Frequently Asked Questions

Mathematics requirements

A-Level Requirements

Work Placements

Tuition Fees

What are your English Language requirements?


Mathematics requirements

Do I really need a Mathematics A-Level?

All of the Accounting, Economics, Finance and Management degree programmes at the University of Bristol have a strong mathematical component and applicants are required to offer a high level Mathematics qualification such as A-Level Mathematics at a minimum of grade A or its equivalent.  For applicants who are taking their A-Levels in the UK this should include grades of at least AB in the modules (Pure) Core Mathematics 3 and (Pure) Core Mathematics 4, or grade A for AQA's XMCA2 paper.  This will not apply to applicants taking their A-Levels outside the UK (such as Cambridge International Examinations or Singaporean A-Levels) due to the different structures of those qualifications - for such applicants grade A overall in Mathematics is sufficient.

Applicants who are taking a Foundation course need to be studying Mathematics at a level equivalent to A-Level as part of their course, to be eligible for consideration.  Our requirements for such courses are detailed at University Foundation Programmes

I am studying for the International Baccalaureate, including Maths at Standard Level. Is that sufficient for your Maths requirement?

Standard Level Mathematics is not equivalent to full A2 Mathematics, and so whilst we will accept it, you must have or be predicted grade seven.


A-level requirements

What subjects must I study at A-level?

Mathematics is our only subject pre-requisite. We typically make offers on the basis of three full A-levels (ie. we do NOT accept AS levels).

We will teach you on the assumption that you have no prior knowledge of Economics, and therefore don't require you to offer it as one of your A-Levels.  However, if you ARE studying Economics at A-Level then your performance in it will be a useful indication of  your analytical skills and we will require you to obtain grade A as part of the conditions of any offer we make.

Degrees involving Study in Continental Europe also have a language requirement; see Study in Continental Europe - Language Requirements

General Studies and Critical Thinking are excluded.

Essay-writing is an aspect of our degrees and we are therefore unlikely to make an offer to somebody whose A-Level subjects are selected only from among Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Statistics, Chemistry, Physics and Accounting.

When making offers below AAA, we may specify in which subjects you must earn the A grades, according to which we feel are most relevant for your chosen programme.


Work placements

I was wondering if it is possible to do a years paid work placement in industry as part of the course?

We do not operate a formal work placement scheme. Such requests have occasionally been granted in the past, but that would depend upon your academic performance up to that point and you would have to arrange the placement yourself.

It is more usual for students to seek a summer internship between the second and final years of study, specifically aimed at undergraduates who are about to start applying for post-graduation employment. We have a good careers service which can provide you with details of such schemes.


Tuition Fees

What are the tuition fees for your undergraduate degree programmes?

You can look at this fees table in PDF format (20.4Kb). It shows the tuition fees for all of the School of Economics, Finance and Management undergraduate degree programmes for the academic year 2010/11.

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