What should I do if I don't meet all the subject requirements for a course?

Hi, I am strongly leaning towards geology/geoscience as a course option, but for the vast majority of unis that offer this course, they require 2 subjects from a list of STEM subjects. I do geography A level, but no other STEM subjects. Currently I'm predicted AAA* with an A in geography, although because I haven't sent an application for the 2025 year I'll be applying after I've got my results.

Does it count for much that I got 9s in all 3 sciences at GCSE, as well as in Maths and Further Maths, or will I need to take another A level to stand a chance at getting onto one of these courses? I'd likely do a maths A level if so.

Thank you in advance for advice on this!

Reply 1

DataVenia

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post

by Lucym722

In what subjects are your other two A levels? Are they even vaguely related to something STEM-like?

Reply 2

Lucym722

Original post

by DataVenia

In what subjects are your other two A levels? Are they even vaguely related to something STEM-like?

No, they're music and german

Reply 3

DataVenia

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post

by Lucym722

No, they're music and german

Oh, that's unfortunate. The only way I could have seen you persuading a uni to relax their subject requirements was if you we're studying something close to what they were looking for, even if it technically didn't qualify. With Music and German, that's not going to work.

I just took a look at some at some random Geology BSc(Hons) degrees, just to see the wording they'd used in the entry requirements.

• University of Liverpool say here that they want "ABB including one science A level." Their list of acceptance science subjects includes Geography..
• UCL say here "Grades AAB" with "Subjects Biology, Chemistry, Geology/Geography, Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Physics preferred".
• Cardiff say here that they want "ABB-BBC (with 1 science subject) or BBB-BCC (with 2 science subjects)."

So although several want two STEM subjects (including Imperial, Bristol, Exeter, and Southampton - from those I looked at), there are still decent universities which don't.

I suggest you focus you attention on those which are happy with a single science A level, and pull together a full list of these before deciding your next steps. Embarking on an additional A level doesn't sound like the best option to me - unless you're desperate to you to one of those unis which won't take a single STEM A level.

An alternative would be to see whether similar subjects might be more accepting of a single science A level, like Environmental Science or Earth and Planetary Sciences, for example. (Both or these are available at Manchester with requirements of "AAB, including at least one science subject.")

Reply 4

Lancaster Student Ambassador

Official Rep

Original post

by Lucym722

Hi, I am strongly leaning towards geology/geoscience as a course option, but for the vast majority of unis that offer this course, they require 2 subjects from a list of STEM subjects. I do geography A level, but no other STEM subjects. Currently I'm predicted AAA* with an A in geography, although because I haven't sent an application for the 2025 year I'll be applying after I've got my results.
Does it count for much that I got 9s in all 3 sciences at GCSE, as well as in Maths and Further Maths, or will I need to take another A level to stand a chance at getting onto one of these courses? I'd likely do a maths A level if so.
Thank you in advance for advice on this!

Hello!

It's so exciting you're thinking of doing a geology/geoscience course! I am a third year Earth and Environmental Science student where we have done several geology and geoscience modules including a field course to the Isle of Mull studying the geology there! At the end of this term I am also doing a field course to Mt Etna to study the volcano and its geology as well as geoscience. The entry requirements for Lancaster are 1 of the following A Levels: Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Human Biology, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology. With entry grades of ABB which lines up with the grades you have! I have attached a link to the course if you are interested and feel free to ask if you have anymore questions!

https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/earth-and-environmental-science-bsc-hons-ff68/2025/#a-levels-504076-0

Thanks,
Lucy (Lancaster University Student Ambassador)