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Other qualifications

Queen’s is committed to widening access and we welcome applications from applicants offering qualifications other than those referred to above. If you are undertaking other qualifications, have a look at the information below and if you have any queries please contact the Admissions and Access Service: admissions@qub.ac.uk.

  • BTEC and OCR Qualifications at Level 3

    Applications are considered individually on their merits, and GCSE background and results in the first year BTEC/OCR (or qualifications deemed equivalent from other awarding bodies) examinations may be taken into account, bearing in mind, where appropriate, the course requirements. Offers are based on the overall grade(s) awarded. However, for some degrees specific grades in individual units will be required to fulfil course requirements e.g. degrees In Engineering.

    The targets set for Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences-based subjects range from overall grades DDD - D*D*D* in the BTEC Extended Diploma/ BTEC National Extended Diploma/OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma

    In Science, Engineering and Agri-Food and Land Use, applicants offering a relevant BTEC Extended Diploma/BTEC National Extended Diploma /OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma are considered individually on their merits. Where offers are made, they range from overall grades DDD - D*D*D*. Depending on the course, some offers will stipulate specific grades in specified units.

    A combination of A-levels and BTEC/ OCR Level 3 qualifications will also be considered and, where applicants take two A-levels and a BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/ National Extended Certificate/OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma/Extended Certificate or one A-level and a BTEC Diploma/National Diploma/OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma offers will be made in terms of the overall grade(s) awarded.

    Please note that a maximum of one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate/OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma/Extended Certificate will be counted as part of an applicant’s portfolio of qualifications (except Dentistry, Medicine and Pharmacy, for which these qualifications are not acceptable). Again, offers will be made in terms of the overall grade awarded. The following table is for guidance based on the current entry requirements.

    More detailed information is available via the Course Finder on the University’s website at go.qub.ac.uk/coursefinder 

    A-level
    Grade
    BTEC (QCF) Subsidiary Diploma/OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma Level 3 - 60 credits BTEC (RQF) National Extended Certificate/OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate - Level 3 360 Guided Learning Hours (GLHs)
    A Overall grade D* Overall grade D*
    B Overall grade D Overall grade D
    C Overall grade M Overall grade M

    NB: AQA Level 3 Extended Certificate is considered equivalent to BTEC/OCR

    Qualifications table

    *Please note that the acceptable combination of qualifications listed above are considered for entry to the majority of degrees (except Dentistry, Medicine and Pharmacy, for which BTEC/OCR qualifications are not acceptable). Applicants must be in a position to meet any subject requirements at GCSE and/or A-level.

    NB: AQA Level 3 Extended Certificate is considered equivalent to BTEC/OCR

  • BTEC Higher National Diplomas (HND - Level 5)

    Applications are considered individually on their merits and academic background at GCSE, GCE General and Applied A-levels and results in the first year examinations are taken into account, bearing in mind, where appropriate, the course requirements.

    For Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences based subjects, where offers are made these range from Merits in all final year units to a mixture of Distinctions and Merits for the more competitive courses including some of the BA Single Honours degrees, Law, Psychology and for degree programmes in Queen’s Business School. Entry would normally be to Stage 1 although some courses at Queen’s may consider admission to Stage 2.

    In Science, Engineering and Agri-Food and Land Use, applicants offering a relevant Higher National Diploma are considered individually on their merits for Stage 1 or Stage 2 entry, depending on how closely the syllabus correlates to Stage 1 and on their performance in first year. Where offers are made for Engineering these are normally based on 12 Merits (4–6 units specified) and four Passes for Stage 2 and nine Merits (3 units specified) and seven Passes for Stage 1. Science-based subjects usually require either Merits in all final year units or a mixture of Distinctions and Merits.

  • BTEC Higher National Certificates (HNC – Level 4)

    Applicants offering BTEC Higher National Certificates are considered on the same basis as applicants offering Higher National Diplomas, however, entry would be to Stage 1.

  • Foundation Degrees

    Applicants offering a Foundation Degree are considered individually on their merits and academic background at GCSE, GCE General and Applied A-levels and the performance in first year may be taken into consideration. Where offers are made these are based on completion of the full qualification and for Stage 1 or Stage 2 depending on compatibility and performance.

  • Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers

    The University accepts Scottish Higher and Advanced Higher qualifications. The following is a guide to the standard required in terms of equivalencies to A-level target grades.

    • For certain degree courses within Science, Engineering, Agri-Food and Land Use, Queen’s Business School and Pharmacy programmes, an Advanced Higher in one or more specified subjects will be required.
    • For Medicine and Dentistry, performance in Scottish Highers at first attempt is important with a minimum of AAABB required. Three Advanced Highers are necessary except where applicants achieved AAAAA in Scottish Highers. In such cases, two Advanced Highers would be acceptable.
    A-level
    grades
    Higher
    offer
    (S5)
    Advanced
    Higher
    offer (S6)
    Typical
    Advanced
    Higher +
    Higher
    offer (4
    subjects)
    AAA AAAAB AAA AA + AA
    AAB AAABB AAB AA + AB
    ABB ABBBB ABB AB + AB
    BBB BBBBB BBB BB + AB
    BBC BBBBC BBC BB + BC
    BCC BBBCC BCC BC + BC
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP)

    Applicants must obtain the Diploma in order to be eligible for admission. While it is not possible to give exact equivalences, the following acts as a guide.

    More detailed information is available via the Course Finder.

    A-level
    Grades
    International Baccalaureate (IB)
    Diploma Programme (DP)
    Individual grades refer to subjects
    at Higher Level
    AAA 6,6,6 AND 36 POINTS OVERALL
    AAB 6,6,5 AND 34 POINTS OVERALL
    ABB 6,5,5 AND 33 POINTS OVERALL
    BBB 6,5,5 AND 32 POINTS OVERALL
    BBC 5,5,5 AND 30 POINTS OVERALL
    BCC 5,5,5 AND 29 POINTS OVERALL


    (Maximum grade 7 – Minimum pass grade 4)

    Applicants presenting with a combination of A-levels and individual IB Higher Level (HL) subject certificates will also be considered.

  • Open University Qualifications

    Applicants offering Open University qualifications are considered individually on their merits and on level of performance. Applicants are normally expected to offer 120 CATS points and previous academic background may be taken into account. For high-demand courses, 60 of the 120 CATS points may be required at Level 2 and a specified grade may be stipulated.

  • Cambridge Pre-U Diploma and Principal Subjects

    The Cambridge Pre-U Diploma and Principal Subjects are acceptable, on their own or in combination with A-levels. A Principal Subject will be acceptable in lieu of a specified A-level in fulfilment of course requirements, with a grade D3 considered comparable to a grade A at A-level, a grade M2 considered comparable to a grade B at A-level and a grade M3 considered comparable to a grade C at A-level.

  • BTEC/OCR qualifications at Level 2

    The University will accept a maximum of one Level 2 BTEC Extended Certificate/OCR National Award/Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate or one Level 2 BTEC Diploma/OCR National Certificate/Cambridge Technical Diploma in fulfilment of the General Entrance Requirement or where performance at GCSE Level is used in the selection process for individual programmes.

    Normally a maximum of the equivalent of four GCSEs in acceptable vocational qualifications will be counted where performance at this level is used in the selection process.

  • Certificate and Diploma in Financial Studies

    Applications from applicants will be considered on an individual basis and a final decision taken in light of the full portfolio of qualifications, previous academic performance, relevant experience and the nature of the course applied for. In practice these qualifications have normally been included in conditional offers.

  • CACHE Level 3 Qualifications

    Applicants offering these qualifications are considered individually on their merits. Overall academic background is taken into account plus the nature of the course applied for.

  • Essential Skills, Level 2, Application of Number

    Level 2 Essential Skills in Application of Number will be considered on an individual basis in place of GCSE Mathematics Grade C/4, where this is a course requirement. An applicant’s overall academic profile and any additional qualifications in numerically related subjects may be taken into account, however, applicants should note that for Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work it will not be acceptable in lieu. This will be reviewed in the event of changes to the specifications or content of either the GCSE or Essential Skills qualification.

  • National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ)

    NVQs are not acceptable on their own for admission to undergraduate degrees.

  • Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI-Level 5)

    These qualifications are not acceptable for admission to undergraduate degrees.

  • Other qualifications deemed equivalent by the University

    If you are taking qualifications which differ from those listed here, please contact the Admissions and Access Service for advice.

    e: admissions@qub.ac.uk 
    t: +44 (0) 28 9097 3838