How to get into uni without A-levels

While A-levels are considered the traditional route to get into uni, they certainly aren’t the only option. If you feel like A-levels aren’t for you, or if you’re already studying different qualifications, you might be wondering whether you’ll be able to go to university. 

The good news is most universities will consider a wide range of qualifications for entry into university, not just A-levels. Here we’ll cover some of the most common alternative qualifications to A-levels, what they are and how they can help you get into uni. If there’s a particular course or subject you want to do, however, always check the entry requirements to make sure you’ll have the right qualifications.  

What can you do with BTECs?  

BTECs are vocational qualifications, offering you the chance to study a career-driven course as soon as you complete GCSEs. Like A-levels, they’re two-year courses. If you’re studying or planning to study a BTEC, you have plenty of options. Going to university is among those options, as almost all unis are happy to consider BTEC qualifications for entry. 

A BTEC National Extended Diploma is worth three A-levels, but there are also BTEC courses worth one or two A-levels. You might want to combine studying a smaller BTEC with an A-level (or two!) to make sure you have enough UCAS points to get into university. As BTECs are vocational courses, if you study one BTEC equivalent to three A-levels, you’ll likely be limited to uni courses related to the BTEC subject you studied, so this path can limit your options when it comes to course subjects. 

What can you do with T-levels? 

T-levels are a fairly new type of course. Like BTECs, T-levels are vocational qualifications, and these courses typically have a workplace-based element, training young people to succeed in skilled jobs. Generally, students who opt to study T-levels plan to go straight into the workforce after completing their two-year course, but this isn’t the only option. 

One T-level is equivalent to three A-levels, so they can give you enough UCAS points to go to university. If you’re considering studying a T-level, bear in mind that while some universities accept these qualifications, many also don’t. If there’s a particular uni you’re interested in, it may be best to contact them to ask whether T-levels are an acceptable qualification to be considered for entry. If you’re hoping to study a uni course related to your T-level, you have a higher chance of being considered for entry. 

What can you do with an International Baccalaureate (IB)? 

IB is a very different qualification to A-levels, though unlike BTECs or T-levels, it isn’t vocational. It’s a two-year qualification and focuses on teaching a well-rounded curriculum, designed to be forward-thinking and prepare students for life outside of education. As a result, you’ll study more subjects doing an IB than you would doing A-levels, T-levels or BTECs. 

Not all schools offer IB, so you may have to do some research to find a school that offers it. While finding a local school that offers IB might be tricky, finding a university that accepts IB isn’t. Almost all UK unis accept IB as an alternative to A-levels, and many international students use IB as a path to go to university in the UK. As you’ll study a range of subjects as a part of your IB, it also leaves open a lot of options for studying different courses, so the IB is a great choice if you’re not sure what you want to study at uni. 

So, which should you pick? 

There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing a pathway through education. It all comes down to what feels right for you. If you’re someone who knows exactly what career you want to do, you might feel like studying A-levels is a waste of time. A BTEC or T-level is a great option for you as you can start to get experience in your dream career while you’re still in school, though you may find you’re limited on what courses you can pick at university. 

However, if you’re not sure what you want to do, or if there isn’t a relevant BTEC or T-level for your chosen career, A-levels or IB are likely to be a better option and will leave you with a wider range of uni courses to choose from. Just remember that no matter which qualifications you choose, there’s still likely to be uni courses that’ll accept you, provided you get the required grades.