Alternative qualifications

Our admission process recognises that applicants have a wealth of different experiences and may have followed various educational pathways. While our publicity materials generally express entry requirements in terms of A/AS levels, most of our schools and faculties accept a much broader range of qualifications, that can be seen in the table below.

This list is not exhaustive; the University treats applicants with other qualifications on an individual basis. If you can’t see what you are looking for, please contact the relevant school or faculty at the University to discuss the transferability of your qualification.

How to approach applying with alternative qualifications

The entry requirements for alternative qualifications can be quite specific; for example, you may need to take certain modules and achieve a specified grade in those modules. It is important to find out any such requirements in time for you to make the right choices at school or college. If you are already well into your school/college course and have already chosen all your modules, then you need to check carefully whether these match our entry requirements. If in doubt, please contact us. If your qualifications don’t match your first choice of course at The University of Nottingham, a related course here may be open to you. The best place to start is the UCAS entry profiles, where there is detailed information about what we require from alternative qualifications.

Qualifications considered


Qualification	Requirements
Access to HE Diplomas	Most courses welcome applicants studying the Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject. Specific grades in particular units may be required. Some schools will ask for additional study (usually an A level) and some do not accept Access courses where no suitable preparatory course exists.
Advanced Diploma	The University will consider applicants offering the new Diploma qualifications at Advanced level if they have studied the appropriate subject-specific content. Individual course requirements are published in UCAS entry profiles and are available from academic schools.
Advanced Extension Awards	The University welcomes the added depth provided by the Advanced Extension Awards, but will not specify achievement as part of the offer.
AS/A levels (GCE/VCE)	Offers will normally be made on the basis of three A level grades, excluding general studies. Specific grades in particular subjects may also be required. For certain courses, a pass in an additional AS level may be specified. Offers will not be made on the basis of individual unit grades.
BTEC National Certificate/Diploma	The University will consider applicants offering the National Diploma. Offers are conditional on the overall grade achieved (eg DDM). Specific grades in particular units may also be required.
BTEC Higher National Certificate/Diploma	Offers are conditional on passing the qualification. Specific grades in units will also be required. Applicants studying the Higher National Diploma may be considered for second year entry to some courses.
Foundation programmes	The University offers and accepts a number of different foundation programmes. We offer an Engineering and Science Foundation Programme which provides entry onto our engineering and computer science courses. In addition, the University runs two foundation programmes for international students – the Foundation Certificate in Business and the Foundation Certificate in Arts and Social Sciences. Foundation programmes for international students.
International Baccalaureate Diploma	Offers will be made conditional on overall points and/or individual higher level grades/subjects.
Irish Leaving Certificate	Offers will be made on the basis of specific grades in five or six subjects studied.
Key Skills	The University welcomes Key Skills, but will not specify achievement in them as part of the offer. We recognise that key skills can be covered in other ways, such as extra-curricular activities, and applicants are encouraged to highlight achievement in these areas in their application.
Scottish Advanced Highers	The University accepts students studying three Advanced Highers. Offers will be made on the basis of three Advanced Highers and grades would be equivalent to the A level offer.
Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma	Offers will be made based on passing the overall qualification with specific grades in two or three A level subjects studied.
Other qualifications	The University recognises a wide range of other qualifications. Please refer to the individual course contact for further information.