Some undergraduate courses require specific GCSE grades in particular subjects. We refer to these requirements as ‘profiles’.

Standard literacy profile requirement

To meet this profile, you need at least a 4 in GCSE English.

If you do not have this grade, you need to meet at least one of the below requirements. We consider these UK qualifications to be equivalent to the specified GCSE grade. 

Qualification	Grade
Non-reformed GCSE English Language or Literature	C
Reformed GCSE English Language or Literature (England)	4 or 5
Reformed GCSE English Language or Literature (Wales and Northern Ireland)	C or C*
GCSE in an essay-based subject	C
Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)	C
IGCSE English as a First Language or English Literature	C
IGCSE English as a Second Language	B
O Level English	C
IB Middle Years Programme English	5
IB English A Standard Level in either Literature, Language and Literature, or Literature and Performance	5
IB English A Higher Level in either Literature or Language and Literature	4
IB English B Standard Level	6
IB English B Higher Level	5
AS-level or A-level English Language, English Literature, or English Language and Literature	C
AS-level or A-level in an essay-based subject	C
SQA National 5 English or an essay-based subject	C
SQA Standard Grade English or an essay-based subject	3
SQA Higher English or an essay-based subject	C
SQA Advanced Higher English or an essay-based subject	C
Cambridge Pre-U English	M3
European Baccalaureate English 1, 2A or 2	6.5
Access (SWAP) Communications FA1W 12 and Literature 1 FA58 12	50%
Access to HE: Please enquire if you do not have one of the above qualifications.

We will also consider non-UK qualifications at an equivalent level. If your qualification is not listed above, you should include your full educational history with your application.