13 March 2026 · Updated 14 October 2026 · Hugo Harrabin
GCSE and A-Level entry requirements for 13 Russell Group universities, subject by subject, from Medicine to Sociology. Checked against 2027-entry course pages.
Getting into a Russell Group university is a goal that many families start thinking about far too late. The decisions made in Year 9 (which subjects to choose at GCSE and, in many schools, which maths tier a child is working towards) and Year 10 (whether to address academic gaps now or later) have a direct impact on the A-Level options available, which in turn determines university choices.
This is a practical guide to what the grades actually look like, by subject, across the Russell Group, so you can assess where your child stands and plan accordingly. Every figure below comes from the university's own 2027-entry page, checked on 1 October 2026, and each university name links to the page it came from. Requirements change every year, so we re-check them each autumn.
Key Takeaways
- There is no single Russell Group GCSE requirement. Oxford and Cambridge set no GCSE minimum at all. LSE asks for a 6 in English and Maths, UCL, Manchester and Warwick a 4 in both, and the rest leave at least Maths to each course.
- Course pages often ask for more than the university minimum, and GCSE Maths is the grade they name most. Leeds Economics wants a 7 in GCSE Maths without asking for A-Level Maths.
- Standard A-Level offers for 2027 entry run from A*A*A (Cambridge Medicine, several Maths and Physics courses) down to ABB (Sociology at five universities). Contextual offers can be two or more grades lower.
- A GCSE resit usually counts towards the minimum, but UCAS shows every sitting, and some courses, including UCL Law, Economics, Maths and Medicine, do not accept resits.
The Russell Group is an association of 24 leading UK research universities, including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, UCL, King's College London, the University of Edinburgh, Bristol, Durham, Exeter, Leeds, Manchester, and 13 others.
They are not uniformly selective. Entry requirements vary significantly between universities and between subjects within the same university. However, as a group they set the benchmark most academically ambitious students in the UK are aiming for. This guide covers 13 of them: the eleven above, plus LSE and Warwick.
Yes, more than many parents realise. While offers are made on A-Level grades, GCSE results are used in three important ways:
These are the minimums each university sets across all its courses. Several universities set GCSE grades course by course instead, so check the subject tables further down as well.
| Minimum GCSE English and Maths | Universities |
|---|---|
| None set | Oxford, Cambridge, King's, Durham, Bristol |
| English 4, Maths set by course | Edinburgh, Leeds, Exeter |
| English 5, Maths set by course | Imperial (English 6 for Medicine) |
| English 4 and Maths 4 | UCL, Manchester, Warwick* |
| English 6 and Maths 6 | LSE |
Source: each university's general entry requirements page, linked, retrieved 1 October 2026. *Warwick's general page asks for English and Maths at 4; most of its course pages accept English plus "either Mathematics or a Science subject".
"None set" does not mean GCSEs are ignored. Oxford and Cambridge read every applicant's grades in context, as above, and King's, Durham and Bristol set GCSE grades on individual course pages.
The Maths wildcard: GCSE Maths is the grade course pages name most often, well beyond STEM. Leeds Economics asks for a 7 in GCSE Maths but no A-Level Maths. LSE asks for a 6 on every course and a 7 for Psychological and Behavioural Science. UCL Law asks for a 6. That makes GCSE Maths the grade most worth securing early, and our parent's guide to GCSE Maths sets out what each grade opens up.
Each table gives the standard A-Level offer for 2027 entry, the A-Level subjects the course requires, and any GCSE grades set on the course page. Where a university has no single-honours course in the subject, its nearest course is named in brackets. Edinburgh publishes a range rather than a single offer, and so do some Exeter courses; both ranges are shown as published.
Every medical school here uses the UCAT, and all but Manchester require A-Level Chemistry. Offers run from AAA at Edinburgh, Bristol, Manchester and Leeds to A*A*A at Cambridge. GCSE requirements vary far more than the A-Levels do.
| University | A-Level offer | Required A-Levels | GCSE requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford | A*AA | Chemistry, plus Biology, Physics or Maths | None set; GCSEs scored at shortlisting |
| Cambridge | A*A*A | Chemistry, plus one or two of Biology, Physics, Maths | None |
| Imperial | A*AA | Biology and Chemistry, A* in one | English 6 |
| UCL | A*AA | Biology and Chemistry, A* in one | English 6, Maths 6 |
| King's | A*AA | Biology and Chemistry | English 6, Maths 6 |
| Edinburgh | AAA | Chemistry, plus Biology, Maths or Physics | Biology, Chemistry, English, Maths at 7 |
| Bristol | AAA | Chemistry, plus Biology, Physics or Maths | Maths 7, English 4 |
| Manchester | AAA | Biology or Chemistry, plus one more science | Seven at 7+; English, Maths and two sciences at 6+ |
| Leeds | AAA | Biology and Chemistry | Six at 6+, including English, Maths, Biology, Chemistry |
| Exeter | A*AA | Biology and Chemistry | English 6 |
Source: each university's 2027-entry course page, linked, retrieved 1 October 2026. Not offered: LSE, Durham, Warwick. Warwick's MB ChB is graduate-entry only.
A-Level Maths is required everywhere. Physics is not: Durham, Bristol, Leeds and Edinburgh accept another science instead.
| University | A-Level offer | Required A-Levels | GCSE requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford (Engineering Science) | A*A*A | Maths and Physics | None |
| Cambridge (Engineering) | A*A*A | Maths and Physics | None |
| Imperial | A*A*A or A*AAA | A* Maths, plus Physics | English 5 |
| UCL | A*AA | Maths and Physics, A* in one | English 4, Maths 4 |
| King's (General Engineering) | AAA | Maths | None stated |
| Edinburgh | AAA to ABB | Maths, plus one science or technology subject | English 4, a science 6 |
| Durham | A*AA | Maths, plus Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Geology | None stated |
| Bristol | A*AA | Maths, plus Physics, Further Maths, Chemistry, Biology or Computer Science | None stated |
| Manchester | A*A*A | Maths and Physics | Five at 6+ including Maths and a science |
| Leeds | A*AA | Maths, plus Physics or Chemistry | English 4 |
| Warwick | A*AA | Maths and Physics | English 4, Maths or a science 4 |
| Exeter | AAB to ABB | Maths and another science, both at B | English 4 |
Source: as above. Not offered: LSE.
A-Level Maths is required at all twelve. Five set an admissions test: the TMUA at Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and Warwick, and the TARA at UCL.
| University | A-Level offer | Required A-Levels | GCSE requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford | A*AA | Maths (and Further Maths if taken) | None |
| Cambridge | A*A*A | Maths, and Further Maths if offered | None |
| Imperial (Computing) | A*A*A or A*AAA | A* Maths | English 5 |
| UCL | A*A*A | A* in Maths or Further Maths | English 4, Maths 4 |
| King's | A*A*A | Maths or Further Maths at A | None stated |
| Edinburgh | A*A*A* to AAB | Maths at A | English 4 |
| Durham | A*AA | Maths at A | None stated |
| Bristol | A*AA | A* Maths | None stated |
| Manchester | A*AA | A* Maths, plus a science, Computing or Further Maths | Maths 6, English 4 |
| Leeds | AAA | Maths | English 4 |
| Warwick | A*A*A | A* Maths | Mostly 7 to 9; English and Maths at least 4 |
| Exeter | AAA to AAB | Maths at B | English 4 |
Source: as above. Not offered: LSE (its nearest course is BSc Data Science).
Only Edinburgh names a required A-Level, English at grade B. Seven of the twelve require the LNAT: Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, UCL, King's, Durham and Bristol.
| University | A-Level offer | Required A-Levels | GCSE requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford (BA Jurisprudence) | AAA | None | None |
| Cambridge (BA Law) | A*AA | None | None |
| LSE | A*AA | None | English 6, Maths 6 |
| UCL | A*AA | None | English 6, Maths 6 |
| King's | A*AA | None | None stated |
| Edinburgh | A*A*A to A*AA | English at B | English 4 |
| Durham | A*AA | None | None stated |
| Bristol | A*AA or A*A*B | None | None stated |
| Manchester | A*AA | One academic subject from a set list | English 4, Maths 4 |
| Leeds | AAA | Two "traditional academic" subjects | "A substantial number" of high passes, no grade given |
| Warwick | A*AA | None | English 6, Maths 4 |
| Exeter | AAA | None | English 4 |
Source: as above. Not offered: Imperial.
Every Economics course here requires A-Level Maths except Leeds, which asks for a 7 in GCSE Maths instead.
| University | A-Level offer | Required A-Levels | GCSE requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford (Economics and Management) | A*AA | Maths | None |
| Cambridge | A*A*A | Maths (Further Maths at six colleges) | None |
| Imperial (Economics, Finance and Data Science) | A*AA | A* Maths | English 5 |
| LSE | A*AA | A* Maths | English 6, Maths 6 |
| UCL | A*AA | A* Maths | English 4, Maths 4 |
| King's | A*AA | Maths at A | None stated |
| Edinburgh | A*A*A* to A*AA | Maths at B | English 4 |
| Durham | A*AA | Maths | None stated |
| Bristol | A*AA | Maths | None stated |
| Manchester | AAA | Maths | Maths 6, English 4 |
| Leeds | AAA | None | Maths 7, English 5 |
| Warwick | A*AA | Maths at A | English 6 |
| Exeter | A*AA to AAA | Maths at B | English 4 |
Source: as above. Cambridge, Imperial, LSE and UCL also require the TMUA.
Further Maths is required or expected at most of the highest offers. Leeds and Exeter ask for an A in Maths, with offers of AAA to AAB.
| University | A-Level offer | Required A-Levels | GCSE requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford | A*A*A | A* in Maths and Further Maths | None |
| Cambridge | A*A*A plus STEP | Maths and Further Maths | None |
| Imperial | A*A*A | A* in Maths and Further Maths | English 5 |
| LSE (Mathematics with Economics) | A*AA | A* Maths; Further Maths expected if offered | English 6, Maths 6 |
| UCL | A*A*A | A* in Maths and Further Maths | English 4, Maths 4 |
| King's | A*AA | Maths and Further Maths at A*A | None stated |
| Edinburgh | A*A*A* to A*AB | A* Maths | English 4 |
| Durham | A*A*A | A* in Maths and Further Maths | None stated |
| Bristol | A*A*A (A*AA with Further Maths) | A* Maths | None stated |
| Manchester | A*AA | A* in Maths or Further Maths | Maths 7, English 4 |
| Leeds | AAA to AAB | Maths at A | English 4 |
| Warwick | A*A*A | A* in Maths and Further Maths | English 4, Maths or a science 4 |
| Exeter | AAA to AAB | Maths at A | English 4 |
Source: as above. Cambridge's offer includes STEP. Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and Warwick use the TMUA.
Every single-honours Physics course requires both Physics and Maths A-Level. Offers run from ABB, at the bottom of Edinburgh's and Exeter's ranges, to A*A*A at Cambridge, Imperial, Durham and Manchester.
| University | A-Level offer | Required A-Levels | GCSE requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford | A*AA | Physics and Maths | None |
| Cambridge (Natural Sciences) | A*A*A | Maths and two sciences | None |
| Imperial | A*A*A | A* in Maths and Physics | English 5 |
| UCL | A*AA | Maths and Physics at A*A | English 4, Maths 4 |
| King's | AAA | Maths and Physics at A | None stated |
| Edinburgh | AAA to ABB | Maths at A, Physics at B | English 4 |
| Durham | A*A*A | Maths and Physics | None stated |
| Bristol | A*AA | Maths and Physics at A*A | None stated |
| Manchester | A*A*A | A* Physics, plus A* Maths or Further Maths | English 4, Maths 4 |
| Leeds | AAA | Physics and Maths | English 4 |
| Warwick | A*AA | Maths and Physics at A | English 4, Maths or a science 4 |
| Exeter | AAA to ABB | Maths and Physics | English 4 |
Source: as above. Not offered: LSE.
Oxford, Imperial, Durham and Edinburgh require A-Level Maths alongside Chemistry. Bristol and Leeds don't, and set a 6 in GCSE Maths instead.
| University | A-Level offer | Required A-Levels | GCSE requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford | A*A*A | Chemistry and Maths | None |
| Cambridge (Natural Sciences) | A*A*A | Maths and two sciences | None |
| Imperial | AAA | Chemistry and Maths at A | English 5 |
| UCL | AAA | Chemistry, plus Biology, Physics or Maths | Maths 6, English 4 |
| King's | AAB | Chemistry, plus Maths, Further Maths, Physics or Biology | Maths 7 if no A-Level Maths |
| Edinburgh | AAA to ABB | Chemistry and Maths at B | English 4 |
| Durham | A*AA | Chemistry and Maths | None stated |
| Bristol | AAA | Chemistry | Maths 6 |
| Manchester | AAA | Chemistry, plus a science or Maths | Maths 6, English 4 |
| Leeds | AAB | Chemistry | Maths 6, English 4 |
| Warwick | AAB | Chemistry, plus a science or Maths | English 4, Maths or a science 4 |
Source: as above. Not offered: LSE, Exeter (Exeter's nearest is BSc Natural Sciences).
Biology has one of the widest spreads in this guide, from ABB at Exeter to A*A*A at Cambridge.
| University | A-Level offer | Required A-Levels | GCSE requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford | A*AA | Biology, plus Chemistry, Physics or Maths | None |
| Cambridge (Natural Sciences) | A*A*A | Maths and two sciences | None |
| Imperial | AAA | Biology, plus Chemistry, Maths or Physics | English 5 |
| UCL | AAA | Biology, plus Chemistry, Maths or Physics | English 6, Maths 6 |
| King's (Biomedical Science) | AAA | Biology and Chemistry | None stated |
| Edinburgh | AAA to ABB | Biology and Chemistry at B | Maths or Physics 6, English 4 |
| Durham | AAA | Biology or Chemistry, plus another science | None stated |
| Bristol | AAA | Biology, plus a science-related subject | None stated |
| Manchester | AAA to AAB | Two sciences | English 4, Maths 4 |
| Leeds | AAB | Biology | Maths 6, English 4 |
| Warwick | AAB (AAA if Biology is your only science) | Biology, plus a second science | English 4, Maths or a science 4 |
| Exeter | ABB | Biology and another science | Maths 5, English 4 |
Source: as above. Not offered: LSE.
Psychology is where GCSE Maths matters most. Ten of the twelve set a GCSE Maths grade on the course page, from a 5 at Durham, Leeds and Exeter to a 7 at LSE and Edinburgh, and Oxford recommends a 7. Most count Psychology A-Level as the science they ask for.
| University | A-Level offer | Required A-Levels | GCSE requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford | A*AA | None (a science or Maths recommended) | Maths 7 recommended |
| Cambridge (Psychological and Behavioural Sciences) | A*A*A | One of Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science | None |
| LSE (Psychological and Behavioural Science) | A*AA | One of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Psychology at A | Maths 7, English 6 |
| UCL | A*AA | Two of Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Physics, Psychology, one of them at A* | English, Maths and two sciences at 6 |
| King's | A*AA | One of Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Physics, Psychology at A | Maths 6 |
| Edinburgh | A*A*A* to AAA | One science from a list that includes Psychology | Maths 7 (or Maths and a science at 6), English 4 |
| Durham | AAA | None | Maths 5 |
| Bristol | A*AA | A science-related subject at A, Psychology included | Maths 6 |
| Manchester | AAA | One of Psychology, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths and similar | Five at 6, including English and Maths |
| Leeds | AAA | One subject from a science list that includes Psychology | Maths 5, English 4 |
| Warwick | AAB with a science; AAA or A*AB without | None required | Maths 6 |
| Exeter | AAA | A science at A, Psychology included | English 5, Maths 5 |
Source: as above. Not offered: Imperial.
English Literature A-Level is required almost everywhere. Bristol and Exeter are the exceptions.
| University | A-Level offer | Required A-Levels | GCSE requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford | AAA | English Literature | None |
| Cambridge | A*AA | English Literature | None |
| UCL | AAA | English Literature | English 6, Maths 4 |
| King's | AAA | English Literature at A | None stated |
| Edinburgh | A*A*A* to A*AA | English Literature at B | English 4 |
| Durham | A*AA | English Literature at A | None stated |
| Bristol | AAB | None | None stated |
| Manchester | AAA | English Literature | English 6, Maths 4 |
| Leeds | AAB | English (Language, Literature or both) at A | English 4 |
| Warwick | AAA or A*AB | English Literature at A | English 4, Maths or a science 4 |
| Exeter | AAB | A humanities or social science subject at B | English 4 |
Source: as above. Not offered: Imperial, LSE.
Five of the twelve require History A-Level. Oxford and King's recommend it, and the other five set no subject at all.
| University | A-Level offer | Required A-Levels | GCSE requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford | AAA | None (History recommended) | None |
| Cambridge | A*AA | History | None |
| LSE | AAA | None | English 6, Maths 6 |
| UCL | AAA | History | English 6, Maths 4 |
| King's | AAA | None (History "generally expected") | None stated |
| Edinburgh | A*A*A to AAB | None | English 4 |
| Durham | A*AA | History at A | None stated |
| Bristol | AAA | None | None stated |
| Manchester | AAA | History | English 6, Maths 4 |
| Leeds | AAB | None | English 4 |
| Warwick | AAA | History | English 4, Maths or a science 4 |
| Exeter | AAB | None | English 4 |
Source: as above. Not offered: Imperial.
Eight of the thirteen offer Criminology, alone or as a joint degree, and none requires Criminology A-Level. UCL accepts the WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Criminology in place of one A-Level.
| University | A-Level offer | Required A-Levels | GCSE requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| UCL (Crime and Security Science) | AAB | None | English 4, Maths 4 |
| King's (Psychology and Criminology, joint) | A*AA | None | Maths 6 |
| Durham | AAB | None | None stated |
| Bristol | AAB | None | None stated |
| Manchester | ABB | One academic subject from a set list | English 4, Maths 4 |
| Leeds (Criminal Justice and Criminology) | AAB | Two "traditional academic" subjects | English 5 |
| Warwick (Sociology and Criminology, joint) | ABB | None | English 4, Maths or a science 4 |
| Exeter | ABB to BBB | None | English 4 |
Source: as above. Not offered: Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, LSE, Edinburgh.
Sociology and Criminology have the lowest standard offers in this guide. Sociology is ABB at five universities, and BBB at the bottom of Exeter's range.
| University | A-Level offer | Required A-Levels | GCSE requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford (Human Sciences) | AAA | None | None |
| Cambridge (Human, Social, and Political Sciences) | A*AA | None | None |
| LSE | AAB | None | English 6, Maths 6 |
| UCL | AAB | None | English 6, Maths 6 |
| King's | ABB | None | None stated |
| Edinburgh | AAA to AAB | None | English 4 |
| Durham | AAB | None | None stated |
| Bristol | ABB | An essay-based subject | Maths 4 |
| Manchester | ABB | One academic subject from a set list | English 4, Maths 4 |
| Leeds | ABB | None | Maths 4 |
| Warwick | ABB | None | English 4, Maths or a science 4 |
| Exeter | ABB to BBB | None | English 4 |
Source: as above. Not offered: Imperial.
Most of these universities make lower offers to applicants from under-represented backgrounds, usually judged on school, postcode, free school meals or care experience. How far the grades drop varies:
GCSE requirements usually stay put even when the A-Level offer drops. Exeter says so outright. There are exceptions: UCL's contextual offers for Law and History lower the GCSE requirement from a 6 to a 4.
There is no Russell Group list of approved or banned A-Levels. The group "previously published a list" of facilitating subjects but replaced it with its Informed Choices guide, which says "University websites will tell you if there are any specific subjects that are not acceptable or subjects that are only suitable if taken in combination with others." The course pages above handle it in three ways:
For most courses, yes. A resit grade normally meets a university's GCSE minimum. Bristol says "We also accept GCSE resits where needed for an application", Exeter is "generally happy to consider" retakes, and UCL accepts them unless a course page says otherwise. So if your child resits GCSE English Language or Maths to reach a 4, that grade will usually count.
Two things still matter:
The rule of thumb is to check the course page, not the university's general page, because the course page is where these exceptions live. For the practical side, whether to remark or resit and when the deadlines fall, see our guide to GCSE Maths resits and remarks, and if a resit is the plan, the 11-week GCSE Maths resit plan.
The gap between a Russell Group applicant and a near-miss is often built (or lost) during Years 10 and 11. A student who leaves Year 11 with grade 7+ across their core subjects has significantly more sixth-form and university options than one who leaves with grade 5s.
Key decisions that affect university options:
The step from GCSE to A-Level is steeper in some subjects than others. An Ofqual study tracked students who took A-Levels in 2013 against the grade they got in the same subject at GCSE (Ofqual, 2017). It uses the old letter grades, and the chart below follows students who got a B at GCSE, roughly a 5 or 6 on today's scale (Ofqual maps the old B and C onto grades 4 to 6, with a 7 starting where an A did). A-Level grades are still letters.
In English Literature, History and Geography, students with a B (5 or 6) at GCSE most often got a C at A-Level, one grade lower. In the sciences and Maths the results spread from C down to E, about two grades lower. The study found the gap far smaller for students who got an A at GCSE, who typically got a B at A-Level in every subject group. So if a course asks for an A at A-Level, the safer target at GCSE is the top of the old A* range, which today means an 8 or 9. In GCSE Maths that is a high bar in marks, as this year's grade boundaries show.
A drop that size has several causes, and A-Level simply being harder than GCSE is the obvious one. Worth noting one that families can actually influence, though: a GCSE grade is a snapshot from one morning in the summer, and Maths and the sciences pick up in September directly on top of material that has had a long holiday to fade. How that GCSE material was revised in the first place decides how much of it is still there when the A-Level course starts.
Yes. While A-Level grades are the primary criterion, GCSE results are used to differentiate applicants to competitive courses, inform contextual offer decisions, and determine sixth-form course options. Strong GCSE grades significantly expand your child's post-16 pathway choices.
Most sixth forms require a minimum of grade 6 in GCSE Maths for A-Level Maths. Competitive sixth forms often require grade 7. If your child's target is A-Level Maths leading to an engineering, physics, or economics degree, grade 7+ at GCSE is the target to aim for.
For many courses, yes. Most university-wide GCSE minimums are a 4, LSE's 6 is the highest, and offers are made on A-Levels. Where 5s hold an application back is a course page that names a higher grade: a 7 in GCSE Maths for Leeds Economics or Bristol Medicine, or seven GCSEs at 7 or above for Manchester Medicine. Check the course page for the subject your child wants.
No. Oxford, Cambridge, King's, Durham and Bristol set no university-wide GCSE minimum. Edinburgh, Leeds, Exeter, UCL, Manchester and Warwick ask for a 4, Imperial for a 5 and LSE for a 6. Individual courses often ask for more: a 6 in English is common for Law, English and History.
Most make contextual offers to eligible applicants, usually one or two grades below the standard offer. Durham goes as far as four grades, AAB down to BCC for Criminology and Sociology. Oxford and Cambridge don't lower their offers. Among standard offers, Sociology and Criminology are the lowest, at ABB at several universities and BBB at the bottom of Exeter's range.
On paper, yes: Oxford sets no GCSE requirement. In practice it is harder. Foundation tier caps the grade at 5, most sixth forms ask for a 6 or 7 to take A-Level Maths, and Oxford reads GCSEs against the school's results. For any course that needs A-Level Maths, the tier decision matters a great deal, so it's worth knowing how schools choose between Foundation and Higher.
A grade 7 or above in GCSE Maths opens A-Level and university pathways that a grade 5 closes. Start building that foundation now.
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