UCAS Tariff points are a numerical value assigned to post-16 qualifications, which are used by universities and colleges to assess whether an applicant meets their entry requirements for a particular course. The UCAS Tariff assigns a numerical score to the possible grades that can be achieved in each type of qualification, and the higher the grade achieved, the higher the number of points received. The UCAS Tariff is used for Level 3 qualifications on the Regulated Qualifications Framework, such as A-Levels, AS-Levels, and Scottish Highers. However, not all qualifications have a UCAS Tariff value, and universities and colleges dont have to accept the Tariff value assigned by UCAS if they feel the content of the qualification is not fully relevant for the course an applicant is applying to.
UCAS Tariff points can be calculated using the UCAS Tariff Calculator, official tariff tables, or through third-party software and websites. The UCAS Tariff was first introduced in 2001, and a new Tariff was introduced in 2022 based on a different methodology. The change to the new UCAS Tariff will not in itself change entry requirements for university or college courses.
Its important to note that not all universities or courses use Tariff points to calculate their offers or admit students, but all universities will record and report their UCAS Tariff on entry to generate government data and the league tables. Additionally, the use of Tariff points varies between institutions and courses, and some will make offers based on grade and simply reference Tariff points, while others will make offers based on the Tariff points score, and students may use any combination of grades to meet the threshold.
