- University Homepage
- Studying
- Undergraduate
- Applications & admissions
- Entry requirements
Approved subjects for university entry
The following information will provide you with details of the SQA Higher and GCE A Level subjects accepted for general University entry purposes.
A small number of other subjects offered by relatively few applicants (especially in the areas of languages and mathematics) are also counted as approved subjects.
Not all of the subjects listed, however, may necessarily be accepted for entry to particular degree programmes or particular colleges.
Some subjects that do not appear on this list may still be accepted by the relevant College Admissions Office.
The University has a process of reviewing and approving subjects for entry but new subjects, in particular, may still be subject to formal approval.
If a subject you are taking or planning to take does not appear on the list below then you should seek clarification as to its acceptability from the relevant College Admissions Office.
Breadth of study
To ensure a reasonable breadth of study, you will be required to offer passes in a range of subjects.
Subjects of study in closely related areas or which contain a high proportion of common material (such as biology and human biology) will not normally be counted separately.
If you need advice on subjects not listed here, on the acceptability of any subject for particular degree courses, and on overlapping subjects please contact the relevant college admissions office.
Practical subjects
While all subjects in the list below meet the general requirements for entry, you should note that certain subjects with a high practical content may not be acceptable for entry to particular degree programmes.
For advice on the acceptability of particular subjects, or combinations of subjects, you are advised to contact the relevant college admissions office for guidance.
Approved subjects for University entrance
| Subject | Higher | A Level |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting/Management Accounting/Principles of Accounts | Y | Y |
| Administration | Y | |
| Agricultural Science | Y | |
| Ancient (Greek and Roman) History | Y | |
| Ancient History and Literature | Y | |
| Applied Business | Y | |
| Archaeology | Y | |
| Art/Art: Painting/Art with Art History* | Y | |
| Art and Crafts/Art and Design | Y | Y |
| Art and Design (Historical and Critical) | Y | |
| Automotive Engineering | Y | |
| Biology | Y | Y |
| Biotechnology | Y | |
| Human (and Social) Biology | Y | Y |
| Social (and Environmental) Biology | Y | |
| Botany | Y | |
| (British) Government and Politics/Government and Political Studies/Politics and Government | Y | |
| Business Management/Business Studies | Y | Y |
| Care | Y | |
| Chemistry/Chemistry (Salters) | Y | Y |
| Chinese | Y | |
| Citizenship Studies | Y | |
| Civil Engineering | Y | |
| Classical Civilisation (and Ancient History) | Y | |
| Classical History and Civilisation | Y | |
| Classical Studies | Y | Y |
| Communication Studies | Y | Y |
| Computer Science/Computing Science/Computer Studies/Computing Studies/Computing | Y | Y |
| Constitutional Law | Y | |
| Construction | Y | |
| Craft (Design and Practice) | Y | |
| Craft and Design | Y | Y |
| Critical Thinking/Thinking Skills | Y | |
| Dance | Y | |
| Design (and Technology) | Y | Y |
| Design and Technology: Communication/Technology Systems/Design | Y | |
| Drama (and Theatre Arts) | Y | Y |
| Early Years Care and Education | Y | |
| Economic and Political Studies | Y | |
| Economic and Public Affairs | Y | |
| Economic Change and Society | Y | |
| Economic Geography | Y | |
| Economic History/(British) Economic and Social History | Y | |
| Economics | Y | Y |
| Economics & Business | Y | |
| Electronics/Electronic Systems | Y | Y |
| Electrical Engineering | Y | |
| Elements of Engineering Design | Y | |
| Engineering | Y | Y |
| Engineering Drawing (and Design)/Technical Drawing | Y | |
| Engineering Graphics (Applied) | Y | |
| Engineering Science | Y | |
| English (and Communication)/English Language and Literature | Y | Y |
| English Language | Y | |
| English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)*** | Y | |
| English Literature | Y | |
| Environmental Science/Studies | Y | |
| Fashion and Textile Technology | Y | |
| French | Y | Y |
| Film Studies | Y | |
| Gaelic/Gaidhlig | Y | |
| General Studies ** | Y | |
| Geography | Y | Y |
| Geography: Human/Natural Environment | Y | |
| Human/Physical Geography | Y | |
| Geology | Y | Y |
| Geometrical and Building (Mechanical) Drawing | Y | |
| German | Y | Y |
| Government and Politics/Political Studies | Y | |
| Graphic(al) Communication | Y | Y |
| Greek (Ancient or Modern)/Classical Greek | Y | Y |
| Greek Language with Greek History | Y | |
| Greek Literature with Greek History | Y | |
| Greek (Literature) and Classical Civilisation | Y | |
| Greek Literature (in Translation) | Y | |
| Health and Food Technology | Y | Y |
| Hebrew | Y | |
| History | Y | Y |
| History (and Appreciation) of Art/Art with Art History | Y | |
| Home Economics | Y | |
| Horticultural Science | Y | |
| Industrial Studies | Y | |
| Information Communication Technology (ICT) | Y | |
| Information Systems | Y | |
| Irish | Y | |
| Italian | Y | Y |
| Land Use (Built Environment) | Y | |
| Latin | Y | Y |
| Latin (Language) with Roman History | Y | |
| Latin (Literature) and Classical Civilisation | Y | |
| Law | Y | |
| Lifestyle and Consumer Technology | Y | |
| Managing Environmental Resources | Y | |
| Mathematics | Y | Y |
| Mathematics: Applied/and Statistics | Y | |
| Mathematics: Mechanics | Y | |
| Mathematics: Pure/with Mechanics/and Statistics/with Statistics | Y | |
| Mathematics: Pure-and-Applied | Y | |
| Mathematics: Statistics | Y | |
| Further Mathematics | Y | |
| Further Mathematics: Pure-and-Applied/Pure with Mechanics | Y | |
| Mechanical Engineering | Y | |
| Mechatronics | Y | |
| Media Studies | Y | Y |
| Modern Studies | Y | |
| Music/Music (Theoretical) | Y | Y |
| Music Technology | Y | |
| Norwegian | Y | |
| Performance Studies | Y | |
| Philosophy | Y | Y |
| Physical Education | Y | Y |
| Physics | Y | Y |
| Physics B - Advancing Physics | Y | |
| Physics and Mathematics | Y | |
| Political Studies/Politics and Government/Politics | Y | Y |
| Portuguese | Y | |
| Product Design | Y | |
| Psychology | Y | Y |
| Public Affairs | Y | |
| Russian | Y | Y |
| Religious Education/Studies | Y | |
| Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies | Y | |
| Science (Double) | Y | |
| Science (Studies) | Y | |
| Science in Society | Y | |
| Science, Technology and Society | Y | |
| Social (and Environmental) Biology | Y | |
| Sociology | Y | Y |
| Spanish | Y | Y |
| Sport and Physical Education | Y | |
| Statistics/Applied Statistics | Y | |
| Technical Design and Graphic Communication | Y | |
| Technical Drawing/Graphics | Y | |
| Technological Studies/Technology | Y | Y |
| Theatre Studies | Y | |
| Theology (Christian) | Y | |
| Welsh | Y | |
| Zoology | Y |
Key
* Applicants are requested to provide the full title of their Art A-levels as certain syllabuses may not be accepted for entry to all courses.
** Accepted as an approved subject only by the Schools of Divinity and Education (under review).
*** Except for MA English or Scottish Literature single and joint honours.
Higher: SQA Higher Grade/Advanced Higher
A Level: GCE Advanced Level
This article was published on Dec 2, 2009