What are the entry requirements?
Entry to undergraduate education is normally at age 18 or older. There is no age maximum. Sometimes exceptional students under eighteen are admitted to degree courses. Your qualifications are the key factor. They may enable you to enter a degree course in the second - or occasionally, in the third-year. A-levels and AS-levels are still the most common entrance qualifications. The basic undergraduate requirement to enter a UK degree course is five passes at GCE, of which at least two must be at A-level. For many courses, passes in particular subjects are required; for example, A-level mathematics for engineering. All UK institutions have competitive entry, and this means you will need higher grades than the minimum of two passes at A-level - and for some courses very high grades. For example, those accepted for medicine at universities have, on average, grades ABB at A-level; for law, the average is BBB; other courses may be less competitive. Degree Course Offers contains more information on A-level grade requirements. In addition, some universities also require students to take the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) for medicine courses and the Law National Admissions Test (LNAT) for law courses. Please read on or visit www.bmat.org.uk and/or www.lnat.ac.uk for the list of universities that require these exams and other details. Most Universities and university sector colleges now accept General National Vocational Qualifications as the equivalent of A-level. The International Baccalaureate and school-leaving qualifications form Australia, Canada and New Zealand are acceptable instead of A-levels at most universities and colleges. Entrance examinations for medical, law and history courses BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) Applicants to the following universities are now required to sit for the BMAT as part of the application procedures: (a) University of Bristol Veterinary School (b) University of Cambridge Medical and Veterinary Schools (c) Oxford University Medical School (d) Royal Veterinary College (e) University College London Click here for more information on the BMAT. National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT) Although the LNAT exam is NOT compulsory for international applicants for the 2005 intake, it will be made compulsory for international applicants doing law programmes from 2006 onwards. The LNAT is currently applicable for the following universities: (a) University of Birmingham (b) University of Bristol (c) University of Cambridge (d) University of Durham (e) University of East Anglia (f) University of Nottingham (g) University of Oxford (h) University College London Click here for more information on the LNAT exam. History Aptitude Test (HAT) The Colleges of Oxford University has introduced the HAT for use in the selection of candidates for all history courses. Click here for more information on the HAT. 
Postgraduate For postgraduate courses the usual requirement is an honours degree in a relevant subject from an approved institution. Appropriate professional experience can be a decided bonus. If you are to do accountancy, management or and MBA, you should take the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). Admissions tutors also pay considerable attention to confidential academic references. Postgraduate Directory provides comprehensive information on postgraduate diplomas, Master’s and research courses for all the main subject areas. Please refer to the chart on Routes to Higher Education in the UK for an outline of how Singaporean qualifications are considered in the UK.
English language requirement For all courses it is essential to have a good command of written and spoken English. Universities and colleges normally require a pass grade C6 or above in GCE O-level English. As an alternative they will usually accept a good score (5.5 to 7.0) in the IELTS test administered by the British Council, or the TOEFL (above 213 for computer-based or above 550 for paper-based). IELTS examinations are conducted by the British Council on a monthly basis. For more information, please contact the Examinations Services at tel: 6470 7148. |
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