate in Mathematical Studies).

Core Mathematics is not a compulsory element of post-16 study and as a result we will not normally include it in the conditions of any offer made to the student. However, if a student chooses to undertake a core mathematics qualification this may be taken into account when we consider their application, particularly for certain non-science courses with a distinct mathematical or statistical element.

The University recognises the benefits of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and the opportunities it provides for applicants to develop independent study and research skills.

We strongly encourage prospective students to provide information about the EPQ in their personal statement and, if invited, at interview. This is because a number of our academic Schools may also choose to take your performance in the EPQ into account should places be available in August for applicants who narrowly miss the entry grades for their chosen course.

In some cases, admissions tutors may wish to make an alternative offer to applicants, one of which involves successful completion of the EPQ (eg AAA at A-level or AAB plus the Extended Project at Grade A). Where this is the case, it will clearly be stated in the academic School's entry requirements.

The University welcomes applicants with the International Baccalaureate qualification.

Students studying the International Baccalaureate will normally be asked to achieve a points score of between 30–39 along with three higher-level subjects. Specific subject and grade prerequisites may apply. Students should refer to the subject-specific entry requirements for their chosen course as the requirement may vary depending on the subject/course you apply for. Please refer to the notes below as guidance for grade comparisons to A-level entry requirements:

• A*A*A* = 39 points (IB equivalent)
• A*A*A = 38 points (IB equivalent)
• A*AA = 37 points (IB equivalent)
• AAA = 36 points (IB equivalent)
• AAB = 35 points (IB equivalent)
• ABB = 34 points (IB equivalent)
• BBB = 32 points (IB equivalent)
• BBC = 32-30 points (IB equivalent)
• BCC = 30 points (IB equivalent)

And for higher level subjects, you can refer to the A-level grade comparisons below as guidance:

• A* = 7 (HL grade)
• A = 6 (HL grade)
• B = 5 (HL grade) 

Applicants offering IB Certificates combined with other qualifications (A-levels or USA Aps etc) are considered on a case-by-case basis. We advise students to contact the academic School, who will clarify whether their specific portfolio of qualifications is acceptable for entry on to their chosen course.

Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers:  The University welcomes students from Scotland who have followed Curriculum for Excellence and taken the new SQA qualifications.

Entry requirements are set at course level and some of our courses require specific subjects and/or Advanced Highers. We therefore advise students to contact the academic School, who will clarify whether their specific portfolio of qualifications is acceptable for entry on to their chosen course.

Please note if English Language and Mathematics is not taken at Higher/Advanced Higher students must have been achieved at SCQF level 5 (minimum National 5 grade C / Intermediate 2 grade C / Standard Grade Credit level grade 3).

Each individual T-Level qualification (in Wave 1 and 2) has been considered by our academic Schools to assess the suitability for admission to the University. Information on which T-Levels are accepted as suitable entry qualifications can be viewed on our T-Level page. 

The University welcomes and recognises the value of the Advanced Welsh Skills Challenge Certificate (Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate) and usually requires two A-levels to be included within this.

The grade required will normally be the same as the lowest A-level grade listed in the course entry requirements.