Traditional A level subjects

We advise students who are planning to apply for University to take at least one subject from the following A level subject list. This allows students more flexibility with future career pathways and keeps their options open. Often their interests and ambitions can change during their time in Sixth Form. Whilst most Universities now accept BTEC qualifications, many ‘top’ Universities will require an A level in at least one of the following subjects:

English literature
History
Modern languages
Classical languages
Maths and further maths
Physics
Biology
Chemistry
Geography

Most science degrees require students to have completed two or sometimes three A levels in core STEM subjects such as Maths, Physics, Chemistry or Biology. Many Humanities or Social Science degrees require at least one ‘essay-based subject’ at A level such as History, English or Sociology.