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Tariffable qualifications

The methodology of collecting and calculating tariff points has changed a number of times in recent years: caution is therefore advised when comparing tariff points over this period.

New for 2014/15

  • AJ: AQA Level 3 Certificate in Enterprise, E<ployability and Personal Finance
  • CB: CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma for Children's Care, Learning and Development (Wales and Northern Ireland)
  • O7: OCR Level 3 Certificate in Quantitative Methods
  • PB: Edexcel Level 3 Award in Algebra (NQF)
  • PC: Edexcel Level 3 Award in Statistical Methods (NQF)5C BTEC Level 3 Nationals in Children's Play, Learning and Development (NQF): Diploma
  • UA: University of the Arts London: Level 3 Diploma in Art and Design
  • UB: University of the Arts London: Level 3 Extended Diploma in Art and Design 
  • U8: University of the Arts London: Level 3 Diploma in Performing & Production Arts
  • U9: University of the Arts London: Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing & Production Arts

New for 2013/14

  • 5C: BTEC Level 3 Nationals in Children's Play, Learning and Development (NQF): Diploma
  • 6C: BTEC Level 3 Nationals in Children's Play, Learning and Development (NQF): Certificate
  • 7C: BTEC Level 3 Nationals in Children's Play, Learning and Development (NQF): Subsidiary Certificate
  • 8C: BTEC Level 3 Nationals in Children's Play, Learning and Development (NQF): Award
  • 9C: BTEC Level 3 Nationals in Children's Play, Learning and Development (NQF): Subsidiary Award
  • AF: ASDAN Level 3 Award of Personal Effectiveness (QCF) (AoPE)
  • HC: Sports Leaders UK – Level 3 Certificate in Higher Sports Leadership (QCF)
  • HD: Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education
  • N5: SQA Higher National Dip
  • O1: OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical: Extended Diploma
  • O2: OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical: Diploma
  • O3: OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical: Subsidiary Diploma
  • O4: OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical: Introductory Diploma
  • O5: OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical: Certificate
  • WA: WJEC Level 3 Award
  • WC: WJEC Level 3 Certificate
  • WD: WJEC Level 3 Diploma

New for 2012/13

  • 0B: BTEC Lvl 3 Award Group A (NQF/ASL)
  • 1C: BTEC Lvl 3 Award Group B (NQF/ASL)
  • 2C: BTEC Lvl 3 Award Group C (NQF/ASL)
  • 3C: BTEC Certificate Group A (NQF/ASL)
  • 4B: BTEC Certificate Group B (NQF/ASL)
  • 4C: BTEC Lvl 3 National Certificate (NQF/CQF)
  • 5B: BTEC Certificate Group C (NQF/ASL)
  • 6B: BTEC Certificate Group D (NQF/ASL)
  • 7B: BTEC Lvl 3 Diploma Group A (NQF/ASL)
  • 8B: BTEC Lvl 3 Diploma Group B (NQF/ASL)
  • 9B: BTEC Lvl 3 Diploma Group C (NQF/ASL)
  • B5: BTEC National Award (NQF)
  • B6: BTEC National Certificate (NQF)
  • B7: BTEC National Diploma (NQF)
  • BB: BTEC Lvl 3 Extended Certificate (NQF/ASL)
  • BD: BTEC Lvl 3 National Award (NQF/CQF)
  • BF: BTEC Lvl 3 National Diploma (NQF/CQF)
  • BI: BTEC Lvl 3 Foundation Diploma 120 (QCF/FAD)
  • BJ: BTEC Lvl 4 Foundation Diploma 120+ (QCF/FAD)
  • BT: BTEC Lvl 3 Cert (= 50% of National Award 28-36) (QCF/CQF)
  • BU: BTEC Lvl 3 Subsidiary Dip (was National Award 60+) (QCF/CQF)
  • BV: BTEC Lvl 3 Diploma (was National Certificate 120+) (QCF/CQF)
  • BW: BTEC Lvl 3 Extended Dip (was National Dip. 180+) (QCF/CQF)
  • BX: BTEC Lvl 3 Foundation Diploma (NQF/FAD)
  • BY: BTEC Lvl 3 Extended Certificate (NQF/ASL)
  • BZ: BTEC 90 Credit Diploma (QCF)
  • CW: Cache Extended Diploma for Children & young people workforce
  • G6: Graded Dance Grade 6
  • G7: Graded Dance Grade 7
  • G8: Graded Dance Grade 8
  • R1: Music Practitioner Extended Diploma
  • R2: Music Practitioner Diploma
  • R3: Music Practitioner Subsidiary Diploma
  • R4: Music Practitioner Extended Certificate
  • R5: Music Practitioner Certificate
  • VF: Vocational Dance Advanced Foundation
  • VI: Vocational Dance Intermediate

New for 2011/12

  • 1B: BTEC specialist (QCF): Diploma
  • 2B: BTEC specialist (QCF): Certificate
  • 3B: BTEC specialist (QCF): Award
  • AT: AAT Diploma in Accounting
  • B1: BTEC qualifications (QCF) (Suite of qualifications known as Nationals): Extended Diploma
  • B2: BTEC qualifications (QCF) (Suite of qualifications known as Nationals): Diploma
  • B3: BTEC qualifications (QCF) (Suite of qualifications known as Nationals): Subsidiary Diploma
  • B4: BTEC qualifications (QCF) (Suite of qualifications known as Nationals): Certificate
  • C1: Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)
  • C2: Certificate of Advanced English (CAE)
  • FA: Diploma in Foundation Studies (Art and Design)
  • IB: Int. Baccalaureate (Higher level)
  • ID: IB Bonus points
  • MC: i-Media Certificate
  • MD: i-Media Diploma
  • ME: Certificate in Mathematics for Engineers
  • N1: City and Guilds Land Based Services Level 3 qualifications: Extended Diploma
  • N2: City and Guilds Land Based Services Level 3 qualifications: Diploma
  • N3: City and Guilds Land Based Services Level 3 qualifications: Subsidiary Diploma
  • N4: City and Guilds Land Based Services Level 3 qualifications: Certificate
  • S1: Scottish National Certificate (Band A)
  • S2: Scottish National Certificate (Band B)
  • S3: Scottish National Certificate (Band C)
  • SI: CISI Introduction to Securities and Investment
  • TA: Institute of Arts Award (Gold)
  • VA: Community Volunteering Award
  • VC: Community Volunteering Certificate
  • YE: Certificate for Young Enterprise

New for 2010/11

  • AL: Asset Languages - Listening
  • AN: GCE Advanced Level with Advanced Subsidiary (9 units)
  • AP: Asset Languages - Speaking
  • AR: Asset Languages - Reading
  • AW: Asset Languages - Writing
  • IB: Int. Baccalaureate (Higher level)
  • ID: IB Bonus points (ID)
  • IN: Scottish Inter Disciplinary Project
  • IS: IB Standard (Subsidiary) Level
  • PA: Advanced Diploma
  • PD: Progression Diploma
  • PP: Scottish PP Passport
  • PR: Principal Learning
  • UC: Pre-U Certificate
  • UG: Pre-U GPR
  • US: Pre-U Short Course

New for 2009/10

  • AG: Level 3 NVQ in Accounting
  • CC: CACHE Certificate in Child Care & Education
  • CD: CACHE Diploma in Child Care & Education
  • CE: CACHE Award in Child Care & Education
  • D6: Speech and Drama Examinations Grade 6
  • D7: Speech and Drama Examinations Grade 7
  • D8: Speech and Drama Examinations Grade 8
  • EA: EDI Level 3 Certificate in Accounting
  • EI: EDI Level 3 Certificate in Accounting (IAS)
  • EQ: EQL level 3 Certificate in BHS Stage 3 Horse Knowledge and Care
  • FR: Diploma in Fashion Retail
  • PL: Level 3 Certificate in Speech & Drama: Performance Studies (Pcertlam)
  • EP: Extended Project
  • HL: Higher Sports Leader Award

2008/09 qualifications

For 2008/09, the total tariff calculation was adapted to bring it more into line with that considered applicable for entry assessment by the sector.

The following qualifications on entry were additionally included within the tariff calculations:

  • 6M: Music examinations: Theory Grade 6
  • 7M: Music examinations: Theory Grade 7
  • 8M: Music examinations: Theory Grade 8
  • 9U: GCE 9 Unit Award
  • A: GCE A level
  • A1: Advanced Subsidiary
  • AC: CACHE Theory
  • AD: GCE AS Level (Double)
  • AE: Advanced Extension Award
  • AH: Scottish Advanced Higher
  • AS: GCE AS Level
  • B: BTEC National Certificate
  • B: BTEC National Award
  • B: BTEC National Diploma
  • BE: BTEC National Early Years Practical
  • BE: BTEC National Early Years Theory: Diploma
  • BE: BTEC National Early Years Theory: Certificate
  • CA: CACHE Practical
  • CO: Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (COPE)
  • DA: GCE Advanced Double Award (A level (Double))
  • FD: Financial Services Diploma
  • FM: Free Standing Maths
  • FS: Financial Services Certificate
  • H: Scottish Higher
  • IE: International Baccalaureate
  • IL: Irish Leaving Certificate: Higher
  • IO: Irish Leaving Certificate: Ordinary
  • M6: Music examinations: Practical Grade 6
  • M7: Music examinations: Practical Grade 7
  • M8: Music examinations: Practical Grade 8
  • O6: OCR National Certificate
  • OC: OCR iProCertificate
  • OD: OCR iProDiploma
  • OE: OCR National Extended Diploma
  • OT: OCR National Diploma
  • V: VCE Advanced
  • V1: VCE Advanced Subsidiary
  • V2: VCE Advanced Double Award
  • WB: Welsh Baccalaureate Core 

2007/08 qualifications

From 2007/08 onwards, calculation of tariff points is performed by HESA from the individual points associated with qualifications held by each student.

The following qualifications on entry were included within the tariff calculation for the 2007/08 academic year:

  • A: GCE A Level 
  • A1: Advanced Subsidiary 
  • AD: GCE AS Level(Double)
  • AS: GCE AS Level
  • DA: GCE A Level(Double)
  • H: SQA Highers 
  • AH: SQA Advanced Highers
  • B: BTEC
  • BE: BTEC National in Early Years
  • V: VCE Advanced
  • V1: VCE Advanced Subsidiary
  • V2: VCE Advanced Double Award 
  • AE: Advanced Extension Award
  • WB: Welsh Baccalaureate 
  • IE: Int. Baccalaureate (Higher level) - Total points

The following qualifications are not included in our standard tariff calculation:

  • K2: Key Skill Level 2 
  • K3: Key Skill Level 3 
  • K4: Key Skill Level 4
  • HK: Higher Core Skills
  • IK: Int 2 Core Skills
  • I2: SQA Intermediate 2

For each qualification type and qualification grade combination, the appropriate number of tariff points are assigned (for details, see here). Where appropriate, duplicate qualifications within the same subject are removed, taking the one with the highest number of tariff points attached. e.g. if a student has an A level, grade A (120 points) and a GCE AS Level in mathematics,  grade A (60 points), the points from the A-level are taken and the AS-level ignored. After these duplicates have been removed, the remaining tariff points are added together to get the total tariff score.

UCAS Tariff (2002/03-2006/07)

In 2002/03 a new system of tariff points was introduced across the UK. Unfortunately, due to communication issues, some points obtained from qualifications awarded in Scotland have not been collected within the total tariff point field.

Each year, UCAS calculates a total tariff score for each student in the application process based on data provided to them by the examination boards. These tariff scores are sent to the HE providers to which the student is applying. Unfortunately, as some qualification data is not returned to UCAS, the total tariff score is not always representative of a student's achievements. To minimise this occurrence, HESA recommended that HE providers attempt to augment the total tariff score by adding in tariff scores for qualifications that were not received by UCAS. In practice, some HE providers have added additional qualifications to their students' total tariff scores and some have not. As a result student tariff data is less comparable across the sector. To increase comparability, we are able to deduct these augmented tariff scores from the total tariff score field.

The following qualifications are deductible from the total tariff score field:

  • Key Skills
  • 1-unit Key Skills
  • Scottish Core Skills
  • Scottish Intermediate 2
  • Scottish Standard Grade Credit

Student definitions