Join in on our 'Guess the Rep' game here! >>

A-Level Choices

Hello,
My choices for A-levels have just come out and I'm unsure what to choose as I don't have my mind set on a certain career but have a good idea of what I want to do.
I want good base choices which could take me many places in terms of university and careers.
The only A-level I'm certain of taking is Mathematics.

Here's a list of possible careers I would like to enter:
Policing, Accountancy, Forensics (Both digital and biological), Civil engineering, Soliciting etc,.

Does anyone have suggestions of the best 2 A-Levels to have as a base to take me into the majority of careers I've listed. (Doesn't have to be all)??

Reply 1

harrietthomps

Original post by 0LLSims

Hello,
My choices for A-levels have just come out and I'm unsure what to choose as I don't have my mind set on a certain career but have a good idea of what I want to do.
I want good base choices which could take me many places in terms of university and careers.
The only A-level I'm certain of taking is Mathematics.
Here's a list of possible careers I would like to enter:
Policing, Accountancy, Forensics (Both digital and biological), Civil engineering, Soliciting etc,.
Does anyone have suggestions of the best 2 A-Levels to have as a base to take me into the majority of careers I've listed. (Doesn't have to be all)??

it really depends on what you are good at and what you enjoy at gcse level. i do maths, further maths, french and history at alevel, and really enjoy all of them- im in year 13 and will study maths at uni. what you want to study will probably change whilst doing alevels- i recommend maybe physics with these choices, maths is a very good option always

Reply 2

Qmark0015

Original post by 0LLSims

Hello,
My choices for A-levels have just come out and I'm unsure what to choose as I don't have my mind set on a certain career but have a good idea of what I want to do.
I want good base choices which could take me many places in terms of university and careers.
The only A-level I'm certain of taking is Mathematics.
Here's a list of possible careers I would like to enter:
Policing, Accountancy, Forensics (Both digital and biological), Civil engineering, Soliciting etc,.
Does anyone have suggestions of the best 2 A-Levels to have as a base to take me into the majority of careers I've listed. (Doesn't have to be all)??

Hi, I am currently a student in SHU studying Forensic Accounting. They no longer offer the course as undergrad degree and I did Law,Sociology and Business as my A Level. U should consider A Level Law that my opinion based from the range of degree u want to study.

Reply 3

JiyaForensicSci

Official Rep

Original post by 0LLSims

Hello,
My choices for A-levels have just come out and I'm unsure what to choose as I don't have my mind set on a certain career but have a good idea of what I want to do.
I want good base choices which could take me many places in terms of university and careers.
The only A-level I'm certain of taking is Mathematics.
Here's a list of possible careers I would like to enter:
Policing, Accountancy, Forensics (Both digital and biological), Civil engineering, Soliciting etc,.
Does anyone have suggestions of the best 2 A-Levels to have as a base to take me into the majority of careers I've listed. (Doesn't have to be all)??

Hi 0LLSims,

I hope you're well.

For the career paths that you have mentioned (BTW, wonderful choices if I do say so myself), then you would need to do A levels in the following:

Police:

•

Law

•

Sociology

Or you can become a police apprentice. Here is a link you may find useful:
https://www.leics.police.uk/police-forces/leicestershire-police/areas/leicestershire-force-content/careers/join-us/police-officers/new-police-officer/police-constable-degree-apprenticeship-pcda/entry-requirements/

Accountancy:

•

Maths

•

Economics

•

Business studies

It is important to note, however, that some universities require different qualifications & some don't have specific entry requirements. At the University of Bradford, there aren't specifics which you can read more of here: https://www.bradford.ac.uk/courses/ug/accounting-and-finance-bsc/#nav-course-entry

Forensics:

•

Level 3 Applied Science (BTEC)

•

Biology

•

Chemistry

•

Psychology

•

Law

•

Sociology

As a Forensic Medical Science Student, I would 100% say that if you want to study anywhere for forensics, it would be at the University of Bradford. In terms of Digital forensics, I don't believe that is something the university offers, but they do offer the following courses:

•

Forensic Medical Science

•

Forensic Anthropology

•

Forensic Science

Civil Engineering:

•

Maths

•

Physics

•

Design & Technology

Again, these can differ from uni to uni.

Soliciting:

•

Law

•

Sociology

•

Psychology

Again, this career does not have specifics, but these are the most preferred.

From what I can see, the majority of the careers you have chosen are more policing or law based, so the two A levels you would preferably take are Law & Sociology.

The Digital Forensics sounds rather interesting. What I'll do is speak to someone in the forensics department at my university (University of Bradford) & see what they say!

Hope this helps!

Jiya Mahmood
University of Bradford Student Room Rep
Forensic Medical Science Year 2

Reply 4

JiyaForensicSci

Official Rep

Hi again,

So I did a bit of digging & found that for digital forensics, the University of Bradford offers a masters degree in Forensic computing.
For undergrad, they also offer a Computer Science & Cyber Crime degree if that is something you're interested in.

There aren't a specific requirement for A levels but you would be best doing the following A levels:

•

Law

•

Computer Science

•

Maths

•

Technology (though you don't necessarily have to do this but it may help. Just depends on what you want to do really).

Hope this helps.

Kind regards,
Jiya Mahmood
Forensic Medical Science Year 2
University of Bradford Student Room Rep

Reply 5

0LLSims

Original post by JiyaForensicSci

Hi again,
So I did a bit of digging & found that for digital forensics, the University of Bradford offers a masters degree in Forensic computing.
For undergrad, they also offer a Computer Science & Cyber Crime degree if that is something you're interested in.
There aren't a specific requirement for A levels but you would be best doing the following A levels:

•

Law

•

Computer Science

•

Maths

•

Technology (though you don't necessarily have to do this but it may help. Just depends on what you want to do really).

Hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Jiya Mahmood
Forensic Medical Science Year 2
University of Bradford Student Room Rep

Hi Jiya,

Thanks for providing me with the relevant information, it's really appreciated!

I've just received my option blocks and a lot of the things I wanted to do seem to clash. For example, there is a course here at my school that goes by the name 'BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Uniformed Services' which I considered to be quite useful and put me at an advantage whether I wanted to study policing in Uni or do the PCDA with the police.
But then also, Mathematics is in the same block as that and I'd have to choose between the both. I'm not sure which is best.

I'm thinking about choosing Maths over the BTEC as it's general for all paths I'm interested in, but at the same time I feel like I'd perform better in the BTEC course.

I was also considering BTEC Business but might study criminology level 3 applied diploma over that, which is best out of these 2?

Again, thanks for the support you've already given me.

Reply 6

JiyaForensicSci

Official Rep

Original post by 0LLSims

Hi Jiya,
Thanks for providing me with the relevant information, it's really appreciated!
I've just received my option blocks and a lot of the things I wanted to do seem to clash. For example, there is a course here at my school that goes by the name 'BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Uniformed Services' which I considered to be quite useful and put me at an advantage whether I wanted to study policing in Uni or do the PCDA with the police.
But then also, Mathematics is in the same block as that and I'd have to choose between the both. I'm not sure which is best.
I'm thinking about choosing Maths over the BTEC as it's general for all paths I'm interested in, but at the same time I feel like I'd perform better in the BTEC course.
I was also considering BTEC Business but might study criminology level 3 applied diploma over that, which is best out of these 2?
Again, thanks for the support you've already given me.

Hi,

Thank you for your response! I'm glad that you found the info I provided you with useful.

What I would say is have a think about what you want to do in the future first. You can always pick your optional module & then do the A level is that helps. That's what I would do if I wasn't too sure about what career path I want to go down.
Have you spoken to your tutor? Perhaps they can be of some help.

Really do explore your career options & see which is the most appealing to you. If you still can't decide I would say pick the safe option as everyone needs maths.

Kind regards,
Jiya Mahmood
Forensic Medical Science Year 2
University of Bradford Student Room Rep

Reply 7

Isobel.jr06

As others have said i think law and sociology could be good ones to go for. If you are able to do criminology then that may be a good choice too and was a subject i enjoyed studying at college