Which UK Universities Accept Two A-Levels?

When studying A-Levels at sixth form or college, students typically take 3 or sometimes even 4 different subjects. Since this is considered the “norm”, many universities often base their entry requirements off these standards, sometimes even specifying the specific grade combinations they expect.

However, it’s not always possible to study or to continue studying 3 A-Levels. Whether that’s because you’re struggling with one of your subjects, or due to personal circumstances that are preventing you from being able to commit to 3 A-Levels.

This article will guide you through everything you need to know about getting into university with 2 A-Levels.

We’ll cover which UK universities accept applicants with 2 A-Levels, the main courses available, how to improve your chances when applying, and what to do if you don’t meet the standard entry requirements.

Can you get into university with just two A-Levels?

Since most university entry requirements are based on having 3 A-Levels (or an equivalent qualification), not meeting this standard can limit your options for certain courses.

However, not all universities will have these requirements. As you will see from the examples below, it is possible for students to apply to university with only 2 A-Levels.

When the entry requirements don’t specify the number of A-Levels or alternative qualifications, the entry requirements will most likely be in UCAS points. UCAS points are simply scores assigned to specific qualifications and their grades. You can learn more about them in this Think Student article.

If you only have 2 A-Levels, you will likely need to apply for a degree with a foundation year. This additional year helps you build the academic skills you need to succeed at university.

Have a look at this Think Student article for more on foundation years.

However, if you get high grades in your 2 A-Levels or complete additional qualifications, such as an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) or an AS-Level, you might still meet the UCAS point requirement without needing a foundation year. Although, this will depend on what entry requirements have been set for the specific course and university.

Some universities also provide contextual offers, which are reduced grade requirements based on personal circumstances. For example, if you were unable to take or pass 3 A-Levels due to your situation, universities may be willing to adjust their entry requirements. These offers are assessed on a case-by-case basis, so it’s worth contacting the university directly to explain your circumstances.

Have a look at this Think Student article for more on contextual offers.

How many UCAS points are two A-Levels worth?

Before we get into which universities accept 2 A-Levels and their entry requirements, it’s important to establish how UCAS points work in relation to A-Levels.

Have a look at the following table to see how many UCAS points each A-Level grade is worth:

Learn more about this on this page of the UCAS website.

Most universities set their entry requirements at around 112 UCAS points. To reach this with only 2 A-Levels, you would need to get A* grades in both. So, if the entry requirement is higher than this, you would likely need additional qualifications, such as an EPQ or AS-Level, to be able to meet the criteria.

Learn more about how many UCAS points you generally need for university in this Think Student article.

Which UK universities accept two A-Levels?

While many universities typically require 3 A-Levels, some will accept applications with 2, especially if their entry requirements are based on UCAS points. In these cases, you may need high grades or additional qualifications, such as an EPQ or AS-Level, to meet the required points.

Check out the following table for a list of UK universities that accept students with only 2 A-Levels:

If you are interested in a specific course or a specific university, be sure to check directly on their website, as requirements can vary for each course and may have been updated.

What alternative qualifications can support an application with two A-Levels?

While it is possible to get into university with only 2 A-Levels, it may limit your course options, study pathways, and even how long it takes to complete your degree. Due to this, applying with additional qualifications can help to boost your application, especially by increasing your UCAS point total.

Check out the table below for additional qualifications you can study alongside your 2 A-Levels to increase your UCAS points:

You can learn more about how to get UCAS points in this Think Student article.

What are your options if you don’t meet university entry requirements UK?

If you end up only receiving 2 passing grades in your A-Levels or otherwise don’t meet the entry requirements for your firm or insurance place, don’t panic as there are still ways that you can study what you want to.

The following list will give you some guidance on what to do immediately after receiving your results:

1. Check UCAS to confirm your status: In some cases, universities may still accept you even if you didn’t achieve the grades of your offer.
2. Consider applying through Clearing: Clearing typically has much lower entry requirements and so you may still be able to get in without meeting your original entry requirements. There are many different courses available through Clearing and you may be able to find a similar course at a different university or even an entirely different one as long as you have the right grades and subjects to meet these.
3. Consider a different route: You may want to retake your A-Levels or do an alternative qualification and reapply for university the next year. Alternatively, you could continue your education without going to university.

Clearing is an entirely separate process to the initial university application via UCAS. If you would like to learn more about it, have a look at this article on the Think Student website.

Should you resit your A-Levels?

If you didn’t get the grades you needed, one option is to retake your A-Levels. This could either mean retaking them all, or only the one(s) that didn’t go so well.

Retaking can be done either at your current college or by transferring to a new one. If you are 19 or under and retake your A-Levels at sixth form or college, you will likely not need to pay for the course or exam fees.

However, if you’re older or only want to resit the exams, you may need to cover the examination fees, which are typically around £100 per A-Level.

If you narrowly missed the grade you needed, another option could be to request a remark. This would mean that instead of having to relearn the content and retake the exam the following year, a different examiner would review your paper to check for any missed marks or errors in grading.

While this second marking might be more lenient, it doesn’t change the content of your exam, so you will only be able to get more marks if something was missed or marked harshly the first time round.

Ultimately, deciding whether to resit your A-Levels or request a remark is up to you. If higher grades are essential to continue your education and no other options are available, it may be worth pursuing.

Have a look at this Think Student article to learn more.

What alternative routes can you take?

If you decide not to retake your A-Levels, there are still a range of different routes to continue your education. Some options can help you get into university, while others offer alternative career routes outside of traditional university study.

Check out the table below to explore these alternative options and see how they compare to each other: