Need advice on applying to universities with a BTEC in IT with an EPQ

This is going to be a long post 😅, but I’m currently in the process of applying to university but facing some challenges with meeting entry requirements due to my GCSE Maths grade. I’d really appreciate any advice from those who have been in a similar situation or have knowledge about university admissions.

BTEC Predicted Grades: DDM - DDD (Extended Diploma in IT)
GCSE English Language: Grade 4
GCSE Maths: Grade 4 (Retaken twice, but still a 4)
I am also doing an EPQ as well
The Courses I Want to Apply For:
I am interested in technology, business, and finance, and I’m considering courses like:
Computer Engineering/Systems
Business with IT/Finance (e.g., Digital Business, Business Management with Data Analytics, FinTech, etc.)

Universities I Am Considering:
I really want to apply to City, Royal Holloway, and Reading, but they require Grade 6 in Maths annd city require D*DD too which might be a bit too high but I meet most of the BTEC entry requirements for the other 2. Other universities I’m looking at include Brunel, Aston, Essex, Kent, and Hertfordshire, some of which may be more flexible. However:

1. Is there any point in applying to City, RHUL, and Reading? – I’ve contacted them, and they all stated that a Grade 6 in Maths is required, but I still really want to apply.

2. Are there any good universities that accept DDM - DDD with only a Grade 4 in GCSE Maths? – I’m looking for strong universities in London or up north, preferably those with good employability prospects.

3. Would extenuating circumstances help? – I have two autistic non-verbal brothers, and balancing my studies back in lockdown for GCSEs, with family responsibilities has been challenging. Would this be a valid factor to mention?

4. Would a foundation year be worth it? – I’m hesitant about doing a foundation year because I’m already doing an extra year at college, and I don’t want to delay my degree further.

5. Would I have a better chance with Business & IT-related degrees? – Some of these courses (e.g., Business & Data Analytics) only require a Grade 5 in Maths, which is still above what I have. Should I focus on these instead of Computer Engineering?

Suggestions for universities that accept my qualifications for good business/IT/finance/tech courses.

Any advice on whether I should still apply to universities that require a Grade 6 in Maths despite not meeting the GCSE requirement.

Any tips on how to strengthen my application, especially if I don’t meet the Maths requirement (e.g., should I highlight my BTEC strengths, work experience, or personal circumstances?).

You've identified your GCSE Maths grade as a particular issue. Sometimes people leave revision too late, don't prioritise a subject sufficiently, or have other issues with adversely impact their grade. So the grade 4 you initially received doesn't necessarily reflect your true ability. However, you also got a grade 4 when you retook it. And a grade 4 when you retook it for a second time. So I think we can probably say that grade 4 is an accurate reflection of your mathematical ability. Agreed? A grade 4 is a pass. It's not a good pass, but it's a pass. Do you think we can safely say that maths is not a strength of yours?
A problem we have here is that many of the courses you've said your interested in (Computer Engineering/Systems, IT/Finance, Data Analytics, FinTech) contain a decent amount of maths. What is the appeal of courses with contain a lot of maths content, when maths is not a strength of yours? Are you not worried that even if you manage to secure a place on one of these courses, that you'll always struggle with the maths content?
Your "really want to apply to" list is too optimistic, as I think you realise, but your "Other universities I’m looking at" list is probably fine. You have five entries in your UCAS application, so by all means include one or two "aspirational" choices, but you need at least three which are more realistic.
I always tell people that universities don't tend to be flexible with GCSE grades, and that any application to a university where you don't meet their GCSE requirement is likely to be a wasted one. On this occasion, we know that such an application will be wasted because you've specifically contacted them to check on their flexibility. Also you're two grades below their requirement. If you "really want to apply", then pick just one of these - or two at most. They'll result in rejections, but at least you'll still have room in your UCAS application for three more sensible choices.
Well, the adjective "strong" is a little subjective. However, "strong" universities receive more applications, which means that those universities can be more selective. I don't know of (and can't find) any which would accept a GCSE grade 4 in Maths for the sort of degree to which you're hoping to apply.
Unless you were in lockdown whilst studying for all three attempts at your GCSE Maths, saying that that was responsible (even in part) for your grade is unlikely to be convincing.
If you had caring responsibilities for your brothers, then this may make you eligible for contextual offers - you would need to check the criteria which each of your target universities uses (they vary). I came across one recently which defined "caring responsibilities" in such a way that it only applied if you were caring for an adult. That's clearly a tad nonsensical, but it does emphasis the fact that you need to read their rules carefully.
Even if you're not eligible for contextual offers, you should still have your school/college/referee mention your family responsibilities in the reference they write. It'd go in Section 2, which is headed "If applicable, enter any information about extenuating circumstances which may have impacted the applicant's education and achievement".
There are pros and cons to foundation years. They get you to university sooner, studying a subject in which you hopefully have an interest / passion - which is clearly great - but they're very expensive. On top of the tuition fee for the additional year, you likely have to factor-in accommodation costs and general living expenses for the additional year too. Is rare that all of this will be covered by a student loan - and even if it is, you have the extra debt to contend with.
Yes. Computer Engineering is very heavy on maths, and degree courses often demand that you have A level maths. For example, University of Southampton ("A*AA including mathematics (minimum grade A)"), University of Greenwich ("A Level: 120 UCAS Tariff points including Mathematics at grade C"), and University of Birmingham ("AAB to include A level Mathematics").
Also, you really need to be targetting courses / universities and courses where you actually meet the GCSE entry requirements, which I assume would apply to your "Other universities I’m looking at" list above. Saying that they "only require a Grade 5 in Maths" is all well and good, but you don't have a grade 5 in GCSE Maths. Universities are sometimes flexible with BTEC / A level grades. They're rarely so with GCSE grades.
My advice, given above, would be not to. You're two grades off. Even one grade off is likely to lead to a swift rejection.
A strong personal statement is always good, but it isn't a substitute for the required grades. As I think I've said more than once above, you need to set you sights a little lower - at universities and courses which are happy with a GCSE grade 4 in Maths.

That’s ok and thank you for your advice il take it on bird! No I got a 3 in maths twice because I didn’t revise properly and then I couldn’t as well because of my situation then I retook it and passed again.

Would my EPQ help with only reduce my BTEC grade by one grade...

...but I had thought universities were flexible with their GCSE requirements.

Can you recommend some universities that I could actually get into which are decent thank you?

Also could I add in my references or a section extenuating circumstances or should I leave it?

You're welcome. And understood regarding your GCSE Maths. Well done for persevering and getting that 4 in the end.
You might find that some courses at some universities will drop their BTEC requirements by one grade if you achieve a high grade in the EPQ, but they never seem to state that in their entry requirements. For example, here's what the University of East Anglia have to say here about the entry requirements for their Business Finance and Economics degree:
"A Levels
ABB excluding General Studies. If you are taking an EPQ and three A-levels, we may offer you a one grade reduction on our advertised typical offer alongside an A in the EPQ."
"BTEC
DDM excluding BTEC Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration. See below for accepted subjects and combinations"
Note that they make no mention of the EPQ having impact on their required BTEC grades. In fact, I'm not entirely sure I've ever seen a university state that an EPQ will lower their BTEC grade requirements. So if you were interested in a particular course, you'd need to contact the admissions department of the university concerned as ask. Given that the equal consideration deadline is 29th January, you'd need to ask any such questions quickly if you want to get a response before then. (Of course, missing the equal consideration deadline may not be an issue, depending on the popularity of the courses for which you're applying.)
Nope. Generally inflexible. (I've just come across one which said, "Mathematics grade 6/B. We will consider a 5 on a case-by-case basis", but that's the closest to "flexible" I've seen.)
Ah, we've gone from looking for "strong" to "decent" universities, I note.
Your subject interests are quite wide, so its difficult to be sure what courses might appeal. Also, its subjective what a "decent" is. How about:
• Business Management with Business Analytics at University of Surrey. They're looking for DDD in a BTEC Extended Diploma, and GCSE grade 4 in English Language and Mathematics.
• Computer Science BSc (Hons) at Oxford Brooks University. They're looking for BTEC: DMM and "GCSE: Mathematics at grade 4/C minimum and English Language at grade 4/C minimum normally required".
• Computer Systems Engineering at University of Essex. They're looking for BTEC: DDM - DMM and GCSE: Mathematics C/4.
Well, as I mentioned above, your school / college / referee will be faced with a section in the reference with the instruction: "If applicable, enter any information about extenuating circumstances which may have impacted the applicant's education and achievement." If you want them to say anything about your two autistic non-verbal brothers and the associated family responsibilities, then ask them to.
My advice would be to do so. It can't do any harm (a university can't think less of you as a consequence), but if they're on the fence about whether or not to make you an offer, then this might be sufficient to tip the decision in your favour.

... would there be any point in putting down a choice with one having a GCSE grade 1-2 above and one aspiring the rest realistic and a safety choice

Ok thank you and I saw Surrey uni before but I was looking at their computing and business management course but they require a 5 for maths so I should leave that...

would there be any other universities and courses which could match my requirements

would there be any point in putting down a choice with one having a GCSE grade 1-2 above and one aspiring the rest realistic and a safety choice. As I have Aston, Brunel and other unis in my choices maybe herts too

To quote what I said above, "I always tell people that universities don't tend to be flexible with GCSE grades, and that any application to a university where you don't meet their GCSE requirement is likely to be a wasted one." However, if there's a course which you're particularly keen on, you can contact the uni concerned and ask if the GCSE requirement is firm - as you say above that you've already done with City, RHUL, and Reading. So if this course has particular appeal, then you should so that.
Well, only you really know your requirements. I listed three above, which I thought matched what you were looking for, but apparently not as you haven't commented on them at all (other than to talk about a different course at Surrey). Are none of those three any good to you? If not, why not?
That sounds like a reasonable approach, yes. The one where you miss the GCSE requirement by a grade or two will result in a rejection. But at least you'll know you tried to gain entry.

This is going to be a long post 😅, but I’m currently in the process of applying to university but facing some challenges with meeting entry requirements due to my GCSE Maths grade. I’d really appreciate any advice from those who have been in a similar situation or have knowledge about university admissions.
BTEC Predicted Grades: DDM - DDD (Extended Diploma in IT)
GCSE English Language: Grade 4
GCSE Maths: Grade 4 (Retaken twice, but still a 4)
I am also doing an EPQ as well
The Courses I Want to Apply For:
I am interested in technology, business, and finance, and I’m considering courses like:
Computer Engineering/Systems
Business with IT/Finance (e.g., Digital Business, Business Management with Data Analytics, FinTech, etc.)
Universities I Am Considering:
I really want to apply to City, Royal Holloway, and Reading, but they require Grade 6 in Maths annd city require D*DD too which might be a bit too high but I meet most of the BTEC entry requirements for the other 2. Other universities I’m looking at include Brunel, Aston, Essex, Kent, and Hertfordshire, some of which may be more flexible. However:
1. Is there any point in applying to City, RHUL, and Reading? – I’ve contacted them, and they all stated that a Grade 6 in Maths is required, but I still really want to apply.
2. Are there any good universities that accept DDM - DDD with only a Grade 4 in GCSE Maths? – I’m looking for strong universities in London or up north, preferably those with good employability prospects.
3. Would extenuating circumstances help? – I have two autistic non-verbal brothers, and balancing my studies back in lockdown for GCSEs, with family responsibilities has been challenging. Would this be a valid factor to mention?
4. Would a foundation year be worth it? – I’m hesitant about doing a foundation year because I’m already doing an extra year at college, and I don’t want to delay my degree further.
5. Would I have a better chance with Business & IT-related degrees? – Some of these courses (e.g., Business & Data Analytics) only require a Grade 5 in Maths, which is still above what I have. Should I focus on these instead of Computer Engineering?
Suggestions for universities that accept my qualifications for good business/IT/finance/tech courses. Any advice on whether I should still apply to universities that require a Grade 6 in Maths despite not meeting the GCSE requirement.
Any tips on how to strengthen my application, especially if I don’t meet the Maths requirement (e.g., should I highlight my BTEC strengths, work experience, or personal circumstances?).
Any experiences from students who were accepted despite not meeting the GCSE Maths requirement?
I’d really appreciate any advice you can give. It’s been frustrating trying to find universities that fit my qualifications, and I want to make sure I’m applying wisely. @DataVenia