University entrance

University admission depends on the results obtained from the AS / A Level examinations at the end of the academic years in higher secondary education, Year 12 – Year 13 . At this level, the subjects are considered as passed with a A, B, C, D and E mark.

In general, for University admission in the United Kingdom, depending on Universities and/or Faculties, at least two GCE (General Certificate of Education) must have been passed. Nevertheless, in many cases, such as the most prestigious Universities, at least three subjects must have been passed with a B mark or higher. In recent years, in order to unify criteria, the United Kingdom has established the points obtained according to the “UCAS Scale” as the scale for university admission, which assigns a numeric value to the marks obtained on the AS/AL examinations.

On the other hand, Spanish university admission requires obtaining a numeric mark, from 0 to 10, which, for the students studying in the Spanish education system, is obtained from 60% of the Higher Secondary Education Certificate marks and 40% from the University Entrance Examination Mark. The final mark obtained enables students to access different university studies based on the marks established in each case.

Access to Spanish universities for students who have studied in foreign centres in EU member educational systems also require obtaining a mark from 0 to 10, although, unlike the former, and from the 2007-08 academic year, this can be obtained in two ways: University access for EU students or taking the University Entrance Examination.

University access for EU students (This does not require the University Entrance Examination):
This channel is aimed at students who have studied in foreign centres (belonging to the EU). They must fulfil the same academic requirements for university admission in the countries or Educational Systems of origin, in our case the United Kingdom. As occurs in the United Kingdom, this channel means that the student does not have to pass the University Entrance Examination to go to University.

To obtain the mark to be able to be admitted to university in the chosen studies, the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science establishes scales determining the minimum academic requirements (minimum amount of A Levels –two-) and the numeric equivalence of the marks obtained in the GCE subjects with Spanish Higher Secondary Education studies. This equivalence is carried out using the "UCAS Scale" mentioned above.

University admission via the University Entrance Examination:
When university admission sought in this way, preparation for the University Entrance Examination is carried out during the final year of the Higher Secondary Education Certificate (Year 13) and does not interfere whatsoever with students preparing and sitting the A Level examinations.

Students who have passed a minimum of two GCE subjects –A Levels– (studied in KS5), plus five GCSE/IGCSE subjects (studied in KS4) fulfil the requirements for obtaining, via the recognition process, the Spanish Higher Secondary Education Certificate. At the end of Year 13, with the Higher Secondary Education Certificate, students may sit the University Entrance Examination –Sciences or Humanities modality–.

When passed, a mark from 0 to 10 is obtained from 60% from the Higher Secondary Education Certificate mark and 40% from the University Entrance Examination mark. The final mark obtained enables students to access different university studies at Spanish universities/faculties based on the marks established in each case.

The choice between one option and the other is made so as to ensure appropriate academic preparation of the student, maximise the possibilities of choice of university studies depending on the student's preferences and their admission to the universities. The following will be taken into account to this end:

• The student's destination university (national or foreign)
• The Higher Secondary Education Certificate studies and the chosen university studies
• The student's academic performance in Year 12.