Confused about A-level choices — Business, Economics, Accounting or Computer Science?

I’m currently in Year 11 and I’m a bit stuck on what A-levels to take next year.

Originally, I thought I’d go into Computer Science, but after doing it for GCSE I realised I don’t really enjoy the coding or problem-solving side of it. I’m more interested in business-related stuff — like entrepreneurship, finance, and management — but I’ve heard that A-level Business isn’t as respected by universities as subjects like Economics or Accounting.

Right now, I’m considering combinations like:
Maths, Business, and Economics
Maths, Business, and Accounting
or maybe Maths, Economics, and Accounting

My goals are to go into something business or finance-related, and eventually start my own business or go into a high-earning career.
I’d really appreciate any advice from anyone — like:

Which combo keeps the most uni and career options open?
Is A-level Business really “less respected”?
Is Accounting too specific at A-level?
How hard is Economics if I’m okay at maths but not obsessed with it?

Any insight or experience would really help me make up my mind. Thanks in advance! 🙏

Hi @meetsubash, I think it really depends on the degree you want to do, if it’s business then I’m sure taking business a-level would be viewed highly. It’s worth checking out the grade and a-level requirements on the universities websites you wish to go to. All of these options sound great but personally I would pick the 3 you think you’ll be able to study and enjoy for the next 2 years as if you really dislike one of them it could end up affecting your overall grade.
Hope this helps,
Vee (Kingston rep)

I’d ditch the mindset of “business is less respected than economics”, universities won’t care unless they have a list of preferred subjects (whether that’s for the course or in general).
I would however bother to check whether universities would be a ok with you taking business and economics together (due to the large overlap). What kinds of universities are you looking to apply to?
Have you checked the A-level economics syllabus? For me at least back when I did it, it was more essay based, there was barely any Maths (AQA 2019-2021).

I'd recommend Maths, Business, and Economics - because accounting is a subset of Business actually.
One additional challenge for you.. if you're really interested in business, the best way to learn business is actually do one! Start small in your community and you'll learn more than reading journal articles

Thanks for the reply, ya thats the combo I have put in most of my applications for now, i am thinking of maybe a 4th a level or btec in IT so I can keep the tech side open. And for the business I want to but I don't know what to do and I am not so confident but I need to do something.

Thanks for the reply, I have actually not looked anything about the uni requirements and all cuz I am not sure about the degree I want to do because these days everything changes so quick, so I don't know what will be good to study at uni in 2 years but I will check out some requirements now.

If you want to keep the tech side open, then usually just maths (and in some cases also FM on top of regular Maths) is usually fine. There’s no need to take the BTEC in IT unless you’re interested. Edit: There’s no need to take a 4th A-level either, they’d be no benefit to that for such pathway or in general.
I’d still check general university or HE pages (even if you don’t know where to apply or what to do) to see whether they’ll take issue with Business Studies and Economics taken together or not. It’s worth checking in my opinion assuming that you have plans to do some form of Higher Education (university, apprenticeship, HE courses etc).

Thanks for the advice, I will consider that and yes I have heard from some people that I shouldn't take business and economics together as there is a big overlap so I will check if there could be a issue with some unis?

Yeah check if there’s issues with some unis, if there’s no issues then you should be golden imo provided that you meet the other entry requirements.

Thanks for the advice, yes some unis really don't like the idea of business and economics, and some also have business in the not preferred section so I am going to have to change my plans, maybe computer science as i took it in gcse but problem with that is i don't like coding a lot till now and i feel i don't have a problem solving mindset but there is nothing else to take so might give it a try.

I’m currently in Year 11 and I’m a bit stuck on what A-levels to take next year.
Originally, I thought I’d go into Computer Science, but after doing it for GCSE I realised I don’t really enjoy the coding or problem-solving side of it. I’m more interested in business-related stuff — like entrepreneurship, finance, and management — but I’ve heard that A-level Business isn’t as respected by universities as subjects like Economics or Accounting.
Right now, I’m considering combinations like:
Maths, Business, and Economics
Maths, Business, and Accounting
or maybe Maths, Economics, and Accounting
My goals are to go into something business or finance-related, and eventually start my own business or go into a high-earning career.
I’d really appreciate any advice from anyone — like:
Which combo keeps the most uni and career options open?
Is A-level Business really “less respected”?
Is Accounting too specific at A-level?
How hard is Economics if I’m okay at maths but not obsessed with it?
Any insight or experience would really help me make up my mind. Thanks in advance! 🙏

Not sure about accounting too, as in my research I have heard that accounting is also not seen as an traditional a level and it was in the non preferred section of one uni too and other concern with accounting would be that it would limit my choices for future a lot as all of my subjects would be focused on maths.

Hi, an important factor of deciding which of these alevels to do is which university you would like to attend, and what degree you would like to achieve. Yes, Economics A-Level is more respected by top-teir universities such as LSE, but, if you are not aiming for the top 20 unis, then business is a good option.
Having said this, economics is a harder alevel due to the depth of knowledge, whereas business can still be difficult due to the breadth of knowledge. Having looked at your interests, it looks like business would be a better option for you. Economics a-level also includes topics such as finance, but they focus on a more theoretical side, rather than business which can be realistic.
Also, most unis prefer 'traditional subjects', and so accounting may not be as respected as you would assume.
And, it is not reccomended to take Economics and Business together as the content overlaps heavily, and this is important for 2 reasons:
You may get confused and use the wrong content for the wrong subject.
Unis may consider them as 'one' as they do not believe that you have learnt as much as you would with 3 different subjects.
In reply to your point about economics and maths, in the AS Economics AQA papers, there are barely 8 marks in total to do with maths. In the whole A-Level it is maximum 5 or 6. The only maths you will do is applying numbers to formulas, it is basic GCSE grade 6 level mathematics. But if you do want to study economics at uni, then some courses require maths alevel, and so this is something to consider.
My main tip in choosing alevels is to choose 2 subjects which relate to your future aspirations, and then one subject which you truly enjoy (and preferably find relatively easy). For example, i have chosen maths and economics (future career based) and Latin ( for enjoyment) .

What university has said accounting isn’t considered to be a traditional/the A-level is labelled as non-preferred? On their website. I’ve seen LSE explicitly state it then I’ve seen UCL with a list of “preferred subjects”. Even then, you’d still need to see course webpages to check the entry requirements for that university course.
Many/most universities have scrapped the idea of traditional vs non-traditional subjects. I’ve only seen like 3 universities with a general page on subject recommendations so far based on my quick research just now.
What other pathways would you be looking to go to besides tech and finance/econ/accountancy?
The best subjects to pick in my opinion are the ones that you can get the best grades in and/or enjoy the most provided that they meet the entry requirements and doesn’t cause any major issues in the eyes of the universities that you want apply to in terms of clashing.