Choosing Subjects To Study in The UK Education System

Choosing subjects to study in the UK education system
In the sixth form in UK schools (Years 12 and 13) students usually study fewer subjects than you will in your
own country which allows them to specialise and study these in greater depth. The choice of subjects is very
important as it can affect which university courses are available to you and also your eventual career path.
The examination system you will follow will normally be one of the following:
• A level
• International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)
• Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers
and these systems lead to examinations at the end of two years of study which are essential for entry into
university. These qualifications are recognised not only in the UK but also internationally. However, to qualify
for entry into university in your own country you may be required to take mandatory national examinations
or take certain combinations of subjects. You should check carefully to make sure of compatibility with your
intentions for higher education when selecting subject options.
In the A level system, you will choose 3 or, in some cases, 4 subjects and you will take examinations in these
after two years of study. Your UK school may allow you to take some Advanced Supplementary (AS)
examinations at the end of Year 12, but these are not sufficient for entry into university in isolation. Most
schools will normally require certain A level subjects, notably languages and sciences, to have been studied
previously. Many schools offer students the chance to complement their A-Level studies by taking an
Extended Project Qualification. Some, more practical subjects may be taught to the BTEC specifications which
are modular in approach and usually have a higher proportion of internal assessment rather than
examination. However, some top UK universities, may view BTEC qualifications less favourably for entry onto
courses and they are not normally recognised by universities in Europe.
For the International Baccalaureate diploma, you have a degree of choice of subjects, but you must study
literature, and mathematics; as well as at least one science and at least one societal subject (e.g., economics,
geography, history). You study your chosen six subjects to higher (HL) or standard level (SL) depending on
which are more important for university entry onto the course of your choice. Broadly speaking, those
subjects you study at higher level will be equivalent to the subjects studied at A level. The idea of the IB is to
maintain your breadth of knowledge and skills. In this system you are also required to write an extended essay
and to study ‘theory of Knowledge (TOK)’.
The Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers are like the AS and A level examinations in that the Highers
require one year of study and the Advanced Highers normally require two years. As the name suggests this
examination syllabus is followed in many schools in Scotland although some Scottish schools teach A level
courses instead. It is very unusual for Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers to be taught outside Scotland.
One year or two years in your UK school

The scholarship offered by schools through HMC Projects is for two years to enable you to complete your
courses and take the final examinations for entry into university or college.
Your choice of subjects

The choice of subjects that you might study in your UK school depends on several factors:
• Your interest and ability in a subject;
• Your choice of university;
• Your choice of subject to study at university;
• Your choice of career
There is normally a large range of subjects to choose from in any school but not all schools offer the same set
of subjects. This is often the case with some foreign languages: for instance, one school may offer German
language and another may not. There are two further important points:
− If you choose to study English in the UK then you will normally be studying English literature;
− If you choose French, German or Spanish then, generally, you will be expected to have studied
these for at least two years to achieve the right level;
N.B.: some IB courses offer a language ab initio i.e. for beginners.
It is also important to be aware that universities may prefer certain subjects for entry onto a particular course.
Generally, universities can be rather traditional in the subjects they prefer. These subjects are generally on
offer in every school and are listed in the left column in the table below:
Subjects popular with universities
Normally offered by all Offered only by some

schools schools
Biology Business
Chemistry Classical Civilisation
English Literature Computer Science
Economics Design Tech (Graphics)
French Design Tech (Product Design)
Geography Drama and Theatre Studies
History English Language
Art Latin
Mathematics Greek
Further Mathematics German
Music Psychology
Physics Religious Studies
Spanish Politics
Examples of subject combinations useful for certain university courses:
Course Preferred subjects for university
Medicine, Dentistry, Chemistry and Biology are strongly advised (the majority of medical schools
Veterinary Science require Chemistry).
Natural Sciences Two or three of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics.
Engineering Mathematics and Physics are required. Further Mathematics is advised.
Computer Science Mathematics is required. Computer Science or Physics are desirable.
Usually two Sciences are advised, but entry via Arts subjects is perfectly
Psychology
possible.
Whilst Mathematics is advised, students should also consider Economics,
Economics and PPE
History, Geography, Politics or Religious Studies.
Business Studies, Mathematics can be helpful, but not essential. Business, Economics,
Management, Marketing Geography, Psychology may be helpful.
There are usually no essential subjects, but an art/science mix might be
Architecture
preferred, and a portfolio of your Art and/or Design work is essential.
Foreign Languages Two languages (modern or classical) are desirable but not essential
Any A Levels at the highest grade. Including a subject involving extended

Law
essay writing may be desirable.
For more information on the subjects required in UK universities for specific courses see the Russell Group
website:
https://www.informedchoices.ac.uk/degrees
Thinking ahead to university courses

One of the consequences of Brexit is the withdrawal of home fee status and access to student loans for those
holding an EU passport to study at a university in the UK. This means that all students holding an EU passport
are now treated as international students and require a Student visa to study at university in the UK and have
to pay the more expensive international student tuition fees1. This has always been the case for students who
do not hold an EU passport.
Scholarships to study at a UK university are very rare and you will be competing with students from all over
the world for these. All scholars are encouraged and advised to consider higher education (university) outside
the UK. There are universities in Europe where courses are taught in English and the fees are much more
affordable than those of universities in the UK.
With universities outside the UK, you should find that A levels, the IB diploma and Scottish Highers are
recognised for university entrance although in some countries a process of nostrification of your results may
be required. Certain qualifications may not be recognised and universities outside the UK may not recognise
BTEC qualifications. For this reason, we would suggest that you consider your future plans carefully before
choosing to do a BTEC course at your school.
EJ Wolstenholme
Director of HMC Projects
August 2023
1 Although some universities have put in place transition scholarships for EU students to bring the fee back down to the
level paid by UK students.

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Choosing subjects to study in the UK education system

One year or two years in your UK school

Your choice of subjects

Subjects popular with universities

Normally offered by all Offered only by some

Examples of subject combinations useful for certain university courses:

Course Preferred subjects for university

Natural Sciences Two or three of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics.

Engineering Mathematics and Physics are required. Further Mathematics is advised.

Computer Science Mathematics is required. Computer Science or Physics are desirable.

Any A Levels at the highest grade. Including a subject involving extended

Thinking ahead to university courses

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