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The main purpose of the points is to allow data to be reported to government bodies, but some further education institutions use them as part of their entry requirements

A record number of students have been accepted on to UK degree courses this year, Ucas figures show.

Over 430,000 people from the UK and overseas have had places confirmed, up 5 per cent on the same point last year, according to data published by the university admissions service.

Among UK applicants, 388,230 have been accepted – an 8 per cent rise compared with results day last year. A record 395,770 students have also been accepted on to their first choice of full-time course in the UK, up 8 per cent from 365,500 at the same point in 2020.

Students receive their A-Level results on 10 August 2021. (Photo: by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

The figures come on the day that students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are receiving their A-level results, and students across Scotland are receiving their Highers results.

But how can you be sure you’ve been accepted to your further education institution of choice if you’re still waiting for confirmation? It's all to do with those all important points.

Here is everything you need to know.

A Level results hit record high as almost 50% of pupils land A and A* grades

How do Ucas points work?

You'd think finding out whether you got into your chosen university would be a simple affair – three good A Levels and you're in.

But it's not so straightforward.

Different institutions use different metrics to work out who they'll accept onto courses come the new academic year.

Some students will be lucky enough to know exactly which grades they need to secure a place at their chosen college or university. But others will have been hoping to secure enough Ucas points to make up the total their further education establishment asks of them.

Ucas Tariff points are allocated to qualifications, and the main purpose of them is to allow universities to report data to government bodies. But some further education institutions also use them as part of their entry requirements, assigning points to certain grades and levels.

However, not all places of study use the system, and those that do might only use it to narrow down higher scoring A levels.

Ucas Tariff points explained

Not all qualifications attract Ucas Tariff points; around one third of courses in the Ucas search tool have a Tariff entry requirement at the moment.

The Tariff rarely applies to international qualifications.

Here's how the points break down for some of the most common qualifications – for more information, head to Ucas’ website here.

A level and Advanced VCE Official title: Advanced GCE and Advanced VCE

A*	56
A	48
B	40
C	32
D	24
E	16

Size band: 4

Grade bands: 4-14

Offered by AQA, CCEA, OCR, Pearson Edexcel and WJEC

AS and AS VCE Official title: Advanced Subsidiary GCE and Advanced Subsidiary VCE

A	20
B	16
C	12
D	10
E	6

Size band: 2

Grade bands: 3-10

Offered by AQA, CCEA, OCR, Pearson Edexcel and WJEC

A level (Double Award) and Advanced VCE (Double Award) Official title: Advanced GCE (Double Award) and Advanced VCE (Double Award)

AA	112
A*A	104
AA	96
AB	88
BB	80
BC	72
CC	64
CD	56
DD	48
DE	40
EE	32

Size band: 4+4 = 8

Grade bands: 4-14

Offered by AQA, CCEA, OCR, Pearson Edexcel and WJEC

A level with AS (additional) Official title: Advanced GCE with Advanced Subsidiary GCE (Additional)

A*A	76
AA	68
AB	64
BB	56
BC	52
CC	44
CD	42
DD	34
DE	30
EE	22

Size band: 4+2 = 6

Grade bands: 4-14 (GCE) and 3-10 (AS)

AS (Double Award) Official title: Advanced Subsidiary GCE (Double Award)

AA	40
AB	36
BB	32
BC	28
CC	24
CD	22
DD	20
DE	16
EE	12

Size band: 2+2 = 4

Grade bands: 3-10

Offered by AQA, CCEA, OCR, Pearson Edexcel and WJEC

BTEC points explained

Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF)

DDD*	168
DDD	160
D*DD	152
DDD	144
DDM	128
DMM	112
MMM	96
MMP	80
MPP	64
PPP	48

Size band: 4+4+4 = 12

Grade bands: 4-14

Pearson BTEC Diploma (QCF)

DD	112
D*D	104
DD	96
DM	80
MM	64
MP	48
PP	32

Size band: 4+4 = 8

Grade bands: 4-14

Pearson BTEC 90-Credit Diploma (QCF)

DD	84
D*D	78
DD	72
DM	60
MM	48
MP	36
PP	24

Size band: 3+3 = 6

Grade bands: 4-14

Pearson BTEC Subsidiary Diploma (QCF)

D*	56
D	48
M	32
P	16

Size band: 4

Grade bands: 4-14

Pearson BTEC Certificate (QCF)

D*	28
D	24
M	16
P	8

Size band: 2

Grade bands: 4-14

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma

DDD*	168
DDD	160
D*DD	152
DDD	144
DDM	128
DMM	112
MMM	96
MMP	80
MPP	64
PPP	48

Size band: 4+4+4 = 12

Grade bands: 4-14

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma

DD	112
D*D	104
DD	96
DM	80
MM	64
MP	48
PP	32

Size band: 4+4 = 8

Grade bands: 4-14

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (510-540 GLH)

D*	84
D	72
M	48
P	24

Size band: 3+3 = 6

Grade bands: 4-14

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate

D*	56
D	48
M	32
P	16

Size band: 4

Grade bands: 4-14

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Certificate

D*	28
D	24
M	16
P	8

Size band: 2

Grade bands: 4-14

For more information, head to Ucas’ website here.

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How many Ucas points do I have? How tariff points work for A Level grades and Btec results – full table

How do Ucas points work?

Ucas Tariff points explained

BTEC points explained