How To Get UCAS Points 2026

How to Get UCAS Points: Understanding and Maximising Your Tariff Score

What are UCAS points?

UCAS Tariff points are a way of converting certain post-16 qualifications and grades into a numerical score. Some UK universities and courses use the Tariff when setting entry requirements, which can make it easier to compare applicants who have completed different types of qualifications.

For example, at A level, an A* is currently worth 56 UCAS Tariff points, an A is worth 48, a B is worth 40 and a C is worth 32. However, not every qualification attracts Tariff points, and having more points does not necessarily make an application stronger.

Many universities set entry requirements using specific grades or qualifications instead. A course might ask for AAA at A level, for example, rather than simply accepting any combination of qualifications that produces the equivalent number of Tariff points. Always check the requirements for the individual courses you are considering.

Which qualifications give you UCAS points?

A wide range of Level 3 and equivalent qualifications are included in the UCAS Tariff. The number of points you receive depends on the qualification, its size and the grade you achieve.

Qualifications that can attract UCAS Tariff points include:

• A levels
• AS levels
• BTEC qualifications
• T Levels
• Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers
• Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)
• International Baccalaureate qualifications
• Certain music, speech and drama qualifications

Not every qualification is included in the Tariff, and universities decide which qualifications they accept for individual courses. Use the current UCAS Tariff Calculator and the university's own entry requirements rather than assuming that every qualification carrying points will count towards an offer.

How many UCAS points do A levels give you?

A levels are one of the most common ways for students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to accumulate UCAS Tariff points. Under the current Tariff, an A* is worth 56 points, an A 48, a B 40, a C 32, a D 24 and an E 16.

This means three A levels at grade A would be worth 144 Tariff points, while three Bs would be worth 120. However, this does not mean that a university asking for AAA will necessarily accept another combination of qualifications simply because it also totals 144 points.

Pay close attention to subject requirements as well. Some degree courses require particular A levels or minimum grades in specific subjects, meaning your combination of qualifications can matter just as much as your overall Tariff total.

Does the EPQ give you UCAS points?

Yes. The Extended Project Qualification is included in the UCAS Tariff. An A* in the EPQ is currently worth 28 points, with lower grades receiving fewer points.

The EPQ involves completing an extended independent project on a topic you choose. Depending on the project, this can involve researching a question, evaluating sources, developing an argument and producing a substantial piece of work or other project outcome.

However, universities treat the EPQ differently. Some may take it into consideration when making offers, while others may not include it within their standard entry requirements. If you are considering an EPQ partly for university applications, check how your prospective universities and courses treat the qualification.

Can music qualifications give you UCAS points?

Some higher-level graded music qualifications can attract UCAS Tariff points. This can include eligible Grade 6, 7 and 8 practical and theory qualifications from recognised awarding organisations, with the number of points depending on the level, type of qualification and result achieved.

However, you should not assume that these points can simply be added to your A-level total to satisfy every university offer. A university may specify that its Tariff requirement must come from particular qualifications or exclude certain qualifications from consideration.

If you already study music because you enjoy it, achieving an eligible qualification may contribute to your Tariff score. But taking additional qualifications solely to accumulate points is unlikely to be the best strategy without first checking the entry requirements for the courses that interest you.

How can you increase your UCAS points?

The most straightforward way to increase your Tariff score is to achieve stronger grades in qualifications you are already taking. Before adding another qualification to your workload, consider whether the additional commitment could make it harder to perform well in your main subjects.

Additional eligible qualifications, such as an EPQ or certain graded music qualifications, may increase your overall Tariff score. Whether this is useful depends on how the universities and courses you are considering structure their offers.

Your priority should therefore be understanding your target courses. If they require specific A-level grades and subjects, meeting those requirements is more important than accumulating the largest possible number of points. If they make Tariff-based offers, additional eligible qualifications may be more relevant.

How to calculate your UCAS points

The safest way to calculate your Tariff score is to use the official UCAS Tariff Calculator. Select each eligible qualification, enter the appropriate grade and check the number of points it carries.

You can then add the relevant qualifications together to understand your overall Tariff score. Remember that the total is only useful when considered alongside the entry requirements for the course you want to study.

Tariff values and qualification eligibility can change, so avoid relying on old articles, screenshots or unofficial calculators when making application decisions. Check the latest UCAS information and individual university course pages for the admissions cycle in which you plan to apply.

Do all universities use UCAS points?

No. Universities decide how they express their own entry requirements, and many courses use qualification grades rather than UCAS Tariff totals.

Even where a university publishes a Tariff requirement, there may be additional conditions. A course could require a particular subject, exclude points from certain qualifications or specify how many qualifications can contribute towards the total.

This is why simply asking “How many UCAS points do I need for university?” does not have one answer. Requirements vary considerably by university and course, so you should research each option individually.

Are more UCAS points always better?

A higher Tariff score can be useful for courses that make Tariff-based offers, but accumulating as many points as possible should not become the goal of your sixth-form studies.

Universities may care much more about whether you meet their required grades and subjects. Taking an additional qualification could theoretically increase your points while also increasing your workload and making it harder to achieve the grades required in your main subjects.

Think about your academic profile as a whole. Choose appropriate subjects, work towards strong grades and explore your interests beyond the curriculum where doing so is genuinely useful to you. UCAS points are one way of expressing qualifications — they are not a universal score of how strong a university applicant is.

How to plan your qualifications for university

Start by researching courses you may want to apply for, even if university still feels some way off. Look at required subjects, typical grade offers and whether entry requirements are expressed through grades, UCAS Tariff points or another system.

If you are considering a competitive or highly specialised degree, subject choice can be particularly important. Taking an extra qualification that generates Tariff points will not compensate for missing a subject specifically required for admission.

Balance ambition with workload too. Three strong A-level results may be more useful for many applications than taking additional qualifications simply to increase your theoretical Tariff total. Your choices should reflect both university requirements and the subjects in which you are most likely to succeed.

UCAS points vs your wider university application

UCAS Tariff points represent eligible qualifications; they do not measure every aspect of a student's university application. Depending on the course, universities may also consider subject requirements and other parts of the admissions process.

Exploring a subject independently can still be valuable even when it does not generate UCAS points. Wider reading, research projects, lectures, relevant work experience and other academic activities can help you understand whether you genuinely want to study a subject and give you experiences to reflect on during the application process where relevant.

The distinction is important: an activity does not need to award UCAS points to be educationally worthwhile, but students should not assume that completing an extracurricular or academic enrichment activity will automatically strengthen an application or compensate for entry requirements.

Can you get UCAS points outside school?

Some qualifications that attract UCAS Tariff points can be completed outside a student's main school or college programme. Examples can include certain graded music, speech and drama qualifications, although eligibility depends on the qualification, level and awarding organisation.

This does not mean that every extracurricular course, certificate or award provides UCAS points. Many valuable activities — including work experience, volunteering, online courses and summer programmes — do not carry Tariff points at all. Always check the specific qualification using the official UCAS Tariff Calculator rather than assuming that a certificate will contribute to your total.

It is also important to check whether your chosen university will count those additional points towards its entry requirements. A qualification can appear on the UCAS Tariff without necessarily being accepted as part of a particular course offer.

How many UCAS points do you need for university?

There is no single number of UCAS points required to go to university in the UK. Entry requirements vary between universities, degree subjects and individual courses, and some institutions do not use UCAS Tariff points when making offers at all.

Where Tariff points are used, one course might ask for 112 points while another requires a significantly higher total. Universities can also specify where those points must come from, such as a certain number of A levels or equivalent qualifications, and may require particular subjects or minimum grades alongside the overall total.

The most reliable approach is to create a shortlist of courses and compare their current entry requirements individually. This gives you a realistic target based on the degrees you actually want to study rather than aiming for an arbitrary UCAS points total.

What happens if you don't have enough UCAS points?

If your results are lower than the entry requirements for a university course, it does not automatically mean that you cannot go to university. The outcome will depend on your offer, your results, the university and whether it is able to accept applicants who have narrowly missed the published requirements.

If you do not secure your original choices, UCAS Clearing may provide opportunities to explore courses with vacancies. Depending on your circumstances, you could also consider alternative courses, foundation years, different universities or another route into your chosen subject.

If you know before applying that your predicted qualifications are below the requirements for a particular course, build a balanced university shortlist. Including options with different entry requirements can give you more routes forward while still allowing you to apply for courses that match your ambitions.

How Atlas Summer Courses fits into university preparation

Atlas Summer Courses does not award UCAS Tariff points simply for attending a summer course. Instead, our programmes give students opportunities to explore academic subjects beyond their usual school curriculum and develop skills such as discussion, independent thinking and communicating ideas.

Through small-group, discussion-based learning, students can explore a subject they are considering for further study or investigate an area they have not previously encountered. Depending on the course and age group, the academic experience may also include tutorial-style learning, projects, presentations or independent preparation.

Students can explore subjects through independent summer programmes in Oxford and Cambridge with Atlas Summer Courses. These courses are operated by Atlas Summer Courses and are not provided by, affiliated with or part of the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge.