UCAS Tariff

The UCAS Tariff (formerly called UCAS Points System) is used to allocate points to post-16 qualifications. Universities and colleges may use it when making offers to applicants. A points total is achieved by converting qualifications such as A levels (and many others) into points, making it simpler for course providers to compare applicants. It is used as a means of giving students from the United Kingdom places at UK universities.

Common ways for UCAS points to be calculated are through the UCAS Tariff Calculator, official tariff tables, or through third-party software and websites.

The UCAS Tariff was first introduced in 2001. Since then, however, both the range of qualifications held by applicants, and the variety of progression routes into higher education have increased. Therefore a new Tariff was introduced. The new UCAS Tariff points are based on a different methodology. The change to new UCAS Tariff will not in itself change entry requirements for university or college courses. Universities and colleges are independent organisations and each year they decide how to set their entry requirements. Those universities and colleges that use UCAS Tariff points to express their entry requirements will simply set their requirements using the new number system.^[1]

Points system

The following qualifications can count towards the tariff:

GCE qualifications

GCE A levels
- These Tariff points will be used for applications submitted for the 2017 admissions cycle onwards (i.e. for students making applications from September 2016 for full-time courses starting from September 2017).

**A level UCAS points table (New Tariff)**^[2]
Grade	UCAS Points
A*	56
A	48
B	40
C	32
D	24
E	16

GCE AS levels
- These Tariff points will be used for applications submitted for the 2017 admissions cycle onwards (i.e. for students making applications from September 2016 for full-time courses starting from September 2017).

**AS level UCAS points table**
Grade	UCAS points
A	20
B	16
C	12
D	10
E	6

AVCEs
- Ranging from 32 (Grade EE) to 112 (Grade AA)

International Baccalaureate

Higher Level subjects
- Ranging from 12 (Level 3) to 56 (Level 7)
Standard Level subjects
- Ranging from 6 (Level 3) to 28 (Level 7)
TOK and EE bonus points
- Ranging from 4 (Grade E) to 12 (Grade A)

NB: The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma is achieved by passing each of the required components and achieving a total IB point score of 24 or more. The IB Diploma does not attract UCAS Tariff points. However, the constituent qualifications of the IB Diploma do. The Tariff points for an IB Diploma can be calculated by adding together the Tariff points for each of its components.

Advanced Placement Exams

Ranging from 12 (Grade 1) to 28 (Grade 5)

BTECs

National Award
- Ranging from 16 (Pass) to 48 (Distinction)
National Certificate
- Ranging from 32 (Double Pass) to 96 (Double Distinction)
National Diploma
- Ranging from 48 (Triple Pass) to 112 (Triple Distinction)
BTEC Nationals in Children’s Play, Learning and Development (NQF)
- Ranging from 32 (Double Pass) to 112 (Double Distinction*)
BTEC National Certificate in Children’s Play, Learning and Development
- Ranging from 48 (Triple Pass) to 168 (Triple Distinction*)
BTEC National Award in Children’s Play, Learning and Development
- Ranging from 16 (Pass) to 56 (Distinction*)

Irish Leaving Certificate

Higher Level
- Ranging from 9 (D3 Grade) to 36 (A1 Grades)
Ordinary Level
- Ranging from 6 (B3 Grade) to 12 (A1 Grade)

Scottish Qualifications Authority Qualifications

SQC Nationals Advanced Highers
- Ranging from 32 (Grade D) to 56 (Grade A)

**Advanced Highers UCAS points table**
Grade	UCAS Points
A	56
B	48
C	40
D	32

SQC Nationals Higher
- Ranging from 15 (Grade D) to 33 (Grade A)

**Highers UCAS points table**
Grade	UCAS points
A	33
B	27
C	21
D	15

Music exams

These are only counted if at grade 6 or above.

Theory
- Ranging from 4 points (Grade 6 Pass) to 10 (Grade 8 Distinction)
Practical
- Ranging from 6 (Grade 6 Pass) to 30 (Grade 8 Distinction)

Speech & Drama exams