What is UCAS?

UCAS (Universities & Colleges Admissions Service) is a clearing house for applications to almost all full-time undergraduate degree programmes at UK universities and colleges.

What are UCAS Points?

UCAS rates qualifications and awards them a tariff score based on various factors. The points accrued by completing multiple qualifications which are on the UCAS tariff can be combined together to meet University entry requirements.

The New Tariff

UCAS tariff points have changed for entry to Higher Education in 2017 and beyond. All qualifications in the new system carry far fewer points than was previously the case.

All qualifications have been reassessed by UCAS and had a new rating applied. For example a Grade A* at A Level used to carry 140 points under the old tariff. The same A* grade would now carry 56 points under the new system.

All of RSL's qualifications have retained their value relative to equivalent qualifications from other Awarding Organisations.

Which RSL Qualifications Have UCAS Points?

The following is a list of all our current qualifications which carry UCAS points:

Graded Music

Which Graded Music Exams carry UCAS Points?

Rockschool

Rockschool's Electric GuitarAcoustic GuitarBassDrumsVocalsPiano,, Keyboard, UkuleleMusic Theory and Music Production Grades 6, 7 & 8 all have UCAS points.

RSL Classical

RSL Classical Piano, Violin and Guitar all have UCAS Points available at grades 6, 7 & 8.

Grade Exam (including Music Production)

See the table below for the UCAS points awarded for a given Grade Level (Grade Exam & Performance Certificate), grade boundary and mark:
GradePassMeritDistinction
Grade 68 points10 points12 points
Grade 712 points14 points16 points
Grade 818 points24 points30 points

Where a candidate has taken more than one exam in one instrument, they can only put forward the exam which gave them the highest number of points. However, where points are awarded for graded exams in different instruments, these can be accumulated, but it would be the decision of the university or college whether or not they choose to accept both sets of points.

Music Theory

See the table below for the UCAS points awarded for a given Music Theory grade and mark:
Grade PassMeritDistinction
Grade 64 points5 points6 points
Grade 76 points7 points8 points
Grade 88 points9 points10 points

Performance Arts Awards

Which Performance Arts Exams carry UCAS Points?

Performance Arts Award's Level 3 (Grade 6, 7 & 8) Examinations carry UCAS points, enabling them to help with entry to university.

The following is a list of all our Performance Arts qualifications which carry UCAS points:

UCAS Points Awarded for Musical Theatre, Acting and Screen Acting Exams

See the table below for the UCAS points awarded for a given grade and mark:
Grade PassMeritDistinction
Grade 68 points10 points12 points
Grade 712 points14 points16 points
Grade 824 points27 points30 points

UCAS Points Awarded for Dance Exams

See the table below for the UCAS points awarded for a given grade and mark:
Grade PassMeritDistinction
Grade 68 points10 points12 points
Grade 712 points14 points16 points
Grade 816 points18 points20 points

Where a candidate has taken more than one exam, they can only put forward the exam which gave them the highest number of points

Vocational Qualifications

UCAS Points Awarded for Music Practitioners (Vocational Qualifications)

See the table below for the UCAS points awarded for a given qualification and mark:
QualificationPassMeritDistinctionDistinction*
Level 3 Certificate481214
Level 3 Extended Certificate8162428
Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma24487284
Level 3 Diploma326496112
Level 3 Extended Diploma4896144168

UCAS Points Awarded for Creative Music Industry (Vocational Qualifications)

See the table below for the UCAS points awarded for a given qualification and mark:
QualificationPassMeritDistinctionDistinction*
Level 3 Award481214
Level 3 Certificate8162428
Level 3 Extended Certificate16324856
Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma24487284
Level 3 Diploma326496112
Level 3 Extended Diploma4896144168

UCAS Points Awarded for Creative & Performing Arts (Vocational Qualifications)

See the table below for the UCAS points awarded for a given qualification and mark:
QualificationPassMeritDistinctionDistinction*
Level 3 Certificate8162428
Level 3 Extended Certificate8162428
Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma16324856
Level 3 Diploma24487284
Level 3 Extended Diploma4896144168

UCAS Points Awarded for Creative Digital Media (Vocational Qualifications)

See the table below for the UCAS points awarded for a given qualification and mark:
QualificationPassMeritDistinctionDistinction*
Level 3 Award481214
Level 3 Certificate8162428
Level 3 Extended Certificate16324856
Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma24487284
Level 3 Diploma326496112
Level 3 Extended Diploma4896144168

Related Links

View the Official UCAS Website for more information.