Age

There is no upper age limit to studying at the University. We recommend that you are at least 17 years old by 20 September in the year you begin your course, but if you are below this age we may still consider you for admission, provided we are satisfied you have reached an appropriate level of academic and personal development. In order to comply with both health and safety and child protection legislation, the University may impose restrictions on the use of some facilities by students who are under 18. International students who are under 18 at the start of their course are required to provide details of a guardian/parent/carer who is resident in the UK.

GCE/GCSE

We have based our minimum entry requirements on the assumption that most schools and colleges will offer students at least four AS levels in Year 12 with three continued to A2 in Year 13. The minimum requirements are:

• Five passes at GCSE grade C or above, including English Language or Use of English (IGCSE English as a Second Language, grade B), and at least two subjects at A level. or three passes at GCE A level and a pass at grade C or above in GCSE English Language or Use of English.

Offers are normally based on the best 3.5 A level equivalents of achievement at Level 3 (A level equivalent), although some University subject areas may specify differently. You must have a minimum of two A level equivalents at Level 3 in two subjects (ie two A2 levels or one vocational double award). We do not accept four AS levels as meeting our matriculation requirement and the University only counts subjects at one level.

We do not make unconditional offers on the basis of AS level grades alone. We base offers on a combination of GCSE/AS/VCE A level/A level/other qualifications or predicted grades, your personal statement and reference.

Subjects accepted for the General Entry Requirement

• Generally, Kent accepts any A or AS level syllabus approved by the AQA, OCR and EDEXCEL awarding bodies, though we regard some subjects as more suitable than others.
• We do not accept the more vocational subjects if offered as one of only two A level passes.
• We count subjects with a significant overlap as one subject.
• We may accept two mathematical subjects at the same level provided that the course syllabuses were substantially different, for example, a combination of Pure and Applied Mathematics or of Mathematics and Further Mathematics. We will accept papers in Mathematics and Further Mathematics set on the SMP syllabus.
• We may take into consideration passes at Level 3 key skills in Communication and IT where you cannot meet the matriculation requirements for English and Maths at GCSE level.

GCE A level double award

• A level double award (two A level equivalents) and a pass in an approved English language qualification.

BTEC/OCR

• BTEC National Diploma (18 units) or Certificate (12 units) or OCR National Diploma (12 units) or Extended National Diploma (18 units) and a pass in an approved English language qualification.
• Higher National Diploma or Certificate and a pass in an approved English language qualification.

Access/foundation courses

• A satisfactory pass in an approved foundation course. An overall pass in an Access course. Some degree programmes may require specific grades in some units/modules in Access courses started from 2009 onwards. Please check with the University before you apply that we will accept the Access/foundation syllabus you took.

New 14 to 19 Diploma qualifications

The University welcomes the introduction of the new 14-19 Diploma qualifications. We will consider Diploma applicants for admission on a case-by-case basis where appropriate subjects have been taken. You can find further information about Diploma qualifications on the web at www.direct.gov.uk/diplomas

More detailed information on our specific entry requirements for Diploma applicants will be made available on our website and in our UCAS entry profiles as it becomes available.

International Baccalaureate Diploma

The University welcomes applications from prospective students offering the full IB Diploma. We make offers solely on the basis of the IBO marking scheme and not the UCAS tariff. Students offering only the IB certificate do not meet our matriculation requirement and should contact the Information, Recruitment and Admissions Office for additional guidance.

Other qualifications

We are happy to consider other qualifications on a case-by-case basis, including the following qualifications, provided they reach a satisfactory standard and include a pass in English at the equivalent of GCSE:

• Scottish (SQA) higher/advanced higher qualifications
• Irish Leaving Certificate
• European Baccalaureate Diploma
• Certificate in Education
• University degree
• Advanced International Certificate of Education
• Advanced Placement (AP) – a minimum of two full APs is required
• Overseas certificates (including some other European Union countries)
• Higher School Certificate of Matriculation of approved overseas and EU authorities
• American High School Diplomas if accompanied by two full AP passes.