How do UCAS points work?
If you've completed your exams, received your grades and are thinking about apply to university, it's time to learn about UCAS points.
The UCAS point system is designed to convert your qualifications into points - which many UK universities then use to assess your suitability for their courses.
Let’s take a closer look into how this works, what the process is and how to calculate your UCAS points.
How UCAS points are earned
Typically all post-16 qualifications, including international baccalaureates, earn UCAS points.
The number of points each qualification earns will the size and the grade of each qualification. The size refers to the number of guided learning hours, while the grade reflects your performance. For example, an A at A level is worth 48 points, and a C at A level is worth 32 points. However, an A at AS level only amounts to 20 points, since AS levels are considered smaller qualifications.
How to calculate UCAS points
The easiest way to work out how many UCAS points you have is to use the UCAS Points calculator.
Keep in mind that if you've taken qualifications that build on one another - like progressing from AS to A-level in the same subject - only the higher level qualification (the A-level) will be counted.
Do all universities look at UCAS points?
No, not all universities use UCAS points, but many do.
Each university has its own criteria for assessment, and that could include what your UCAS points totals are. However some, such as Cambridge and Oxford, that will simply look at your A-levels and other academic achievements directly.
Additional things to consider
UCAS point tariffs can change from year to year so it's calculating your points each time you need them.
It's also important to remember that UCAS points are just one of the factors UK universities review when evaluating whether to accept students.
Also not every qualification can be computed by the UCAS tariff. Therefore, it's worth speaking directly with the university to ensure that they will take any additional qualifications into account. This is especially important for a prospective international student who wants to apply to the most prestigious options available in the UK such as Oxford or Cambridge.