Will any top UK unis accept a Maths applicant without predicted grades?
Hi everyone, I'm applying for Maths at top UK universities, but I've run into a problem and would really appreciate any advice from people who might have been in a similar situation.
I’m an Italian student currently finishing my final year of Scuola Superiore (equivalent to Year 13 in the UK), and I spent a year in the US as part of an exchange programme. I asked one of my American teachers to write my reference because he has the most recent and direct insight into my academic performance, especially in an English-speaking environment. However, he’s unfamiliar with the Italian education system and wasn’t able to include predicted grades. To make things more complicated, due to recent reforms to the Esame di Stato (final exam) coming into effect in 2026, my Italian teachers have declined to provide formal predicted grades.
I’ve consistently achieved the highest possible marks and have already secured the maximum school credits used for the final exam. I'm aiming for a final score of 100/100, which is roughly equivalent to A*A*A* at A-level. I also have a strong personal statement.
I’ve already contacted a few universities to explain my situation, but unfortunately some of them replied saying that they would not consider an application without predicted grades
My question is:
Are there any top UK universities that might still consider an application for Maths without predicted grades, as long as the rest of the application is strong? Would it help if I submitted transcripts, certificates, or any other academic records? Has anyone here applied successfully under similar circumstances?
Any advice or shared experiences—especially from international students—would be really appreciated.
Thanks so much in advance!
I’m an Italian student currently finishing my final year of Scuola Superiore (equivalent to Year 13 in the UK), and I spent a year in the US as part of an exchange programme. I asked one of my American teachers to write my reference because he has the most recent and direct insight into my academic performance, especially in an English-speaking environment. However, he’s unfamiliar with the Italian education system and wasn’t able to include predicted grades. To make things more complicated, due to recent reforms to the Esame di Stato (final exam) coming into effect in 2026, my Italian teachers have declined to provide formal predicted grades.
I’ve consistently achieved the highest possible marks and have already secured the maximum school credits used for the final exam. I'm aiming for a final score of 100/100, which is roughly equivalent to A*A*A* at A-level. I also have a strong personal statement.
I’ve already contacted a few universities to explain my situation, but unfortunately some of them replied saying that they would not consider an application without predicted grades
My question is:
Are there any top UK universities that might still consider an application for Maths without predicted grades, as long as the rest of the application is strong? Would it help if I submitted transcripts, certificates, or any other academic records? Has anyone here applied successfully under similar circumstances?
Any advice or shared experiences—especially from international students—would be really appreciated.
Thanks so much in advance!
Reply 1
20
You can ask your current school to email their predicted grades directly to your Universities - most will accept this. However, just be aware that it may look odd, or even a bit suspicious, that you are using a different school, and one that you are not currently attending, to write your UCAS reference. UK Unis do not expect the referee to be from an English-speaking school, so couldn't you just ask your Italian school to write your reference and provide your grades as part of that, it would be so much easier.
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