Understanding standard entry requirements

You will see our standard entry requirements written as either a range of grades or single set of grades. These are the grades most applicants needed to receive an offer in recent years.

What does a range of grades mean?

A level and IB standard entry requirements will, most of the time, be expressed as a range of grades. 

For example: 

  • A levels: 
    • from AAA to ABB 
    • from A*AA to A*AB in one set of exams 
  • IB: 
    • from 39 points with 666 at HL to 37 points with 666 at HL
    • from 36 points with 665 at HL to 34 points with 655 at HL 

In these examples, the grades range from the top of the range (the higher grade) to the bottom of the range (the lower grade).   

The ranges show the predicted or achieved grades most applicants needed to receive an offer in recent years for that specific degree programme. We usually make offers to the highest qualified applicants. Some years are more competitive than others, and we may make offers above or below this range. 

We will never make offers below the minimum entry requirement we set for widening access Plus Flag applicants. 

Understanding minimum entry requirements

What does a single set of grades mean?

Standard entry requirements for SQA Highers will always be expressed as a single set of grades. A Level and IB standard entry requirements will sometimes also be stated this way. 

For example: 

  • SQA Highers:
    • AAAA
    • AABB 
  • A levels: 
    • A*AA 
    • AAA 
  • IB: 
    • 39 points with 666 at HL   
    • 36 points with 665 at HL 

These are the predicted or achieved grades most applicants needed to receive an offer in recent years for that specific degree programme. We usually make offers to the highest qualified applicants. Some years are more competitive than others, and we may make offers above or below these grades. 

We will never make offers below the minimum entry requirement we set for widening access Plus Flag applicants. 

Understanding minimum entry requirements

Applying with SQA Highers

Although you are not required to take all of your Highers in a single year, you must achieve at least BBB at Higher, in one year of S4 to S6, with highly competitive areas requiring this by the end of S5. 

You may need to achieve four or five Highers by the end of S5 for some of our highly selective degree programmes.

Applying with A levels

We normally expect A level applicants to be taking three A levels in one set of exams, following two years of study. 

Competition and offer levels

Some of our degree programmes are more competitive than others because we receive more applications than we have places available. In general, the number of applications we receive varies from year to year, and this means that the level of competition also varies. Competition for places can vary by fee status and may be very high where places are limited.  

If you have met, or are predicted to meet, our entry requirements, then you will enter our selection process. Entry into our selection process, and even achieving the upper grade level of a range, does not guarantee that you will receive an offer. 

We base conditional offer requirements on the grades that successful applicants achieve, or are predicted to achieved, to be made an offer. This means that conditional offer requirements may sometimes be higher than the upper grade level for a degree programme. For example, where the upper grade level for a programme is AAA, but all applicants selected to receive an offer have achieved, or are predicted to achieve, at least A*AA, then conditional offers for that programme will require A*AA. 

You may receive an offer at a lower grade level if the number of applications for a degree programme is broadly similar to the number of offers we have available. 

You should make sure you are aware of our selection process before you apply. You can also find out more about offer rates and tuition fee status.  

Our selection process  

How fee status has an impact on entry requirements 

Other entry requirements

In addition to grades, there are other entry requirements you must meet, such as: 

  • any required subjects
  • any additional requirements
  • English language requirements 

Find out about the other entry requirements you must meet 

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