Every year, up and down the country, thousands of students decide to further their education after GCSEs. Students usually go on to study A-Levels and BTECs at Sixth Form College. The vast majority of these students choose to do this with the ultimate goal of going to university. But what if you have taken BTECs and want to apply to one of the many Russell Group universities. Do these universities accept BTECs in place of A-Levels? And how do you know which universities are Russell Group universities?
In short, most universities in the UK will accept BTECs, including some of the Russell Group universities. Despite this, some of the more prestigious universities on the list such as Oxford and Cambridge are unlikely to accept applications with just BTECs alone.
In this article, I will be answering every question you could have in regard to BTECs and university. Read on to find out more!
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Do Russell Group Universities Accept BTECs?
You will find that the majority of universities in the UK, including Russell Group universities, will accept applicants with BTEC Level 3 Extended Diplomas. This is due to the fact that they are the same as 2 regular A-Levels. Click here to find out which universities are likely to accept BTECs.
The only exceptions to this would probably be the most prestigious universities in the UK such as Oxford and Cambridge.
This isn’t to say that you could not apply to Oxford or Cambridge with a BTEC. You can complete A-Levels on top of your existing qualifications to be able to apply.
You should bear in mind that the grade requirements for Oxbridge tend to be either A*AA or A*A*A for whichever course you choose to apply to. Getting to these universities in particular requires extremely hard work. If you are interested in going to one of these universities then check out this article here.
It is always best to check the entry requirements for the universities which you are looking to apply for. Perhaps you are on the fence about studying either A-Levels or a BTEC – checking the entry requirements may push you in one certain direction and give you something to work towards.
Doing this can also give you some targets for you to strive towards in terms of grades, so it is a really good idea to do your research.
Will You Get into a Russell Group University?
Even though 95% of universities in the UK accept applications from students who have a BTEC, it is another question entirely as to how many of these students are accepted in every year.
Plenty of students are accepted into universities up and down the country with vocational qualifications alone. However, statistically you have more chance of being accepted into a university, especially a Russell Group university if you have done A-Levels or A-Levels on top of a BTEC qualification.
What is a Russell Group University?
In the UK, there are currently 24 Russell Group universities. The Russell Group is a group of universities which carry out their own research on varied subjects and have a good reputation for academic achievement.
They are located up and down the country and are accessible to students from any school background, not just private school students.
People who have attended Russell Group universities, no matter which degree they did, tend to be more well regarded in the world of work. They also tend to end up having more opportunities available to them. This isn’t to say that other universities don’t have benefits also.
The Russell Group was founded in 1994 and its headquarters are at Cambridge University. The 24 universities in the Russell Group as of 2021 are:
- University of Birmingham
- University of Bristol
- University of Cambridge
- Cardiff University
- Durham University
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Exeter
- University of Glasgow
- Imperial College London
- King’s College London
- University of Leeds
- University of Liverpool
- London School of Economics and Political Science
- University of Manchester
- Newcastle University
- University of Nottingham
- University of Oxford
- Queen Mary University of London
- Queen’s University Belfast
- University of Sheffield
- University of Southampton
- University College London
- University of Warwick
- University of York
It can be tough to decide on which universities to apply to which would be best suited for you. For some more information about universities in the UK, check out our other articles on the Think Student website. Simply search ‘university’.
What is a BTEC?
After students have taken their GCSEs, they can choose to either continue their education through A-Levels or jump straight into the world of work. They can achieve this by doing things such as job placements and apprenticeships. Some students don’t end up with high enough grades to continue to A-Levels after Year 11 and this is where BTECs come in.
BTEC stands for the Business and Technology Education Council. They are simply a more hands-on, practical alternative to A-Levels. BTECs are great for those who want to continue with further education but either don’t have the grades or prefer a different type of learning.
BTECs do include some writing, but they also include practical activities related to your subject. For example, a BTEC in Health and Care will mostly be graded on how a student interacts with patients instead of being based fully on a written exam.
As well as for A-Levels, you can take BTECs for GCSEs and even degrees. There are a wide variety of subjects available to do a BTEC in.
In order to apply for the majority of universities in the UK, you need Level 3 qualifications. Most students choose to take A-Levels. Level 3 BTECs are the equivalent of regular A-Levels, and most universities will accept Level 3 BTECs in applications to study.
Something important to remember is that you can always complete your BTEC and then move on to completing additional A-Levels on top of your existing qualifications.
Russell Group universities are more likely to accept applicants with at least A-Levels in addition to BTECs. So, this is a good idea for those with high aspirations for their university in the future.
For more information about the qualification levels in the UK, check out the government website.
Should You Study A-Levels or BTECs?
For some students, choosing what to do after their GCSEs is a no-brainer. There are always those people who have known exactly what they wanted to do since they were young and seem to have it all planned out. But for many, the choice doesn’t seem so clear.
Apprenticeships, job placements and further education are the most popular options. However, what if you have decided to carry on with your studies and want to stay in school but don’t know which path to take – vocational BTECs or academic A-Levels?
What is the Difference Between A-Levels and BTECs?
The difference between BTEC and A-Levels is the method of learning. If you feel like you are better suited to sitting in a classroom and listening to a teacher for long periods, then A-Levels are probably best for you.
A-Levels are definitely more academically strenuous, but the hard work definitely pays off in the end. If you think that this way of learning isn’t for you (perhaps you learned this while studying for your GCSEs) and feel that you would prefer to earn your Level 3 qualifications in a more practical hands-on way, then a BTEC may be right for you.
A-Levels and BTECs at Level 3 are equivalent to each other, so you should not just base this decision on what ‘looks better’. At the end of the day, you want to choose something that you will enjoy doing and feel fulfilled while doing it.
If you find that you don’t know what you want to do after your A-Levels or BTEC, then you should start to have a look at possible places you may want to apply to. The best time to do this is in the summer after your GCSEs as it gives you time to sort out a plan of action. Maybe you’ll find a university which you want to apply to which accepts BTECs.
By doing this research, you are helping yourself massively to make an incredibly important decision and making sure that you are happy with what you are studying/what qualification you are earning.
How Should You Choose Between A-Levels and BTECs?
Only you can properly choose the best options for you. Friends, family, and teachers can help you make decisions in your education, but you shouldn’t let these people decide for you.
If you are having trouble choosing between subjects for your A-Levels or BTEC, you should choose the ones that make you happy, that you enjoy and be motivated to carry on with. I recommend you read this article on the easiest university degrees to help you with your decision.
It’s a bad idea to choose subjects which make you unhappy or that you feel you are ‘bad’ at. If you choose these, you are setting yourself up for failure. Don’t let anyone pressure you into doing subjects you don’t want to do.
The same advice goes for choosing between BTECs and A-Levels. Most students choose BTECs as they feel that A-Levels will be too challenging for them, and this is completely understandable.
Don’t choose to do A-Levels if you know that they will be too difficult, and you will struggle with them. You will be once again setting yourself up for failure. Don’t be afraid to pick the option more suited to you – you will thank yourself in the future.
Choosing between BTEC and A-Levels can be difficult, so you need to do your research about your future university options before deciding on a final option.
You can absolutely be accepted into a Russell Group university with a BTEC qualification, as long as you work hard and have the passion for your subject required to show your dedication to those at the university.