UCAS Tariff
{{Short description|British university and college admissions metric}}
The UCAS Tariff (formerly called UCAS Points System) is used to allocate points to post-16 qualifications (Level 3 qualifications on the Regulated Qualifications Framework). Universities and colleges may use it when making offers to applicants. A points total is achieved by converting qualifications, such as A-Levels, Scottish Highers and BTECs, into points, making it simpler for course providers to compare applicants. It is used as a means of giving students from the United Kingdom places at UK universities.
While UCAS Tariff Points are often based on qualifications earned through formal education, they can also be increased through other means, including taking extra-curricular activities, such as doing an EPQ{{Cite web |title=The real story behind university entry requirements - The Uni Guide |url=https://www.theuniguide.co.uk/advice/ucas-application/the-real-story-behind-entry-requirements |access-date=2022-10-23 |website=www.theuniguide.co.uk}} or passing a Grade 6 in an instrument.{{Cite web |date=2019-12-14 |title=10 Brilliant Ways to Get More UCAS Points |url=https://www.oxford-royale.com/articles/10-ways-more-ucas-points/ |access-date=2022-10-23 |website=Oxford Royale Academy |language=en-US}} Though this must remain cautionary as many universities will still have other entry requirements or expectations that they have for a student that may not be met with additional UCAS Points.
Common ways for UCAS points to be calculated are through the UCAS Tariff Calculator,{{Cite web |date=2017-12-20 |title=Calculate your UCAS Tariff points |url=https://www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator |access-date=2022-10-23 |website=UCAS |language=en}} official tariff tables, or through third-party software and websites.
The UCAS Tariff was first introduced in 2001. Since then, however, both the range of qualifications held by applicants, and the variety of progression routes into higher education have increased. Therefore a new Tariff was introduced. The new UCAS Tariff points are based on a different methodology. The change to new UCAS Tariff will not in itself change entry requirements for university or college courses. Universities and colleges are independent organisations and each year they decide how to set their entry requirements. Those universities and colleges that use UCAS Tariff points to express their entry requirements will simply set their requirements using the new number system.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ucas.com/advisers/guides-and-resources/tariff-2017|title=Tariff 2017|date=2014-10-08|newspaper=UCAS|access-date=2016-11-10}}
Points system
The following qualifications can count towards the tariff:
=GCE qualifications=
==New tariff==
- GCE A Levels
| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:center; margin-left:1em;"
|+ A level UCAS points table (New Tariff){{Cite web |title=Tariff tables September 2025 |url=https://www.ucas.com/file/835651/download?token=z98zo3mL |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=UCAS}} !width="75" | Grade !width="125" | UCAS Points |
| align="center" | A*
| 56 |
| align="center" | A
| 48 |
| align="center" | B
| 40 |
| align="center" | C
| 32 |
| align="center" | D
| 24 |
| align="center" | E
| 16 |
- GCE AS Levels
| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:center; margin-left:1em;"
!width="75" | Grade !width="125" | UCAS points |
| align="center" | A
| 20 |
| align="center" | B
| 16 |
| align="center" | C
| 12 |
| align="center" | D
| 10 |
| align="center" | E
| 6 |
- GCE A Level (Double Award)
- GCE AS Level (Double Award)
- GCE A Level with additional AS Level
These are only offered by AQA and Edexcel.
== Original 2001 UCAS Points Tariff ==
UCAS initially introduced a university points tariff which created a points system to cover the GCE A-Level and AS-Level qualification for students starting higher education in September 2001. (GCE A and AS Levels awarded before 2001 do not attract UCAS points).
| class="wikitable"
|+A level UCAS points table (Original 2001 Tariff)[https://web.archive.org/web/20010302155215/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/justthejob/skills/key3.shtml] !Grade !UCAS Points |
| A
|10 |
| B
|8 |
| C
|6 |
| D
|4 |
| E
|2 |
| class="wikitable"
|+AS level UCAS points table (Original 2001 Tariff) !Grade !UCAS points |
| A
|5 |
| B
|4 |
| C
|3 |
| D
|2 |
| E
|1 |
== Old tariff (2002-2016) ==
UCAS revamped the original tariff to a single points system which included the majority of post-16 academic qualifications (including the allocation of points to Advanced GNVQS and Key Skills). This change applied to students starting courses in 2002. Additional post-16 qualifications were allocated points after this date.
| class="wikitable" border="2" style="text-align:center; margin-left:1em;"
|+ A level UCAS points table (Old Tariff){{Cite web|url=https://taster.teachfirst.org.uk/Files/ucas-points-tariff-pre-17.pdf?v=09092019|title=Teach First: Calculating your UCAS points|date=n.d.|publisher=ucas.com}} !width="75" | Grade !width="125" | UCAS Points |
| align="center" | A*
| 140 |
| align="center" | A
| 120 |
| align="center" | B
| 100 |
| align="center" | C
| 80 |
| align="center" | D
| 60 |
| align="center" | E
| 40 |
| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:center; margin-left:1em;"
|+ !width="75" | Grade !width="125" | UCAS points |
| align="center" | A
| 60 |
| align="center" | B
| 50 |
| align="center" | C
| 40 |
| align="center" | D
| 30 |
| align="center" | E
| 20 |
=International Baccalaureate=
- Higher Level subjects:
- Standard Level subjects:
| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:center; margin-left:1em;"
|+ IBO Certificate in Standard Level UCAS points table !width="75" | Grade !width="125" | UCAS Points |
| align="center" | S7
| 28 |
| align="center" | S6
| 24 |
| align="center" | S5
| 16 |
| align="center" | S4
| 12 |
| align="center" | S3
| 6 |
| align="center" | S2
| 0 |
| align="center" | S1
| 0 |
- Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay bonus points:
Full Diploma or each of its components.
=BTECs=
- National Award
- National Certificate
- National Diploma
- BTEC Nationals in Children’s Play, Learning and Development (NQF)
- {{Cn span|Ranging from 32 (Double Pass) to 112 (Double Distinction*)|date=October 2024}}
- BTEC National Certificate in Children’s Play, Learning and Development
- {{Cn span|Ranging from 48 (Triple Pass) to 168 (Triple Distinction*)|date=October 2024}}
- BTEC National Award in Children’s Play, Learning and Development
- {{Cn span|Ranging from 16 (Pass) to 56 (Distinction*)|date=October 2024}}
=T Levels=
| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:center; margin-left:1em;"
|+ T Levels UCAS points table{{Cite web|title=New T-level study to be worth three A-levels|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-49410325|access-date=2021-04-03|website=BBC|language=en}} !width="75" | Grade !width="125" | UCAS points |
| align="center" | Distinction*
|168 |
| align="center" | Distinction
|144 |
| align="center" | Merit
|120 |
| align="center" | Pass (C or above)
|96 |
| align="center" | Pass (D or E)
|72 |
=Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)=
=Scottish Qualifications Authority Qualifications=
{{main|Scottish Qualifications Certificate}}
{{see also|Education in Scotland}}
- SQC Nationals Advanced Highers:
| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:center; margin-left:1em;"
|+ Advanced Highers UCAS points table !width="75" | Grade !width="125" | UCAS Points |
| align="center" | A
|56 |
| align="center" | B
|48 |
| align="center" | C
|40 |
| align="center" | D
|32 |
- SQC Nationals Higher:
| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:center; margin-left:1em;"
|+ Highers UCAS points table !width="75" | Grade !width="125" | UCAS points |
| align="center" | A
|33 |
| align="center" | B
|27 |
| align="center" | C
|21 |
| align="center" | D
|15 |
=Advanced Placement exams=
| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:center; margin-left:1em;"
|+ Advanced Placement UCAS points table{{Cite web|url=https://qips.ucas.com/qip/usa-advanced-placement-ap|title=USA: Advanced Placement (AP)|website=UCAS|access-date=2018-08-17}} !width="75" | Grade !width="125" | UCAS Points |
| align="center" | 5
| 28 |
| align="center" | 4
| 24 |
| align="center" | 3
| 20 |
| align="center" | 2
| 16 |
| align="center" | 1
| 12 |
=Irish Leaving Certificate=
- Higher Level:
| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:center; margin-left:1em;"
|+ Irish Leaving Certificate Higher Level UCAS points table{{Cite web|url=https://qips.ucas.com/qip/irish-leaving-certificate-new-grading-scheme-from-2017|title=Irish Leaving Certificate (new grading scheme from 2017)|website=UCAS|access-date=2018-08-18}} !width="75" | Grade !width="125" | UCAS Points |
| align="center" | H1
| 36 |
| align="center" | H2
| 30 |
| align="center" | H3
| 24 |
| align="center" | H4
| 18 |
| align="center" | H5
| 12 |
| align="center" | H6
| 9 |
- Ordinary Level:
| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:center; margin-left:1em;"
|+ Irish Leaving Certificate Ordinary Level UCAS points table !width="75" | Grade !width="125" | UCAS Points |
| align="center" | O1
| 12 |
| align="center" | O2
| 10 |
| align="center" | O3
| 8 |
| align="center" | O4
| 6 |
=Music exams=
These are only counted if at grade 6 or above.
- Theory
| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:center; margin-left:1em;"
|+ Theory of Music UCAS points table !width="75" | Level and Grade !width="125" | UCAS points |
| align="center" | Grade 6 Pass
|4 |
| align="center" | Grade 6 Merit
|5 |
| align="center" | Grade 6 Distinction
|6 |
| align="center" | Grade 7 Pass
|6 |
| align="center" | Grade 7 Merit
|7 |
| align="center" | Grade 7 Distinction
|8 |
| align="center" | Grade 8 Pass
|8 |
| align="center" | Grade 8 Merit
|9 |
| align="center" | Grade 8 Distinction
|10 |
- Practical
| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:center; margin-left:1em;"
|+ Music Practical UCAS points table !width="75" | Level and Grade !width="125" | UCAS points |
| align="center" | Grade 6 Pass
|8 |
| align="center" | Grade 6 Merit
|10 |
| align="center" | Grade 6 Distinction
|12 |
| align="center" | Grade 7 Pass
|12 |
| align="center" | Grade 7 Merit
|14 |
| align="center" | Grade 7 Distinction
|16 |
| align="center" | Grade 8 Pass
|18 |
| align="center" | Grade 8 Merit
|24 |
| align="center" | Grade 8 Distinction
|30 |
=Speech & Drama exams=
These are only counted if at grade 1 or above.
- Ranging from 8 points (Grade 1 Pass) to 30 (Grade 8 Distinction)
- Individuals who complete the LAMDA Certificate in Performance Studies with merit or distinction can earn more points than are available for graded exams (8 for a pass, 16 for merit, 24 for distinction)
=Others=
- The Welsh Baccalaureate is worth from 16 (Grade E) to 56 points (Grade A*).
- An Advanced Extension Award can either be worth 12 for a Merit or 14 for a Distinction (this is on top of the A level tariff)
- Foundation Art and Design ranges from 80 for a pass to 112 for a Distinction.
- Free-standing Mathematics Qualifications points range from 3 points for a grade E up to 10 points for a grade A.
- ASDAN Certificate of Personal Effectiveness CoPE, offers 16 points.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/getting-started/entry-requirements/tariff/calculator The UCAS Tariff calculator 2017]
- [https://www.ucas.com/file/259341/download?token=GXu_Pq-H The UCAS Tariff tables 2017 (PDF)]
Category:University and college admissions in the United Kingdom