UK University Leaving Certificate Requirements
- Sreehari Pillai
- Jun 17, 2025
- 4 min read
England
University of Cambridge
4 H1s and 2 H2s
Chemistry required along with one other science such as Physics or Biology.
University of Oxford
2 H1s and 4 H2s.
Chemistry required along with Physics, Biology or Maths.
Imperial College London
H1 / H2 in Chemistry and Biology (grades any order).
H1 in two further subjects. H2 in two further subjects.
University College London (UCL)
4 H1s and 2 H6s.
Must achieve H1 in both biology and chemistry.
King’s College London 3 H1s and 3H2s.
One H1 in either Biology and Chemistry and both at least at a H2.
Queen Mary University of London
3 H1s and 2 H2s.
H1 must be in Chemistry or Biology and one other science subject (Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Maths)
St George’s, University of London
2 H1s and 4 H2s, including H1 in Biology and Chemistry
University of Birmingham
4 H1s including Biology and Chemistry.
For the Junior Certificate, Grade A must be achieved in six subjects including Biology, Chemistry, English and Mathematics.
University of Bristol
2 H1s and 3 H2s including Chemistry and either Biology, Physics, Mathematics or Further Mathematics.
University of Leeds
6 H2s, including Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics.
University of Manchester
4 H1s including Biology or Chemistry; and One of the following subjects from Chemistry; Biology; Physics; Mathematics or Further Mathematics.
University of Liverpool
2 H1s and 4 H2s.
H1 in Chemistry and either Biology, Maths or Physics.
Subjects offered must include English Language, Biology, Maths or Physics if these subjects are not offered at GCSE equivalent (at a minimum of grade B/6).
University of Newcastle
3 H1s and 3 H2s in any subjects.
University of Nottingham
1 H1 and 5 H2s including Biology and Chemistry at grade H1 and H2 in any order.
We would also request a copy of your junior certificate. You must have completed Biology, Chemistry (or Science), Maths and English Language.
University of Sheffield
6 H2s including Chemistry or Biology and a second science
University of Southampton
2 H1s and 4H2s, with H2 in Biology and one additional science
University of Leicester
2 H1s and 4H2s with H2 in Biology and one additional science. Acceptable science subjects are Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, Environmental Studies or Geography.
University of Exeter
1 H1 5 H2s including Chemistry and Biology. No specific requirements for GCSE other than English Language at grade B (grade 6).
University of East Anglia
6H2s including Chemistry and Biology.
Keele University
Six H1 or H2 grades at Higher level including Biology or Chemistry, plus two more of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Agricultural science, Mathematics/Applied Mathematics
A minimum of five Higher Merits at Junior Cycle with English and Maths (Higher Level) and Science (Common Level) at minimum Merit.
University of Plymouth
2 H1s and 4 H2s including Biology and one further science from Chemistry, Maths, Physics.
Lancaster University
2 H1s and 4 H2s including H1 in two of Biology, Chemistry or Psychology
University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)
144 UCAS tariff points - Can be worked out using link below.
University of Buckingham (Private)
Requires a minimum of 1 H2 and 4 H3s to include Chemistry or Biology at H2.
Brunel University London
3 H2s and 2 H3s with at least H2 in Chemistry or Biology and one other science (Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Maths)
To meet the GCSE requirement you need at least 5 x H6 from your leaving cert subjects, including Maths, English and 2 Sciences.
University of Sunderland – School of Medicine
Irish leaving cert not accepted
Edge Hill University
3 H1s including Biology and Chemistry, 3 H2s including English and Maths
Scotland
University of Edinburgh
3 H1s including Chemistry and 3 H2s (2 of Biology, Maths, or Physics)
JC HL English and Maths at Higher Merit + Science at Higher Merit
University of Glasgow
6 H2s including Chemistry, Biology and Maths/Physics
University of Aberdeen
3 H1s and 3 H2s including Chemistry, Biology and one other subject.
3 Higher subjects at Grade H2 including English and either Maths or Physics, plus one other subject.
Junior Cert: Higher Merit/H2/Grade B or better required in English, Maths and Science.
University of Dundee
3 H1s and 3 H2s
Grade H1 including Chemistry and another Science (from Biology, Physics or Mathematics) and three Higher level subjects at Grade H2 to include Biology.
We also require English and mathematics to at least grade O2 in the Irish Junior Certificate.
University of St Andrews
580 points overall, including H1 in required subjects. These points will be calculated using the six highest graded subjects and also include the 25 bonus points for higher level Mathematics.
Wales
Cardiff University
1 H1 and 5 H2s including Biology and Chemistry.
Northern Ireland
Queen’s University Belfast
4 H1s and 2 H2s
H1 in Biology and Chemistry + if not offered at Higher Level then Ordinary Level grade O3 in Mathematics.
Students not offering Physics as part of their Leaving Certificate must have a grade A or Higher Merit in Junior Certificate Science.
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