1. Where will a Cambridge qualification take your students?
Rhona Armour
University Liaison Manager
(UK, Europe and MENA)
Cambridge qualifications are recognised throughout the world.
We are committed to ensuring that university admission offices, colleges, employers and professional bodies around the world understand the value of our qualifications.

2. Cambridge Assessment structure
Established over 150 years ago, Cambridge Assessment operates and manages the University's three exam boards and carries out leading-edge and operational research on assessment in education. We are a not-for-profit organisation.

3. Cambridge International Education worldwide
40 governments
9000 schools
160 countries
9000 schools
160 countries
40 governments

4. Education programmes and qualifications

5. Global Recognition Widespread recognition for A/AS Levels and IGCSE
Key destination countries = USA UK
Australia
Europe

6. Cambridge IGCSE sample recognition
Cambridge IGCSEs are recognised by UCAS and universities in the UK as equivalent, grade-for-grade, with UK GCSE qualifications. Grade C is required for higher education.
Minimum 5 Grade C or above accepted for entry to freshman level study in some US colleges and universities (more prestigious ones will require A Levels)
Minimum 5 Grade C or above meet requirements for entry to foundation level courses in Australian universities
Recognised as comparable to Realschulabschluss (Middle school) in Germany – 5 subjects – Maths, Languages and Science plus one Social Studies/Humanities
Minimum 8 Grade C or above for entry to university in Egypt
Students who take IGCSEs alongside the national curriculum in Italy gain academic credit at the University of Bologna

7. Destination: UK

8. UK
Cambridge International AS and A Levels are accepted for entry to university
Competitive courses require at least 3 good A levels
Universities often expect 4 AS Levels, with 3 taken on to A2.
IGCSE/O Level accepted as direct equivalent of UK GCSE
Content of syllabuses & examples on question papers are culturally sensitive, in an international context.
IGCSE/O Level English Grade C usually accepted as proof of English language proficiency for undergraduate courses
Cambridge International A Levels are specifically designed to suit the needs of an international student body. Contexts or examples used in Cambridge syllabuses and question papers are culturally sensitive in an international context. Cambridge International A and AS Levels are acceptable at grades A* to E in lieu of UK GCE A and AS Level on a subject-­for-­subject and grade-­for-­grade basis. 8

9. UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) - Centralised System
All students must apply for undergraduate courses through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), not to individual universities
UCAS also offers a service for postgraduate courses but it is not compulsory
Centralised but autonomous
The application procedure is centralised
The entry requirements however are entirely at the discretion of the universities which are autonomous
Entry requirements vary depending on the university and the specific course requirements

10. Conditional offers
In the UK, offers are made before students take their final examinations in May/June – on predicted grades
Universities make an offer, for example, 3 A Levels with grades ABB
Students can accept (or decline) the offer
After results are issued, students can take up offers
Those who do not meet offers, go through ‘clearing’-look for available places at other universities

11. Selective universities
Oxford and Cambridge are the most selective
The Russell Group universities are generally research based and selective
The 1994 Group are also research based and many are selective but slightly less so than Russell Group
Recruiting universities/courses have more places than applications – but there are fewer places every year

12. Medicine Has the highest entry requirements of all courses
Requirements range from A*AA to AAA
Chemistry is often required plus one either A Level science or mathematics

13. University of Leeds - School of Medicine
AAA including Chemistry.
General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted. There is no other restriction on subjects accepted.
Certain combinations are not acceptable. Specifically:
* Chemistry with Biology and Human Biology
* Chemistry with Maths and Further Maths
Those taking a fourth A2 subject will not be at an advantage over those taking three.

14. The University of York - York Law School
Typical offer is AAA at A Level.
No specific subject choices at A Level are required
Standard offers will include all subjects
All applicants are interviewed 

15. University College London (UCL) - Engineering
Biochemical Engineering BEng (3 yrs) – Grades AAB-ABB
Biochemical Engineering MEng (4yrs) – Grades AAA-AAB.
BEng and MEng in Mechanical Engineering - Must include A Level Mathematics (Pure and Applied) and Physics
Engineering with Business Finance - Grades AAA-AAB. Must include Mathematics (Pure and Applied). Physics must be offered at AS level if not at A Level.
A-level Mathematics is recommended for all Engineering degree programmes.
A pass in a further subject at AS level or equivalent is also required for all programmes.

16. Durham University – Business School
Business and Management BA (Hons) – typical A L offer: AAB
Cypriot applicants who have at least 18.5 out of 20 in the Apolytirion programme as well as 2 GCE A Levels with grades of A or B will be considered for admission to Durham’s Bachelor degree programmes.
Will give preference to applicants who present:
a string of good GCSE results, with the majority at A or A*
a grade A in Mathematics GCSE (or equivalent)
a strong academic reference predicting (with appropriate evidence) a final achievement in excess of AAB at A level (or equivalent) and which evidences the applicant's high level of motivation and potential
Whilst the study of accounting, business, economics or mathematics at A level is not a requirement, if applicants have chosen to study any of these subjects at A level (or equivalent) then those subjects will form part, or all of, our offer

17. University of Warwick – French and History
Typical offer: AAB 
All candidates must offer Advanced or Higher level qualifications in French.
Advanced or Higher level qualifications in French and History at minimum grade A
Offers normally exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.

18. University of Leicester
English language requirement:
Cambridge IGCSE in English as First Language OR English as Second Language accepted: for all courses except Law at grade C - for Law, require grade B
BA Film Studies and the Visual Arts
Three A-levels usually required at ABB 
General Studies not accepted
BA Modern Languages with Film Studies
Three A-levels normally required. Two AS-levels considered in place of one A-Level. General Studies accepted.
Grade B at A-level in a language, or an equivalent qualification, is required
To enter as an advanced learner of French, Italian or Spanish, the A-level must be in the relevant language, but you can also take any of these languages as a beginner, with no prior knowledge. If you study two languages, only one can be taken at beginner's level
No prior knowledge of Film Studies is required .

19. Russell Group Information for future students
The Russell Group of leading UK universities has published its first ever guide to post-16 subject choices.
Informed Choices is aimed at all students considering A-level and equivalent options. It includes advice on the best subject combinations for a wide range of university courses as well as advice on the best choices if you don’t know what you want to study after school and need to keep your options open. At present Informed Choices is only available electronically. 19

20. Other Destination Countries

21. Australia IGCSE/O Level accepted for foundation level courses
Minimum of 1 A Level required for undergraduate degree programmes
2-3 A Levels for some courses
Requirements for A Level students are increasing

22. USA
Over 450 universities officially recognise Cambridge qualifications for entry
5 Grade Cs in IGCSE/O Level meet minimum freshman level entry requirements for some colleges & universities (including Maths and English)
AS &/or A Levels are required for competitive universities such as Yale, MIT and Harvard
Advanced credit is available for AS and A Levels in most universities

23. Germany
The Central Office for Foreign Education, an institution of The Ministries of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany have stated that A and AS Level qualifications will be recognised in Germany for entry to higher education.
Providing all other admissions criteria are met, the minimum entry requirements for undergraduate study in Germany are as follows: Minimum of 4 GCE AS and A Level subjects, three of which must be equivalent to GCE A Level. For example, • three GCE Advanced Levels (3 A Levels) PLUS • one GCE Advanced Subsidiary Level (1 AS Level)
Full requirements are listed at:

24. The Netherlands
Nuffic, the Netherlands organisation for international cooperation in higher education, has issued the following recommendations with regard to GCSE, AS and A Level qualifications and equivalency to the Dutch VWO and HAVO diplomas.
A secondary education diploma (HAVO or VWO diploma) is required for admission to higher education.
Equivalent of a VWO Diploma A GCSE in three subjects with marks ranging from A*-C, plus a GCE with three subjects at advanced level (six different subjects in total – QCF level 3 / EQF level 4) is comparable to a VWO diploma in the Netherlands.
Equivalent of a HAVO Diploma A GCSE in four subjects with marks ranging from A*-C, plus a GCE with two subjects at A/S level (six different subjects in total – NQF level 3 / EQF level 4) is comparable to a HAVO diploma in the Netherlands.

25. Sample Certificate: Cambridge International AS and A Level
Watermark
Upper and Lower case reporting of grades achieved
Number of subjects
Hologram
Signature of VC of University of Cambridge
Serial number
Other hidden security features are also present on official Cambridge documentation

26. Recognitions database
Available on the website by going to Cambridge home page and clicking on the recognition link
All documents are available on that page
Click on ‘Search Recognitions’ to search by country and qualification in the recognition database:

27. USA

29. Australia

31. Learn more! Getting in touch with Cambridge is easy
us at
or telephone +44 (0)