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Whats the best Uni a Btec student can get into

As you all know that btecs are not that highly regarded as alevels and top unis dont even accept btecs so just wondering whats the best uni a btec student can apply for?

My brothers doin btec national diploma business, he may be gettin one or two distinctions but his GCSEs are really poor like F,E,D grades and hes resitting english and maths and gonna get C for those

and hes applied for unis like manchester,aston, Queen mary and brunel to do degree in business is he being stupid?

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Reply 1
yeh, for most top unis you usually need a minimum grade B in maths or english gcse anyway, ( e.g sheffield), you could probs get in to unis with btecs,
Reply 2
You forget to mention what subject he's doing?
Reply 3
Some of the better unis may accept you if you have a BTEC but you might have to take a foundation year.
Reply 4
Imson
top unis dont even accept btecs


Yes they do even some "top ten" unis, let alone the redbricks or unis strong in business (eg. Aston). It really depends on the course you're applying for, your acamdeic achievement/potential, your personal circumstances etc.

The GCSE grades will be a problem. He really does need the C/Bs.
Reply 5
I'm doing a BTEC in Business and have offers from Aston, Hull and Northumbria, have also applied to Essex and Reading but i'm yet to hear from them. My GCSEs were pretty average (mostly Bs, some As and some Cs)... but I so far have gained distinctions in all my BTEC units and am predicted DDD, plus I've got some related work experience.

Obviously universities such as Oxbridge, UCL et al don't look at BTECs but many other respected universities do. I would expect you'd need decent GCSE's (at least Cs in maths and english for all the one's I've applied to, but usually Bs) and a good PS and work experience. It does depend on the individual, really.

edit: have now got offers from all five :-)
Reply 6
Scout1234

Obviously universities such as Oxbridge, UCL et al don't look at BTECs.


Yes they do! Any university will take BTECs or alternaive qualifications into acocunt. They'll usually say and ask the applicant to get in touch with them for advice.
Reply 7
River85
Yes they do! Any university will take BTECs or alternaive qualifications into acocunt. They'll usually say and ask the applicant to get in touch with them for advice.


Ah, I stand corrected :smile: but I assumed that they would want A Levels as well, as I've never heard of anyone applying for them with just a BTEC.
No, he's not being stupid at all, he's best emailing any universities in which don't say much about it in the prospectus.

My friends at Manchester now after doing a BTEC in business :smile:
Reply 9
I'm doing a BTEC in Art and Design. Oxford want 2 A levels to go with the BTEC, However, UCL accept the BTEC alone as do other top universities. That's probably more because Art students have interviews and a lot of the decision is Interview and portfolio based, you still have to have very good grades in the BTEC national diploma but you don't need any extras. So i think it all depends on the Student, the subject and their work. At most places it is done case by case.
A BTEC got my friend into Durham.

GCSEs are probably the biggest drawback when applying really.
Reply 11
Scout1234
Ah, I stand corrected :smile: but I assumed that they would want A Levels as well, as I've never heard of anyone applying for them with just a BTEC.


You might want to look at mature student colleges at Oxford/Cambridge and write to them stating your circumstances and enquiring about making an application. They tend to be really helpful. I am currently on a one year Acccess course and have been offered a place for law at Oxford. So it is worth a try!
Reply 12
Most of the top universities will accept BTECs, but generally they'll expect DDD as well as good GCSEs.
Reply 13
im doing a btec national diploma in Medical Science i got a conditional offer from Durham uni for Biomedical sciences. most unis will accept btecs you just got to call them up and ask.
Reply 14
my offer was for DMM but durhams minimum asking grade was MMM for biomed science :biggrin:
Reply 15
I'm doing a btec national diploma in hospitality supervision and have already been offered places at 4 uni's for business :smile:
I also did AS levels beforehand, and actually think btec's should be regarded more highly than they are - i do alot more work now then i did during my AS levels!
Some of it has been quite challenging but i have already gained about 6/7 distinctions and several merits.
I got in to Durham with a BTEC, so i dont think it holds you back in any way. :cool:
UEA will definitely accept... don't know if that helps at all :/

BTecs should be the same as A Levels

but GCSEs will need to be better
im doing btec national certificate with A2 maths, and i got an offer from nottingham :smile:
but in your brothers case, i think the GCSE is his main problem...
Reply 19
Hm. I really hate the fact that the BTEC isnt regarded as highly as other quals. I did a btec in performing arts and i worked and worked and worked. There was so much written analysis to do and log books that were well over 150 pages per time.

I have had an unconditional offer from Plymouth do to performing arts and theatre BA Hons. S oim happy.. it shows the BTEC can get people where they want to be.

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