Where to start
If you have any ideas about HE courses you might want to study, it’s worth doing a bit of research now.
- Check entry requirements for any courses you're thinking about – these may mention particular subjects or qualifications you'll need, as well as any grades you'll need to get.
- Universities and colleges may also list entry requirements using Tariff points. Find out more about the Tariff.
- Compare course content – even courses with identical titles can vary, so if you’ve got an idea of what you'd like to study, compare the details by browsing subjects in the UCAS undergraduate search tool or the university's own website.
Don’t worry – you don’t need to decide now! University choices and applications are usually started in Year 12 or Year 13. Your school or college will tell you about it. In the meantime you can also find details about what’s involved and how it all works on ucas.com.
Some basics
- You’ll need GCSE/National 5 maths and English, as whatever course you choose, you'll be expected to have these qualifications or their equivalent. However, certain universities in Scotland may not require this, you can check this on the university's website.
- Think about going to open days and events. Don’t be shy, contact universities directly and ask questions.
- There are a number of different pathways available to you and there are many different types of qualification you can take, including A levels, Cambridge technicals, International Baccalaureate and Cambridge Pre-Us. Remember look at the details of any courses you want to study to check if there are any particular qualifications you'll need.