Undergraduate entry qualifications

• We require three full A levels. If you are taking four or more A levels, an offer will be based on the best three grades. However, for some courses, we may make you a lower offer in recognition of a fourth A level. In those cases, you would receive two offers: our usual offer plus an offer at one grade lower in addition to grade B in the fourth A level subject. For example, we may make an offer at either AAB or ABBB.
• We do not accept AS levels in lieu of A levels, but, for some courses, we may make a lower offer if you have achieve a grade B in a fourth subject at AS level. In those cases, you would receive two offers: our usual offer plus an offer at one grade lower plus B in the AS level. For example, we may make an offer at AAB, or ABB plus B in the fourth subject at AS level.
  
  
• We accept all A level subjects but please see the entry requirements for the degree in which you are interested, as there may be subjects which are compulsory.
  
  
• We accept native language A levels as any other subject.
  
  
• If you are taking reformed A levels in Biology, Chemistry or Physics as a required subject, and you are sitting the practical element of the A level, we expect you to pass this. We understand that some applicants may not be in a position to sit the practical element, for example, those sitting A levels as external candidates. If this is the case, please contact the Admissions team for advice.
  
  
• We will normally consider applicants who have resat or are resitting A levels.

The majority of our courses accept the Access to HE Diploma, although this will depend on whether the course you are applying to has any subject requirements, and whether these will be met by the modules you are taking. For more information about our specific requirements with this qualification please contact the Admissions team.

The following table shows the typical grades we require in the Access to HE Diploma, as equivalent to A level grades.

We accept the following BTEC Level 3 qualifications for the majority of our degree programmes. Where there is a subject requirement, please refer to the entry requirements listed on the individual course pages for further information.

BTEC National Extended Diploma / BTEC Extended Diploma (equivalent to 3 A levels)
BTEC National Diploma / BTEC Diploma (equivalent to 2 A levels)
BTEC National Foundation Diploma / BTEC 90-credit Diploma (equivalent to 1.5 A levels)
BTEC National Extended Certificate / BTEC Subsidiary Diploma (equivalent to 1 A level)

The following table shows the typical grades we require for BTEC qualifications, as equivalent to A level grades.

We accept Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects as equivalent to A levels. Most applicants take one or two subjects in combination with A levels.

The following table shows the typical grades we require for the Cambridge Pre-U, as equivalent to A level grades. There are often a number of ways in which candidates can meet our standard entry requirements, but the following will give an indication of the grades that we accept. Please contact the Admissions team for more information.

We accept the following Cambridge Technical Level 3 qualifications for most of our degree programmes. However, you will still need to meet our subject requirements. In some cases, we are able to accept a Cambridge Technical qualification as equivalent of a specific subject at A level. However, there are some A level subjects for which there is no equivalent Please visit our course pages for entry criteria specific to each degree course. You may consider the BTEC requirement listed on the course page as a rough indication as to what we would accept in terms of Cambridge Technical qualifications.

Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma (equivalent to 3 A levels)
Cambridge Technical Diploma (equivalent to 2 A levels)
Cambridge Technical Subsidiary Diploma (equivalent to 1.5 A levels)
Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma / Extended Certificate (equivalent to 1 A level)

The following table shows the typical grades we require in Cambridge Technical qualifications, as equivalent to A level grades.

Core Maths qualifications include the AQA Level 3 Certificate Mathematical Studies, OCR Level 3 Certificate in Core Maths (A or B), and the Pearson Level 3 Certificate Mathematics in Context. We welcome these qualifications as adding value to a student's academic profile. For many courses, we may make a lower offer in recognition of this. In those cases, you would receive two offers: our usual offer plus an offer at one grade lower plus grade B in Core Maths as a fourth subject. For example, we may make an offer at AAB, or ABB plus B in Core Maths.

We will also accept Core Maths as meeting the equivalent of a GCSE Mathematics requirement.

We welcome the EPQ as adding value to a student’s academic profile and as an excellent preparation for the independent study necessary for students to succeed at Lancaster. For many courses, we may make a lower offer in recognition of this. In those cases, you would receive two offers: our usual offer plus an offer at one grade lower plus grade B in the EPQ. For example, we may make an offer at AAB, or ABB plus B in the EPQ.

We will typically accept HNC for entry to Year 1 of our degree programmes, although we will consider the applicant’s academic profile as a whole. We will require Distinction overall. It is not possible to enter Year 2 of our degree courses on the basis of an HNC.

We may occasionally admit applicants completing an HND to Year 2 of a degree programme, but we recommend that applicants enter Year 1. We will consider the academic profile as a whole. We would require Distinction overall. It is not possible for those who have completed an HND to top up to a Bachelor’s degree.

We accept the International Baccalaureate Diploma for all courses. See our course pages for further information.

The following table shows the typical grades we require for the International Baccalaureate Diploma, as equivalent to A level grades.

International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP)

We accept the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme for the majority of our degree programmes, although this will depend on any subject requirements being met. We are happy to consider applicants on a case-by-case basis, depending on the exact combination of qualifications they are taking as part of the IBCP, but as a guide, we will typically accept IB HL subjects in combination with the BTEC qualifications and other applied general qualifications listed on this page.

International Baccalaureate courses

We recognise that some applicants study IB HL subjects in combination with other qualifications, and not as part of the International Baccalaureate Diploma programme or International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme. We are happy to consider such applicants on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the Admissions Team for more information.

Mathematics

For any of our degree courses that specify A level in Mathematics as an entry requirement, we will accept either of the HL courses at grade 6 as equivalent. Please note that other subject requirements may apply, and you can find information about these on our individual course pages.

For our Engineering degrees, we will also accept Mathematics: analysis and approaches SL at grade 7 alongside Physics HL at grade 6 or Chemistry HL at grade 6 (for Chemical Engineering).

Where we specify a GCSE Mathematics requirement at B/C or 6/5/4, we will accept any of the IB Diploma Mathematics courses at grade 5 as meeting this requirement.

We accept Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers. We are happy to admit applicants on the basis of five Highers, but where we require a subject at A level, we will typically require an Advanced Higher in that subject.

For applicants who do not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone, we are happy to consider a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers in separate subjects. Please contact the Admissions team for more information.

The following table shows the typical grades we require for Scottish Highers qualifications, as equivalent to A level grades.

We accept T levels for the majority of our degree programmes. Some of our degree programmes have a specific subject requirement, and you can find that information on our course pages. In some cases, we are able to accept a T level as meeting that subject requirement, but in other cases, there is no T level course that meets that subject requirement.

If a degree programme does not list any required subjects, then we will be happy to consider all T level courses for entry to that programme.

Please contact the Admissions Team if you would like to know if we would accept a particular T level for entry to a particular degree programme.

The following table shows the typical grades we require in T level qualifications, as equivalent to A level grades.

We will accept the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate as equivalent to one A level (at the equivalent grade).

We accept the WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma as equivalent to one A level.

For Applied Diplomas grade A*-E, we will accept at the equivalent grade.

For Applied Diplomas graded Distinction*-Pass, please refer to the requirement for a BTEC Extended Certificate or BTEC Subsidiary Diploma.

For courses that require a specific subject at A level, we may not always accept a WJEC Applied Diploma as a suitable equivalent to A elvel, in terms of subject content. Please see individual course pages for further information.

We do not typically accept vocational and professional qualifications in their own right to entry to our degree courses, for example, NVQ qualifications or City + Guilds qualifications. Applicants with vocational and professional qualifications will also need to have Level 3 academic qualifications such as A levels, BTEC qualifications or an Access to HE Diploma.

Many of our degree courses have a GCSE requirement, typically for Mathematics and/or English Language. Requirements are listed on individual course pages. If there is no requirement listed for a particular course, then there are no specific GCSE requirements. However, we consider the overall GCSE profile as part of the application process.

Read our information about the recent GCSE reforms.

We accept IGCSE as equivalent GCSE.

We do not accept Functional Skills as equivalent to GCSE, with the exception of our BA Social Work degree. You can find more information on the Social Work course page.

If English is not your first language, see our English language requirement pages for more information on how you may use GCSE English Language to meet our requirements.