Degree Courses

Accountancy (also Banking/Finance/Insurance)
Essential advanced level qualifications
Usually none, although one or two universities require Mathematics.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Mathematics, Business Studies and Economics.

Actuarial Science/Studies
Essential advanced level qualifications
Mathematics
Useful advanced level qualifications
Further Mathematics, Economics, Business Studies.

Aeronautical Engineering
Essential advanced level qualifications
Mathematics and Physics.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Further Mathematics, Design Technology, Computing.

American Studies
Essential advanced level qualifications
Requirements vary but English and/or History are often asked for.

Archaeology
Essential advanced level qualifications
None.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Geography, History or science subjects can all be useful.

Architecture
Essential advanced level qualifications
Some courses say they want an arts/science mix. Some may require Art.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Art, Mathematics, Design Technology and Physics.

Art and Design
Essential advanced level qualifications
Art.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Design Technology.

Biochemistry
Essential advanced level qualifications
Always Chemistry and some universities will say you must have Biology as
well, while some will say Chemistry plus one from Mathematics/Physics/
Biology. Doing Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics or Physics will keep
all Biochemistry courses open to you.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Biology, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Computing.

Biology
Essential advanced level qualifications
Biology, usually Chemistry. A few universities specify two sciences.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Mathematics or Physics, Computing.

Biomedical Sciences (including Medical Science)
Essential advanced level qualifications
Normally two from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. Chemistry is essential for some courses.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics.

Chemical Engineering
Essential advanced level qualifications
Chemistry and Mathematics and sometimes Physics as well.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Physics, Biology, Further Mathematics, Computing.

Chemistry
Essential advanced level qualifications
Chemistry and occasionally Mathematics. Most courses require Chemistry
and would like Mathematics and one other science subject (for example,
Physics or Biology).
Useful advanced level qualifications
Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Computing.

Civil Engineering
Essential advanced level qualifications
Mathematics, in many cases Physics. Sometimes one of Physics or Chemistry.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Further Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Computing, Design Technology, Geography.

Computer Science
Essential advanced level qualifications
For some courses, Mathematics. For some courses Computing.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Computing, Physics, Philosophy and Ethics, ICT.

Dentistry
Essential advanced level qualifications
Chemistry and Biology for most courses, but some require Mathematics or Physics as well.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Mathematics, Physics, Further Mathematics.

Dietetics
Essential advanced level qualifications
Chemistry, Biology.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Mathematics.

Drama
Essential advanced level qualifications
Some courses require English Literature and for a few courses English.
Useful advanced level qualifications
English Literature, English Literature and Language.

Economics
Essential advanced level qualifications
Usually Mathematics.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Economics, Computing, History, Business Studies.

Education
See Teacher Training.
Electrical/Electronic Engineering
Essential advanced level qualifications
Mathematics, usually Physics.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Further Mathematics, ICT, Design Technology, Computing.

Engineering (General)
Essential advanced level qualifications
Mathematics and Physics.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Further Mathematics, Design Technology, Computing.

English
Essential advanced level qualifications
English Literature or combined English Language & Literature (some courses will accept English Language).
Useful advanced level qualifications
History, Philosophy and Ethics, a Modern Language.

Environmental Science/Studies
Essential advanced level qualifications
Many courses will ask for two from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Geography.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Another facilitating subject, particularly a science.

French
Essential advanced level qualifications
French.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Another Modern Foreign Language, English Literature, History.

Geography
Essential advanced level qualifications
Most degrees require Geography.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Some Geography BSc (science) degrees prefer one from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics.

Geology/Earth Sciences
Essential advanced level qualifications
Usually two from Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Geography, Computing.

History
Essential advanced level qualifications
Most degrees require History.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Economics, English Literature, Philosophy and Ethics, Sociology, a Modern Language.

History of Art
Essential advanced level qualifications
None.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Art, English Literature, History.

Law
Essential advanced level qualifications
Usually none, although a few universities require English.
Useful advanced level qualifications
History; other facilitating subjects.
There really are no essential subjects for Law. Maybe one choice should involve essay or report writing. History gives you good relevant skills for Law but is not essential.

Management Studies
Essential advanced level qualifications
Sometimes Mathematics.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Mathematics, Economics, Business Studies.

Materials Science (including Biomedical Materials Science)
Essential advanced level qualifications
Normally two from Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Biology (also Design Technology for some universities).
Useful advanced level qualifications
Chemistry, Design Technology, Further Mathematics, Computing.

Mathematics
Essential advanced level qualifications
Mathematics and sometimes Further Mathematics.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Further Mathematics, Physics, Computing.

Mechanical Engineering
Essential advanced level qualifications
Mathematics, usually Physics.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Further Mathematics, Design Technology, Computing.
Mechanical Engineering departments may have a preference for Mathematics A-levels with a strong mechanics component.

Media Studies (including Communication Studies)
Essential advanced level qualifications
A few courses ask for English or Media Studies.
Useful advanced level qualifications
English, Media Studies, Sociology, Psychology.

Medicine
Essential advanced level qualifications
If you do Chemistry, Biology and one from Mathematics or Physics you will
keep all the medical schools open to you. If you do Chemistry and Biology
you will keep open the vast majority. If you do Chemistry and one from
Mathematics and Physics you will limit your range of choices much more.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Further Mathematics or a contrasting (non-science) subject, Computing.

Music
Essential advanced level qualifications
For most traditional courses, Music and Grade VII/VIII, although some universities will consider candidates without A-level Music.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Some universities have a preference for at least one essay-based subject.

Nursing and Midwifery
Essential advanced level qualifications
Usually Biology or another science.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Biology, Sociology, Psychology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics.

Occupational Therapy
Essential advanced level qualifications
Some courses ask for Biology.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Psychology, Physical Education, Sociology or another science.

Optometry (Opthalmic Optics)
Essential advanced level qualifications
Two from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics (some courses prefer Biology as one of the choices).
Useful advanced level qualifications
Further Mathematics, Computing.

Orthoptics
Essential advanced level qualifications
Biology
Useful advanced level qualifications
Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Computing/Computer Science.

Pharmacy
Essential advanced level qualifications
Chemistry and one from Biology, Mathematics and Physics keeps the vast majority of courses open to you. Some courses like to see Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics. Doing Chemistry and Biology keeps most courses open.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Mathematics, Physics, Computing.

Philosophy
Essential advanced level qualifications
None.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Mathematics, Philosophy and Ethics.

Physics
Essential advanced level qualifications
Mathematics, Physics.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Further Mathematics, Chemistry, Computing.

Physiotherapy
Essential advanced level qualifications
Most courses will consider you with just Biology. However, some also require a second science from Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology.

Planning
Essential advanced level qualifications
Sometimes Geography.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Geography, Mathematics, Economics.

Politics
Essential advanced level qualifications
Usually none.
Useful advanced level qualifications
History, Philosophy, Sociology, Economics, English Literature, Philosophy and Ethics, Business Studies.