Where will a Cambridge
qualification take your
students?
Rhona Armour
University Liaison Manager
(UK, Europe and MENA)
Cambridge Assessment structure
Cambridge International Education worldwide
9000
schools
160
9000
countries
schools
40
160
40
governments
countries governments
Education programmes and qualifications
Global Recognition
 Widespread recognition for A/AS Levels and IGCSE
Cambridge IGCSE sample recognition
 Cambridge IGCSEs are recognised by UCAS and universities in the UK as
equivalent, grade-for-grade, with UK GCSE qualifications. Grade C is required for
higher education.
 Minimum 5 Grade C or above accepted for entry to freshman level study in some
US colleges and universities (more prestigious ones will require A Levels)
 Minimum 5 Grade C or above meet requirements for entry to foundation level
courses in Australian universities
 Recognised as comparable to Realschulabschluss (Middle school) in Germany –
5 subjects – Maths, Languages and Science plus one Social Studies/Humanities
 Minimum 8 Grade C or above for entry to university in Egypt
 Students who take IGCSEs alongside the national curriculum in Italy gain
academic credit at the University of Bologna
Destination: UK
UK
 Cambridge International AS and A
Levels are accepted for entry to
university
 Competitive courses require at least 3
good A levels
 Universities often expect 4 AS Levels,
with 3 taken on to A2.
 IGCSE/O Level accepted as direct
equivalent of UK GCSE
 Content of syllabuses & examples on
question papers are culturally sensitive,
in an international context.
 IGCSE/O Level English Grade C usually
accepted as proof of English language
proficiency for undergraduate courses
UCAS (Universities and Colleges
Admissions Service) - Centralised System
Conditional offers
In the UK, offers are made before students take their
final examinations in May/June – on predicted grades
Universities make an offer, for example, 3 A Levels
with grades ABB
Students can accept (or decline) the offer
After results are issued, students can take up offers
Those who do not meet offers, go through ‘clearing’look for available places at other universities
Selective universities
Oxford and Cambridge are the most selective
The Russell Group universities are generally
research based and selective
The 1994 Group are also research based and many
are selective but slightly less so than Russell Group
Recruiting universities/courses have more places
than applications – but there are fewer places every
year
Medicine
Has the highest entry requirements of all courses
Requirements range from A*AA to AAA
Chemistry is often required plus one either A Level
science or mathematics
University of Leeds - School of Medicine
AAA including Chemistry.
General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted.
There is no other restriction on subjects accepted.
Certain combinations are not acceptable. Specifically:
* Chemistry with Biology and Human Biology
* Chemistry with Maths and Further Maths
Those taking a fourth A2 subject will not be at an
advantage over those taking three.
The University of York - York Law School
Typical offer is AAA at A Level.
No specific subject choices at A Level are required
Standard offers will include all subjects
All applicants are interviewed
University College London (UCL) - Engineering
 Biochemical Engineering BEng (3 yrs) – Grades AAB-ABB
 Biochemical Engineering MEng (4yrs) – Grades AAA-AAB.
 BEng and MEng in Mechanical Engineering - Must include
A Level Mathematics (Pure and Applied) and Physics
 Engineering with Business Finance - Grades AAA-AAB.
Must include Mathematics (Pure and Applied). Physics must
be offered at AS level if not at A Level.
 A-level Mathematics is recommended for all Engineering
degree programmes.
 A pass in a further subject at AS level or equivalent is also
required for all programmes.
Durham University – Business School
Business and Management BA (Hons) – typical A L offer: AAB
 Cypriot applicants who have at least 18.5 out of 20 in the Apolytirion
programme as well as 2 GCE A Levels with grades of A or B will be
considered for admission to Durham’s Bachelor degree programmes.
Will give preference to applicants who present:
 a string of good GCSE results, with the majority at A or A*
 a grade A in Mathematics GCSE (or equivalent)
 a strong academic reference predicting (with appropriate evidence) a final
achievement in excess of AAB at A level (or equivalent) and which
evidences the applicant's high level of motivation and potential
 Whilst the study of accounting, business, economics or mathematics at A
level is not a requirement, if applicants have chosen to study any of these
subjects at A level (or equivalent) then those subjects will form part, or all of, our
offer
University of Warwick – French and History
Typical offer: AAB
All candidates must offer Advanced or Higher level
qualifications in French.
Advanced or Higher level qualifications in French and
History at minimum grade A
Offers normally exclude General Studies and Critical
Thinking.
University of Leicester
English language requirement:
Cambridge IGCSE in English as First Language OR English as Second Language
accepted: for all courses except Law at grade C - for Law, require grade B
BA Film Studies and the Visual Arts
 Three A-levels usually required at ABB
 General Studies not accepted
BA Modern Languages with Film Studies
 Three A-levels normally required. Two AS-levels considered in place of one ALevel. General Studies accepted.
 Grade B at A-level in a language, or an equivalent qualification, is required
 To enter as an advanced learner of French, Italian or Spanish, the A-level must
be in the relevant language, but you can also take any of these languages as a
beginner, with no prior knowledge. If you study two languages, only one can be
taken at beginner's level
 No prior knowledge of Film Studies is required
.
Russell Group
Information for future students
http://russellgroup.ac.uk/informed-choices/
Other Destination Countries
Australia
IGCSE/O Level accepted for
foundation level courses
Minimum of 1 A Level required
for undergraduate degree
programmes
2-3 A Levels for some courses
Requirements for A Level
students are increasing
USA
 Over 450 universities officially
recognise Cambridge qualifications
for entry
 5 Grade Cs in IGCSE/O Level
meet minimum freshman level
entry requirements for some
colleges & universities (including
Maths and English)
 AS &/or A Levels are required for
competitive universities such as
Yale, MIT and Harvard
 Advanced credit is available for AS
and A Levels in most universities
Germany
 The Central Office for Foreign Education, an institution of The Ministries of
Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of
Germany have stated that A and AS Level qualifications will be recognised in
Germany for entry to higher education.
 Providing all other admissions criteria are met, the minimum entry requirements
for undergraduate study in Germany are as follows:
Minimum of 4 GCE AS and A Level subjects, three of which must be equivalent
to GCE A Level.
For example,
• three GCE Advanced Levels (3 A Levels)
PLUS
• one GCE Advanced Subsidiary Level (1 AS Level)
 Full requirements are listed at:
http://www.anabin.de/scripts/frmKapitel.asp?ID=3198
The Netherlands
 Nuffic, the Netherlands organisation for international cooperation in
higher education, has issued the following recommendations with regard
to GCSE, AS and A Level qualifications and equivalency to the Dutch VWO
and HAVO diplomas.
 A secondary education diploma (HAVO or VWO diploma) is required for
admission to higher education.
 Equivalent of a VWO Diploma
A GCSE in three subjects with marks ranging from A*-C, plus a GCE with
three subjects at advanced level (six different subjects in total – QCF level
3 / EQF level 4) is comparable to a VWO diploma in the Netherlands.
 Equivalent of a HAVO Diploma
A GCSE in four subjects with marks ranging from A*-C, plus a GCE with
two subjects at A/S level (six different subjects in total – NQF level 3 / EQF
level 4) is comparable to a HAVO diploma in the Netherlands.
Sample Certificate: Cambridge International AS and A Level
Watermark
Upper and Lower case
reporting of grades achieved
Number of subjects
Signature of VC of
University of Cambridge
Hologram
Serial number
Other hidden security features are also present on official Cambridge
documentation
Recognitions database
Available on the website by going to Cambridge
home page and clicking on the recognition link
All documents are available on that page
Click on ‘Search Recognitions’ to search by country
and qualification in the recognition database:
http://recognition.cie.org.uk
USA
Australia
Learn more!
Getting in touch with
Cambridge is easy
Email us at
info@cie.org.uk
or telephone
+44 (0) 1223 553554
www.cie.org.uk