UCAS Tariff Points Guide

When you apply for a degree-level course at a university or college, you must meet entry requirements. These may be specific grades or certain relevant subjects, or you may be evaluated on the number of points your grades reflect. Universities do this through a system called Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) tariff points. Each subject is assigned a set number of points considering time, difficulty, and grade. 

This system opens admissions to students who have studied various courses, such as a BTEC, which uses a different grading system than traditional A levels. 

In this guide, we’ll discuss UCAS tariff points, how they are calculated, and how they factor into university admission.

What are UCAS tariff points?

UCAS tariff points are awarded for your qualifications to be evaluated by universities. It’s a way of standardising applicants based on grades received, learning hours, and type of course. For instance, A levels are weighted higher than AS and Scottish highers but lower than advanced highers. The sum of your UCAS tariff points may be used for admissions. Each university may require different numbers or not use UCAS tariffs at all. 

How are UCAS tariff points calculated?

Not all qualifications will accrue tariff points. Generic formulas are available, but you can use calculators based on subject and qualifications. For instance, for a Pearson BTEC diploma in engineering, the tariff points offered for algebra are 32, according to the UCAS tariff calculator. The calculator gives you options by programme and course name. 

Another option to give you a general idea of how your subjects could be assessed is to browse tariff tables. These tables list the number of points awarded for different courses and course types, such as A level, AS, BTEC courses, and extended projects.   

How do I earn tariff points?

The type of course you took may or may not factor into your application. Tariff points are designed to give credit for various courses such as BTECs and A levels. However, some schools will specify that they are looking for specific courses. For example, some business-related or healthcare courses may want BBB at A level, while law-related courses may ask for mostly ABB at A levels, and others may not mind where your points came from. Because each school can be different, this is a reason to contact admissions departments for details.

Where can I find how many UCAS tariff points are needed for admission?

The UCAS search tool allows you to find out how many tariff points a school requires for admission. Enter your desired subject, then select the study level and entrance year. For example, a result for an economics undergraduate degree for 2024/2025 selected yields 96–160 points as of May 2024 [1]. 

For the first five, here’s a breakdown of programmes offered and details, including tariff points:

Scroll through the complete list, and you’ll also see application dates. If you missed the application deadlines, don’t worry. You can still make notes of schools aligning with your tariff points for second chance admission later in the year when UCAS Extra and clearing open.

What is a good UCAS tariff score?

Just like with standardised testing scores, there may not be one answer to this question. Each university has its own tariff point numbers, with more competitive courses generally requiring more. Extracurriculars and other factors can help; some schools don’t use tariff points. This can be for a variety of reasons. A major reason for this is that some universities only accept A-level results, so there is no need for a point system. In this case, they will ask for specific grades, sometimes attached to specific subjects. 

What happens if part of my education was completed outside of the UK?

Tariff points are also awarded for programmes outside of the UK. You’ll get points for classes in the United States, Malaysia, Spain, Hong Kong, India, and elsewhere, which will be converted to the relevant tariff points.

Next steps

If you're considering an online degree, entry requirements may vary. On Coursera, you can explore a range of degree options to complete online worldwide. Be sure to check the entry requirements before applying. Coursera has many free Guided Projects to help you build up your knowledge if you want to take a specific degree course.