The University of Birmingham does not intend to award greater merit to the English linear A level which will be taught for some subjects from September 2015 onwards (and thus be considered for university entry in 2017). However, we will review this position, if necessary, after the first round of delivery of the new A levels.
We do not expect to see AS levels being offered by all applicants once these become decoupled from the A level. The University of Birmingham will not disadvantage applicants who have not had the opportunity to take AS levels at their school/college at the point of initial application and our standard policy is to make offers on the basis of 3 A levels. However, if an applicant fails to meet the terms of their offer an additional qualification, such as an AS level or the Extended Project, may be advantageous, as is currently the case.
We recommend that schools/colleges outline their policy on which qualifications they offer their students in the reference section of the UCAS form in order to provide a context for the applicant’s academic background.
Where an applicant does not offer AS levels we will base our assessment of the academic quality of an application on the basis of GCSE performance and A level predictions as well as the reference and personal statement.
The University of Birmingham will ask for a pass in the practical element of the reformed science A levels for entry to our Science and Engineering programmes.